1200 for a cremona?

[envika]

am i missing something here?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/683648118.html

[EJ_Dad]

The only steal is your cash.
1. Read the newbe links
2. Find a reputable bass shop locally

[drurb]

Originally Posted by envika

am i missing something here?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/683648118.html

You sure will be if you buy it! What you may be missing now is how much more bass you could be buying with those $$$.

[Tejano Bass]

IMHO . . . it's overpriced by about $1,000 - maybe more! . . . & . . .most of that is covered by the bag, wheel & bow!

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by envika

am i missing something here?

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/msg/683648118.html

Some poor sap is just trying to get the money they had to put into getting it playable (neck work, new bridge etc.) back out. When he got it, it prolly wasn't even $800 that he paid. And it seemed like SUCH a good idea, oooh look a cheap upright.

Well, this is exactly why we say pass this stuff by.

[envika]

(i do not play upright nor do i plan to, but i know a bit about upright brands and lolled when i saw the craigslist post)

[dave88]

This kind of makes me wonder about how much the bass I'm about to sell is actually worth. Its a Knilling Summit, their bottom of the line Korean laminate, which I got for 800$ used. It sounded like a** and was unplayable when I got it. But after 400$ worth of work it plays like a dream and really doesn't sound that much worse than any of the carved basses I play. Would people laugh at me for listing it for 1200$??

[Ed Fuqua]

How sound is it structurally? The thing about Cremonas/Palantinos etc is that ebonized fingerboards that can't be dressed, badly aligned necks, fingerboards, tops etc. Non standard adhesives used so that fingerboards/tops etc have to be sawed off. Greenwood cracks, soundpost caused cracks...you know the litany. If it's a well constructed plywood bass, the work tends to be additive to it's value. If it's not, then why shouldn't I just buy a BRAND NEW cheap ass bass and put $400 into it?
Or (since the consumer demographic is folks that are just coming to the instrument and may not know better) if I see 6 different BSOs selling for $6-800 each and I see yours (hypothetically, not talking specifically your Knilling here) for $1200, which are you going to buy?

[drurb]

Originally Posted by dave88

...I got for 800$ used...But after 400$ worth of work it plays like a dream and really doesn't sound that much worse than any of the carved basses I play.

What kind of carved basses are you playing? Your laminate bass may be a well-constructed and worthy one. I'm puzzled by why it would not, justifiably, pale in comparison to even an entry-level quality carved bass. Perhaps we listen for very different things.

[dave88]

Originally Posted by drurb

What kind of carved basses are you playing? Your laminate bass may be a well-constructed and worthy one. I'm puzzled by why it would not, justifiably, pale in comparison to even an entry-level quality carved bass. Perhaps we listen for very different things.

Yeah, I expected a host of responses along the lines of: you must be playing really awful carved basses, or you must have really bad ears. I probably should have just left that sentence out, but I was trying to show that I do have some reference for what a good bass is. Trying to not take very long on this response cause it'll get us way off topic.

[dave88]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

How sound is it structurally? The thing about Cremonas/Palantinos etc is that ebonized fingerboards that can't be dressed, badly aligned necks, fingerboards, tops etc. Non standard adhesives used so that fingerboards/tops etc have to be sawed off. Greenwood cracks, soundpost caused cracks...you know the litany. If it's a well constructed plywood bass, the work tends to be additive to it's value. If it's not, then why shouldn't I just buy a BRAND NEW cheap ass bass and put $400 into it?
Or (since the consumer demographic is folks that are just coming to the instrument and may not know better) if I see 6 different BSOs selling for $6-800 each and I see yours (hypothetically, not talking specifically your Knilling here) for $1200, which are you going to buy?

Yeah, I see your point. My Knilling's parts are actual ebony and it has survived 25+ years without any cracks. I was just trying to make some sort of point about how cheaper basses can be made decent after a lot of investment, and that perhaps this is justifiably reflected in their price markup. I haven't looked at this Cremona ad, but I do doubt thats whats going on there.

So you guys wouldn't laugh at a Knilling for 1200$ then?

Note to moderators: I'm not selling it on this site, don't worry.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by dave88

Yeah, I expected a host of responses along the lines of: you must be playing really awful carved basses, or you must have really bad ears. I probably should have just left that sentence out, but I was trying to show that I do have some reference for what a good bass is. Trying not take very long on this response cause it'll get us way off topic.

I was afraid my questions might be taken in a negative manner. I assure you I did not mean them that way. I am well aware that different folks here play different styles of music. For some, the sound of a lami is quite desirable. If one is listening for those characteristics, then the sound of a lami might be preferred over that of a carved. That wouldn't mean one would have "bad ears" at all.

On the other hand, if we are generally listening for the same sorts of things, then I really did wonder which carved basses you might be using as a comparison. The question was sincere.

[dave88]

Originally Posted by drurb

I was afraid my questions might be taken in a negative manner. I assure you I did not mean them that way. I am well aware that different folks here play different styles of music. For some, the sound of a lami is quite desirable. If one is listening for those characteristics, then the sound of a lami might be preferred over that of a carved. That wouldn't mean one would have "bad ears" at all.

On the other hand, if we are generally listening for the same sorts of things, then I really did wonder which carved basses you might be using as a comparison. The question was sincere.

No, its fine, not offended, just trying to stay topical. I should have just put it sounds/plays great and not made a reference to other basses. My operative phrase was: "that much worse", and I was hoping people would pick up on that. We could spend all day trying to figure out what makes a bass sound "good" to me (in fact, thats what I did all day Tuesday before buying a Benjamin Lee carved).