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Post subject: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 5:37 pm
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This is a bass I acquired in the mid-1980's and used on some recordings, tours & rock videos.

Its actually a nice 'player' bass with a very nimble neck & feel.. it has a more punchy J style midrange tone than P bass wide-open rock tones. Has a road-worn look and 'character'. It even smells nice.

Modified (by prior owner) with EMG J bass style pickups, Badass bridge & Grover tuners.

On the back plate it says 38273

I assume this was originally a 1950's P Bass before being modified...

Does anyone have thoughts as to the rough value of this instrument as I have no idea whatsoever.... I am selling off gear right now to urgently raise some funds....

Thank you all here for your kind assistance!

Ryan


The tone of the bass can be heard in these early 90's rock videos

http://youtu.be/fiagprlvw9E
http://youtu.be/TxOyX-zTyiQ



Image

Image

Image

Image


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:46 pm
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Rock Star
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Location: Albemarle, NC
That is a 1959 serial. I'd say due the mods that a ballpark value around the southeastern USA is optimistically $2500 to $3000. If original it would appraise at 10 times that. Looks like a good player. It has value as a player, but is not collectible.


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 6:51 pm
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Putting jazz bass pick ups on a 59 P is there is no other word cruel...

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AVRI 62 J Bass, AVRI 62 P Bass, USA Std. FSR Hand stained P Bass, USA Std. J Bass, F Cabronita P Bass, Squire P Bass special fretless, Squire HSS Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 9:04 pm
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Sarigul wrote:
Putting jazz bass pick ups on a 59 P is there is no other word cruel...


It is far more common to see the Precision pickup left alone with an added Jazz pickup at the bridge. To see the Precision pulled with a custom cut pickguard is sort of unique. If you are a P-Player but need a total Jazz sound I guess that would explain it.


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 10:52 pm
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Thanks for the feedback everyone! Very helpful indeed...

Its hard to imagine now, but back in those days, the 80's, modifying things was all the rage & the value / general appreciation of pre-CBS Fender basses was not anywhere near what it is nowadays (!)... as I recall there tended to only be interest in custom colours...

On that note - at around the same time as I acquired the bass in question, I got offered an early 60's maybe even 1960/1961 custom colour red J-Bass from another private seller for 1000 UK pounds which was around $2k at that time.... played really nice with a tone I could only describe as 'chocolatey'. Though after careful consideration I passed on it due to lack of funds (!).....

This 50's bass in question plays really nicely, I have never played any Fender bass with such a nimble neck! I agree it was a strange thing for the prior owner to create a kind of hybrid J bass from a P model, though it must have made sense at the time (!)


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 9:07 pm
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I am always sorry to see gear sold for need...been there years ago. Whatever the reason, I hope it works out for you.

It is either a player or a restoration project. Either way I think the top end is around $2000.

Best of Luck!

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Collector of vintage Fender 4 string basses.


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 9:09 am
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Roadie
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Location: London, UK
brotherdave wrote:
Sarigul wrote:
Putting jazz bass pick ups on a 59 P is there is no other word cruel...


It is far more common to see the Precision pickup left alone with an added Jazz pickup at the bridge. To see the Precision pulled with a custom cut pickguard is sort of unique. If you are a P-Player but need a total Jazz sound I guess that would explain it.


Added J pup at the bridge position thats fine with me. But isn't the split coal pick what makes a mark 2 P bass?

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AVRI 62 J Bass, AVRI 62 P Bass, USA Std. FSR Hand stained P Bass, USA Std. J Bass, F Cabronita P Bass, Squire P Bass special fretless, Squire HSS Strat.


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Post subject: Re: Modified 50's P Bass I want to sell - thoughts on value?
Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2013 3:12 pm
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That neck is awfully clean comp. to the body. It may be a parts bass, but there are luthiers who could restore that body to a metal guard P-bass and you wouldn't know the difference.

If its fun to play the way it is- just enjoy it.


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