Kingston bass?

[zachoff]

Might pick this up tomorrow... Might also trade my Hamer Slammer P for it if he agrees. I just think it's a cool looking bass and if it plays decently and feels solid I'll probably get it if I can talk him down to $100. Can anyone tell me what I might expect? I've searched on here & there's one other person that got one for like $25, which is awesome.

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[christw]

It's a cheap Japanese import from the '60's most likely. Probably sold at a store like Sears like Tiescos were. It's not really worth more than $100ish. It's probably a plywood body but might sound cool/funky/lo-fi. Make sure the neck is playable before you buy. My Tiesco guitar I had was pretty crappy. Bought and sold it for $50.

 

[Diogenes]

I have a 70's Kingston (about A 33.5" scale) which needed new frets. The pickup is microphonic but it's really not such a big deal. Mine is strung with old Fender flatwounds and the bass really sounds and plays great.

If the neck is good and the frets not too worn on the one you're checking out, I would buy it for sure. It is a short scale, right?

 

[zachoff]

Not sure on the scale, but he sold it.. Bummer, but there will be more!

 

[KramerBassFan]

There are thousands more out there. Look on ebay.

(I don't have any up for sale there or anything)

 

[zachoff]

There are thousands more out there. Look on ebay.

(I don't have any up for sale there or anything)

Yeah, I don't like spending much over $100 for most of these sort of basses & folks on ebay are pretty proud of them most of the time.

 

[Bassdude404]

Had one of those when I was 14, and was my first bass.....Gave $20 for it and I think I paid $50 too much...Wouldn't stay in tune for crap, and tone was awful...

That all being said, I looked on ebay recently for one (just because) and found one that some guy is trying to get $499.00 for it!!...Needless to say, nobody bought it...

 

[zachoff]

Had one of those when I was 14, and was my first bass.....Gave $20 for it and I think I paid $50 too much...Wouldn't stay in tune for crap, and tone was awful...

That all being said, I looked on ebay recently for one (just because) and found one that some guy is trying to get $499.00 for it!!...Needless to say, nobody bought it...

Yeah, that's what I mean. People think because it's old it's worth a lot & that's not usually the case. I'm just kind of a sucker for old cool looking Japanese basses whether they're awesome to play or not. I just like the look of some of them.