GuyR

13 hours ago, Rick's Fine '52 said:

On a personal level, I agree with you. As a collector, if I had this sort of money, I’d rather have two nice stack knobs. This is a bit niche, and as you say, will not be for everyone. To be fair, it belongs in the Fender archive museum.

Investment wise, I also agree, a one-off could be hard to sell on, highly reduced market, whereas a ‘regular issue’ bass would always be a sound investment, and a desirable piece.

An interesting view on ‘59 Les Pauls, is that experts suggest that over twice as many have been sold, as were actually made. Conclude what you will from that, but with that statistic, you wouldn’t see me parting with that sort of money for one! 

C'mon Rick, who are you trying to kid? You know you would have the two nice stack knobs AND this if circumstance permitted.......

I'd be very interested to hear the opinion of anyone who has played it.

Here is the link https://jayrosen.com/collections/fender-basses/products/1959-fender-jazz-bass-sunburst

I'd give it house room.

There is a very interesting listing on the website of Jay Rosen in the US of what looks like a prototype Jazz Bass. Advertised at $78250 I don't expect it will be there very long.

I don't seem to be able to paste a link from my phone, but it is well worth a look.

6 hours ago, spectoremg said:

Apols to the OP but I love that this has turned onto a relic'd or a having a life post 😜

It always does. Any time a thread with a title such "as are you bothered if you ding your relic bass", it is inevitably hijacked, often in a good natured way, such as here, other times less so, by posters expressing their distaste for relic basses, and passing judgement "sad" etc - often less pleasant on the instruments and those that buy them. It is seemingly not possible to have a discussion about some aspect of relic basses without it, 

If a thread is on a subject I'm not interested in, I don't bother posting that I don't like it,, because that would seem to me a tedious and oppressive waste of time for those that are and would like to enjoy an exchange of views on it.

Further, passing judgement on posters based on the finish they prefer on their bass, as has often happened in other threads on the subject, is sad. It might be described as "bassism" 

i don't have a relic bass, Im so grateful that by your standards I have a life

23 hours ago, spectoremg said:

When are they gonna start selling pre-dinged instruments to the gullible?

Yeah, you'd have to be pretty gullible to buy a relic bass, right?

10 hours ago, Musashimonkey said:

Not bothered in the slightest, that’s the beauty in roadworn basses. Very liberating. (Though I always take extra care of the neck). 

My position exactly. Also why I like quite feral originals too; if they are already quite damaged, who cares about a few extra dings apart from th neck.

The worst dent on a pristine bass is the first, so why have that to look forward to?

It absolutely depends on whether it has had a refinish. If the seller is suggesting it may have had one, then you can be almost completely certain it has. That reduces the value by around half for a sunburst, more if it is a custom colour.  

Base price for a sunburst refin without further significant issues, maybe £3.5 k private sale, £4.5 -5k from a dealer. For a custom colour, the refin value is the same, the value for an original can be £7k to well over £10, depending on the rarity of the colour, condition and, of course, whether it is any good to play!! ( often overlooked)

For a 62, a slab fingerboard might nominally add £1k to an original bass, £500 to a refin.

if you are buying it as original finish, get a receipt stating it is original and preferably agree an approval period of, say, a week during which you can have it examined by an expert such as Andy Baxter or Martin Petersen.

If it's good to play and reasonably priced, go for it, but remember, there are always others out there.

 I don't remember a bass in this colour for sale in this condition, so, if you want one this could well be your only opportunity. Atb's stock generally doesn't hang around.

I remember Andy Baxter had a metallic gold flake '64 for sale in similar condition a few years ago for £15k, which also seemed expensive, but doesn't now.

As with any market, it is only supply and demand that dictates price, nothing else.

I'm not sure of the number of truly collector grade 90%+ original pre cbs basses that  change hands in the uk each year but I would expect that it is a low number. Fender serial numbers up to 1965 add up to 200,000 for all types of instrument, so the numbers of basses existing in collector condition will still be in the many thousands- plenty of pent-up supply. The cutting edge of the market changing hands each year I would think is a small percentage of the existing stock.

It may well be that, when owners reach an age where they want to rid themselves of possessions that increased supply might coincide with a diminished demand from a smaller pool of potential buyers, less interested in music featuring electric bass, causing prices to drop.

This change in taste has certainly been the case with many areas of collecting. I think a widening of available information, removing the mystique, has diminished the attraction of some areas of collecting, particularly where it  has demonstrated large production numbers. Who knows?

one thing I can be certain about. The hour I spent playing my original custom colour 1962 jazz bass earlier this evening was the best hour I spent today.

12 hours ago, Woodinblack said:

There is the other thought - its 53 years old and it is mint condition. Was it really that bad that noone wanted to play it in 50 years?

