Fender Mustang Bass

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

I may want to sell or trade an original Fender Mustang bass with original case. Anyone have any idea of their approximate worth??
I bought a new (still had the plastic on the keys and pre-amp) Dean blue Q5 for $90.00 in a pawn shop thinking I would like to use a 5 string..but I cannot seem to get used to it. The top string keeps throwing me off. Since I am now playing bass(instead of steel) for another quartet I may be wanting to do some trading around. I do have another 4 string I am using but I may try another brand. I would never have thought one string would throw me off like it does especially after playing steel with all the strings, pedals and knee levers for about 30 years but it does. I may even trade the Dean for a 4 string. The Dean sounds great and the sound man has to adjust the board everytime I use it.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

How much do you want for the Mustang bass, Walter?
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Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

bOb,
I don't know... I was doing some checking around today and I couldn't believe what I was told it would sell for and how in demand they are. A while back a music store offered me a new bass for this one but I wasn't interested then.
I'll get back to you.
Walter

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Now you're scaring me. Winking

I didn't realize that they were high priced items. I always thought of the Fender Mustang as as entry level instrument. I used to play one long ago. I liked the short scale, even though it didn't sound as good as the Precision or Jazz basses.
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Chris LeDrew · From: Canada

I saw a 70's Fender Mustang 6-string for sale online recently for $1,700. Laughing

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Tony Prior · From: Charlotte NC

Ok I'll play, $1700 for this Bass ?

can it happen ? Sure. I guess.

I've seen a few lately in the $350 to $450 range.

theres a local pawn shop that has had both the Bass and Guitar for sale for perhaps two years or more at around $600 each.

Next week is the Guitar show in Charlotte, Maybe the market on these did jump up .

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

If you want to get anybody to give you a realistic "typical" market value for the bass, you need to state the year, condition, and some close-up shots, preferably including shots disassembled to authenticate that the finish and parts are all original. This matters a lot.

The typical values vary by year of production - 60s examples are worth more than 70s examples which are worth more than 80s examples. Any obvious wear, large dings, cracks, or changes in original finish, parts, or anything else detracting from "excellent original condition" deducts from this typical value. A refinish typically cuts the value in half.

The Vintage Guitar Price Guide is a good place to get a ballpark estimate for an excellent original condition example - these range right now from $850 to $1300, depending on year. But the value of most examples out there are lower, IMO. Mint examples are worth more, but are very rare.

All my opinions, of course, but I did spent quite a bit of time in the vintage guitar biz.

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

I have pictures but I do not know how to put them on this forum.
The SN is 199947. It is white, has scratches on the back and finish cracks on the front. The neck has some discoloration at the top alongside of the fretboard and I think this may be from use. The case is gray and has scratches on it but it will still close and lock. The inside is a red color.

Jack Goodson · From: new brockton,alabama (deceased)

i have a 65 fender musicmaster bass that i did not know the value of until i turned down an offer of 2000.00. but if it is newer than a 65 it would be worth around 800.00....thanks jack

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

I think I may have posted the pictures.
Thanks bOb for the information.

Aled Rhys Jones · From: Berkeley, CA

Nice condition! Year is '66-'67 according to this page. Not sure about price, these aren't my bag as I have large hands. Reckon Dave M is in the right area though. Bill Wyman liked these basses I believe.

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Nice bass, serial number probably indicates most probably around '67 - could be '66 or early '68. Later in '68, most I've seen had a black Fender logo.

Based on what I see in these pics, I would call this Very Good Plus condition. I'm not sure what is below the neck plate, but between that and the the large scratches, I would not call what I see excellent condition - just my opinion. Of course, everything may be different in-person. Photos help, but there is nothing like having a guitar in-hand to really see what's going on.

VG+ condition typically books around 80% of excellent-condition - that's a ballpark. The median vintage retail book on an excellent condition '66-69 Mustang Bass with case is $1200 - another ballpark. That gives you some ballpark idea what some other people think.

Of course, the real issue here is what somebody will pay for the bass. You need exactly one person to pay your price. No book, formula, or "expert" advice will tell you this. White with red tortoise pickguard is pretty desirable. You might get more or less.

Of course, all of this is purely my opinion, based on what I see in your pics.

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I see that the new ones sell for about $600.

richard burton · From: Britain

The serial number on my Mustang (308715) places it at about 1973.

The logo on mine is slightly different.

Because of the short scale (30 inches) I string it quite heavy, (045 065 085 105) to keep a reasonable tension

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

Well I have had so many inquiries by email that I am almost in a quandary as of what to do. I will have to decide what to do.

Loni Specter · From: West Hills, CA, USA

That's a good idea Walter. You know my offer still stands. Cool

Lefty · From: Grayson, Ga.

The price of Mustangs have gone up. Especially early ones.I bought a 1964 blue one from a guy at work about ten years ago for 150.00. He was going to sell it, and I told him not to. He told me to take it home for a while, and he was convinced to sell it so I bought it. He set the price.
I bought it because a guy in my first high school band had one, and I always liked the look.. Best neck I have seen on a fender.
I bought the original case on ebay (grey tweed).
It has a pretty unique sound and I store it with my wifes Gibson melody maker, and a blue dano.
Lefty

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

Can't believe the hefty offers I've had and some have been inside the state. Haven't done anything yet and may not since finding out what I can trade for. My wife says it may be part of her inheritance now (just like the other guitars I've accumulated) since she found out the prices being offered and the trade offers she has seen. A dealer last week suggested $1000.00 in trading and she heard him say it.

Loni Specter · From: West Hills, CA, USA

Walter, The body is pretty beat up. If you can get $1k for it, go for it!

Walter Hamlin · From: Talladega, Alabama, USA

No,I do not think I will get $1000 for it and I won't even try to. The dealer was showing me the current trading prices for the guitar from a book he had. The highest price showing in the book was $1250 and this was one in perfect condition. Course it is only worth what someone will pay anyway. He had some nice basses that would make a good trade and we did some talking.

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