Brooklyn Spector NS-2 Need opinion if mint

60s Guy · #1 09-17-2010, 08:26 PM

I previously listed my cherry sunburst Brooklyn Spector NS-2 for sale. I had offers, but photo's showed tiny white discolorations in the finish at a couple of areas. They are hard to see in person, and nobody could figure out why the finish had these spots.

To my eye, the finish is beautiful, without any dings, chips or significant scratches. It looks just about perfect to me. It should, because I am just an occasional hobby bass player and it is used just a few days per year in a smoke free home.

Is there a member in or around NYC who everyone trusts to look at it, play it and post opinions as to its' condition?

I do not want to sell it for less than it is worth, but I cannot expect anyone to consider it mint by pictures alone. (and I cannot get pictures to show how it really looks).

I was thinking of selling with a guarantee that it can be returned if the buyer thinks that it wasn't worth the price, but I don;t want it shipped back and forth because of my fear of damage.

If we have a trusted member who could give an objective opinion, the buyer and I have a much better chance of agreeing to a price we both are happy with.

Does such a person exist? Is this a sensible idea?

Dan

GREG PEREL WN · #2 09-18-2010, 01:04 PM

Can you upload some pics?
And how much do you want for this Spector?
Thanks.

t3ch · #3 09-18-2010, 01:09 PM

I don't care if a bass is 100% mint or has some imperfections as long as the neck is straight, the electronics work, etc.. I AM however, interested in a brooklyn spector. Let me know the price you're looking to get and shoot some pics over.

hifibass · #4 09-18-2010, 01:59 PM

How 'bout Stuart Spector? He's in Woodstock, NY, he built the bass and has a computer to review the pics.... that's where I'd start. Good luck with the sale! Ken

GREG PEREL WN · #5 09-19-2010, 08:14 AM

Hey man.
Can you please send upload some pics and tell us how much is the price on this bass?
And I agree with hifibass.You should go to the work shop in woodstock will help you.

**TRichardsbass** · #6 09-19-2010, 02:36 PM

You can check with Stuart, or even Ned Steinberger. They both had their hands in this one.

If all else fails, call Stanley Jay at Mandolin Brothers. They know their vintage, especially Steineys, Spectors and other NYC made basses well.

lomo · #7 09-19-2010, 02:58 PM

Seems to me mint means indistinguishable from new. Just my .02

JPSBassist · #8 09-19-2010, 04:21 PM

Hi there,

My name is JP Stern and I work for Spector.
I am their webmaster/website designer among other things.

Stuart is awesome for telling you the condition but his business partner, PJ, is really the guy who deals with collectors and manages all of the sales for Spector.

PJ personally has the single largest collection of rare Spectors... many one-of-a-kind or the very first of a model. He owns the first guitar Stuart ever built.

A great guy (and I don't just say that because he's my boss... he's a good friend as well), he'll have a better idea what your bass is worth than any other person on the planet.

You can reach him at:

custserv@spectorbass.com - this email goes directly to him and he's usually pretty good about getting back with you quickly.

ALSO!!! To save time, please email him a couple of good photos, the serial # and any other info you have. Brooklyn Spectors are really very desirable from a collector's standpoint.

Best of luck to you,

JP

fretless_guy · #9 09-19-2010, 06:15 PM

Do you not need to post a price if you are looking to sell in this forum? I'm surprised the Mods haven't said anything yet. If you are looking for the value, try posting in the Spector Club.

60s Guy · #10 09-22-2010, 11:06 AM

I had listed my Cherry Sunburst Spector for $4500 in a previous thread. I posted pictures at http:/s1021.photobucket.com/albums/af339/60sbassguy/ . The serial number shows in one of the pictures.

The reason for this thread is to get suggestions on how to determine its condition objectively. There have already been comments as to what "mint" means, and I am sure there would be debate as to near-mint on down the categories.

For those who object to the post without price, when I first posted a thread for information about the bass that I was considering selling, I was told that any discussions related to selling had to go in the for sale section.

But to cut through the opionions about where I should post, should there be a price in a thread asking for a way to get the bass evaluated to determine a fair price, the definitions of the words used...

I am willing to sell the bass for $4500. Past offers said the condition was lower due to spots in the finish. I think that the enlarged pictures and lighting make the spots appear much worse. (I had to go back to the bass after looking at the enlargements to see if the spots were real and not just dust)

I have been given some excellent options for having the finish examined.

If you want to pay $4500 based on the pictures, let me know. I am not a professional bass player. It has very light use- maybe 6 days a year in the first 10 years, and once every few years since, almost all play in my non-smoking house.

Dan

GREG PEREL WN · #11 09-22-2010, 12:02 PM

Looks more like a kramer era then a brooklyn era.

NS2A · #12 09-22-2010, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG PEREL WN

Looks more like a kramer era then a brooklyn era.

Why would you say that? They were made on the same machines, the only difference is the state they were made in.

The serial number clearly shows this is a Brooklyn.

