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Post subject: A mysterious P-Bass, well to me anyway
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 3:14 pm
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Hello everyone, I have found this bass to be very interesting and I was wondering if anyone could maybe offer up some info/expertise about it.

These are images of my new fretless. Notice that it's a right-handed instrument, but it has a reversed headstock. I'm just wondering if it came that way, or if it's just a lefty neck on a right-handed instrument. And possibly a rough date range if anyone has any ideas. Thanks.

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Sep 26, 2008 6:53 pm
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Well the neck appears to be original but the body does not. I dont recall seeing 70's p-basses with rear mounted electronics or jazz pickups in the bridge position as original design . However the body could have been modified ! any more detailed pics?

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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 9:19 am
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jlarocho wrote:
Well the neck appears to be original but the body does not. I dont recall seeing 70's p-basses with rear mounted electronics or jazz pickups in the bridge position as original design . However the body could have been modified ! any more detailed pics?


I'll see what I can do about getting some more detailed pics. I'm kinda hesitant about separating the neck from the body cuz I'd be afraid of not being able to put it back together.


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Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 10:28 am
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Spitfire'd wrote:
I'll see what I can do about getting some more detailed pics. I'm kinda hesitant about separating the neck from the body cuz I'd be afraid of not being able to put it back together.

Kinda like Humpty Dumpty. :D


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Post subject: Frankenbass Maybe?
Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2008 6:23 pm
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I'm thinking this just might be a LEFT handed 1977 fretless neck with a right handed nut installed on it bolted onto what appears to be some Asian 80's to 90's body. Perhaps it is Japanese, but I'm not saying that it is Japanese.

I'm pretty sure that Fender mounts their decals to display properly on right handed reverse headstock guitars like the Dick Dale Strat. On this bass the decal would be upside down when playing it right handed.

Further, the P/J pickup configuration was not issued by Fender until about 5 years after this neck was made. I don't recall any USA P-basses without a control plate or pickguard mounted pots ever. Mexico yes. USA no. The control and pickup arrangement on your Frankenbass looks like some of the Fender/Squier Asian products from the mid 80's to early 90's. The 3 screw bridge might narrow it down to pre-90 depending on where the body was actually made.

I think I can safely say: 1. The body is not USA made Fender. 2. The neck is USA made Fender. 3. It was a left handed neck. 4. The nut on the neck was replaced with a right handed nut.

Hope that helps.


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Post subject: Re: Frankenbass Maybe?
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:58 am
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brotherdave wrote:
I'm thinking this just might be a LEFT handed 1977 fretless neck with a right handed nut installed on it bolted onto what appears to be some Asian 80's to 90's body. Perhaps it is Japanese, but I'm not saying that it is Japanese.

I'm pretty sure that Fender mounts their decals to display properly on right handed reverse headstock guitars like the Dick Dale Strat. On this bass the decal would be upside down when playing it right handed.

Further, the P/J pickup configuration was not issued by Fender until about 5 years after this neck was made. I don't recall any USA P-basses without a control plate or pickguard mounted pots ever. Mexico yes. USA no. The control and pickup arrangement on your Frankenbass looks like some of the Fender/Squier Asian products from the mid 80's to early 90's. The 3 screw bridge might narrow it down to pre-90 depending on where the body was actually made.

I think I can safely say: 1. The body is not USA made Fender. 2. The neck is USA made Fender. 3. It was a left handed neck. 4. The nut on the neck was replaced with a right handed nut.

Hope that helps.


So, does anyone have any ideas as to how much something like this is worth then? I'm just curious.


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Post subject: Rare neck
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:52 am
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That neck is a real find. Congratulations!

Left Handed 1977 fretless necks are not commonly seen. From the limited photos this neck appears in much better than average condition except for the minor headstock dingaroo. I'd say GC on the headstock and VG to EXC on the fingerboard.

This neck might bring a pretty penny on eBay restored to the original left hand setup. It would bring more if it was a right handed one since there are many more right handed bidders! Still I'd say based on condition critical factors from what I can see in the photos in current setup it is worth about $500 to $800 US and I certainly wouldn't take less than $400 for it! The body, well about $20 if the electronics work, but that might be pushing it because I'm not convinced that is a Fender body.

Just my opinion, I've been wrong before. That body looks really dubious in the photos. Without actually seeing it in person and checking for hallmarks I am usually reluctant to quote values. Also values to me might not be values to you or to an bona fide appraisal service either. I'm just going from experience. The local pawn shops have some basses worth about $300 to me that they have marked $600. So ideas of values vary wildly. I do know for sure that 70's basses have been soaring in value since most of the 60's stuff is either in a collector's vault or into the $5,000 plus range in fair condition.

Anything is worth only what someone is willing to pay. If it was me and I wanted to liquidate it, I would take the neck off, restore it to a leftie and list it on eBay in the hope that it is "Left-Handed Bassists Week" on eBay. I'm pretty sure the neck will bring more money removed from the body and restored to original set up. The longer you hold it the more it will be worth. If you restore it you should describe it as having a new nut installed ready to bolt onto your 1977 Left-Handed P-Bass body. Associating it with this mystery body would actually hurt the final auction value and make shipping way more expensive. Some lefties out there may have a fretted '77 P-bass they would want to convert to fretless and this would be THE PRIMO neck to do that with. These are the select few players to whom this neck might be worth $800 or perhaps even more.

If you eBay it, list it with a low starting bid BUT WITH A RESERVE which would make you happy. Do NOT list a "BUY IT NOW" price because you may lowball your value. Whenever you want to find out what something is truly worth, list it on eBay and by dingies you'll find out.

Regards,
Dave


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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 12:20 pm
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Hey brotherdave, again, thanks for the insight. It does make a very interesting piece, maybe I should try and find a body to match the neck to. I'm not too sure about selling it though, because even in it's current condition I think it's a pretty interesting setup. Thanks again for all your help and insight.


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Posted: Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:51 pm
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The Body looks like a late 80s Squier II


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