Club Fbass (Part 4)

[DonovanBankhead]

Question for you guys.

I'm thinking of ordering a VF5 with an exotic top. This would add about $1800 to the price of the bass, making a VF5 sell for just under $5k. Do you all think that's too much for a J bass? Or would you go for it (if you had the cash)?


I'm leaning towards this top (obviously the cutout is for a BN5, but you get the idea):

 

[Vic]

Question for you guys.

I'm thinking of ordering a VF5 with an exotic top. This would add about $1800 to the price of the bass, making a VF5 sell for just under $5k. Do you all think that's too much for a J bass? Or would you go for it (if you had the cash)?

IMHO, if money was LITERALLY no object (which I think you've already proven is not the case, since you're asking), I might do it. However, with that kind of upcharge (most builders/luthiers typically charge $200-500, and very rarely up to $1000 for an exotic top... very rarely), I'd very definitely NOT do it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying George is screwing people. I'm sure he's charging appropriately for materials and time given his process. However, I think it's cost prohibitive as a result of what he has to charge.

Here's the much more subjective part... some people really feel figured tops simply don't fit a J bass theme. Personally, I can take them either way, and even have both figured and non-figured myself. However, even if you feel that way, the VF is just different enough I don't think that matters. That said, I DO love the way they look without figured tops anyway, so it's especially not worth it to me.

IMHO!

 

[Dave Hill]

I would NOT go for the top. 5k is really steep, and used gear is on the CHEAP. I would think that if you are buying a bass for inventory, a base model would be the way to go. I can't really see a VF with a top (BN, yes). Maybe a alder/rosewood VF-4 in a burst?

 

[NickyBass]

I wouldn't pay $1800 for a top and then cover half of it with a $50 peice of plastic......

But, to answer the question--If the cost isn't an issue, then go for it!

 

[Vic]

I would NOT go for the top. 5k is really steep, and used gear is on the CHEAP. I would think that if you are buying a bass for inventory, a base model would be the way to go.

Actually, this is a REAL good point. I didn't even think of that... I was thinking something like this would just be for a personal purchase (actually for this very reason). Donovan, if you're buying for eventual resale, MOSDEF stick to the basic models IMHO. I would think those will continue to move the best by far, even after the economy recovers someday.

 

[DonovanBankhead]

I've had better luck moving more unique finishes. The "normal" finishes have been the HARDEST to move. I'm debating on whether for my inventory on hand if I should just keep unique pieces, and special order the standard stuff. That's completely backwards from what I would normally think, but the standard pieces have been slow movers.

The two VF5's I have in stock are perfect examples. They are very standard finishes (natural and black/white), but for whatever reason, they haven't turned. But if I were to offer up my Maccassar ebony topped BN5, I could probably sell it before the month was over... Man - bass players are hard to figure out!

 

[Vic]

I've had better luck moving more unique finishes. The "normal" finishes have been the HARDEST to move. I'm debating on whether for my inventory on hand if I should just keep unique pieces, and special order the standard stuff. That's completely backwards from what I would normally think, but the standard pieces have been slow movers.

The two VF5's I have in stock are perfect examples. They are very standard finishes (natural and black/white), but for whatever reason, they haven't turned. But if I were to offer up my Maccassar ebony topped BN5, I could probably sell it before the month was over... Man - bass players are hard to figure out!

Really? Even for the full new price? Wow, that's really surprising!! I mean, I know the unique stuff is more attractive, but at the NEW price, I'd think it'd be really hard to move these days. Well, you'd certainly know better than I tho on that.

 

[dreamwood]

Please, please DON'T cover that wonderfull top with a piece of plastic
This lovely wood will better fit on a bn or bnf 5 , 6 .

 

[steve f]

Please, please DON'T cover that wonderfull top with a piece of plastic
This lovely wood will better fit on a bn or bnf 5 , 6 .

+1

I might spend an extra $500 some flamed or quilted maple but I wouldn't use that beautiful piece of walnut on a VF5, unless you lose the pickguard. I think the VF has such a unique style that I wouldn't get hung up over it not looking "vintage" enough... just my $.02

 

[DonovanBankhead]

I was definitely not going to use a pickguard. George suggested a clear pickguard, but I'd prefer to have the neck set a bit deeper and go without.

 

[Tom7]

I wouldn't pay $1800 for a top and then cover half of it with a $50 peice of plastic......

But, to answer the question--If the cost isn't an issue, then go for it!

This is a good point: if you are going to top it, you would need to either go with no pick guard, or with a transparent one.

It feels a little funny posting these photos in THIS discussion, but they do make a point.

Here are two photos of my Alleva Coppolo:

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As you can see by the photos, I definitely would buy a J-style bass with an exotic top... at least before we were hammered by the recession.

Which brings me to Dave Hill's point: used gear is the more attractive buy right now.

When business was better, I would have probably bought a new VF5 with that top, even at that price. But now?