Mint basses his age are a liability in my opinion. Much better to buy 3 good quality vintage basses with wear for the same price. The law of averages says they are likely to be better as they are only worn because they were worth playing.

things go wrong with vintage basses. Pickups die, switches & tuners break.

who would want the responsibility of a bass like this, with all the potential for value-sapping maintenance & repair?

me

He does get some great stock. He advertised recently a 65 L series matching headstock Jazz in the same colour but very worn & faded  at £10k. I emailed to say I'd be prepared to pay that price, but it appears a number of people had beaten me to it. 

The one advertised currently is just eye-candy. Might struggle getting£22k past the chancellor, though!

4 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

I’ve convinced myself I remember that bass also!

If you’d gone for it at the time and still had it, the way prices have gone in the past year for vintage instruments, you would probably be sitting on a profit now (not that they’re there for that reason, IMO).

I’m aware that’s probably not going to make you feel any better, btw!

They’ve had a ‘66 dot and bound Jazz in there now on a commission sale for a good few years that’s been up at the same price all along. It was over the market rate when it was first put on the wall but now I reckon it’d be seen as a bargain, for want of a better word, as values have rocketed.

If it’s any consolation I wished I gone for the ‘64 P-bass at the time. First world problems, eh... 

I don't feel too bad about it. I'm fortunate enough to have a few pre cbs jazz basses.😀

The 66 you mention does look a good buy. It looks to be in really good order - funny how the buying public ignores for sale nstruments after have been around for a while - maybe assuming there must be something wrong with it.

Around the same time they had a fiesta red matching headstock 62 jazz bass which just played itself. I do still slightly regret not paying over the odds for a refin as it was just so good.....

That bass is quite easy on the eye.

On reflection, neither seems too bad, particularly the latter🙂

Having looked at a dozen or so, the cushion wasn't present on any precision pre 1973, based on the sample on Andy Baxters site.

how sad is that?🙂

12 hours ago, Old Man Riva said:

Thank you, sir, really helpful.

I can only think the neck-plate I saw on a ‘68 P-bass was a replacement done at some point during the time you reference above.

Which then makes me ponder why a neck-plate would need replacing... 

Fenders; so many questions!

I had a look on Andy Baxter's inventory, where he very helpfully retains lots of detail photos of many of the basses that have passed through his hands.

As far as I could see on my rather small phone screen, his 69 and 70 precisions did not appear to have the cushion. Of course that doesn't mean they never had them. I don't think they improve the look of a bass, or the performance.

V cool. Have always had a soft spot for these, not based on having tried one. 

In Black & Molinaro's excellent "the Fender Bass - An Illustrated History" it says "The black cushion under the plate is found throughout the 1970s and some of the 1980s"

not very precise but hope that helps.

Used to watch Dill Katz play this live with John Etheridge on guitar. Proper tune.

6 hours ago, xgsjx said:

As much as I love Ibbys, I want something a little different.  I like the idea of a custom made bass, such as a Maruszczyck.

I also really like the idea of a fretless electroacoustic for when I'm doing folk stuff (Warwick Alien looks great, as does the Gillett basses).

I currently play in a rock band, but come July, I'll no longer be in that band.  The next band won't be a rock band.  I really can't stand the constant sound of distorted guitars anymore.
I suggested for a song that the guitarist played clean at certain parts & his response was "I don't do clean".

Anyway, next band will be anything but Rock.  RnB, Electronica, Funk, Soul, Jazz, Folk, anything at all apart from Rock.
No disrespect to those who love Rock.  I did for years & still enjoy a bit of Black Crowes.

If you are considering electro acoustic the Godin A5 has a fantastic sound. Really rich tone. I picked mine up used for £500. There is a 80s tokai fretless Jazz on eBay ATM for £400, if that makes a sunburst 4 string less unattractive. They are great basses.

I agree with the other posters that buying used, relatively cheap, allows you to change your mind without financial penalty.

In answer to your question I play fretted about twice as much as fretless. My main fretless now is a defretted 62 jazz bass, which cost around your £2k budget.

good luck with your search

1 hour ago, Frank Blank said:

I watched it arc through the air and hit the target so unless you are Toyah then I’m afraid it was another yob.

My secret is out!

1 hour ago, Frank Blank said:

I once gobbed over Toyah mid-gig at The Rainbow on the 21st February 1981. I am considering making it a double in November.

I think you hit me instead. Always wondered who it was.

Thanks for the heads up. Will be in front of the TV for that. Never has a bad bass player either. Bumped into Rand Hope-Taylor in the gallery the other day. Top bloke and absolute gent.

Either side of m 50th, I bought myself 64 and 62 jazz basses and a 66 tele. But did it make me happy...?    Er yes😀

3 hours ago, paddy109 said:

My 50th is in November and I suggested to my wife I might but a Mustang PJ. She suggested I might not reach 51 if I do - apparently 2 basses is enough for anyone.

 

New wife for your 50th. What is this 2 bass nonsense?