patrik733 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Need some expert help with a 1968 fender jazz bass , Great playing bass that I'm about to buy, When I moved the pick guard I noticed that the body been routed with a battery cavity (see attached pic )sometime during the 80's I guess , Is there a general price drop when it comes to the value of a vintage bass like this when it has been routed ?? I can also say that the orig pickups are long gone, The electronic has been changed to new cts pots, Pickup chrome covers are gone, otherwise all orig, But it is a great playing bass and should be worth around 2400£ without the battery routing, What do you think?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnaround Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 If it was an all original refin it would be worth half of what an original finished instrument is worth. I would consider this to be in the same ballpark ie half the value of an unmolested one......but something is only worth what someone will pay for it and a dealer will often put something like this up with a reasonably hight starting price. I think it's too much given the 'excuses' but interesting none the less if you can get the price down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnaround Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I should think it must be worth £1500....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 IMO the biggest problem is that the original pickups have gone. I have a 68 P bass and the original pickups have been sold. It doesn't matter that they sounded bleugh and were under powered or that the bass sounds like a million times better with Barts. . . . none of that matters. Think of a number and halve it, then take some more off, and you might be close. The value will be a lot less than you'd expect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 £2400 seems steep for a modded Jazz. Fair enough, swapping the originals for DiMarzio's is one devaluation but the routing knocks a chunk more off for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 Price aside, too many things would put me off buying this, not least, the fact that you had to discover for yourself, the route under the p/g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I've done exactly the same to mine but it's a 2013 model, I wonder if there will be a thread like this about it one day?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrik733 Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Thanks everyone , it's a really great playing bass and mayby i'l take it if I can get it down to 2000£ Thanks again //P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnaround Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I had a 72 Fender Precision with the same issues and it too was a great player....if you can get the Jazz for the right money then it's definitely worth doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Really, most of the important stuff that makes this a 68 bass is missing. You can buy so much more for £2000. Seriously good basses are well within your grasp. I'd be looking for a much better bass than this one for that money. I'd also be worried about selling it. I think you'll have trouble there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 You're lucky to have learned about the route before buying. Was the seller honest enough to declare it, or is pickguard removal standard practice when checking out a bass when buying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 I know next to nothing about vintage Fender basses. I know enough to say that I'd leave this one well alone though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456099604' post='2985461'] Really, most of the important stuff that makes this a 68 bass is missing. You can buy so much more for £2000. Seriously good basses are well within your grasp. I'd be looking for a much better bass than this one for that money. I'd also be worried about selling it. I think you'll have trouble there. [/quote] I agree, there is a gorgeous '72 Precision for sale here for less than £2K, I know it's not a 60's bass, but it's complete, and will only become more valuable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='EmmettC' timestamp='1456133245' post='2985573'] I agree, there is a gorgeous '72 Precision for sale here for less than £2K, I know it's not a 60's bass, but it's complete, and will only become more valuable. [/quote] Yes, feeling very tempted to go for this one myself but my bass fund is at present depleted. It is a great example at a very good price but I suppose if the OP wants a Jazz, then it's not going to fit the bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patrik733 Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Mayby 2000£ is to much, I've played and own several 60 's jazz bases and believe me this is one hell of a player! But I hear you about the second hand value, The guy that's selling is a drummer and his father was a bass player ,bought the bass brand new 1968, it's been in the family all these years, quite a history in this bass which I like:) now when he's father past away he's selling it so he can buy equipment to his studio, he knows nothing about bass guitars so he didn't know anything about the routing, Well it's up to me now haha, I will give him an offer and then will see, Thanks again regarding this body routing /P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Everyone's talking about the routing, but I still think the deal killer to anyone wanting a vintage bass will be the missing pickups and electrics. A great playing bass guitar can be bought for a lot less than £1000. This bass is so modded that I can't see this being worth more than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456139945' post='2985709'] Everyone's talking about the routing, but I still think the deal killer to anyone wanting a vintage bass will be the missing pickups and electrics. [/quote] Agreed, it could be a lovely bass to gig with, but I would be thinking around £800 is what I would want to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Id want £800 for a modern usa jazz, must be worth more than that in parts?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='sunburstjazz1967' timestamp='1456141486' post='2985743'] Id want £800 for a modern usa jazz, must be worth more than that in parts?! [/quote] I'm probably being harsh, but the lack of pickups and the routed body really turn me off. I might fall in love with it if I played it, and I really like Dimarzio pickups, but I would want it for used USA prices rather than all original 60s prices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunburstjazz1967 Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 Put the guard back on it and enjoy it, keep an eye out for some stock pickups and have the hole filed in at a later date, ive seen and heard of worse damage being invisible once repaired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt P Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 if this has been owned from new then the original pickups might be sitting in a box somewhere, have you asked the seller about them? the covers might be in the same box! Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted February 22, 2016 Share Posted February 22, 2016 [quote name='chris_b' timestamp='1456099604' post='2985461'] Really, most of the important stuff that makes this a 68 bass is missing. You can buy so much more for £2000. Seriously good basses are well within your grasp. I'd be looking for a much better bass than this one for that money. I'd also be worried about selling it. I think you'll have trouble there. [/quote] This... top dollar for all original is one thing...this is none of those. I think you have to get it for a very keen price and the seller has to be realistic, Personally, I think it is too iffy all round and hard to price, so I'd be looking elsewhere... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobVbass Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Exactly right - all you're buying here is a 1968 neck and a modified '68 body - you could get both of those off ebay for less than a grand. No way is it worth more than that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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