It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:40 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Help Pricing a P Bass Body and Neck
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 3:25 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:44 am
Posts: 52
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Hi Guys,

There is a guy that is selling an American P Bass 75 to restore. The package includes Body, Neck, Original Bridge and Original Tunning Keys nothing else, no pickups no wires, no case. Truss Rod probably need some repair as well.
How much should I pay for it? Anyone with some advise...

Brotherdave or any other wise guy that maybe can help?

Cheers and thanks in advance.

_________________
Standing in the shadows of Motown. Oh yes Jamerson please show me the path!


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Geez
Posted: Wed Jun 10, 2009 6:23 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 1:02 am
Posts: 80
Geez I don't know but doesn't a repair man charge about $200.00 to replace a truss rod?

I took a casual look on ebay and saw that you can buy a used American Standard Precision Bass for about $700

The sellers seem to be gouging on the bodies and necks. You might be way better off buying a whole bass.

One guy sold a real nice looking after market bass for $399.00

I would search ebay and get a good idea of what is out there. If you realliy save your money by the end of the summer you could have enough money to get what you really want.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 9:05 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:44 am
Posts: 52
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Hi Mikecain,

I totally understand but I'm looking for something old and vintage to repair by myself, it's kind of a personal challenge. I understand that I can find something cheaper but not from 1975. Indeed I already have a P bass 84-87 and I love it, now I'm looking for something to repair and customize thats why I'm so interested in this 75 body and neck.
The seller is asking me to set the price, but I just dont know how much to pay for it...

Anyone?

_________________
Standing in the shadows of Motown. Oh yes Jamerson please show me the path!


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 5:07 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:08 pm
Posts: 72
the best thing to do is to go to ebay, see what one in decent condition is going for, see how much a set of p'ups are going for from that time period and whatever else you need to get it back to playing condition, and deduct that cost from whatever they're going for on ebay and then divide that number again by say 50% and make him an offer...for example:
ebay bass '75 $3500 (pulled out of my head but close I'm sure)
p'ups/pots/etc - $ 500 (expect to pay that for original p/ups and pots)
---------
$3000
x .50
----------
$1500 total

Now, this is a ball park...offer him $1000 and see if he goes for it...once you get it restored correctly, especially with period parts, it'll certainly be worth it.
dm

_________________
The bass player is the house into which all the other players come to find shelter and have a good time. If you forget that responsibilty, you're leaving everyone without shelter.

Abe Laboriel


Top
Profile
Post subject: collectable????
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:32 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 1:02 am
Posts: 80
The only problem I see is that Leo Fender never intended his guitars to become collectable, that is why they weren't concerned with serial numbers and matching parts. I am sure he would think the prices to be out of bounds on many guitars.

In the 1970's brand new a Fender Bass Body and neck with tuners sold for about $300 total.

I would offer him a very low price like $400 or $500. He can only say no. With a bad truss rod the neck is pretty much worthless.


Last edited by mikecain on Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:24 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: collectable????
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 6:59 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:08 pm
Posts: 72
mikecain wrote:

With a bad truss rod the neck is pretty much worthless.


Actually, I just repaired a neck with a broken truss rod for about $15 and a couple hours time. If you have access to a router, it is actually quite easy. Especially the ones with the adjusting nut at the headstock end of the neck.

_________________
The bass player is the house into which all the other players come to find shelter and have a good time. If you forget that responsibilty, you're leaving everyone without shelter.

Abe Laboriel


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:08 pm
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:12 pm
Posts: 6355
Location: Albemarle, NC
Do you know for sure that the truss rod is toasted?

If so, then make him a lowball offer. Say $450. If it just MIGHT be wrecked I might go $550. But I don't do my own truss rod work like Dedmouse, so I'd have to get it repaired and do the rest of the work myself. All he can say is no. I don't think that is unfair to either of you. Sounds like he is waiting for you to make an offer so I'd start low and see what his counteroffer would be and then negotiate from there.

If you can get by with modern electronics components you'll be way better off financially. Figure about $25 for CTS solid shaft 250 pots, good wire, poly or mylar cap and a Switchcraft jack.

Add 20 to 25 more for knobs and a string tree/retainer.

Whatever new pickup you want will range from about $70 to $130. I don't think I'd buy vintage electronics from 1975 because they would be about shot anyway. If you did want to use a vintage correct used pickup I for sure would get it rewound before installing it and that costs about the same as a brand new pickup does. Unless you just have to have 1975 electronics I would not bother. The thing isn't original anyway so there isn't much point in paying five times more for vintage electronics. It really won't sound any different!

The capacitor choice will be the most crucial factor. For a cap I'd use a Sprague Vitamin Q 200 volt 0.047. They are scarce but can be had. They are 70's vintage and were a popular upgrade back then, but were not original.


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:09 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:44 am
Posts: 52
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Thanks Brotherdave for your help, I already offer him $400 an he say yes. The truss rod was OK, and the electric installation was there ready, so I;m starting to restore it probably is going to take like 2 months because fo the benjamins...
:D

_________________
Standing in the shadows of Motown. Oh yes Jamerson please show me the path!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Use new parts!
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:23 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 1:02 am
Posts: 80
Please don't waste your money on buying period correct parts. It is simply not worth it. They would cost you so much money that you could have purchased a whole bass for what they would cost. Just buy the brand new fender parts. You can buy nickel screws, and pots that are exactly the same as they produced in 1975. You have the cool fender body and neck and that is what counts. Guys sell vintage parts charging from 3 to 6 times the cost of brand new Fender factory parts. Factory parts that are likely being made on the same machines that they used in 1975. I've looked at lots of period correct parts and the quality is suspect. Old doesn't mean better. Some of the plating in early years is good, but much of it isn't. The new parts look the same without all the scratches and are 1/4 of the cost.

I would consider buying this pickup, it comes with a shield and good wire. http://www.fender.com/products//search. ... 0992046000


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 1:30 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 03, 2009 8:44 am
Posts: 52
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
Mike,

You are totally right, I am not going to buy the old fender stuff, just vintage pickups but all the other stuff will be just original and contemporary fender parts.

Take a look, sorry for including my toe he's kind of a camera lover... :D

Image

_________________
Standing in the shadows of Motown. Oh yes Jamerson please show me the path!


Top
Profile
Post subject: I didn't want to feel left out so I bought something stupid
Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:41 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon May 18, 2009 1:02 am
Posts: 80
http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss11 ... eck002.jpg

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss11 ... eck005.jpg

http://i566.photobucket.com/albums/ss11 ... eck008.jpg


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 11 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: