Vintage Fenders

[walshy]

1 minute ago, peteb said:

Is the B the 41mm one? 

 

Yeah 40mm

[Reggaebass]

1 hour ago, miles'tone said:

A question for the group...

Does anybody know when Fender first introduced the A width necks on Precision basses? I do love my mid-60s Ps but I now realise that a J neck works best for me, so I need to narrow down my 'window shopping' searches.

Cheers,

Si.

If you can miles try one of the necks with the B width nut, you might be pleasantly surprised, my 71 precision and all the early ones I’ve had have  ( like most from 67/68) a 40mm nut but they are very comfortable , I’ve played mainly jazzes for years and I can pick up my P and not really notice a difference , the mid to late 70s ones can come up a bit chunkier, but not the earlier ones 

[ossyrocks]

5 hours ago, Reggaebass said:

If you can miles try one of the necks with the B width nut, you might be pleasantly surprised, my 71 precision and all the early ones I’ve had have  ( like most from 67/68) a 40mm nut but they are very comfortable , I’ve played mainly jazzes for years and I can pick up my P and not really notice a difference , the mid to late 70s ones can come up a bit chunkier, but not the earlier ones 

Yes, the '78 I had was a B width, but the neck was significantly bigger in the hand than my early 70's P basses, it felt too big for me in the end, despite the bass being super lightweight, and sounding great, I did let it go.

[danbanbass]

I really liked the neck on a 66 P bass in refin sonic blue at Andy Baxter’s, unfortunately he wouldn’t budge on price at all as he had another person online interested whilst I was there in person trying it. I wasn’t after masses off but everyone likes a deal don’t they?

 

 

Maybe thats just me.

 

Sad to say I didn’t buy it as I was about £100 off what he was asking and that was as much as I could offer. Lovely old thing though.

Edited August 23 by danbanbass

[Beedster]

Is it just me......?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177354825803?itmmeta=01K3C6XXNFB1N5A14CFQEHQXRC&hash=item294b2be04b:g:mLsAAeSwmo1op2ig&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30nrDGubrLqbjYuKo3GK0tDGkUkPpKiiea00I%2BSvwI94BsKBei9GjE%2F3ponIK5IKGF6wacdjxcX%2F9iaAgPk%2FRyIcOEheUSVvHXKxCrXlXP4SOVVJjeueryVWFzBfk6eoupflj02pUD7TXoHDIXx%2F9477qjf5vhb8dWqzfCIJ%2BufAfNFRXHo9Hipaphoq4CjQ5WDif91IUILkda5sk%2FdJ8FDw6sIJy%2Bd1Xfd50%2FSszaD942JFyvYo4GP4yQD%2FGWP7pMQJhC%2B4W6deb%2FudzGK5rrQA|tkp%3ABk9SR8Td94abZg

[Stub Mandrel]

7 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Is it just me......?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177354825803?itmmeta=01K3C6XXNFB1N5A14CFQEHQXRC&hash=item294b2be04b:g:mLsAAeSwmo1op2ig&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30nrDGubrLqbjYuKo3GK0tDGkUkPpKiiea00I%2BSvwI94BsKBei9GjE%2F3ponIK5IKGF6wacdjxcX%2F9iaAgPk%2FRyIcOEheUSVvHXKxCrXlXP4SOVVJjeueryVWFzBfk6eoupflj02pUD7TXoHDIXx%2F9477qjf5vhb8dWqzfCIJ%2BufAfNFRXHo9Hipaphoq4CjQ5WDif91IUILkda5sk%2FdJ8FDw6sIJy%2Bd1Xfd50%2FSszaD942JFyvYo4GP4yQD%2FGWP7pMQJhC%2B4W6deb%2FudzGK5rrQA|tkp%3ABk9SR8Td94abZg

 

Interesting. If the body and neck are original.

