Bass Players, what do you think of this?

astrozombie

astrozombie

KatyPerryologist
A local luthier is selling this bass that he custom painted green and installed bartolini pickups in.

it's a MIM Fender P bass, I think it's a 90s model based on the headstock logo and detail.

He's selling it for $450.

I know a MIM P bass isn't exactly worth that, but does the finish (if it's well done) and the custom details make the price reasonable?

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Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

Aftermarket mods don't usually increase the value of a guitar, but it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

FretFire said:
Aftermarket mods don't usually increase the value of a guitar, but it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.
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I'm well aware, A friend payed $300 about a year back for one in a custom color with a pair of duncans in it.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

Glenn, as you already know from owning a few, the quality control on Fender MIM instruments can vary. Yes, Barts are expensive (but nice). Yes, a custom paint job is expensive. At the end of the day, it is still a Fender Standard P Bass.

If you had bought a bass like that in the stock finish THEN modified it, 450USD is a reasonable figure that you might conceivably have voluntarily paid to get exactly what you desire.

Surf Green or Sea Foam Green? Either way, I would want a white 'guard, possibly pearly Moto. NOT black.

I have a bass guitar that I assembled myself from parts, the wooden bits came from the notorious Buildabass on eBay. I installed Bartolini PJ pickups. The instrument feels like a Squier VM series bass but, IMO, sounds better than many an Am Std P. Guess that I got lucky.

If I had 450USD to throw at a project bass, the Squier Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe ranges would be on my list. These are available in any number of cool colour schemes. All that you need to do is add your favourite pickup.

My other recommendation continues to be a pre-owned Yamaha Att Plus + Gotoh 201B bridge + the American pickup of your choice.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

Looks awesome, im sure you could get a bit of a better price, but custom paint jobs are really expensive so go for it ! Im a bass player of about 7-8 months now :)
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

It's pretty cool looking, but I think it is a bit overpriced, personally.

If it really is '90's, I also think MIM guitars have got much better since it was made. In the '90's, I remember thinking that the Mexican Fenders were pretty bad. At that time, they took up the "hole" in the market that is now filled by the higher-end Squiers, while Japanese Fenders were the "import Standard" guitars (and were very good guitars), and Squiers were the lowest of the low. However, paying the more recent MIMs, I am reminded of those Japanese Fenders of the '90's...especially the upper level MIM guitars like the Classic Series, Baja, etc. Squiers also seem to have improved greatly since then. In short, the MIMs of the '90's were not godawful, but they have got significantly better since then.

The used market may be different on an island, so I don't know...but for the "mainland," I'd say it's overpriced.
 
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Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

home made paint jobs (even if they look awesome) decrease reslae value. Aftermarket pickups (even if they are Barts) do not add to resale.
If you want a P bass then work out the cost of your favourite pickup, and the cost of an unmolested MIM bass and see if you cant do a lot better than what the guy is asking. If not, and you like the bass, then go for it.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

I'm thinking of throwing an offer out there... I've been looking at all kinds of basses lately but this is a unique bass.

If the seller says "yes" to something like $300... I'll seriously consider it.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

This is a $300 bass normally.

I don't think it is unreasonable to throw in $100 extra for the instrument you like regardless of what the base price is. Just because it is a high percentage doesn't make it less enjoyment for the $100.

Just make sure you really like it play and sound wise, too, otherwise you get hit on Ebay.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

astrozombie said:
I'm thinking of throwing an offer out there... I've been looking at all kinds of basses lately but this is a unique bass.

If the seller says "yes" to something like $300... I'll seriously consider it.
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Heck yeah, make an offer!

uOpt said:
This is a $300 bass normally.

I don't think it is unreasonable to throw in $100 extra for the instrument you like regardless of what the base price is. Just because it is a high percentage doesn't make it less enjoyment for the $100.

Just make sure you really like it play and sound wise, too, otherwise you get hit on Ebay.
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If the bass is something you really gel with and it plays great and all, then yeah, may be worth a bit more than the norm. Ive played VERY high dollar guitars that I wouldnt have given a fraction of the asking price and Ive played low/mid dollar guitars that I would have paid more for.

Go with your gut.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

Funkfingers said:
Surf Green or Sea Foam Green? Either way, I would want a white 'guard, possibly pearly Moto. NOT black.
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I think the black guard looks great with the finish.

$450 still seems high though.
But consider what you pay for a used MIM P-Bass (which this is) and the same pickup installed--especially if you would need to pay someone to change it--but even if you can do it yourself--consider that cost)

If that cost compares favorably with what you'd otherwise pay--there's the answer--but I'd still offer less and see what you can work out.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

Zontar. All speculation is academic. This thread is twelve days old and, as usual, Glenn has not bought the instrument in his opening post.
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

I didn't realize this is another Astro thread.

So what happened?
 
Re: Bass Players, what do you think of this?

astrozombie said:
I know a MIM P bass isn't exactly worth that, but does the finish (if it's well done) and the custom details make the price reasonable?
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No. It's modded and refinished. If you're looking for that finish and those mods, then it's OK, but for the rest of the world, no.
 
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