Three-tone Sunburst with the faded red pigment, very common for late 1959 to 1960. The decal and missing strap button on the back of the headstock would indeed suggest that the neck could be late 1959 or early 1960.
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An auction of "James Jamerson Owned and Played 1961 Fender Precision Bass..."
- Thread starter Snaxster
- Start date
Thank you Sir, I don't have it anymore sold it a few months ago, it was time, I had it for over 28 years and got a great offer on it more than doubled what I payed, it was just sitting in my gun safe and I haven't been gigging for a few years now, I miss it but I have other basses that are just as good and even better, it was just that feeling of owning such a cool old axe that kept me hanging on to it for so long, I did gig it a lot when I first got it then as the years passed I started being Leary about gigging out with it, hopefully it's being taken care of and gigged so cool...
I still take my 64P everywhere, along with my 82RI-J. Just nothing else Id rather be with. Sold off everything else.
And fwiw, I think this auction is far too high risk, provenance way far away from credible.
OR....If the seller is so sure, give it (back) to these people: L to R, Son Joey, Ex-Wife, Daughter Penny. Cant remembers Momma's name.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
Holy carp, that guy looks like his dad.
I have a 1980 G&L L2000E that pretty much fits that description. Found it in a pawnshop twenty years ago.
It's fun to watch the TB Forensics team kick it in gear. It'll be even more fun to see if any of it is correct.
Thats what tipped me off. We were just standing around shooting the breeze and I kept wondering, so finally asked "who are you people?". I've met some major big deal types, but never been so star-struck. Going to Hitsville then meeting this crew? Like a pilgrimage fulfilled.
I don't understand what's so amazing about it. The bridge string spacing is off, nut badly cut, and the action is a mile high and it's missing a knob. Maybe the pickups are especially great, otherwise it's just old.
I do own a pair of 75 year old parallel pliers (and have had them for 30 years), but what I love about them is that they are fantastic quality, not because they are old. Old and good is nice.
Now if this was Jameson's bass, then it's amazing.
I agree with all you say... that's what has me confused. How could a major outfit like Heritage be so stringent in one area and so ignorant in another? In auction parlance, 'maybe' just doesn't quite cut it.
Action can be lowered easily with the bridge saddles and a truss rod adjustment. On a threaded bridge like this one, changing the string spacing is a matter of just pulling the string over to sit in the next thread groove with your finger. I don't see anything wrong with the way the nut is cut. A knob can be easily replaced. I don't know if this bass is a great player or not as is, but Leo designed all these things to be adjustable, so a good tech should be able to make this bass play great... Even if it needs a fret leveling, that's no big deal.
- Dec 2, 2003
- 4,461
- 5,361
- 6,206
- Disclosures
- Official artist: Eich Amplification
First of all, I LOVE this thread. It's amazing how people look at basses and minutiously confirm or debunk the authenticity. Very cool. What's weird to me, Hayes' letter states:
The fact that it's worn, well-played and needs some repairs, now that makes a bass cool to me. It means it was played a lot, which probably means it's a good sounding and playing bass. I really don't understand why people complain about a vintage bass needing repairs. If I buy and old car, I expect it would have some dings and scratches here and there, maybe I need to replace some stuff, but that's logical. It's old. Things break on old stuff. Deal with it. If you want a mint condition '60s style Precision, get a new Custom Shop Fender or have a good luthier build you one. It's probably even cheaper than buying this bass. Plus, as mentioned by @The Bass Clef, everything that has to be fixed can be fixed. Easily. And then there's one non-original knob on it. So......?
If I borrow someone's bass I don't wait until he asks for it back. Especially if it's a legend like Jamerson. I'd call him and offer to give it back. If he then says "no you can keep it", keep it. Otherwise: give it back. Catch a plane from LA to Detroit and bring it back. Or get UPS to do it. Whatever: if you borrow something, give it back.
In my world the opposite is true. Why would it be extra amazing if it was ex-Jamerson? It doesn't give you any of JJ's playing quality, it probably doesn't sound more Motown-ish than any other good old Precision ánd it's very well possible he didn't use this bass a lot on any records since he loaned it to someone and he had a couple more basses.
The fact that it's worn, well-played and needs some repairs, now that makes a bass cool to me. It means it was played a lot, which probably means it's a good sounding and playing bass. I really don't understand why people complain about a vintage bass needing repairs. If I buy and old car, I expect it would have some dings and scratches here and there, maybe I need to replace some stuff, but that's logical. It's old. Things break on old stuff. Deal with it. If you want a mint condition '60s style Precision, get a new Custom Shop Fender or have a good luthier build you one. It's probably even cheaper than buying this bass. Plus, as mentioned by @The Bass Clef, everything that has to be fixed can be fixed. Easily. And then there's one non-original knob on it. So......?
Should it not be one or the other.....?
1. Dude selling a bass that's not his, 50 years after he borrowed it!
2. Dude saying it was Jamerson's, but it actually wasn't!
Take ya pick.....theft or false statements! If I'm the auctioneer, I'd find a way to put this dude under oath! No way he gets any 'proceeds', if he should at all, without any confirmation!