Good price on a 4-string Dearmond Pilot Deluxe?

[Pikal]

I was talking to a buddy who works at a local shop and he pulled a bass for me to look at that has been kind of.... "kept away" from the rest of the stock. It's a DeArmond Pilot Deluxe 4-string and as far as I can tell has had no owners and has been handled very little. It has great sounding soapbar pick-ups with an active 3-band eq and (best of all in my opinion) it's neck through. The action and setup is amazing and I love the natural finish.

I played it for awhile and I fell in love with it. The shop owner has the price marked at seriously $1200. I've learned though that the owner marks all prices at List and not the asking price. My buddy talks to him and he said he'd let it go for $850 with the hardcase that it's stored in. The owner is notorious for ripping customers off. He tried to sell me a used fretless Fender J-bass that list's new at $899 for $700 when it's obviously taken a beating (electronics needed cleaned up, numerous body chips, etc). I've been trying to do some research on it to try and get the price down but I'm having a bit of trouble. I've seen prices online ranging from $200 to about $500. I haven't noticed any mention of whether they bought the bass new or used and no mention of the list price. If the $500 was new, that's a huge price difference.

I was a forum member a while ago and I know that the member's of talkbass are the best resource to turn for any bass needs. So talkbass members, I need your help. Am I being ripped off if I were to buy it for $850 or do you think I can get this price talked down further?

P.S. - I tried to buy a used Fender JP-90 off this man 2 years ago and he pulled the same stunt. He wanted $600 after talking him down. I found a used one in better condition for $300-400.

-Pikal

 

[Lokire]

I think they used to list for around $800-1200, when they were new. But it's a long discontinued line now. I bought mine brand new (with HSC) for $300, and that was maybe 8 years ago. It was the first bass I ever owned, and I still have it and love it! They're superb basses

 

[Pikal]

Yea, that's a huge difference. Where did you buy it from? I wouldn't mind paying maybe $500-600 but I think $850 is him trying to stiff me.

 

[wvbass]

This is an interesting situation. On the used market, $300-$350 seems to be pretty common, so $850-$1200 is just crazy.

But...this is a SERIOUSLY undervalued bass. (And, unfortunately, probably will always be so.) My Dearmonds were made in Korea, and the craftmanship is on par with anything else I own, except my Dingwall and my Kubicki. And then we're in a whole other price range. IMHO, these are as well built and play as well as the Korean Skyline I owned, my USA Fenders, and my Indonesian G&L. And I am floored by the quality of my G&L.

The only shortcoming with my Dearmonds is that the pickups and electronics do not blow me away. They are quiet and do the job, but the overall sound is average. Plus, my Dearmonds are both 35" scale, which isn't my thing either. (I think 35" is detrimental to the G string, but that's another topic.)

What I'm saying is, with the right name on the headstock and selling new, these could go for $850-$1200 easily - based on quality of construction and playability.

If you play this bass and just have to have it, get it. The quality is there, but know that you ARE getting ripped off.

I'd have to say, for that money, I'd be looking at a Lakland 44-01. A Highway One Fender comes to mind as well, as does a G&L tribute. I pick the 44-01 because the pickup/electronics configuration is about the same. (Not my cup of tea, but if you like the Dearmond...) and I'm not sure but what if you got a Korean 44-01 that it and the Dearmond were both built in the same factory by Cort anyway. The necks are similar - the Dearmond has a Jazz-like neck, and the 44-01 is somewhere between a Jazz and a Precision, neck-wise. And, if the 44-01 is like my 44-02 was, its got better somewhat hardware than the Dearmond.

Here's one of my Dearmonds. I love the Pilot body style, even if this one is almost as heavy as I am:

I also have a natural Pilot Pro V. Huge neck. Its a bolt-on with a glossy finish, and the Deluxe is a neck through with a satin finish. Other than that, they are very similar and both are first-rate instruments.

 

[Webtroll]

There's been a black 5er in the Austin CL for months and he's dropped the price to $200

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Disclaimer: Not my bass! Looks like a sweet deal but I'm overloaded on instruments for the amount of playtime they get as is.

 

[Joe Nerve]

A while back sam ash or musicians friend was blowing out DeArmond Pilot basses new at right around $200 - I'm almost certain it was less. I know because I ordered one and wouldn't have gone over $200. I actually think it was $169. They sent me a notice a few weeks later that they were sold out and I never got mine. :/

 

[Buskman]

IMO, $850 is a bit steep for that bass (undervalued or not ).

You can find used (original, US made) Guild Pilots out there for less than that.

For a reference point, there's a 'new' DeArmond Pilot 5 on ebay right now with a BIN of $420 with free shipping.

Not saying it isn't a nice bass... just that you could look to save a little coin on it, should you really want it. And if the store owner has had it for a while and is looking to unload it he should be willing to work with you on the price.

Good luck!

 

[sleepy_monkey]

I sold a DeArmond Pilot Plus 5er 2 years ago for $250...and that is about par for the course...although I loved that bass and it played great....but anything over $300 for a 4 string, you may as well buy a Fender or a used Modulus for that price....

 

[lonote]

I'd walk in with $400...4 $100 bills. Flash the cash and tell him $400, out the door (for the bass, case and tax). If he tells you he won't do it, leave. Even $400 is a bit high, but if is NOS with a hard case and is still under warranty and you REALLY want it, I'd go $400...but not a penny more. The store owner sounds like a jerk to me and I wouldn't play games with him...it's either take or leave it.

 

[Chuck King]

Oh, this is rich! I was reading your description and thinking, wow, that sounds like something Ralph would do... and then I looked up and saw your location as Springfield, IL. I know exactly where you are going and who you are talking about! I grew up in Springfield and have had plenty of run-ins with Robbin' Ralph. Back in the 90s he sold me a "new" Fender that, when I figured out how to decode the serial number, turned out to be four years old, and I doubt it sat in his inventory for that long!

The trick is not to deal with HIM. Usually the other guys who work there are reasonable. Go in when they're really busy---he usually doesn't go downstairs into the guitar room unless he has to.

You can get "real" Pilots (made-in-the-USA Guilds) all day for half what he's asking, or less. Many of those are bolt-ons, but the point is, regardless of what list is or what he paid for it, the market for that bass is way under Ralph's price. If the market price has fallen below the wholesale price (which it might have) then even the other salesmen might not have much room to move, but they'll probably do what they can for you.

Good luck!

 

[Pikal]

Oh, this is rich! I was reading your description and thinking, wow, that sounds like something Ralph would do... and then I looked up and saw your location as Springfield, IL. I know exactly where you are going and who you are talking about! I grew up in Springfield and have had plenty of run-ins with Robbin' Ralph.

Ohh man is this great. You know exactly what I'm dealing with then. Those two house next door to the shop are his and has ton's of instruments. I haven't had the chance to go in there but my friends have told me that he has Fender Strats from the early 90's still sitting in the house's next door. Can't say I've heard of him as Robbin' Ralph. The most common one I hear is Sore Deal. Thanks for the input guys. This have giving me a lot of pull and if I can't get it down, I will find a better deal elseware.