• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Does this guy actually think this will sell for this price?

#21
It doesn't matter, really. Even if someone DOES buy it, that only means there's ONE guy with too much money burning a hole in his pocket.

If I were looking to "invest" in a vintage instrument, I'd go to Gruhn's or some place that has a reputation to uphold and a long track record of handling real vintage instrument transactions. NOT the 'Bay.

Silly, really, like this:
Meet The World's Most Expensive Photo : The Picture Show : NPR
 
#24
I agree that vintage instruments are way over priced. If you look at what Gibson Les Pauls of the golden age are going for, especially '58,'59,'60 Standards (low to mid 6 figures), a first year p for 30K is reasonable. Another good thing for bass lovers is they are also cheaper than comparable year model Teles and Strats.

I've seen several 1960 (1st year) jazz basses for around 15K. What a deal ! You could buy 2 of those instead of this one.

It all relative I guess.
 
#25
I sell classics cars and I know my clients want to see information, paperwork and documentation before dropping $30,000 on a car. To advertise a Bass for $30k with no real description, provenance serial number or anything to authenticate it doesn't jive. All the seller says about this Bass is check out how nice it is. That doesn't give a lot of confidence as a buyer. Also showing a famous guitarist holding a Bass with no explanation to why the picture is there is very misleading or the seller is clueless. I'd rather see a famous bassist holding one instead of a guitarist.
 
#26
Don't forget that things are more expensive here in the UK than in the US. Usually, you can just change the dollar sign for a pound sign and there's your UK price.

For example, a shop price for the '62 Precision Reissue in the US might be $1449 (Musician's Friend, for example), but the same bass in the UK is £1600+. Convert that into dollars!

With this in mind, the bass could conceivably be $18000, were it a US-based seller. On the subject of the bass, I imagine the seller would open it up/remove the neck to satisfy a potential buyer's concerns.
 
#28
These guys are a notoriously expensive shop in London. I can't comment on authenticity or anything like that but it's not surprising that the price is raising a few eyebrows. A while back they had a pretty clean late 60's EB-3 for sale for £4000, you could easily pick something like that up for half that.
 
#30
john grey said:
Something is wrong.
Check the tuners and their age. That's a chrome age reaction to oxygen. Then check other exposed chrome parts (they don't match).
Click to expand...

Old Fender tuners were regular nickel plated, the covers and control cover where chrome plated. Yes they age very differently. All 50's, 60's, and early 70's Fenders (and Gibsons)do this.

The bass is in great condition, I'll give it that. I don't know what early slabs sell for in England, but there is a '51 also in equally stupid-clean condition for sale at a vintage shop here in Seattle for the same asking price.
 
#31
JTFormula said:
I sell classics cars and I know my clients want to see information, paperwork and documentation before dropping $30,000 on a car. To advertise a Bass for $30k with no real description, provenance serial number or anything to authenticate it doesn't jive. All the seller says about this Bass is check out how nice it is. That doesn't give a lot of confidence as a buyer.
Click to expand...

None of these shops really use Ebay to actually sell the product on. They use Ebay as the advertising space...think about it, worldwide 24/7 instant visual for only the listing cost. Serious buyers with that much money simply call in and get the specific pictures provided to them.
 
#33
Caca de Kick said:
None of these shops really use Ebay to actually sell the product on. They use Ebay as the advertising space...think about it, worldwide 24/7 instant visual for only the listing cost. Serious buyers with that much money simply call in and get the specific pictures provided to them.
Click to expand...

+1

If I was serious, I'd be flying over there to see it firsthand. $400-$500 trip for a $30k bass is expected. Then again, I'd just find one domestically anyways.
 
#38
Someone i know pointed me in the direction of this thread, very interesting reading, lots of sensible comments from people who clearly know their vintage stuff, and some comments from people who clearly know very little, but somehow feel qualified to diss a perfectly fine instrument.

Oh, yes, I am the owner of this bass, and yes, i know my stuff. I have a collection that includes all the sought after fender basses, and upgraded my previous '52, to acquire this one, which is, absolutely stunning.

Of course i checked out every single component, and can vouch for the fact that it is 100% original, except the case, which is obviously a '55-'57. I already had an original '52 gigbag with my old one though, so i kept that.

By the way, no claim was made by the vendor (It was on consignment to the ebay seller, which is actually a very well respected, if not the most respected, vintage shop in the UK), that it was played or owned by ZZ Top. They just so happened to be in the shop, and they took a picture, it has the same marking by the bridge which is evident in the large pics i have.

Thanks.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back