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Post subject: '59 P bass ID
Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 6:35 am
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I've got a chance to trade for what is claimed to be an original '59 Precision. The bass itself has seen a lot of use and is missing it's finish and decal. In addition, the owner says there are no markings on the neck or neck pocket. There are pix here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/theehman/59PBass

Do you guys think this is a real '59? What other things could I look for? He says it's a slab fingerboard and it has the pin router marks.


Last edited by The EH Man on Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:45 am
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according to the serial number on the neck plate it is an 59' bass!

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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:05 am
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bluestube wrote:
according to the serial number on the neck plate it is an 59' bass!


Unfortunately that's the only thing I can find that would actually date it to 1959. But who's to say it wasn't put on this bass by an unscrupulous person?
What else could I look for that would pin it down as an actual '59?


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:08 am
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You're right, EH... you can buy neckplates with any number you like stamped into them.

I don't think there's anything left that would mark this as a real '59. No shots of the electronics (let me guess... not original, right?)? No finish? No decal? What's up with that oddball wear pattern around the bridge? And how the hell does one manage to lose the date stamp and neck pocket markings? (I mean, think about it... sure, some idiot sanded off the decal... right, that could happen... but the neck pocket? Man, you have to go to some trouble to get rid of that...)

I think it's a fake, and not even a good one. If that's a real '59, it's one of the poorest examples of all time. And if you're thinking of buying because ti's a real '59 (and not because it's a good deal on a great sounding, great playing bass), then I'd pass. It would be very hard for a vintage dealer to authenticate that one.


Last edited by Gravity Jim on Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:10 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:10 am
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Hmm, personally I'd steer clear but that's partly because I'm not a vintage guitar expert :)

I do find it slightly suspect that the neck/ neck pocket markings have mysteriously disappeared though...


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:46 am
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Gravity Jim wrote:
You're right, EH... you can buy neckplates with any number you like stamped into them.

I don't think there's anything left that would mark this as a real '59. No shots of the electronics (let me guess... not original, right?)? No finish? No decal? What's up with that oddball wear pattern around the bridge? And how the hell does one manage to lose the date stamp and neck pocket markings? (I mean, think about it... sure, some idiot sanded off the decal... right, that could happen... but the neck pocket? Man, you have to go to some trouble to get rid of that...)

I think it's a fake, and not even a good one. If that's a real '59, it's one of the poorest examples of all time. And if you're thinking of buying because ti's a real '59 (and not because it's a good deal on a great sounding, great playing bass), then I'd pass. It would be very hard for a vintage dealer to authenticate that one.


The electronics, other than the pots, are supposed to be original. I've asked for some photos. The wear pattern next to bridge was apparently caused by pick wear.
The deal is a trade on a Guild bass I have.


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 9:55 am
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Well, that tears it. He'll trade you for a Guild??!? Claims it's a real '59, but he'll trade you for a guitar that would be worth, maybe, 1/10th what a '59 would be worth?

Still, I did some looking around and A.R. Duchossoir says that early rosewood board '59s didn't have a neck date. No mention of the neck pocket info, though. Hmmm.

I would only make the trade if you actually liked the way it played and sounded better than your Guild, not because you thought it was a "real" '59.


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:00 am
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Gravity Jim wrote:
Well, that tears it. He'll trade you for a Guild??!? Claims it's a real '59, but he'll trade you for a guitar that would be worth, maybe, 1/10th what a '59 would be worth?


The Guild in question is a 60's Jet Star. They're pretty rare as there were less than 250 made but they definitely don't have the value of a 59 P. He says he knows the P is worth more but he's been looking for a Jet Star for years.

Gravity Jim wrote:
Still, I did some looking around and A.R. Duchossoir says that early rosewood board '59s didn't have a neck date. Hmmm.


That's what I was told by the owner.

Gravity Jim wrote:
I would only make the trade if you actually liked the way it played and sounded better than your Guild, not because you thought it was a "real" '59.

I don't have it here to compare but I do like my Guild for playability and sound. I don't play the Guild very often so I was looking at it more as a trade for an investment piece.


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Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 10:24 am
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Well, it's not much of an investment piece, but I hope it works out for ya.... good luck!


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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:12 am
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I don´t know if it´s a real ´59 or not but it looks killer dude!!
It looks like the one that Geezer Butler used a long time ago !!
Be happy with it it´s a killer lookin´ bass and sure it has the vintage sound too :twisted: :twisted:


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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:23 am
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Attila wrote:
I don´t know if it´s a real ´59 or not but it looks killer dude!!
It looks like the one that Geezer Butler used a long time ago !!
Be happy with it it´s a killer lookin´ bass and sure it has the vintage sound too :twisted: :twisted:


The trade never completed as the owner had 2nd thoughts. I may be in his neck of the woods later this year, though, so he can try out the Guild in person.


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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 8:28 am
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My rule of thumb, if I haven't/couldn't play it, I don't buy it. If it's giving me a horrible(sick) feeling, I don't buy. If I doubt the person I'm going to give money to, I won't do it. Sounds like you have all those bad feelings, so I wouldn't trade it. You know the history of your Jet Star, but you feel he might be telling you half truths, don't go a long with it.

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