Old Man Riva Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 Three experiences with vintage dealers over the years - these are dedicated vintage-focused operators, rather than someone stocking vintage basses as part of a broader offering. A ‘62 Precision sold with a split in the fretboard at the first fret - “it’s just the grain”. It turned out that there was a problem with the truss rod, and the fretboard had fractured. A ‘64 Jazz that had a protruding fret - “we’ll just our tech to tap it down, no problem”. It turned out there were larger neck problems and the fretboard had previously been repaired. A ‘62 Precision being sold as “completely original”. I asked for the store to provide images of the neck/date stamp and any other dating examples (body etc.). “No way. It’s never been taken apart and I’m not disturbing it now”. Bearing in mind the same operator had previously sold a guitar to someone I know which was returned/refunded due to there being ‘inconsistencies’ with the description, and what was modded and what wasn’t. If I ever were in the market for a vintage instrument again the only people I would deal with would be Andy Baxter and David Pym, though I’m not sure the latter is still involved in selling instruments. It’s such a minefield, and to echo what Burns Bass has said, the more navel gazing done on here and knowledge/experiences shared (even if sometimes we don’t always get it right!) the better… 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 2 hours ago, Beedster said: Thanks @Woodinblack re the above more than one of your fellow mods were/are aware 👍 Mods can't see the same low level stuff that admins get to see though, so it is trickier there. And regardless to what others do, I try and get rid of that sort of stuff if I know about it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansbrew Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 3 hours ago, Burns-bass said: Yes, I had a couple of old Fenders bought from two different dealers and neither was interested in taking them back as a P/X or buy them back. Personally, that rang a few alarm bells, but perhaps they were struggling with cashflow. Either way, none of those basses lives here anymore. The 66 is still in its case and never gets paid either, I just can't part with it given how much of me it took to buy it. Maybe I should start using it again. Probably they are too embarrased to offer a low ball price Lawrie after making a profit from it initially... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 I've done the vintage Fender thing. Owned a 1953 and an original 1966 slab, as well as a bunch of others. My conclusion? Just don't bother. If you want an investment then fine, but I own instruments (now) that would cost you 10% of a pre-CBS Precision, and are every bit as good (IMHO, obviously). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burns-bass Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 54 minutes ago, briansbrew said: Probably they are too embarrased to offer a low ball price Lawrie after making a profit from it initially... Quite possibly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted September 19 Author Share Posted September 19 16 hours ago, bakerster135 said: I could bore you to death with what I know about Fender decals, mainly gained from personal experience, but this Talkbass thread is pretty accurate for reference https://www.talkbass.com/threads/vintage-fender-decals-who-really-knows-the-facts.902851/ I’m similar with early jazzes and precision’s, I’ve studied them in great detail to quite a nerdy boring degree 😁, I find them fascinating, and the strange thing is that whenever I’m buying one I always ask a few people to take a look and give me their opinions and they always notice something that that I’ve missed , talkbass can be a good source of information too but I don’t visit there much these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ossyrocks Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 Regarding vintage basses, I've had good experiences with ATB Guitars, Bass Bros, @briansbrew and @CHRISDABASS. @walshy has also been a star, sending me vintage parts for nothing and doing a deal on a couple of more recent basses. Anyway, the reason for this post, look at this '69 Jazz that Bassbros have just got in. It's absolutely minty! https://bassbros.co.uk/product/1969-fender-jazz-bass/ Rob 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwillett Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 Ooohhh, that is a nice Jazz. Gosh, oh my gosh and what appears to be a good price as well. I have a gorgeous telescope that is worth close to that. I would use this more than the scope as well. Anybody interested in a mint TMB 4" refractor? Possibly the finest 4" in the world. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted September 19 Author Share Posted September 19 (edited) 58 minutes ago, ossyrocks said: Anyway, the reason for this post, look at this '69 Jazz that Bassbros have just got in. It's absolutely minty! https://bassbros.co.uk/product/1969-fender-jazz-bass/ I saw that one, very nice and I’d say probably one of the best he’s had , it’s in great condition, I’m seriously attracted to this and might have to have a chat with Andy https://www.andybaxterbass.com/products/1968-fender-precision-bass-sunburst-2 Edited September 19 by Reggaebass 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Man Riva Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 1 hour ago, ossyrocks said: Regarding vintage basses, I've had good experiences with ATB Guitars, Bass Bros, @briansbrew and @CHRISDABASS. @walshy has also been a star, sending me vintage parts for nothing and doing a deal on a couple of more recent basses. Anyway, the reason for