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Watch | Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 3

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Close Up | Poet Rainer Maria Rilke's Quote

Close Up | Poet Rainer Maria Rilke's Quote

Owner Interview | Korean Yayoi Stone Dagger, ca. 750 BC

Owner Interview | Korean Yayoi Stone Dagger, ca. 750 BC

Appraisal Collection | All Our Appraisals from Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 3

Appraisal Collection | All Our Appraisals from Colonial Williamsburg, Hour 3

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1968 Fender Jazz Bass

Value (2019) | $4,500 Retail – $5,000 Retail
Watch  

GUEST:
My dad gave it to me. He was in Vietnam, and he bought that in Hong Kong and sent it back home. And then he started playing, opening shows for people like George Jones and Tammy Wynette. And he played for 30 years, so...

APPRAISER:
It does fit into that time frame. This is a 1968 Fender Jazz Bass. Hong Kong is probably one of the more unusual places to buy one. It was made in California.

GUEST:
Oh!

APPRAISER:
During the Vietnam time, a lot of goods ended up over there for the soldiers that were on R and R.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
This model was introduced in 1960.

GUEST:
Nice.

APPRAISER:
The original bass from Fender, in 1951, was called a Precision Bass. But jazz players wanted more of a trebly, brighter sound and a little bit faster action, and this Jazz Bass model was, was invented. It's got a very narrow nut and a faster neck, and it's become a very popular bass over time. They still make this same model today, and they've made thousands of them over the years. This guitar is in the standard sunburst finish.

GUEST:
Okay.

APPRAISER:
And it's in... Oh, I'd call it very good-plus condition, all original.

GUEST:
Yes.

APPRAISER:
Do you have any idea of what he paid for it when he bought it?

GUEST:
Oh, he told me $90.

APPRAISER:
$90?

GUEST:
Yes. He was tickled when they told him, "$90." (chuckling)

APPRAISER:
Yeah, that's very cool. That, that's a very good price. You'd like to buy a lot of them for $90 now.

GUEST:
(laughs)

APPRAISER:
In today's market, at retail, this guitar would sell for between $4,500 and $5,000.

GUEST:
My goodness. He will be thrilled.

APPRAISER:
Oh, great. It's got kind of that smoky finish from playing in bars.

GUEST:
Yeah, there was a lot of bar playing going on. (laughing)

APPRAISER:
But I like that.

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Appraisal Details

Appraiser
Lawrence Cavalieri
Musical Instruments
Lawrence Cavalieri Fine Musical Instruments
Newburyport, MA
Appraised value (2019)
$4,500 Retail – $5,000 Retail
Featured In
Churchill Downs Racetrack, Hour 1 (#2313)
Event
Louisville, KY (May 22, 2018)
Category
Musical Instruments
Period
1960s
Form
Musical Instrument

Executive producer Marsha Bemko shares her tips for getting the most out of ANTIQUES ROADSHOW.

Value can change: The value of an item is dependent upon many things, including the condition of the object itself, trends in the market for that kind of object, and the location where the item will be sold. These are just some of the reasons why the answer to the question "What's it worth?" is so often "It depends."

Note the date: Take note of the date the appraisal was recorded. This information appears in the upper left corner of the page, with the label "Appraised On." Values change over time according to market forces, so the current value of the item could be higher, lower, or the same as when our expert first appraised it.

Context is key: Listen carefully. Most of our experts will give appraisal values in context. For example, you'll often hear them say what an item is worth "at auction," or "retail," or "for insurance purposes" (replacement value). Retail prices are different from wholesale prices. Often an auctioneer will talk about what she knows best: the auction market. A shop owner will usually talk about what he knows best: the retail price he'd place on the object in his shop. And though there are no hard and fast rules, an object's auction price can often be half its retail value; yet for other objects, an auction price could be higher than retail. As a rule, however, retail and insurance/replacement values are about the same.

Verbal approximations: The values given by the experts on ANTIQUES ROADSHOW are considered "verbal approximations of value." Technically, an "appraisal" is a legal document, generally for insurance purposes, written by a qualified expert and paid for by the owner of the item. An appraisal usually involves an extensive amount of research to establish authenticity, provenance, composition, method of construction, and other important attributes of a particular object.

Opinion of value: As with all appraisals, the verbal approximations of value given at ROADSHOW events are our experts' opinions formed from their knowledge of antiques and collectibles, market trends, and other factors. Although our valuations are based on research and experience, opinions can, and sometimes do, vary among experts.

Appraiser affiliations: Finally, the affiliation of the appraiser may have changed since the appraisal was recorded. To see current contact information for an appraiser in the ROADSHOW Archive, click on the link below the appraiser's picture. Our Appraiser Index also contains a complete list of active ROADSHOW appraisers and their contact details and biographies.

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