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Post subject: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 6:51 pm
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Hello everyone! My grandmother has my late grandfather's ancient P-bass that he played back in the day and was wondering about how much it is worth. I'm an acoustic guitar player so I'm clueless ;) . I can get a great array of pictures probably Monday or Tuesday. :D just let me know what to photograph specifically.

The number on the neck plate is 301236. From what I've found that puts it at 1959 (if that is indeed the serial number) but my mother-in-law says she put a number in on Fender's website and got 1973. So, very confused there.

On the head stock it says "Fender" and underneath that there is a series of numbers... what do these numbers mean? I have a VERY blurry shot of the location of these numbers and also have them written down if that helps.

Pic:
http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j36 ... 862494.jpg

The numbers are as follows:
Pat. 2573254 2968204 3143028 2976755

The entire bass was stripped to the wood by my uncle in the early 90s and he redid it entirely. It is sunburst and absolutely gorgeous and flawless. Well, it was. Someone borrowed it and unfortunately there is a spot on the back from the man's belt buckle rubbing the paint job off, I believe it is rubbed to the wood in that spot. Otherwise it is gorgeous, and even has a small golden plate with my grandfather's name on it.


Any information is greatly appreciated, and I will get pictures as soon as possible. Thank you!


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Posted: Sat Nov 20, 2010 7:40 pm
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Location: SLO County CA
Nope, it wouldn't be from '59.
30000 to 40000 = 1959

From another site:

250000 to 280000 = 1969
280000 to 300000 = 1970
300000 to 330000 = 1971
330000 to 370000 = 1972
370000 to 520000 = 1973
500000 to 580000 = 1974
580000 to 690000 = 1975

Love to see photos! 8)

You can pull the neck off to check for a date, the pots have dates, and the bottom of the pick-ups I believe.

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Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2010 8:26 pm
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There's a fair bit of wiggle room in serial number dating, but the headstock logo in the picture you posted was not used in 1959. So, available evidence so far is consistent with an early 70s issue.

Not all neck butts have dates, so that may or may not help in your case. You want to excercise care in removing the neck bolts so you don't strip the holes. If you have any concerns, don't bother. Exposing the pots is much easier; just remove the pickguard screws and knobs.

But, odds are, you've got one from about '71-73. The value has likely been significantly reduced because of the refinish, no matter how nice it looks. Other factors include the originality of all of the parts.

The hard reality here is that value is largely dependent on two factors:

1. Collectibility; and
2. Playability

For older instruments, #1 is the far more important component of value, and the main issue there is that of originality: is the bass configured just like it was when it came from the factory?


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Post subject: Re: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Fri May 27, 2011 2:14 pm
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I'm desesperadamente trying to value a 1969 Fender Presicion Bass with original case.
I'll really appreciate any help you can give me here.
I can post some pictures of the bass, and the serial number.
thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 1:51 am
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Ricmeade wrote:
I'm desesperadamente trying to value a 1969 Fender Presicion Bass with original case.
I'll really appreciate any help you can give me here.
I can post some pictures of the bass, and the serial number.
thanks.


Please do post photos of complete instrument, front and back. Photos of case in and out.
Also the serial number. Close up photos help too.


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Post subject: Re: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:43 pm
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Here ou go mate :D
Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Sun Jun 05, 2011 2:24 pm
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VG to EX condition and appears all original! Congratulations.

FIRST the vintage market has been somewhat depressed for at least 4 years but has been doing a turn around as of late recovering lost ground. Therefore the longer you keep it the more it will be worth.

Value is also relative to the market in which it is located. Outside the USA they tend to bring slightly higher prices. Inside the USA they bring higher prices in active music markets like Nashville, LA or NYC and less in economically ravaged areas like Detroit.

Based on the photos if it was for sale in the Carolinas and Georgia a 1969 bass in this condition would have a spring/summer asking price of $2700 to $3500 at a vintage guitar show where an offer of about 15% less than the asking price would possibly be acceptable to the seller. The appraisal value might go as high as 5400 or even 7000, but vintage instruments rarely ever sell at full appraisal value. In NYC, or LA or Nashville this bass would bring more. Sell it internationally and you will surely get even more for it.

A vintage dealer will offer you about half what he thinks he can sell it for, therefore you are better off trying to sell it yourself if you can find a way to do that.


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Post subject: Re: Question about P-bass (1959?)
Posted: Sun Jun 12, 2011 10:41 pm
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wow!even sporting a quatersawn neck,you can tell by the markings on the back of the neck its quatersawn,the rings are'nt oval or oval like marking's they are straight up and down and this is acheived by cutting the wood a certain way that wastes more wood than a regular piece which they try to get as many cuts out of the stock as possible.Its not often you see one in regular production Fender basses,they are usually reserved for the custom shop higher priced models,and believe me they are'nt cheap and hard to come by on Fender regualr production. :mrgreen:

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