GuyR

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.

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!

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?🙂

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.

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

My secret is out!

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😀

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

Not questioning your diy credentials!!! 🙂

Until the laws of gravity change, a floor rack removes an element of risk.

Thanks for the string recommendation. I'll go with that. 🙂

The overall width of the nut is 49mm and the distance between strings - the centre of the low E string to the centre of the high E string is 41mm.

There was a set of strings in the case, so I thought it would be rude not to give it a whirl. Unfortunately they are too thick a diameter for the brass nut, so three of them don't touch the zero fret, knocking the intonation out. Still using the top three and using the others as drones, it's quite an interesting crossover instrument for the uninitiated. The string spacing is narrow, the neck quite manageable for a six string - surprisingly easy to play finger style and quite precision-like in sound. The strings with it were suitable for a low B - perhaps this bass is designed to be strung E-E?

No, it's not really my cup of tea. nice to have a different bass round the house. Will take it to the gallery next week when I am back at work for a set up.