1955 FENDER BASS - YA GOTTA SEE THIS!!

[joebar]

driftwood

 

[Mark4]

Looks like it was left outside for a few years.

 

[carl h.]

barnwood

 

[godofthunder59]

With a bass like this do as little as possible. I do antique restoration for a living. Do the bare minimum to make it playable and leave it as is.

 

[RED J]

Nuff to make an old bass man cry. Historical wall hanger.

 

[buldog5151bass]

Whoever did that should be taken outside and hung by his delicate parts until he sings soprano permanently.

 

[BioWeapon]

I would take that on as a project if it was given to me. It'll be worth the bid to whoever buys it I'm sure...

 

[FrenchBassQC]

View attachment 419726

I think the G string will not work on this one.

 

[Brookdalebass]

I agree that this bass has huge mojo...if it could be made playable and still look like that I think it would be awesome...except that it's a 4-string...lol

 

[KUNGfuSHERIFF]

That bass is toooooast...and whoever paid $5k for it forgot about P.T. Barnum's maxim about fools and their money being soon parted.

 

[mindwell]

Agreed. Somebody paid some stupid big money for "mojo." The decent thing to do would be to retire it to the flames like a worn out old flag. Let it die honorably.

 

[JIO]

Now let's be fair, someone popped 5 large on it and to bring it around will possibly 'invest' another 5 G's to bring it up to speed. 10 grand later when it's done, it will look great! It may not sound any better than an Affinity, but hey - it's a first decade Fender bass w/killer before-after documentation! Whoever bought it obviously has a different relationship w/money than I have, but like it or not, who am I to judge their motives. (essentially, what difference does it make who bought it and for how much?)

 

[Mr.MongoMasterOfCargo]

Duct tape?

 

[StayLow]

Awesome! Some people make $5k per hour. If such a person is buying it, then if you'd pay an hour's income for it then you're no different. Either way, don't let it bother you.

I'd pay that much for it before paying the same for a(nother) NYC boutique, had I any restoration skills. Maybe contract that out, though it doesn't seem the same. Can't find the eBay listing searching active or completed.

 

[radicaldreamers]

barnwood

Is this one of those new Fender "reclaimed wood" basses?

 

[cnltb]

No, thanks.

 

[Bisounourse]

Just a question; but is that a new pickguard? Looks rather shiny to me... (and a bit of a downer on the mojo-part)

 

[Britbonic]

My guess this bass has been completely or nearly completely submerged in water for a very long time. This is not something that just got exposed to a little water. The body's probably salvageable unless it's still waterlogged from the water it was sitting in. I suppose it could be very light but likely fragile if it has dried out.

I could deal with the finish but there are far too many structural issues with this bass to make it worthwhile. All those cracks and splits in the neck are a major concern. I don't think you can just fill those in and end up with something usable or that doesn't look like hell and no way you're playing that without a refret and refinish of the neck. For $500-1000 a find. For $5K, my guess will end us as is on display in somebody's house or a bar or restaurant.

 

[Major Softie]

You guys need to stop referring to this object as a "bass." It is not a bass. It used to be a bass, but now, it is not.

 

[Davo-London]

You guys are too harsh - that's a proper relic'd bass right there. It looks fantastic. Clearly the neck needs some serious attention. The body can be put right even if the electrics are toast. It's too pretty to trash.

Davo