GuyR

The price is nonsense.

I’d hold out for the Flea Jazz. If you are after a Flea sound, it seems a logical starting point and they regularly come up in the classifieds here. Also a strong and reliable resale if you don’t find it suits you. Welcome and good luck.

Provenance is very important in my opinion, not for reasons of a romantic story- If it can be demonstrated that the 61 custom colour fender you are interested in has been in the same ownership for north of about 30 years, then the chance of being caught out with a fake is much reduced. It would have been harder to produce an accurate fake pre internet and the lower values would have made it far less worthwhile to bother. Of course, you still have to be super careful irrespective of the back story. The provenance with Andy Baxter’s Precision is as good as you could reasonably hope for and the price is demonstrably correct.

The “purchase price” column strikes me as a potentially reckless indulgence. There is such a thing as too much information.

You make an excellent point, and on the face of it, auction does seem an unattractive prospect, but the margin between the “true value” of the item as you correctly describe it, and the net proceeds received by the seller, is in the same region as if you sell to a dealer, in my experience. As a seller, some of the attractions in selling at auction are: Convenience- Absolutely no need for any contact with the buying public. Transparency- The price is set by demand in a public setting, so if selling on behalf of a deceased estate for example, beneficiaries cannot quibble. Opportunity for a very good outcome - auction lots regularly sell well above the guide prices. If buyers have travelled and the instrument is a good or rare example, they may well make several bids past their original intended limit, rather than go home empty handed. Buyers will also often go home with an instrument other than the one they came to buy, increasing the price of their second choice instrument. Buyers can very much get caught up in the moment. In a recent GH auction, a refin 65 Strat was sold at £15k before premium or £18900 total, which is £5400 above what I was offered a original finish example for a few weeks ago. Conversely, I remember GH selling a Rick turner renaissance bass a few years ago for circa £500, and as I have mentioned before, I have bought a very original 66 Telecaster there for £5500 including commission. I do think for sellers of quality vintage kit, a good dealer such as bass gallery or ATB, selling on consignment at 15% commission is the sweet spot. I have certainly found it so. In my opinion, auction is a great venue to buy, but you need confidence in your ability to make a judgement as it’s not a retail environment. Bargains are also fewer these days.

I would expect most buyers attending an auction with a serious intention to buy would understand how an auction works and the terms.

Keep it and buy an early fretted Precision too would be my logic. You need both obviously.

Pictures or it never happened. You know the rules

Its Oly white. Think it's an August neck stamp, so yes a curved board. V long time since it's been off.

All different, but I think that’s more down to the variation between individual examples than any particular year-based changed features. 62 has the least substantial neck, but the most modern slightly dry sound 9 pounds ish. 64 very bright with loads of harmonics, good for Jaco type tone, slightly deeper neck, very low action attainable and very worn, so extremely comfortable and easy to play, 9 and a bit pounds. 65 has slightly fatter mid/low end sound, but still cuts through quite heavy just under 10lb, neck similar to the 64. 66 is very light, neck more substantial than the others but still very easy to play. I haven’t played it at any reasonable volume yet, but initial impressions again quite a zingy, bright but full sound. 64 is the one that gets picked up the most, but they all get very regular use and none lives in a case.

Thanks, I’m v pleased with it. The truss rod was a bit stiff initially regular price set up, with a fresh set of Hi Beams and all good to go. The truss rod was flush with the end of the neck so I was reasonably confident there would be plenty of space for adjustment, or at worst remedial work. Andy Baxter had a very clean Dakota 66 when I last looked. I’d be very happy with any custom colour dot neck in original finish, assuming it’s a good player and not ridiculously priced.

All have original finishes.

Left to right 65,66,62,64

Thanks very much. It’s a good one, too. Lighter than any of my others. I haven’t weighed it but it’s certainly below 9 pounds. Original frets, which is nice with the bound neck. Clean original case and ashtrays. Minor checking, but exactly the right type for CAR, close, straight parallel lines, which is reassuring, along with previous ownership from before they were worth faking to a forensic standard. Only minor issues, an extra screw hole under the scratchplate and the changed scratchplate itself. No point in worrying about that as there is less than zero chance of getting an authentic replacement. A visit to Martin Petersen resulted in a straight neck, excellent playability and a happy customer. To play, it has a full-ish neck for a JB, but still very comfortable, a full, bright vintage tone with exceptional harmonics. I’m always on the lookout for another, of course. The same as everyone else here😀

And a very decent seller, Mark, a pleasure to meet. I find it very difficult to resist a custom colour dot neck Jazz Bass a mile from my workplace.

It was

Referring to my previous post, this was the purchase alluded to:

Of course we have control. We can simply control ourselves and choose not buy (unlike me last week).

They usually have a number of used Sei basses in stock. It would be worth considering those before proceeding. It would give you a steer to which model you prefer and there is a chance your perfect bass is already in the shop.

Amazing to me that they can still trading. In a line of business where trust is paramount, and the commodity being traded can be faked for profit, I find it difficult to understand how these lowlives can still be plying their slimy trade in plain sight. Anyone who is considering buying a vintage guitar should be aware of these charlatans and give them a wide berth.

I’m very wary of Denmark St as I understand the Harrisons are involved in at least two of the businesses there. There are UK vintage specialists with good reputations including, but not limited to, ATB and Andy Baxter. Both source from the US and I’m sure if they were confident an enquiry was serious and realistic re pricing, they would probably have the contacts to source and import. There never seem to be many 63s available. a search for a genuine example in the UK could take a long time. This looks ok https://www.gbase.com/gear/fender-jazz-bass-1963-sunburst-3 There is an outside chance a wanted ad on here might produce a result.

I have just had the pleasure of meeting Mark and buying his fine 66Jazz Bass, which was exactly as described. A perfect Gent to do a transaction with and a top chap all round. Buy with confidence!!

Fabulous!! A recent acquisition? Tell us more.

To launder money, you would need to receive it back, which might be the flaw here if that was the grand plan