GuyR Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 50-70 years on from manufacture, there aren’t too many vintage basses of any merit that haven’t been refretted. As time goes by, the number reduces further. If you intend to do more than look lovingly at your bass, it’s going to need a refret at some point or become an expensive ornament. All my vintage basses are refretted (I assume, I care so little, I don’t actually know) The only vintage instrument I acquired with the original, very worn, frets in place is my 66 Tele. First thing I did was order vintage correct replacements from Fender CS, fitted without any planing of the fingerboard. The original frets are in the case, In the event that whoever my kids sell it to when I’m gone might be interested. I’m not. I am fastidious about other aspects of originality, insofar as any vintage bass or guitar I have has first and foremost to Have the original finish and pickups, and be fully functional, so an irreparable switch or tuning machine would receive a period correct replacement. I am immediately suspicious of mint original instruments, either that they are not authentic, or not good players. All mine are fairly grizzly, because they are good enough to have been regularly used. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 A further thought re refretting; If you continue to use your bass with low frets, wear on the fingerboard is greatly accelerated. At some point you are going to have to replace the frets. Don’t necessitate replacement of the fingerboard too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 2 minutes ago, GuyR said: A further thought re refretting; If you continue to use your bass with low frets, wear on the fingerboard is greatly accelerated. At some point you are going to have to replace the frets. Don’t necessitate replacement of the fingerboard too. Thanks guy, something I’ll keep in mind 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 While browsing precision’s I came across this little story, quite cool I thought 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 32 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: While browsing precision’s I came across this little story, quite cool I thought damaged in that it was destroyed below the 15th fret?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 9 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: damaged in that it was destroyed below the 15th fret?! I’m not sure Luke, it didn’t really say any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezergeezer Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 As an owner of a 1962 restored Jazz bass as time passes and instruments get older they will need some extra TLC and possible replacement parts i.e. pots frets bridge nut etc. even those that are locked away and never used.. it seems everyone wants a prestine condition vintage but few take the plunge and decide to actually buy one due to the cost of ownership look around at antique furniture paintings vintage cars etc. most have had some restoration done at sometime my bass at the time of writing this (2021) is 59 years old to be able to play it live / studio or otherwise it will need some work done they all will the alternative is to lock it away in a case somewhere and never use it which isnt what I want on reflection I prefer a restored used instrument ( all my basses and guitars are secondhand ) Im not afraid to take her out and play live if it gets a knock its not the end of the world it can be fixed / restored mended I paid more for my car at present than the bass..the car is devaluing daily unlike the Jazz.. just my view guys yours will probably be different... 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 18 minutes ago, weezergeezer said: I paid more for my car at present than the bass..the car is devaluing daily unlike the Jazz.. just my view guys yours will probably be different... not at the moment!! 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb625 Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Out of curiosity, do people have a "go to" place to look at for vintage fenders? I'm casually looking for a '73 at some point over the next year or two, so I'd like to get an idea what the market rate would be. I know it will vary based on a number of factors, but a rough guide is fine for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuyR Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 4 hours ago, jimmyb625 said: Out of curiosity, do people have a "go to" place to look at for vintage fenders? I'm casually looking for a '73 at some point over the next year or two, so I'd like to get an idea what the market rate would be. I know it will vary based on a number of factors, but a rough guide is fine for now. Bass gallery usually has a decent number of early-mid 70s examples. Andy Baxter is worth a look too. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mowf Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 Worth checking Bassdirect too. They've currently got a 1961 P for £14.5k... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 31, 2021 Author Share Posted October 31, 2021 Im always looking at vintage sites and most of the basses advertised have been on for quite a while, there’s very few gone on recently, I’ve got an itch for an early 70s precision , there’s some nice ones in the US but the taxes make them expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted October 31, 2021 Share Posted October 31, 2021 I do keep an eye out just in case a nice ‘73 p bass comes up (my YOB). I would be quite tempted. