Would this be a good deal?

Sarbar · #1 01-09-2007, 06:00 PM

I am new to DB and looking around for one to learn on in my area. On ebay I found a Knilling 1302T for about 800 dollars as a pickup only:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...070747830&rd=1
I know the auction has already ended, but the store who is selling it is within about 50 miles of me. The price looks right for what it is but I wanted to get an outside oppinion. From the pictures can anyone tell if it is looks like a German made bass as opposed to the Korean Knillings? Think this would be a good choice to learn on? Thanks for the help.

Chasarms · #2 01-10-2007, 08:20 AM

I have played a couple of Knillings. The Mars Music here in St. Louis used to keep them. They are pretty decent. If it is in decent shape and no structural issues, $800 would be a good buy.

The photos show no adjusters in the bridge, and the strings, unless the photo is misleading, look kind of high. But, even if you dropped another $300-600 to a luthier for strings and a little setup work, you'd be ahead of the curve.

If I was bass shopping, It'd be worth a 50 mile drive to me.

Bob Branstetter · #3 01-10-2007, 10:32 AM

From a repair standpoint, my experience has been that the Korean made Knillings and the Korean made Roths have had far more serious problems in the first five years than the ones that were (previously) made in Europe. At least one public school district in my area will no longer accept these Korean made brands in bids for new instruments due to excessive structural problems and damage that was not caused by students. Always check the maker's label (through the "E" side ff hole) for country of origin before buying one of these brands.

philip sirois · #4 01-10-2007, 02:24 PM

I guess I'm not sure that an $800 starting bid translates to an $800 selling price. In fact, I'd be pretty certain that it doesn't. Savvy ebayers always start with a opening bid condsiderably
below the reserve. They state in the add that these go for 2400.
You can be assured that the seller isn't putting it on ebay to give it away, especially if they have a shop to sell it in. Take that with Mr Bransetter's comment and what you have is what you almost always have on ebay, an unknown quantity in a seller's market.

Do yourself a favor and go looking at basses the way the newbie links (read them!) advise: play a lot of basses in all price ranges before you even think about buying one. If you don't know anything take someone who does.