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Post subject: Are these legit?
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 5:56 am
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So recently I've been intrigued by the older American Vintage series basses that roughly predate the Custom Shop. I notice that Custom Colors were more prevalent back before the CS was established, or even just after.

So online I've found a few 57 Precision Reissues that date back to the 80's. They obviously carry Custom Shop level price tags. I don't mind paying a fair price, but on all of these I have serious concerns about their legitimacy.

The first is from ebay in England and it's an 89 57RI in "Mary Kaye" supposedly. (White Blonde/Gold hardware) However, what concerns me is that the bass has nickel tuners and strap buttons, but a gold bridge, knobs and covers. Is this right? I thought the Mary Kaye configuration was all gold hardware? Also, the neck date is stamped on in what looks like ink from a machine. It's not a hand written date. Also, the seller refers to the neck as a B width neck. Which a 50's B is definitely my favorite, but I didn't think that made it to the split coil era?

The next are two basses from an online site called Joe The Guitarman.

The first of which is supposedly an 82 Fullerton in CAR over Sunburst and it's got some nice playwear but also 'damage" where it looks like stickers were peeled off. I know the early Reissues were more in line with the Custom Shop, but did they really paint over Sunbursts with the gold and final coat like that? That would seem to be a little circumspect to me as this was done originally when there was either a mistake or an order was placed and no unfinished bodies were available. You could easily just paint a bass you were purposely making CAR, CAR from the get go and skip the burst. Were the fullerton reissues really that concerned with historical accuracy in that detail? To the point of worrying about wear decades down the line?

The next is even crazier. Supposedly an 87 Reissue in Fiesta over Surf over burst. This bass looks like it's been played really hard, and it has the original pick ups available, but is currently outfitted with EMGs. (Blech, that's like putting a modern Mustang engine in a 67 GT 500 :shock: ) Again, does this seem at all likely? Would they really do this? Burst, Surf and finally Fiesta? That seems bizarre to me, unless there were legitimate errors in the paintroom. I don't know.

Any help would be appreciated from those in the know. I don't mind spending good money on a high quality reissue. Especially one that is rare and special. However, these have my bs detector going off a little. So I turn to those with more experience in these matters.

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2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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Post subject: Re: Are these legit?
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 7:09 am
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Well I can only tell you what I remember about the early Vintage reissues and I commend you on your skepticism concerning all of those supposed finishes over other colors being sold as original to the basses in question.

I know that Fender did a Mary Kaye '62 Precision around 1989 because I was tempted to buy one. You are correct in assuming that the Mary Kaye basses originally had all hardware gold plated. That means all tuning machines, the entire bridge, all pick guard screws, all 3 strap buttons and mounting screws were Gold plated as well as gold plated pickup and bridge ashtrays (unmounted) were supplied along with the bass. The Mary Kaye finish was a true blonde finish in which you can see the grain of the ash body though the white translucent finish. They are very beautiful. I would say that the MK P bass you referred to had its original tuners and strap buttons changed out for nickel plated parts. Or it had its neck changed out for a B width neck with a repro decal and nickel plated tuners. This happens all of the time with Fender basses.

The basses came with a tweed case that was not lacquered. This omission bothered me at the time but it is what it is. I think they now come with a brown case I am not sure.

The concept that Fender finished over other finished bodies as a routine practice bothers me as being too much work for what they end up with. I wasn't at the factory and I never worked there but I would think that taking a risk that a different color finish will set up over an existing defective finish seems like more work to me than starting with another body blank. I have to wonder if owners got tired of their sunburst P basses and re-finned with CA red or Foam green just to be different and then they sell it as a factory job to avoid the value hit that a refinish does to a Fender bass' sale price.

Be careful out there.

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Post subject: Re: Are these legit?
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 8:33 am
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Well, I know Fender did the finish overs in the old days. However, I don't see that being a logical thing to do with reissues. The material issues that Fender faced int eh old days weren't an issue, and unlike the actual Custom Shop the Vintage Reissue line did not contain Relicing. So there would be no way to justify the extra labor. It's not like they were charging more for the basses with the extra work for the Custom Color. (As opposed to the original practice in the 50's and 60's of the 5% upcharge) So the fact that these would be legitimate seems very skeptical to me. Which is unfortunate. I'd love to get a Custom Color AV 57 RI.

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2012 Fender Custom Shop 55 Precision Bass
2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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Post subject: Re: Are these legit?
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:46 am
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I am not saying that there were no Vintage reissues done in custom colors. They certainly were Custom Color VR basses. Fender did a run of CA red 57 P basses and Lake Placid Blue '62 Jazz basses in various years through the 80's and 90's. I am not saying that those were the only colors either its just the ones I remember.

I have a hard time seeing them take a defective SB finish and doing LP Blue over it.
They had too many body blanks available.

I am open to someone providing evidence to the contrary.

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Post subject: Re: Are these legit?
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 5:28 pm
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BCbassman wrote:
I am not saying that there were no Vintage reissues done in custom colors. They certainly were Custom Color VR basses. Fender did a run of CA red 57 P basses and Lake Placid Blue '62 Jazz basses in various years through the 80's and 90's. I am not saying that those were the only colors either its just the ones I remember.

I have a hard time seeing them take a defective SB finish and doing LP Blue over it.
They had too many body blanks available.

I am open to someone providing evidence to the contrary.



Oh, no. I got exactly what you meant and we are TOTALLY on the same page. I just wish more people were looking to sell theirs. :lol: Seems like these are the only I could find and I think we both know why. :?

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2012 Fender American Vintage 57 Precision Bass RI
2014 Fender Super Bassman and Bassman 100T/410 Neo


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