Vintage Fenders

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

One of my favourite Fender design, but you'll have to wait another year as this Performer Bass with its TBX was supposed to have been officially released in 1986 and 1987 by FujiGen Gakki in Japan, 1985 being the year of its conception and presentation of the Katana Bass, not the Performer Bass, by John Page (THE Custom Shop guy of the early years, but not back then as it took place way later) at the Frankfurt Musik Messe, in February 1985.

 

Too bad the American version called Elite with 3 pickups and an ebony fingerboard was only released as a prototype and never put into production...

 

Price wise yours looks pristine and could sell between £2500 and £3500, which is quite extraordinary for a Japanese model.

 

Congratulations @Stub Mandrel, it's a superbly rare bass made in around 100 copies and if yours is really from 1985 then you own some kind of a prototype.

 

Here's almost the only written trace of it from The Fender Bass by Klaus Blasquiz.

 

 

Here are the two American prototypes, note the different headstocks, the ebony fingerboard for the fourer and the 3 pickups configuration for the fiver.

 

 

 

That's the first evidence I've seen that those prototypes actually existed.

 

I've seen both 85 and 86 dates quoted. I suppose I should take the neck off... I  only took it off once, long ago.

 

Also, I  thought production was nearer 500 than 100; unfortunately most information on these basses is nearer myth than legend.

 

What is rarely mentioned is that with 40-100 strings on it is very nice to play. I rarely gig it, but it was my main bass in the early 1990s alongside a Hohner B2.

[wateroftyne]

11 hours ago, Stub Mandrel said:

Did we agree on the '40-year-rule' for vintage Fenders?

 

If so, I finally have one after waiting about 34 years.

 

 

I love these. I wish I looked cool enough to use one, but I'd just look like a boring Dad trying too hard.

[rwillett]

45 minutes ago, Sparky Mark said:

30+ years old is more commonly accepted as vintage for guitars.

Woohoo I'm now vintage++ and I have three vintage guitars. I'll take that

[Sparky Mark]

45 minutes ago, rwillett said:

Woohoo I'm now vintage++ and I have three vintage guitars. I'll take that

Unfortunately, I'm now approaching antique status. 

[Reggaebass]

How’s this one for a restoration project, don’t think I’d get the time or I might have considered it 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/87055306-fender-p-bass-1974-sunburst-player-grade-w-flightcase

[BassAgent]

That isn't player grade.

[ossyrocks]

31 minutes ago, Reggaebass said:

How’s this one for a restoration project, don’t think I’d get the time or I might have considered it 

https://reverb.com/uk/item/87055306-fender-p-bass-1974-sunburst-player-grade-w-flightcase

That's a cool bass, and I don't think it would take much TLC to make it playable.

 

I'm going to say '73 though.

 

Rob

[rwillett]

23 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

That isn't player grade.

What does player grade mean please?

Rob

[Burns-bass]

1 minute ago, rwillett said:

What does player grade mean please?

Rob

There’s no real definition. It’s because bits have been changed that it’s not as desirable to a dealer or collector. 
 

When people say “players instrument” it often means it’s damaged!

[snorkie635]

1 minute ago, Burns-bass said:

There’s no real definition. It’s because bits have been changed that it’s not as desirable to a dealer or collector. 
 

When people say “players instrument” it often means it’s damaged!

Excellent! I have a player's brain.

[sprocketflup]

bridge alignments a bit off

[Reggaebass]

Doesn’t look like that bridge hasn’t moved since day one from what I can see, the neck needs realigning a little though 

[BassAgent]

12 minutes ago, Burns-bass said:

There’s no real definition. It’s because bits have been changed that it’s not as desirable to a dealer or collector. 
 

When people say “players instrument” it often means it’s damaged!

Exactly. "Player grade" means (in my book) in good condition, playable but maybe a few bits changed and otherwise well taken care of. This bass desperately needs a refret and some electronics work. Is that player grade? I don't think so.

[Beedster]

IMO ‘Players Grade’ means it’s not a collector’s instrument 

[Burns-bass]

7 minutes ago, BassAgent said:

Exactly. "Player grade" means (in my book) in good condition, playable but maybe a few bits changed and otherwise well taken care of. This bass desperately needs a refret and some electronics work. Is that player grade? I don't think so.