this post, look at this '69 Jazz that Bassbros have just got in. It's absolutely minty! https://bassbros.co.uk/product/1969-fender-jazz-bass/ Rob Aye, Walshy’s great to deal with… 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ossyrocks Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 33 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I saw that one, very nice and I’d say probably one of the best he’s had , it’s in great condition, I’m seriously attracted to this and might have to have a chat with Andy https://www.andybaxterbass.com/products/1968-fender-precision-bass-sunburst-2 That's a lovely bass Tony. Have a chat with Andy, you only live once! The condition is similar to the '70 Precision I recently got from @briansbrew on here, and which is proving to be a massive hit with me and my band (thanks Brian!). It is interesting how each of my P basses sound so different from each other too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
briansbrew Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 5 minutes ago, ossyrocks said: That's a lovely bass Tony. Have a chat with Andy, you only live once! The condition is similar to the '70 Precision I recently got from @briansbrew on here, and which is proving to be a massive hit with me and my band (thanks Brian!). It is interesting how each of my P basses sound so different from each other too. Your welcome Rob, glad its turned out well for you and the band... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 5 minutes ago, ossyrocks said: It is interesting how each of my P basses sound so different from each other too. Fender QC strikes again 😆 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ossyrocks Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Beedster said: Fender QC strikes again 😆 To be fair, I don't think I've ever had a bass or guitar of the same model sound the same as the last. Every 335 I've had has been different, the two I have now are very different. The two strats I have are very different. It's just how these things are. BTW, all of the P basses sound great, just different. Edited September 19 by ossyrocks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 7 minutes ago, ossyrocks said: To be fair, I don't think I've ever had a bass or guitar of the same model sound the same as the last. Every 335 I've had has been different, the two I have now are very different. The two strats I have are very different. It's just how these things are. BTW, all of the P basses sound great, just different. Never take me too seriously 👌 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 19 Share Posted September 19 My current vintage Fender BTW 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Beautiful. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwillett Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 10 hours ago, Beedster said: Never take me too seriously 👌 Absolutely no danger of that.... 😊 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 8 minutes ago, Steve Browning said: Beautiful. Thanks Steve, it’s a nice one, price was right for a bass I can gig without too much stress but which is a truly vintage instrument in age, look, feel, and tone. It came with some VERY old rounds that normally wouldn’t be my thing, preferring flats on a Precision, but which just work so well on this. It’s one of those basses that I just want to pick up and play, and for whatever reason I haven’t found that with most of the basses I’ve owned. I won’t say it’s a keeper because experience dictates that’s an elusive quality, but I’m certainly enjoying having it 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Some more....... 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 That's a beaut. Tell us more. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgnofski Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 ‘That’ grain😳😳❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍👍👍…… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 11 minutes ago, ped said: That's a beaut. Tell us more. 11 minutes ago, dodgnofski said: ‘That’ grain😳😳❤️❤️❤️❤️😍😍👍👍…… Serial suggests '73, receipt in the case dated '71. Dare I say Fender QC......... Bought from The Gallery in June after months of looking for a 3TSB/dark rosewood 70's Precision. Have to admit I didn't play it before I bought it, largely because the last time I waited to play a bass at The Gallery it sold before I had the chance. It's hard to say what makes a bass talk to you, but this one has done so more than most; it appears to require very little effort to produce a glorious fat PBass tone, even with rounds it's far more 60's than 70's to my ear, think Motown/Stax not JJB/Simenon. The body and neck have just the right amount of playwear to suggest that it was gigged a lot but otherwise well looked after as opposed to abused. We have a 60s/70s project in the early stages at present and played through the rather lovely Ashdown Drophead 200 that I bought to go with this bass, all is sounding nicely retro round theses parts. There will of course be a few basses listed for sale in the very near future to pay for this one. The cycle of life 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassAgent Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 That looks góóórgeous. Lovely grain, beautiful wear and a very nice burst, which isn't always the case with 70's Fenders. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 1 minute ago, BassAgent said: That looks góóórgeous. Lovely grain, beautiful wear and a very nice burst, which isn't always the case with 70's Fenders. It does feel very 60’s, far more like a ‘69 I used to own than my old ‘73 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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