Fender P-bass neck question

[Denis]

Working on that Fenderbird of mine at the moment and am hunting around for a mid '70s P-bass neck 9 (I like the big CBS style "Precision Bass" logo in the serif font), maple fingerboard, preferably with tuners. I'm noticing that everyone wants a pretty penny for them (generally $700 and up). There are some on feeBay on which I've made offers (all declined). Ironically, the same necks keep showing up at the same high prices because they aren't selling.

This leads me to ask, what IS a fair price for a neck (with and without tuners)?

[Pilgrim]

I don't think there is any such thing as a "fair" price on an original 60's or 70's neck.  They've all been inflated to ridiculous levels by "vintage" hunters.  Seriously, unless you're restoring a 70's Fender I don't think it's worth paying the price.

An aftermarket neck with a repro decal suggests itself as an option...although I am not a fan of Fender decals on non-Fender necks.   OR - you can create your own decal with a close approximation of the Fender script but one that's not a match.

[ilan]

IIRC the decal font changed from serif to sans-serif in mid 1976.

I'd say a fair price for a good condition no-issues no-stories no overspray original decal 75-76 fretted maple board P neck on eBay is about $500. With tuners and string tree, $600, maybe $650.

[Pilgrim]

Here's the headstock on my '72 P neck:

[chromium]

Denis,

They're not maple board, unfortunately, but if it helps there's a couple CIJ 70s RI necks that I've had in the watch list from reliablefender:

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190397193930&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

  http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360226763829&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

Both were discounted by about 30 bucks a couple days ago, but back to original price now.  I'd expect they'll drop the price on them again...

[Denis]

Thanks for the input, guys!

Pilgrim, that's the logo on my '74/'75 as well. I like that one! And yeah, "fair price" seems not to apply to older necks.
Chromium, thanks for those links, I'll check 'em out!

Modern J-bass necks should fit right in the same pocket as the P-bass necks, right?

[Pilgrim]

You might even email Reliablefender and see if he has any maple board necks...

[dadagoboi]

Thanks for the input, guys!

Pilgrim, that's the logo on my '74/'75 as well. I like that one! And yeah, "fair price" seems not to apply to older necks.
Chromium, thanks for those links, I'll check 'em out!

Modern J-bass necks should fit right in the same pocket as the P-bass necks, right?

The logo changed to black from gold after CBS bought Fender, ditto the big script model designation.  Jazz necks from 1960 on including Japanese are interchangeable,  P and J neck pockets are the same.  I like the Japanese necks a lot.  I got an E Series maple P neck with tuners from The Stratosphere for around $250 a while back.  Not the logo you're looking for but we have the technology...

[gearHed289]

Here's the Mighty Mite headstock of my Fenderbird. I got the Fender logo on ebay. I made the JAE...

[Denis]

Made a guy an offer on this one.

[dadagoboi]

Is that a Fender neck or Allparts?

[Denis]

It's a Fender, MIJ, Geddy Lee.
Hahaha, I'm starting to feel like Baz and his Orville pickups!  

[dadagoboi]

That'll work!

[Denis]

The guy just made a counter offer of $340. I know where I can get an entire Geddy Lee bass for $400...

[Pilgrim]

The guy just made a counter offer of $340. I know where I can get an entire Geddy Lee bass for $400...

If the neck on that Geddy is good, I'd take it in preference to an unknown one on Ebay.  They are a bit on the thin side and a bit prone to warping.