-= Building a Guitar from Scratch with Absolutely No Woodworking Experience =-

 I have found a bass online that I am seriously considering buying but there are a few things about it that I am not so sure about and the opinions of you guys might make all the difference to my decision.

 

It is an old Fender Jazz. A 1973!!! As you will see from the pictures, it is a thing of absolute beauty but the beauty is a fake one unfortunately. It is not an original paint job. The pickups are not original either. Neither is the scratch plate nor the ashtray covers. Everything else is original. The guy wants 17 900 South African Rands (which is about 1 200 Euro's, 870 Pounds, 1340 US Dollars). 

 

I have been emailing back and forth with him and he goes on and on about what a good investment it is but my questions is, how much has he destroyed the value of this old beast by putting a new coat of paint on it and replacing the pickups? Also, the only serial number I have seen is the one on the neck plate (which checks out according to http://www.guitardaterproject.org/fender.aspx)but I don't have any experience in old Fenders and have no idea how to spot a fake and we all know old Fenders are faked a lot!.

 

Here is a link to the ad http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-musical-instruments/claremont-newlands/vintage-rare-fender-ibanez-and-electric-upright-bass-guitars/1001391978890910041296709

 

Any thoughts would be much appreciated :)

I can't really say how much this bass is worth but you can take a look at this site, it's another market place for used basses where you'll be able to compare costs at least (the link will point you to vintage Fender basses directly). Very nice bass, by the way!

If you ever see a cheap Music Man Sting Ray from the 70s, let me know ;)

OH MY GOD!!! There are some BEAUTIFUL machines there! Thanks.

 

Not much in the way of stuff that isn't all original though. After looking through what is on that site, I see that the guy selling the '73 is about right about the value of a Jazz Bass from that time but I am still at a loss as to whether or not to take the risk of buying an old bass that might be worth less than I think it is because of the non-original paint job and pickups. 

 

I'll keep an eye out here in Cape Town for your 70's Sting Ray ;)

If you ever see a cheap Music Man Sting Ray from the 70s, let me know ;)

 

And me! I've been after that particular bass for a while now :D

@@majikman so did you buy this beauty?

Naah. I didn't :( A Fender expert here in Cape Town told me it wasn't worth what the guy was asking and reluctantly, I let it slip away. But the next bass I buy will almost certainly be a Fender Jazz - just like the one in my avatar lol ;) 

Well let me tell you - a jazz bass is all you need! I've had mine for a year or so and I'm soooooooo glad I bought it. Looks great, plays great, endless sustains, the neck is not as thick as on a P-bass...and that deep, soulful sound...

I can't really say how much this bass is worth but you can take a look at this site, 

 

I don't like you anymore.

 

I've just spent all morning on there.  :)

Well let me tell you - a jazz bass is all you need! I've had mine for a year or so and I'm soooooooo glad I bought it. Looks great, plays great, endless sustains, the neck is not as thick as on a P-bass...and that deep, soulful sound...

lol thanks for making me feel like I made the right decision :P

@@majikman sorry! I didn't mean to taunt you of course, just telling you that you will be more than pleased when you get yours.

HHahaha don't be silly @@justgimmethefunk! I know that and I was just joking about you "taunting" me. I am looking forward to that day very much because I know you are right!

Guess who is the proud and totally stoked owner of a 1973 American Standard Fender Jazz Bass  :tada:

Woohoo! Pictures please...

Woohoo! Pictures please...

Here you go @@justgimmethefunk 

 

I haven't taken any pictures yet myself so here are some the guy who sold it to me took and used in his ad which I was lucky enough to find.

 

http://screencast.com/t/kfLbaLrI6li

http://screencast.com/t/CDtne1jIsNEV

http://screencast.com/t/ZiqYitYHptm

http://screencast.com/t/1fnc8uBETu

http://screencast.com/t/tDw10dyUd

 

According to guitardaterproject.org: 

Your guitar was made at the 

Fullerton Plant (Fender - CBS Era), USA

in the Year(s): 1973 - 1974 

 

I am a very happy boy! An old American Fender Jazz!!!!!!! The paint job might not be original but it still makes me feel like Bootsy Collins playing with James Brown hahaha

Wowwww man, what a beauty!! I really love that combination of the olympic white body and the tortoise pickguard.

Yea I am very happy with it :)

Helluva bass, man!!!

 

What did you pay?

Thank you. It really is incredible. It has it's uhhh... character quirks though hahaha - the tuning head for the E string a a bit sloppy and the nut is very worn down so the strings are way too close to the fret board up by the head so they make all sorts of buzzes when they shouldn't and tracking down a nut that will fit the old gal is turning out to be quite difficult. I ordered got on online from some place that assured me it would fit a '73 - '74 Jazz Bass but it is maybe 3mm too wide :/

 

It cost me 17,500,00 South African Rands which is 1,048.43 EUR