[Mrbigstuff]

49 minutes ago, Beedster said:

Is it just me......?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177354825803?itmmeta=01K3C6XXNFB1N5A14CFQEHQXRC&hash=item294b2be04b:g:mLsAAeSwmo1op2ig&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30nrDGubrLqbjYuKo3GK0tDGkUkPpKiiea00I%2BSvwI94BsKBei9GjE%2F3ponIK5IKGF6wacdjxcX%2F9iaAgPk%2FRyIcOEheUSVvHXKxCrXlXP4SOVVJjeueryVWFzBfk6eoupflj02pUD7TXoHDIXx%2F9477qjf5vhb8dWqzfCIJ%2BufAfNFRXHo9Hipaphoq4CjQ5WDif91IUILkda5sk%2FdJ8FDw6sIJy%2Bd1Xfd50%2FSszaD942JFyvYo4GP4yQD%2FGWP7pMQJhC%2B4W6deb%2FudzGK5rrQA|tkp%3ABk9SR8Td94abZg

Tuners and decal looked real to me, but I’m sure someone will be along to tell me I wrong…

 

Not much else looked right, weren’t the side dots also supposed to be clay? Neck pocket isn’t like any I’ve seen.

[miles'tone]

42 minutes ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Tuners and decal looked real to me, but I’m sure someone will be along to tell me I wrong…

 

Not much else looked right, weren’t the side dots also supposed to be clay? Neck pocket isn’t like any I’ve seen.

The body looks to have the right pin marks top and bottom centre that would date it to the 60s. It does look to me to be as described. I could be wrong of course.

 

[Stub Mandrel]

Looks like spots of paint or tippex on the neck dots. Clay side dots are very hard to see... I have vinyl dots stuck on mine.

[Mrbigstuff]

1 hour ago, miles'tone said:

The body looks to have the right pin marks top and bottom centre that would date it to the 60s. It does look to me to be as described. I could be wrong of course.

 

It’s the bare neck pocket that confused me, or is 63 before they used the stick to hold the body for painting?

[danbanbass]

A quick question in regard to pricing, what is the going rate for a 1969 Precision in sunburst, all original bar a couple of screws for the covers in very good condition?

 

Private sale.

Edited August 24 by danbanbass

[Reggaebass]

12 hours ago, Beedster said:

Is it just me......?

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/177354825803?itmmeta=01K3C6XXNFB1N5A14CFQEHQXRC&hash=item294b2be04b:g:mLsAAeSwmo1op2ig&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA4MHg7L1Zz0LA5DYYmRTS30nrDGubrLqbjYuKo3GK0tDGkUkPpKiiea00I%2BSvwI94BsKBei9GjE%2F3ponIK5IKGF6wacdjxcX%2F9iaAgPk%2FRyIcOEheUSVvHXKxCrXlXP4SOVVJjeueryVWFzBfk6eoupflj02pUD7TXoHDIXx%2F9477qjf5vhb8dWqzfCIJ%2BufAfNFRXHo9Hipaphoq4CjQ5WDif91IUILkda5sk%2FdJ8FDw6sIJy%2Bd1Xfd50%2FSszaD942JFyvYo4GP4yQD%2FGWP7pMQJhC%2B4W6deb%2FudzGK5rrQA|tkp%3ABk9SR8Td94abZg

Something not right with this one to me, I can’t exactly put my finger on it, maybe it’s the white guard and newer knob’s that’s throwing it, neck pocket doesn’t look right and the truss rod nut is proud which would suggest it’s been packed out maybe with washers, not sure about this one 

[Reggaebass]

15 minutes ago, danbanbass said:

A quick question in regard to pricing, what is the going rate for a 1969 Precision in sunburst, all original bar a couple of screws for the covers in very good condition?

 

Private sale.

Anything from 4-5k I’d say depending on condition and if it has the original case 

[ossyrocks]

41 minutes ago, danbanbass said:

A quick question in regard to pricing, what is the going rate for a 1969 Precision in sunburst, all original bar a couple of screws for the covers in very good condition?

