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Post subject: 1962 Fender Precision Bass Coral Pink or Fiesta Red
Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 11:51 am
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I have an original 62 Precision Bass that came with a 62 piggyback bassman amp. I did take it apart, and the pots date it a 62 as well as the neck. Original Paint. The price guide I have lists the guitar as coral red, but I have had a lot of people call it Fiesta Red. Which is correct? And what is the going price for one with a nice original finish with case in excellent condition?


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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 2:41 am
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Sean Chantler wrote:
I have an original 62 Precision Bass that came with a 62 piggyback bassman amp. I did take it apart, and the pots date it a 62 as well as the neck. Original Paint. The price guide I have lists the guitar as coral red, but I have had a lot of people call it Fiesta Red. Which is correct? And what is the going price for one with a nice original finish with case in excellent condition?


Congratulations on owning such a great instrument!

If you look at the Fender color charts of that era Fender did not have a color called "Coral Red." Your bass is almost certainly "Fiesta Red."

It is more common to hear vintage Fiesta Red instruments incorrectly described as "Coral Pink" or even "Shell Pink" than to hear them called "Coral Red."

Fender's "Shell Pink" was actually a real custom color, but it is just a tad slightly pinker than the color of a "flesh colored" plastic Band-Aid. Fiesta Red was way more popular than Shell Pink. Dakota Red would probably never be confused with anything with the name "CORAL" in it since Dakota Red is a true red and closer to a fire engine red color than coral.

Where the incorrect "Coral" and "Shell" descriptions come from is this. Even fresh Fiesta Red really isn't predominantly red, it has a tangerine or orange hue which comes from the white pigment in the mix. What happens to give birth to the "Coral Pink" or in your case "Coral Red" descriptions is that the red pigment is very reactive to light, so the more daylight a vintage Fiesta Red finish sees the more the red pigment fades. The white pigment doesn't fade of course so it gradually becomes more prominent causing the finish to appear pinker as as the red continues to fade over time during exposure to light. Fiesta Red will in fact turn a shade of pink that perfectly fits the inaccurate "Coral Pink" description or in your case "Coral Red."

That being said, it is not impossible that some truly custom one of a kind instruments were painted colors that are not even on the custom color charts. That is how the custom colors came to be in the first place, as top artists wanted a certain color besides sunburst or blonde.

You'll find links to various Fender color charts on the "REFINISH, RESTORE & MAJOR REPAIR" page of my website. Click the RED link for that page at the website in my forum signature below. You can study the charts listed there and probably figure it out for yourself. The only reds in 1962 were Fiesta Red and Dakota Red. Candy Apple Red appeared in 1963.

Almost always colors described as "CORAL" or "PINK" from that era started out as Fiesta Red.

Your instrument if completely original other than strings is quite valuable. It is impossible to state how valuable without doing a thorough appraisal. I've had people claim to have one thing but once I got a look at it what they actually have is a counterfeit or an instrument that had been significantly modified.

Also what it might be worth here where I live in the central Carolinas is totally different that what it is worth in Nashville, NY, LA or London. I suggest that if you want an appraisal from the most trusted authority that you visit the INSTRUMENT HISTORIC DATA page of my website and click the link for GRUHN INSTRUMENT APPRAISAL and get the word from them.

I would expect it to appraise for $9,000 to $18,000 or even more depending on originality, condition, type of neck profile (unlike today you could actually order the neck profile you wanted) and there are other factors such as whether or not the case is original and if there is any original documentation or "case candy." Even whether or not the solder joints are factory original have to be taken into account.

Bear in mind that "Appraisal Value" and the "Actual Value" that it sells for are more often than not two completely different things. Appraisals from reputable and knowledgeable experts are invaluable to have for insurance purposes and they also give you an idea of an original asking price and help you accurately describe it. You can also state that it was appraised for "X-Amount of dollars by thus and so."

The economy has depressed the "Actual Value" of vintage instruments, meaning that the prices they are bringing is a smaller percentage of the "Appraisal Value." It is also taking longer to sell a vintage instrument right now. The longer that you can afford to keep it the more it will be worth and the economy does seem to be improving some, but I'm still seeing lots of price reductions. For example, at guitar shows you go on Friday and a bass that appraised for $15,000 is being sold for $12,000 and then when you go back Sunday the exact same bass is $10,350. They just aren't moving as well right now as 2 or 3 years ago. Even the foreign investors are laying back.


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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 9:12 am
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Thank you for all that useful info. The guitar is all original and in great condition. We got it from the original owner who is an elderly woman. She worked for Sylvania, and purchased it from the company store in Sunnyvale Ca. The only thing that has been changed are the strings. The case is also in great shape, as well as the bassman Piggyback amp. I have it up on ebay, and have had a lot of people question the finish. Everything I have found on-line and what the owner has told me, I am confident it is original. We have quite a few photos, it you would like to take a look at them. I hated to separate the Piggyback, hopefully the same person wins both. Thanks again for the info.


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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:21 am
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Just seen it on ebay, it's amazing. I can't belive you're selling it. Do you play bass?


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Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:51 am
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I do not play....wish I had time to learn. I own a consignment store, and occasionally get in old guitars. I always get goosebumps when I see an old woman walking up to the door with an old Fender guitar case. This is by far the nicest one we have gotten. About a year ago we sold a beautiful 1968 Fender Thinline. Sold it to the drummer of TOOL. This is an item I would love to keep, probably never see one in this condition from the original owner ever again. I could have bought it and the piggyback amp for $6,000 at the most, but I am a honest person. The elderly woman that brought it in needs the cash, She said she just wants it to go to someone that will enjoy it.


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Post subject: photos
Posted: Thu Oct 22, 2009 11:34 am
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Image


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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:40 pm
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The bass sold on eBay for $11,279.00 and the amp sold for $$2,550.50. The bass got 37 bids and the amp got 44 bids. The winning bid on the bass came in the final 9 seconds. The winning bid on the amp/cab came in the final four minutes. If you want to find out what something is worth, put it on eBay with a low opening bid and you'll find out. While both would have appraised higher, that is what they are worth today. That amp is really nice too. Unfortunately the bass and amp were not bought by the same bidder so after 47 years together, they part. The winning bid on the bass came in the final 9 seconds. The winning bid on the amp/cab came in the final four minutes.


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Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:36 pm
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I would have paid that much for that bass -- damn! Wish I'd known about it and could have worked an inside deal! :x


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Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 1:13 pm
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my 82 Fullerton RI looks almost EXACTLY like that bass, right down to the wear mark...scary!

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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.

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Post subject: 1962 fender prisicon bass
Posted: Fri Oct 30, 2009 6:42 pm
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Fiesta red


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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:46 am
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most def...Fiesta Red, the coolest color. Now if I can just convince my bandmates of that...where's the culture anymore? 8)

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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


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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 6:13 pm
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'Tis a sweet bass, minus the covers for me though.


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