GREG PEREL WN · #13 09-22-2010, 12:34 PM

Sorry man,i took it back,my bad.
good luck selling.

lamarjones · #14 09-22-2010, 12:39 PM

imo, it's not mint if it has any spots like that, but it still looks like it's in collector grade condition. Near mint would be fair, but the term mint has to go to the lowest common denominator, and those people are picky as hell. They'd return that in a second (if mint was really what they were after) and would be justified.

that said, a piece like that without any dings should still fetch the premium imo.

JPSBassist · #15 09-22-2010, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GREG PEREL WN

Looks more like a kramer era then a brooklyn era.

Not to be rude, but the last 200 or so Brooklyn Spectors are really no different than the Kramer models.

They were all made on the same machines by Stuart... the difference was WHERE they were made. Brooklyn models were made in one of two locations Stuart had in Brooklyn, the Kramers made across the river in Neptune, NJ.

His serial number is a Brooklyn Serial. It wasn't until around 1100 that the NS-2 models were coming out of Neptune.

It's a nice late-model Brooklyn. That being said, it's a late model. Not the really collectible early model.

The ideal Brooklyn collectible is from the late 1982 to early 1984 models. The ones with the crown inlays and the Badass bridges.

That is the model I am personally looking for.

JPSBassist · #16 09-22-2010, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60s Guy

The reason for this thread is to get suggestions on how to determine its condition objectively. There have already been comments as to what "mint" means, and I am sure there would be debate as to near-mint on down the categories.

For those who object to the post without price, when I first posted a thread for information about the bass that I was considering selling, I was told that any discussions related to selling had to go in the for sale section.

But to cut through the opionions about where I should post, should there be a price in a thread asking for a way to get the bass evaluated to determine a fair price, the definitions of the words used...

I am willing to sell the bass for $4500.

If you want to pay $4500 based on the pictures, let me know. I am not a professional bass player. It has very light use- maybe 6 days a year in the first 10 years, and once every few years since, almost all play in my non-smoking house.

Dan,

It's a great looking NS-2. And really, you've taken good care of it.

I hope you are successful in finding it a good home. And if you get your asking price you'll be doing a lot of Spector collectors a good favor and setting a high-price comp for one of these models.

Please don't be offended by my next comments. They are not meant to be offensive. I started as a Spector player, now I'm a collector... and ironically I work for Spector as well.

I'm saying the following only from the standpoint as a collector. Nothing else. This has nothing to do with my position at Spector.

I think the issue you may run into, and perhaps not, is that this is a great player's bass. As a collector's bass, it's a Brooklyn and in good shape... but it's not atypical of every other NS-2 being made at the time. There's nothing really special, meaning it doesn't have something unique like special inlays and it's not an example of some design/element change such as being the first with the Spector Brass Bridge, etc... And there were many CherryBurst models made. This eventually evolved into the Amberburst models such as the one Doug Wimbish ordered in 1987 from Kramer.

The collectible aspect is only that it's a real Brooklyn, one of the last 200 or so made before the move the NJ. If I was to make you an offer, it would fall into line with what other similar models have realistically sold for. No need to state that number here.

PJ Rubal would be the best person to talk to regarding what he sees these models selling for. Or Todd Cooke (Spectorworld). Todd and PJ are the two largest Spector collectors in the world. They would be the ones to ask.

Best regards and best of luck. I really do hope you get what you are asking.

60s Guy · #17 09-22-2010, 09:47 PM

Very useful information.

I am not offended by your comments. I appreciate your honest analysis of the issues involved.

I do not understand why people are getting bent out of shape over what "mint" means, etc. What is important is the bass, itself, not what words are used to describe it.

That is the purpose of my starting this thread- to try to see if there was a way for someone to see the bass so that all potential buyers have the best, most accurate description of it. I don't want offers based on my words describing it. I want offers based on what the bass actually is.

Dan

60s Guy · #18 09-22-2010, 10:22 PM

An important addendum. I am not asking for offers now. I am just trying to find a way for everyone to know as much about the bass as possible. I only stated a price of $4500 because I was "encouraged" to give a price. I pulled that number out of my a**.

Dan

smcd · #19 09-23-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 60s Guy

I do not understand why people are getting bent out of shape over what "mint" means, etc. What is important is the bass, itself, not what words are used to describe it.

You're looking to sell this bass over the internet, where an honest, detailed written description is of paramount importance. Particularly since this is a private sale, with no guarantee of recourse. Yet you don't seem to understand why people are dwelling on the words you use in your description? You're also marketing this bass towards collectors, yet you don't understand what collectors are all about.

Hyper-sloth · #20 09-23-2010, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smcd

You're looking to sell this bass over the internet, where an honest, detailed written description is of paramount importance. Particularly since this is a private sale, with no guarantee of recourse. Yet you don't seem to understand why people are dwelling on the words you use in your description? You're also marketing this bass towards collectors, yet you don't understand what collectors are all about.

+1. Mint means mint, as new as the day it was purchased. This is especially true when high $'s are involved. This goes for basses, coins, and so on.