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06-10-2006, 04:27 PM
| | | | Overpriced? The latest ebay travesty?
Just saw this on ebay. http://cgi.ebay.com/An-Amazing-Bird-...QQcmdZViewItem
Looks nice, but 40K for a Chinese bass made in 1998? Although, it does come with a hard cello case. Yes, you heard me right. I mean, did they even try to fit the bass in the case before they posted it on ebay?  I'm not sure what Ahnold charges for his quilted maple Montagnana bass but 40K??? Opinions anyone?
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06-10-2006, 04:52 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az | | | As some here already know, I am strongly opposed to "Made in China" products from the post-communist period.. that said, I am told the Chinese have a long tradition of making fine instruments for symphony.. and that some of their luthiers are among the best.. This doesn't seem to apply to their electric instruments, at least not in my personal opinion... but the "Cost" of making such an instrument can't be on par with the German, Italian and other makers, so the price seems a bit high. That said, I don't play DB, so I can't speak of the instrument itself, just of the concept of paying that much for anything made in China "today" is a bit crazy... the reputation alone is poor, even if the item itself is of a good quality.
Would love to get Ken Smith's view on this...
btw.. I love the fake roll out hardwood floor.. makes you wonder about the finish on that bass!
Last edited by SamJ : 06-10-2006 at 04:54 PM.
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06-10-2006, 04:54 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: GA | | I was trying to remember who on here I had seen doing a quilted maple back. thanks. I also seem to remember him saying it was not the easiest material to work with.
Of course the chinese one is a ONE PIECE back, which I find incredible. Makes you wonder about the sustainable forestry practices that are going on over there 
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06-10-2006, 04:59 PM
| | | | i wouldnt say its over priced. symphonic instruments are crazy expensive. for our standards its an insane amount of money but thats int he ball park. if i had 40 grand to spand on a bass..dont even get me started..
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06-10-2006, 06:49 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by KSB - Ken Smith Ok, I saw this the other day and though it had one digit too much. Retail wise in the 6-12k at most for a 'good-to-great' Chinese Bass. A one piece Back IS rare but not worth that much more unless it's on a classic bass and it's in good condition prooving it was worth the effort for the single piece Back. I have seen 2, 3, 4 and 6 piece Tops and Backs with no quality difference between them. Mainly it was what they had to use at the time. I think 2 piece is the prettiest but added 'wings' on the lower bouts for yeild is equally accepted.
I doubt they could sell that on Ebat for 1/10th the price as it is still Chinese and a blind sale with no trial of how it plays or sounds. If I had two Basses from whatever maker that is, it could yeild maybe 10% more for the single piece Back maxing at 1k extra.
The funny this is, it's NOT Birdseye maple. It is a quilted soft maple burl of asain wood. I just sent the seller a link to this thread. Wake-up time.. | Confirms my suspicions.. I can't see a current production, post-communist Chinese anything getting $36K.. Plus after looking up some of those other instruments you mentioned and seeing their heritage and then seeing their prices, it puts things in prospective. |
06-10-2006, 06:50 PM
|  | Moderator Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Bloomington, IN | | | I think it's the cello case that really rings my alarm bells. A typo would be one thing, but the multiple photos in the ad...*** are they thinking? |
06-10-2006, 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by MarkMyWordsXx i wouldnt say its over priced. symphonic instruments are crazy expensive. for our standards its an insane amount of money but thats int he ball park. if i had 40 grand to spand on a bass..dont even get me started.. | I'm fully aware of what symphonic instruments cost and this one shouldn't be nearly this expensive. For 40 grand you could get a really good bass by a reputable maker (Prescott comes first to mind). |
06-10-2006, 07:36 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: USA | | | "birds' eyes" maple....which can be seen from a mile up on a clear day.
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06-10-2006, 07:51 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Brisbane, Australia | | At least the shipping is reasonable. Only 1700 dollars to have it delivered to your door...... by a very happy person from China who flew with it.  |
06-11-2006, 06:55 AM
| | Supporting Member | | Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: In your basement. | | | I am thinking the bass gets shipped in a box and the person in the photos gets shipped to the US in the cello case.
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06-11-2006, 07:36 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Southern California | | | That back does look pretty cool...not 40 grand worth of cool though. |
06-11-2006, 09:05 PM
| | Jeff Bollbach Luthier, Inc. | | Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: freeport, ny | | | If figure was everything then that bass would be worth 40k. Serious refraction going on there, both back and top. I want that wood. |
06-11-2006, 09:28 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Melbourne Australia | | | I agree with with all of the above. A beautiful looking instrument, but would you pay even 5K for something you cant play first? It does look yummy though! I be too scared to take it to a gig for fear of damage!
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06-12-2006, 03:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Stillwater, Minnesota | | | The thing that caught my eye was the crappy bridge. That's not to say it wasn't just a mock-up, but it looks pretty sketchy. |
06-14-2006, 10:34 AM
| | Registered User
Bass Maker/Repairs | | Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Sycamore, Illinois | | | pesos
The $ sign also means pesos which would make it worth about $3600 US.
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06-14-2006, 10:40 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Dallas, TX. | | I think its funny its not even Birdseye maple, its Maple Burl if anything. It is awefully pretty though |
06-14-2006, 04:07 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast | |
Did anyone notice how they stated the bass is shipped. Read it carefully. I got a good laugh out of it. That alone would scare me..  http://cgi.ebay.com/An-Amazing-Bird-...QQcmdZViewItem
Last edited by Dennis Frati : 06-14-2006 at 04:10 PM.
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06-14-2006, 04:18 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Phoenix, Az | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by Dennis Frati |
no insurance? |
06-14-2006, 04:22 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by SamJ no insurance? | No, although another good reason. Look under "Shipping & Return Policy.  |  | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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