$394.000 Precision

[StayLow]

Possible context:

EVH gave the kid who played him in the “Hot For Teacher” vid one of the “frankenstein”-looking guitars used in the shoot, in the mid-80’s.

He sold it in 2020 for $50k

In 2022 it was sold on eBay for $200k

In 2023 EVH’s actual guitar sold for $3.9 million.

 

[Wisebass]

Hi guys

I know the auctioneer says it’s featured on the Fandango cover.

But that pickguard isn’t the pickguard that is on this 53. It is smaller and covers less of the body than the one on this 53. I think it looks way more like a Telecaster bass from 68 to 71 with a replaced guard.

I think you’re right lol. That ‘53 pickguard doesn’t match the bass on the album cover.

That ain’t a ‘53. That’s a tele. And the pg matches the album cover bass. Oops.

Well the auctioneer made a compromise between the '53 Pbass and the one on the cover!

the auctioneer sold it as a '53 Telecaster!

Something that doesn't exist! The buyer kinda got two in one.


greetings

Wise(b)ass

 

[Gunga Din]

You would be wrong. Clearly Dusty Hill's bass lol
I can think of a couple others
Jamerson original 1961 P bass
Paul McCartneys original hofner bass
Geddy's #1 jazz
Chris Squires 1999RM

There are collectors that would pay money we struggle to fathom

Who has that? Vincent Gallo?

 

[Nashrakh]

Some day, names like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie VanHalen will only be know to aficionados - which will drive down the prices on vintage guitars.

Shocker moment recently: none of the musicology first semesters at my uni knew who the Beatles even were when the prof played a snippet of one of their songs at a seminar.

 

[Fynn]

Playing old instruments is not why I don't care for ol' Joe B.

That's one of the biggest complains you usually hear though. It's that, and that he plays outdated blues, which a lot of people also don't like for some reason.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

My eyes saw one zero less, and I was about to say it's an OK. price..

 

[Gluvhand]

That's one of the biggest complains you usually hear though. It's that, and that he plays outdated blues, which a lot of people also don't like for some reason.

Because it’s outdated.

 

[rmayer]

Second day in a row that I read this title quickly and thought it was $394.00 Precision!!
Thought it was going to be another “my Squier is as good as your Sadowsky “ rant.
This is slightly more interesting.

 

[groovaholic]

Shocker moment recently: none of the musicology first semesters at my uni knew who the Beatles even were when the prof played a snippet of one of their songs at a seminar.

Exactly - and even if those musicology students learn to love and deeply appreciate the Beatles' music, they won't form the kind of sentimental resonance that makes a person drop $394,000 at an auction.

I'm not saying that the music will become irrelevant; it just won't be tied to people's formative experiences ("the first time I kissed a girl..." "my first concert..." "first time I snuck a beer with my buddies...")

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Except…eventually the bottom will drop out of the vintage guitar market.
When I go to guitar shows, the predominant hair color is grey.

Some day, names like Jimi Hendrix and Eddie VanHalen will only be know to aficionados - which will drive down the prices on vintage guitars.

Taylor Swift’s acoustic will sell for more than Eddie’s “Frankenstein”…

Probably more than than the national debt, which is about what her final tour will generate.

 

[JimmyM]

Exactly - and even if those musicology students learn to love and deeply appreciate the Beatles' music, they won't form the kind of sentimental resonance that makes a person drop $394,000 at an auction.

I'm not saying that the music will become irrelevant; it just won't be tied to people's formative experiences ("the first time I kissed a girl..." "my first concert..." "first time I snuck a beer with my buddies...")

So they’ll collect other stuff that belonged to someone who was relevant to them.

Sometimes I think you guys say stuff like that just to wish away those who do pay high prices for treasured gear from famous people. Got news for you…ain’t gonna happen. When Paul dies, that crappy little Hofner is going to break every record regardless if some college students never heard of him. If we could find Beethoven’s piano, it would also sell huge, regardless of him dying centuries ago or whether college students ever heard of him.

 

[badinage]

...
View attachment 5279644

I want to know if green Frogtape or Scotchblue is better for vintage cases.

 

[groovaholic]

Sometimes I think you guys say stuff like that just to wish away those who do pay high prices for treasured gear from famous people. Got news for you…ain’t gonna happen. When Paul dies, that crappy little Hofner is going to break every record regardless if some college students never heard of him.

True - assuming Paul lives to 101, there will still be plenty of wealthy Beatles collectors 20 years from now, and that bass will fetch a bundle.
But I'm less confident about 40 years later when that collector wants to sell Paul's bass.
If no one alive remembers "Beatlemania" and few even remember Peter Jackson's documentary, will that Hofner's value have outpaced inflation?

My frame of reference was my surprise at what Les Paul's Les Paul sold for a couple years ago.
Les Paul is less known as a player than as a name on the headstock - so despite the guitar's historical significance, the auction fetched less than I expected.

These instruments have value as objects - a 1953 Precision in good playing condition is worth solid money.
But the difference between "solid money" and $394,000 is based on sentimentality - and our memories and lifespan are a finite resource.

 

[Major Seven]

Exactly - and even if those musicology students learn to love and deeply appreciate the Beatles' music, they won't form the kind of sentimental resonance that makes a person drop $394,000 at an auction.

I'm not saying that the music will become irrelevant; it just won't be tied to people's formative experiences ("the first time I kissed a girl..." "my first concert..." "first time I snuck a beer with my buddies...")

Lets have a laugh.

 

[jvdb]

I never saw him use anything but that bass till 1980.

If you show me a clear pic of him playing this bass around that era I'll buy you a drink This excludes the Fandango record photo, which I wouldn't call a clear picture.

 

[JimmyM]

If you show me a clear pic of him playing this bass around that era I'll buy you a drink This excludes the Fandango record photo, which I wouldn't call a clear picture.

How about 3? You dodged a bullet since I don’t drink.

 

[jvdb]

View attachment 5290791View attachment 5290789 View attachment 5290790

How about 3? You dodged a bullet since I don’t drink.

I'd be happy to buy you any drink you'd prefer. But there's not one 53 P bass as just got auctioned in these pictures. Four reasons why I think that:

- These all have the transition logo = Telecaster bass
- These all have the smaller tuners = Telecaster bass
- These all have a smaller pick guard than the 53 (or any 53 for that matter) = replaced the white guard on the Telecaster bass.
- And on pic two it looks as if this bass doesn't have a router hump = Telecaster bass instead of Precision.

 

[JimmyM]

I'd be happy to buy you any drink you'd prefer. But there's not one 53 P bass as just got auctioned in these pictures. Four reasons why I think that:

- These all have the transition logo = Telecaster bass
- These all have the smaller tuners = Telecaster bass
- These all have a smaller pick guard than the 53 (or any 53 for that matter) = replaced the white guard on the Telecaster bass.
- And on pic two it looks as if this bass doesn't have a router hump = Telecaster bass instead of Precision.

Then take it up with the auction house and Dusty’s family, not me.

 

[GreaserMatt]

You forgot to include 'carrots' in the poll as one of the options LOL