71 Kiso-Suzuki 3/4 bass

MakiSupaStar · #1 02-20-2013, 06:45 PM

I have a friend who's grandfather used to play this bass in a jazz and big band set up. Her mom wants 500 for it. Good deal? The bridge appears to be pretty good. I have real cheap student stand up right now with a crooked neck that is driving me nuts. I'm a beginner in the stand up world, but have been playing electric for 23 years.

What you guys think?

T-Bird · #2 02-20-2013, 08:21 PM

Hi.

I'd say it's a decent deal.
Would be a great deal over here.

But then again I just love any playable (vintage) DB that's under the 1K mark

.

Others will disagree...

Regards
Sam

artfahie · #3 02-20-2013, 08:23 PM

That's the ugliest avatar I've ever seen... it gives me the creeps. Have the bass checked out by a luthier, it probably needs a set-up anyway... it's a great chance to get an educated appraisal of the thing.

KUNGfuSHERIFF · #4 02-20-2013, 08:55 PM

The last Suzuki I saw sell on eBay went for $300, and it took a while.

Bear in mind those basses were made for children, so they will run small and won't have much acoustic volume.

I absolutely agree you should have it evaluated before buying. Check gollihurmusic.com for a luthier in your area.

MakiSupaStar · #5 02-20-2013, 10:39 PM

Ok. So the fact that its a 1971 doesn't make difference? In the electric bass world that's old.

Yeah I figured a set up for sure. I thought the bridge looks pretty solid though.

Jsn · #6 02-21-2013, 12:50 AM

If it's (physically) sound and you like its (auditory) sound, $500 is a fair price. As a step-up bass, it's better than any BSO you'd get in this price range. In 1971, even the cheap instruments were real instruments.

TroyK · #7 02-21-2013, 10:16 AM

This isn't the electric bass world.

The bridge is not in position, which suggests that it least needs a little set up and I concur that in the process, you could get it evaluated to make sure that you know what else it may need as well. They can give you a better opinion on the value to you as a working instrument.

$500 for a well set-up playable bass is always a good deal. Whether it's the right instrument for you depends on a lot of other things, including how it compares to the bass you already have.

MakiSupaStar · #8 02-21-2013, 02:14 PM

Yeah, I noticed that about the bridge. What attracted me to this bass initially is that first it was gigged consistently in the 80's and 90's. I like instruments that have been played, they feel more 'broken in'. Second, the neck is in considerably better shape than the neck on my current stand up. I noticed that about the bridge too. Seems like it got knocked. This bass hasn't been played in like 10 years (since her grandfather died), so a set up is essential, IMO. It's not a HUGE step up, but this bass is a slight step up from the bass I'm currently playing, and I think this playability piece will actually encourage me to play my stand up more. As it stands I don't play my current stand up very much because the neck just wrecks it for me.

Thanks for your input guys. I wanted to check in before I drove all the way down to San Diego to play/buy it.

TroyK · #9 02-21-2013, 03:16 PM

I'll make some assumptions, which may or may not prove to be correct.

1) It handling a heavy gig schedule and didn't fall apart. That's a good sign, it makes it less of an unknown than something without that history.
2) Not unusual for a bridge to shift around a little, especially if it's been moved around a few times and not played by someone who notice and fix it. Maybe all it needs is to be scooted back into place. If you know a player who can go with you, it would be a good move.
3) You'll need/want strings and in the process, assume some set up.

Assuming all is well, assume another $200-300. You could probably sell your bass, no matter what it is in SoCal for that. So, it's a $500 outlay. Probably a good buy. Won't likely be a stellar bass, but sounds like it might improve your current circumstances.

But, one unseen problem, could change all that. Get it checked, if you could.

MakiSupaStar · #10 02-21-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TroyK

I'll make some assumptions, which may or may not prove to be correct.

1) It handling a heavy gig schedule and didn't fall apart. That's a good sign, it makes it less of an unknown than something without that history.
2) Not unusual for a bridge to shift around a little, especially if it's been moved around a few times and not played by someone who notice and fix it. Maybe all it needs is to be scooted back into place. If you know a player who can go with you, it would be a good move.
3) You'll need/want strings and in the process, assume some set up.

Assuming all is well, assume another $200-300. You could probably sell your bass, no matter what it is in SoCal for that. So, it's a $500 outlay. Probably a good buy. Won't likely be a stellar bass, but sounds like it might improve your current circumstances.

But, one unseen problem, could change all that. Get it checked, if you could.

Thanks Troy. That's what I figured too on set up costs. I'll bring a buddy down with me to check it out.