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Post subject: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 4:44 am
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Hello

Apologies for my first post being a question about my bass, but times are hard, I no longer play and I really need to drum up some cash.

1974 Vintage Fender Precision Bass
Natural finish
Maple neck
Original tuners, pickups, scratch-plate etc.
One of the chrome volume knobs and couple of scratch-plate screws missing
Chrome bridge and pickup covers have long-since been lost
Small piece of the scratch-plate behind the jack socket is missing
Nothing has been replaced on this guitar, apart from the strings
Very good, clean condition
Kept in lined PENN flight-case (included)
Two owners from new

I am based in the UK

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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 11:44 am
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Location: Albemarle, NC
Actually this would more accurately be described as FAIR to GOOD condition because of the four missing or broken parts. Replace them with original parts and then you have a VERY GOOD to possibly EXCELLENT instrument. Here in the southeastern USA this bass would be sold by a vintage dealer for $1,350 to $1,600 USD in VG to EX cond including the original case. About 1,050 to 1,250 USD in Fair to Good condition which is the condition you actually have now. The replacement parts should be from another '74 of course or it is no longer a collector class instrument. Obtaining the correct replacement parts would probably be more expensive than the increase in value. Here some dealers and even private sellers will price these in Excellent to Near Mint condition to between $3,000 and $3,300 but they will actually wind up selling for more like $2,500 to $2,800 when the deal is finalized.

In the UK where you are located, the value in any condition will be HIGHER as they are scarcer there. So it is worth more there than here and probably at least 20% more. The original case would make it worth more than it is worth with the flight case, but the Fender importer for UK often imported them without any case at all so it is not uncommon to see Fender USA instruments in a variety of cases and rarely in USA cases. I'd sell it as-is because you will not recover in value what the vintage correct replacement parts will cost to obtain.

If someone offered you 920 to 1000 Pounds for the instrument without the case I think that would be a fair offer in an as-is sale and I would seriously consider taking it. I would not go lower than about 900 Pounds unless you are very desperate to sell it and you have a firm offer you will be happy to take. I would add to that 900 Pound lower limit whatever you think the flight case is worth there.

If you take it to a vintage dealer there, you can expect an offer of around 450 to 500 Pounds.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 12:06 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Albemarle, NC
To double check my estimate for the value there, take it to a vintage dealer if there is one nearby. Tell him you want to sell it outright and ask what he'd offer. Don't take the offer of course. Instead DOUBLE his offer and that is the value there because whatever he gives you for it he will add 110% to it and that will be his asking price, he will reduce that during a sale negotiation to about 100% more than he paid for it and act like he's getting hurt in the deal. That is how vintage dealers here operate anyway.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 4:20 am
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Dave

Thank you very much for your advice and insight. Much appreciated

Regards

Richard


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 10:32 pm
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My 74 has a Poplar body-- yours looks like Ash. That adds a little to the value I think. My 74 P bass Poplar body refinish - with changed out pots and pickguard- everything else is there with case - I wouldn't sell it for any less than 2000 up here where I live-- Northern Yankee State. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:32 am
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I didn't know that. If ash adds a bit more value, I won't complain. Thanks for the info.

Cheers


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:57 am
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I have noticed that in cities like NY, Chicago, and out in Clorofillornia - guitar prices are way thru the roof.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:00 am
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I wish I could say the same about the UK :D

stroker vance wrote:
I have noticed that in cities like NY, Chicago, and out in Clorofillornia - guitar prices are way thru the roof.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:08 am
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Prices of Fenders over there is way higher than here. What I pay 1000 for you probubly give 1500 for. I think that's a close representation. Those guys up in Finland and Iceland wish.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:32 am
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Rock Star
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Location: Albemarle, NC
stroker vance wrote:
My 74 has a Poplar body-- yours looks like Ash. That adds a little to the value I think. My 74 P bass Poplar body refinish - with changed out pots and pickguard- everything else is there with case - I wouldn't sell it for any less than 2000 up here where I live-- Northern Yankee State. HA!!!!!!!!!!!!


Good luck selling a player class '74 P-Bass for $2,000 anywhere. While a dealer might mark one that high, he'll take less.

And yes in music center cities, including Nashville, Austin, LA, Seattle, NYC, Chicago, London, Paris, Rome, Berlin, Munich, etc...any instrument class will bring more than here.

But still not 2,000 for a refinished and refurbished electronics player class '74 P-Bass. In a year or two if things keep picking up maybe it would bring 2,000 but not this year. A dealer will offer you about $500 to $600 for it. Double their offer, add 10% more and that is what it is worth on the local market. Take it to a vintage dealer up there in Northern Yankee State and see. Downtown NYC prices are sky high.

Ash is a markup over poplar yes. But not as big a markup as a refinish and changed out electronics are markdowns. Even one of those changes will exclude the instrument from collector class.


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Post subject: Re: How much is this P Bass is worth?
Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:38 am
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I understand what you are saying B Dave. I could never sell my 74 anyway. It's been thru it all with me. I have a 72 Jazz Natural finish ash body maple neck with black blocks-- checking/ bumps etc. - non-original pickups only. A guy was dying to give me 1800 and I turned him down. It's too sweet.

Putting all the dealer driven and magazine driven pricing hype aside. It comes down to what someone will pay.
I have too many guitars anyway ( so I say now but wait) .


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