 

Private sale.

 

Really clean ones do carry a bit of a premium, so I would say for a private sale £4250 - £4750. Dealers will want quite a bit more.

 

"These are just my thoughts and should not be relied upon when making serious financial investments" 🤣

 

Rob

[danbanbass]

Many thanks for all the advice so far 👍 

[Mrbigstuff]

47 minutes ago, danbanbass said:

Many thanks for all the advice so far 👍 

Take 15-20% off dealer price and that’s should be about right for private sale.

[Burns-bass]

13 hours ago, Mrbigstuff said:

Take 15-20% off dealer price and that’s should be about right for private sale.

In the real world this is excellent advice. Doesn’t always work with vintage basses!

 

 

[Mrbigstuff]

2 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

In the real world this is excellent advice. Doesn’t always work with vintage basses!

 

 

No not always, as we know there are so many variables with the originality of these instruments. But as a general rule of thumb it gives a good idea.

[Sparky Mark]

On 23/08/2025 at 10:34, danbanbass said:

I really liked the neck on a 66 P bass in refin sonic blue at Andy Baxter’s, unfortunately he wouldn’t budge on price at all as he had another person online interested whilst I was there in person trying it. I wasn’t after masses off but everyone likes a deal don’t they?

 

 

Maybe thats just me.

 

Sad to say I didn’t buy it as I was about £100 off what he was asking and that was as much as I could offer. Lovely old thing though.

If I really really like a bass, especially if it's a relatively expensive (£2k+) vintage one that I'm unlikely to find again, I definitely wouldn't lose it for the sake of £100. Sometimes however, I think we might subconsciously put obstacles in the way when we're not 100% sure we really want an instrument. 

[danbanbass]

10 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

If I really really like a bass, especially if it's a relatively expensive (£2k+) vintage one that I'm unlikely to find again, I definitely wouldn't lose it for the sake of £100. Sometimes however, I think we might subconsciously put obstacles in the way when we're not 100% sure we really want an instrument. 

I totally agree with the sentiment, the issue is £3900 was all I had available to me at the time and couldn’t find the extra £100.

 

Just one of those things.

[SurroundedByManatees]

Personally I'd try to put a significant deposit down if I really really wanted it, and have it put aside for me. And collecting the last 100 meanwhile.  Shouldn't be much of a problem I think. 

[danbanbass]

26 minutes ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

Personally I'd try to put a significant deposit down if I really really wanted it, and have it put aside for me. And collecting the last 100 meanwhile.  Shouldn't be much of a problem I think. 

It caught me off-guard when I was there trying it and a guy messaged online offering the asking seconds before trying to negotiate.

 

In hindsight I agree but at the time with my ADHD being the way it is I couldn’t think.  

[Mrbigstuff]

1 hour ago, danbanbass said:

It caught me off-guard when I was there trying it and a guy messaged online offering the asking seconds before trying to negotiate.

 

In hindsight I agree but at the time with my ADHD being the way it is I couldn’t think.  

I’ve missed out on several basses for not much money but was already stretched as it was so it couldn’t happen. I always just hope that one day I will be in the right place right time, but in the meantime enjoy what I have.

[Sparky Mark]

8 hours ago, danbanbass said:

It caught me off-guard when I was there trying it and a guy messaged online offering the asking seconds before trying to negotiate.

 

In hindsight I agree but at the time with my ADHD being the way it is I couldn’t think.  

If that situation occurred in a car saleroom, you'd seriously suspect it was a pressure selling tactic.

[Burns-bass]

On 25/08/2025 at 15:19, SurroundedByManatees said:

Personally I'd try to put a significant deposit down if I really really wanted it, and have it put aside for me. And collecting the last 100 meanwhile.  Shouldn't be much of a problem I think. 

I asked Mike at ATB to reserve a bass and he told me the deposit wasn’t returnable (which is against all commercial law, but put me off enough not to bother with a trip…)