Dusty Hill ‘53 Precision

[jamro217]

They're Kluson 546s. Matt O in post #17 was correct. You can get Gotoh Res-O-Lites with longer stems than standard, if that helps.

 

[ebo]

If my GAS fund was $500,000 or more, this might make the cut, along with Jamerson’s funk machine and Leland Sklar’s Frankenstein bass. Yea, throw in a Wooten Yin Yang for kicks. Perhaps McCartney’s long lost bass. Or Klaus Flouride’s lost ‘66 Jazz. And one of Stings 50’s P basses. Let me know when I run out of money, otherwise I’ll work up a top 10. It would be cool to have some serious history hanging on the wall.

 

[Auer]

People collecting dead peoples stuff are weird.

It's an inanimate object who's owner is dead. Who cares.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Some people can drop $80k on a bass like we drop $10 at Subway.

 

[Sjobi 1]

Cobain’s unplugged guitar sold for $6million. Last month an old Ferrari sold for $51million.

I wonder what one of Billy’s iconic guitars, with this bass, in the Eliminator coupe would fetch?

 

[mikewalker]

Some people can drop $80k on a bass like we drop $10 at Subway.

...and ten bux doesn't buy much at Subway anymore!

 

[MVE]

Insane. I don't get why old basses someone famous played go for so much money (collectors not players, I know...). I'd much rather have one built to my specs but that's just me I suppose.

It’s the bass Dusty was playing when Tush just popped into his head during a soundcheck.
I mean, if that doesn’t make it an iconic piece of Anericana worthy of celebration, then I don’t know what does.

 

[TN WOODMAN]

It's worth what someone is willing to pay. A '53 (though I'm guessing under the hood it was probably made stage ready, though the original pots and harness may have been reserved) with Famous Player provenance will find a home, but for most of us in the real world, it's crazy money.

For $80k, I could buy 400 Squier reproduction 50's Precision. Doesn't seem real somehow.

Closer to 234 Squiers if you bought new versus used but I fully agree with your point. My 50s Squier is a great bass. Honestly as good as my Warmoth 56 build which was a lot more to put together.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

...and ten bux doesn't buy much at Subway anymore!

It's been awhile since I've been at Subway. Probably pre-Covid was the last time. Does the bread still taste like yoga mats?

 

[MVE]

Anyone know what tuners they used on this Bass? The shafts or stems seem longer than most clover tuners today. I bought some Vintage tuners with the longer stems but the Tuner base plates were too big for the Tele headstock and wouldn't fit. I then bought some Hipshot Ultralights and they are really nice tuners but the stems are not long as the ones on Dusty's. I tried searching but no good results.
View attachment 5271264 View attachment 5271265

To me, it looks like the dimensions of the headstock are a little smaller on Dusty’s, specifically the dimension from the tuner to the edge of headstock.

 

[Acoop]

It'll end up in a Rock and Roll Casino in Texas and they'll right-it-off as advertising.

 

[el84]

I thought maybe I was one of the few here that knew that about Hank. Plus, Cotton gave him the Cadillac. Sorry, couldn't help it.

Ha, it needed to be said. Not that I have that kind money but it would have to be a good investment. It's the seminal instrument for a groundbreaking band. I'd rather own this bass than some stocks or bonds and it would most likely increase in value quicker than most investments (I'm not an investment advisor don't listen to me)

 

[Killing Floor]

Cool. Out of my price range.

 

[jnuts1]

Insane. I don't get why old basses someone famous played go for so much money (collectors not players, I know...). I'd much rather have one built to my specs but that's just me I suppose.

yes one of a kind musical history should only be worth the average market value......

 

[micguy]

Insane. I don't get why old basses someone famous played go for so much money (collectors not players, I know...). I'd much rather have one built to my specs but that's just me I suppose.

It's price has nothing to do with it's usefulness as a musical instrument - it's value is as a historical artifact.

 

[eddybuzzard]

It's price has nothing to do with it's usefulness as a musical instrument - it's value is as a historical artifact.

Truth!

And on the third day, God created that little ol' band from Texas

 

[Wood and Wire]

Some people can drop $80k on a bass like we drop $10 at Subway.

$10 at Subway?

I'm not made of money.

 

[Kevan Campbell]

That’s sure a cool early-50’s P, but I was priced out of that one WAY before $80k. There is a bass on that website I’m watching and thinking about putting in a bid, but my gut says it’s going to outpace my budget well before the end of the auction.

Hopefully his family and loved ones will benefit enough from this estate sale that they can keep whatever else reminds them of Dusty.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Somebody on this forum sold Flea the 60's Jazz that he's now most associated with.

As far as I recall, Flea had publicly mentioned that he yearned for a Jazz, of a specific era.

The Talkbass member managed to make contact via social media, and ended up travelling internationally (I seem to recall from U.S.A. to Australia, on their own dime) to meet RHCP on tour, and sell the bass to Flea.

You'd have to find the original post (which I think was in the "what's one thing you've done that you're convinced nobody else on TalkBass had done" thread), but I seem to remember that when it was established that the Talkbass member was not just going to donate the bass to Flea, the whole band got involved in inspecting the bass, and giving opinions (in what seemed to me - though perhaps not the seller - like an intimidation tactic).

After a lot of umming & ahhing, and haggling, they lowballed the guy over what was already a really honest price for an original stacked knob Jazz.

Anyway, that's apparently how Flea got his Jazz, and the Talkbass member seemed generally happy to have united his musical hero with his new #1 bass.


Back in the 80's, and 90's, I really loved RHCP - warts and all - so I don't feel I learned anything about them from that anecdote ; other than the more general observation that most wealthy musicians are not swimming in as much spare cash as people assume they are, and that when it comes to spending their own money, they're usually pretty frugal.

Now, Geddy on the other hand, is the sort of collector who I could imagine wanting to own this - but I doubt he's actually paid collectors prices for most of the instruments in his collection.

I think Robert only has Jaco's bass - and that's because it's Jaco's bass - which I seem to remember was by some kind of special agreement with Jaco's family.

No way

 

[SubHuman]

My take…If someone wants to spend x$$ for whatever it is their money and they know what the object means to them. I own things I treasure and others may think it’s a waste of money.

To me, it looks like the dimensions of the headstock are a little smaller on Dusty’s, specifically the dimension from the tuner to the edge of headstock.

Dang I looked at the headstocks again and Dusty’s headstock does look slightly thinner. Good eye…it appears the Width on Dusty’s reverse headstock is actually thinner as Matt pointed out!