There is a top I've had my eye on, and have thought about paying a deposit to grab it, and then have a bass built a year or so from now when (I'm guessing) things will look a bit better for me, financially speaking.

But in this economy, getting that bass for inventory might be a bit of a risk.

In other words, the timing works against this bass in terms of getting about $5,000 for it as a new bass, but I doubt it would have any trouble moving at $3,500 or so if it were used. Not helpful, I know.

By the way, I definitely don't see a need to think of J style basses as a bit lower end, and not worthy of a nice wood look. I would rather have my topped Alleva Coppolo than MANY other non-J basses I can think of.

Another thought though: as you know, the VF5's body style isn't pure J in its cut. Consequently, I don't know that an exotic topped VF5 would look very "vintage" at all. But I've seen exotic basses with J style pickups, like Fodera's NYC line, that do well in terms of sales. At least I think they do.

You know, I really was NO help with that post, was I?

 

[Tom7]

I've had better luck moving more unique finishes. The "normal" finishes have been the HARDEST to move. I'm debating on whether for my inventory on hand if I should just keep unique pieces, and special order the standard stuff. That's completely backwards from what I would normally think, but the standard pieces have been slow movers.

The two VF5's I have in stock are perfect examples. They are very standard finishes (natural and black/white), but for whatever reason, they haven't turned. But if I were to offer up my Maccassar ebony topped BN5, I could probably sell it before the month was over... Man - bass players are hard to figure out!

I agree with this thinking a lot, although I'm sure others would not.

I know Vic and Ken and others prefer them, but I REALLY did not want to buy an Alleva Coppolo bass with a traditional finish.

My thinking, and I know it's not for everyone, is that I didn't want to spend $4,000 to get a bass that looks pretty much exactly like my $300 made in Mexico Jazz bass.

Sure, we bass players will know better when we see and hear a Coppolo as opposed to a MiM Jazz, but that's what? One percent of our audience?

Many of us want, and even prefer, basses with a Jazz bass vibe. However, that doesn't necessarily mean we want them to look perfectly like the basses that can be had on Musician's Friend, you know?

When getting a jazz bass, I felt like if I was going to spend "too much" for a Jazz bass, I want it to look and sound like I did, I guess.

In other words, I didn't want all the wow factor to be in the tone, I wanted some of it in the looks as well.

Therefore, I am one of those who would probably look past your traditionally spec'd VF5s to look for the unique.

There are probably other like thinkers.

If I wanted standard looking stuff, I'd probably look to Guitar Center, Musician's Friend and maybe Bass Northwest.

If I want something a cut above, then I'd look to a smaller, specialty type shop like fretspot.com.

Disclaimer:

Having said all that, my VF5 looks like this:

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Could there be a more traditional look for a VF5 than THAT finish? But its slender cut in the body style keeps it from being too strictly traditional, and that appeals to me.

That's not to say, though, that my next VF5 won't look more like this:

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Because I very much would like to make this my next purchase...

Right after I buy THIS:

 

[J. Crawford]

I love how you can just tell which mockups are Thndrstks.

 

[Tom7]

I love how you can just tell which mockups are Thndrstks.

Oh, you mean the VF5 with the MM pickup? Good call.

The guy is really something, isn't he?

 

[thndrstk6]

Here's a picture of a guardless VF5. If I remember right GF was saying it wasn't going to have a guard. You can at least get an idea as to what a guardless VF5 looks like from this picture. It's the third one from the right.

*CLICK ON IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER*

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[hairman]

Here's a picture of a guardless VF5. If I remember right GF was saying it wasn't going to have a guard. You can at least get an idea as to what a guardless VF5 looks like from this picture. It's the third one from the right.

*CLICK ON IT TO MAKE IT BIGGER*
[picture removed]

WARNING!!!

Don't click on that picture!!! there's a virus attached ... the "Ineedtobuyall!!!!" virus.

I can tell .... ... somebody get me a doctor please!

 

[thndrstk6]

WARNING!!!

Don't click on that picture!!! there's a virus attached ... the "Ineedtobuyall!!!!" virus.

I can tell .... ... somebody get me a doctor please!

LOL I was there. It was like that scene in Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory when they go through the door into a vast world of candy. I was
Augustus Glut and George F. sang a little song while I gorged on Fbass
delight.

 

[hairman]

Okay, well i think it's clear ... let's not post pictures like that on this forum anymore ... it's lethal!
George should be ashamed, tempting us with all this F-basses delight, no one can resist that ...

 

[Tom7]

WARNING!!!

Don't click on that picture!!! there's a virus attached ... the "Ineedtobuyall!!!!" virus.

I can tell .... ... somebody get me a doctor please!

Fortunately, I've been recently inoculated with Norton Gotnobucks.

Love that BN6 and that guardless VF5.

 

[thndrstk6]

Fortunately, I've been recently inoculated with Norton Gotnobucks.

Love that BN6 and that guardless VF5.

Yeah I got to play that BN6 too. It was great!