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmyb625 Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 26 minutes ago, Deedee said: I do keep an eye out just in case a nice ‘73 p bass comes up (my YOB). I would be quite tempted. Yep, that's my reasoning as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OliverBlackman Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 14 hours ago, jimmyb625 said: Out of curiosity, do people have a "go to" place to look at for vintage fenders? I'm casually looking for a '73 at some point over the next year or two, so I'd like to get an idea what the market rate would be. I know it will vary based on a number of factors, but a rough guide is fine for now. There’s several sites mentioned in this thread. Wunjo currently have a ‘75 P bass in stock just under £3k. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 Also, No.Tom in Denmark street have a 72 precision with a maple neck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 How do I just now find this topic? I have two vintage Fenders! This is my Jazz from May 1966. Neck is from January, pots from week 18. It's a refin, I had it refretted a few years back and I don't have the original case anymore. This bass is absolutely killer. The neck is crazy, the sound is brilliant and it has that typical 1966 "thump" on the E-string. I bought it partly because I loved Paul Turner's sound on the Abbey Road sessions with Jamiroquai, and he has a white '66 Jazz too. I met Paul a couple of years ago when he was introducing and promoting Stenback basses at Paul's Bass Matters here in NL, and while talking with him I mentioned this bass. He said "do you have it here?" and I did, and so did he! So we compared basses (I have an A profile neck, his is a B-neck) and absolutely agreed on that heavy "thump" on the E-string. One of the best basses I've ever played. This is my Precision from May 1971, also a refin and refret, but I have the original case to go with it. Currently strung with Labella flats. Very slim neck, great sound. Lovely P. 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 10 minutes ago, BassAgent said: I have an A profile neck, his is a B-neck Beautiful basses, I didn’t know they did a B profile neck on a jazz, do you think it was a special order Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 15 hours ago, jimmyb625 said: place to look at for vintage fenders It’s worth keeping an eye on ATB Guitars, they get a few in now and again, they’ve got a 73 P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weezergeezer Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 Ebay is worth a view... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 4 hours ago, weezergeezer said: Ebay is worth a view... There’s a 72 P on eBay at the moment, looks very clean, I wouldn’t know if it’s all original though, it’s a long way from me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 Can someone point me to a decent source for decoding the neck numbers like this ,ie week, day, year, profile etc, I use guitarhq but that seems to just give serial numbers, I’m mainly looking at 68-72 precision’s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tegs07 Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: Can someone point me to a decent source for decoding the neck numbers like this ,ie week, day, year, profile etc, I use guitarhq but that seems to just give serial numbers, I’m mainly looking at 68-72 precision’s Isn’t that the 5th day 22/01/68 maybe? Always tricky: https://www.vintageandrare.com/blog/serial-number-identification-and-decoding/ Edited November 6, 2021 by tegs07 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted November 6, 2021 Author Share Posted November 6, 2021 15 minutes ago, tegs07 said: Isn’t that the 5th day 22/01/68 maybe? Always tricky: https://www.vintageandrare.com/blog/serial-number-identification-and-decoding/ Thanks for that tegs 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 6, 2021 Share Posted November 6, 2021 1 hour ago, tegs07 said: Isn’t that the 5th day 22/01/68 no, it means it's a p bass neck from the 22nd week of 66 1 = Jaguar 1962-1965 2 = Stratocaster 1962-1965 3 = Telecaster 4 = Jazzmaster 1962-1965 5 = Precision Bass 6 = Bass VI 7 = Jazz Bass 8 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo-Sonic II 1964-1965 22 fret 24" scale model 9 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo-Sonic II 1964-1966 21 fret 22 1/4" scale Model. Also found on 1969 Swinger "Arrow/Musiclander" models. 10 = Coronado 1 and 2, and some 1966 Jazzmaster and Stratocaster necks 11 = Bass V 12 = Electric 12 and Maverick/Custom model 13 = Stratocaster 1966-1968, many 1966 Jazzmasters too 14 = Coronado 12 15 = Jaguar 1966-1972 16 = Musicmaster II, Mustang, Duo sonic II, and Bronco 17 = Mustang Bass and MusicMaster Bass 18 = Coronado Bass 19 = Jazzmaster and Coronado 2 22 = Stratocaster 1968-1972 23 = Telecaster Bass 27 = Villiager 12 28 = Shenandoah 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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