Original '62-63 Jazz Bass...what to do?

mc2NY · February 09, 2014, 01:45:45 PM

So....I picked up a NOS 62-63 Jazz Bass body that is only routed for the neck. No PUP or control cavity routes or any screw holes, except for neck. It was the body Fender gave to the guy who invented the Body Guard plastic back cover for Fender in the 60s. This was the one he used to make the Jazz Bass molds.

It came with full written/signed documentation from the former Dir. of Marketing for Fender back then. VERY lightweight straightgrained piece of Alder...just over 5 lbs, even without the routes!! Plus the top was never contoured for the upper arm bout, just a slab there. So, if routed it would well be into the 4 lb range. Has the original Fullerplast coating on it and very minor wear, considering its been sitting around for 50 years.

What is equally cool....the collector who had it also gave me two sheets of signatures from the former Fender guy. One is sigs from all members of Led Zep in the late 60s, with a note on top saying "Jimmy Page of the Yardbirds." The other is all the members of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, with Hendix signing "Stay Groovy" with a heart in the Y.

QUESTION......Would it be sacrilige to route and complete this body? If I DID complete it, any suggestions?

I was thinking of doing it up with vintage 1962 parts but maybe as a single PBass version with stackpot setup of some sort. Or would I be better to make it a correct Jazz-Jazz PUP 62 ?

....or put it in a frame and leave it alone

Highlander · February 09, 2014, 02:05:41 PM

The paper has an easily marketable value... I sold a Zep sig set for circa $700 several years back because as long as I kept the ticket in a draw it was just a piece of card... the buyer valued it much more than I did...

The body is a very "specialist" item that once "adapted" for parts becomes just a "parts-bass"...

As heretical as this may seem, it is just a piece of wood, as it is...

Me, money no object, straight to Carlo, a single 60's T'Bird/Thunderbucker/Lollar pup, a fretless maple neck, a rear mounted volume control, and dependant on the grain, a light stain and lacquer or a candy... but then again, I have no taste...

PS matching head...

Pilgrim · February 09, 2014, 02:15:17 PM

I'd market and sell the body, and take the money to buy a nice bass that wasn't a piece of history. I think there is MUCH more value to it as a resale piece. Once you rout it, it's just an old body that can only become a piece of a parts bass.

Dave W · February 09, 2014, 05:43:15 PM

I'd sell it as is and reap the rewards before I'd ever make it into a bass.

luve2fli · February 10, 2014, 07:59:17 AM

QuoteI'd sell it as is and reap the rewards before I'd ever make it into a bass.

Ditto. That's a piece of history - leave it alone.

Chris P. · February 10, 2014, 10:12:50 AM

What all the others say:)

godofthunder · February 11, 2014, 09:03:30 AM

Agreed leave it alone, gotta put that thing under glass.

amptech · February 12, 2014, 01:37:58 AM

Yeah, it's a museum piece.

Speaking of which, wasnt there a big vintage guitar museum opening in north of Sweden about this time?

I think i read about it here. Oh, have to search the forum

drbassman · February 12, 2014, 07:33:53 AM

As much as I love tinker with stuff, I'd leave this one alone and sell it to a collector if you're not of a mind to preserve it. Same with the signatures. Value is in the wallet of the beholder, i.e. avid collector.

Pilgrim · February 12, 2014, 08:57:59 AM

Remember, the value of something is defined by what someone will pay for it, not what you THINK it's worth. Sell that bass body...and the signatures, if you don't to put them in a display case.