Birthday present ideas/opinions

Blue Jacket · #1 03-27-2010, 08:43 AM

Starting off : I don't play bass. I noodle around on a semi-hollow guitar.
However, for my brothers birthday I wanted to buy him something really nice. He has been biding on blackface bassman on ebay to no avail for the last couple of months. At our local GC he has been playing on acoustics and said their tone was "ok" (he's not very descriptive until he finds the thing he really likes). We also had been looking at Acoustic 370's, but the closest one is in Austin and is being sold as a set with its 2x15 cabinet (i think) for $1500.

He is currently out of town and I revisited the GC to find a 67 silverface bassman for $600 (plus sales tax). I talked to a salesman about it and he said that it is all original, besides the power cord, and "worked great". I didn't have time or the means to play it. Aesthetically it is not too bad. The tolex is covered in a thin layer of dirt and tears and the grill is jutting out slightly on one side.

Does this seem like a good deals?

I know I should have drive him their to check it out, but I really wanted it to be a suprise.

Also suggestions on other amps would be great.
I can't really think of a name for what style he plays, so I'll list bands:Modest Mouse (pre-good news), Built to Spill (quite a bit), etc. (only ones I can think of on the top of my head).

Thanks.

JimmyM · #2 03-27-2010, 09:28 AM

if the guy wants a bassman tuber, there really is no modern equivalent. probably an ok price, maybe you could do a little better, but i don't think it's out of line.

Blue Jacket · #3 03-27-2010, 10:04 PM

Bump for the late night crowd.

Buster Brown · #4 03-27-2010, 10:40 PM

If you were looking at the Fender in Kansas City (Overland Park GC) I checked it out myself. Looks like a good deal. Overall condition is really nice.

Good amp? Well, again, each player is different. Some wouldn't play anything but Fender, GK, Ampeg, so on and so forth. Fender built great amps back in the day, however. I've played many of them and always enjoyed them!

Sorry...having re-read your post, I don't believe that you are talking about the one here in KC....it was in nearly pristine condition..FWIW, you might go to the GC site (used gear) and check out the one in KC...it would make a great gift!

Sorry for the confusion!!

R Baer · #5 03-27-2010, 11:22 PM

Not a bad price depending on the condition, but in normal GC fashion you should be able to get him down a bit in price. As soon as you buy it, spend a few bucks to have an amp tech thoroughly check the amp out. The chance that the sales guy really knows anything about the condition of the amp is slim to none. He will certainly tell you it's all original if he thinks he is getting a sale out of it.

Big thumbs up for being a great big brother! I usually just got a round of charlie horse's and dead butts from my brothers.