It’s with a dealer but I assume it’s a commission sale. Any real vintage dealer would do the work and stick it up for a bigger profit.

[Beedster]

….and if I had £2k I’d be all over it 👍

[GuyR]

44 minutes ago, Beedster said:

IMO ‘Players Grade’ means it’s not a collector’s instrument 

Agreed.
To me, players grade means something irreversible has been done to the instrument, fundamentally and permanently reducing the desirability as an original example.

A refinish or body route alone would render an instrument “player grade” for me.
A combination of “lesser sins” such as changed tuners (worse if extra holes), changed electric components, might attract the description player grade, but if so, there is hardly a vintage Fender ( I’m concentrating on 60s here) that is fully original, without some minor component, or frets replaced.

It is a simple matter to substitute components like-for-like with period replacements and it isn’t too great a concern for me as a buyer. If a seller volunteers such information at the point of purchase, my confidence in the integrity of the instrument is enhanced. I’m still taking it apart, of course..

 

[rwillett]

Ok thats really helpful. Thanks all.

 

Thanks very much.

Rob

[Burns-bass]

1 hour ago, GuyR said:

Agreed.
To me, players grade means something irreversible has been done to the instrument, fundamentally and permanently reducing the desirability as an original example.

A refinish or body route alone would render an instrument “player grade” for me.
A combination of “lesser sins” such as changed tuners (worse if extra holes), changed electric components, might attract the description player grade, but if so, there is hardly a vintage Fender ( I’m concentrating on 60s here) that is fully original, without some minor component, or frets replaced.

It is a simple matter to substitute components like-for-like with period replacements and it isn’t too great a concern for me as a buyer. If a seller volunteers such information at the point of purchase, my confidence in the integrity of the instrument is enhanced. I’m still taking it apart, of course..

 

Personally, I’d replace a busted pot or jack socket with new ones rather than try and source a vintage part.

 

It’s all part of instruments story after all. Alternative is that a dealer doesn’t know (or wilfully ignores) then changed part and claims it’s all original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[andytoad]

Feck.. several Kronenbergs in, I've just panic bought it. Refret incoming me thinks. I'm gonna get the original electronics checked out for reinstallation, if the pots have had it, maybe just the pickups.. not liking the idea of SD's in it.

[Stub Mandrel]

7 hours ago, wateroftyne said:

 

I love these. I wish I looked cool enough to use one, but I'd just look like a boring Dad trying too hard.

 

I'll take that as a sideways compliment! 😁

[GuyR]

1 hour ago, Burns-bass said:

Personally, I’d replace a busted pot or jack socket with new ones rather than try and source a vintage part.

 

It’s all part of instruments story after all. Alternative is that a dealer doesn’t know (or wilfully ignores) then changed part and claims it’s all original.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Couldn’t agree more. I’m referring to buying instruments already fitted with replacement parts.

 

[GuyR]

https://www.guitar-auctions.co.uk/sale/234/147/1971-Fender-Competition-Mustang-Bass-guitar-made-in-USA
 

what a shame - a really good looking mustang. Why would you do that to the scratchplate?

 

it’s been made “player grade”

[SurroundedByManatees]

8 minutes ago, GuyR said:

https://www.guitar-auctions.co.uk/sale/234/147/1971-Fender-Competition-Mustang-Bass-guitar-made-in-USA
 

what a shame - a really good looking mustang. Why would you do that to the scratchplate?

 

it’s been made “player grade”

I've seen these added screws on many old Mustangs before. Apparently the scratschplate has a tendency to curl up around the edges, so people have extra screws added to keep it flat.

 

 

Personally I think it will sell for more the the estimate of £1500-2000.

Edited Sunday at 21:03 by SurroundedByManatees

[briansbrew]

19 minutes ago, SurroundedByManatees said:

I've seen these added screws on many old Mustangs before. Apparently the scratschplate has a tendency to curl up around the edges, so people have extra screws added to keep it flat.

 

 

Personally I think it will sell for more the the estimate of £1500-2000.

Never a problem on my 66