NBD-Brian Wilson devalues basses

[A-Step-Towards]

So this bass was on eBay and I could pick it up locally and save on shipping. I literally bid $100.99 not expecting to win but did so. I like these classic vibe necks so I figured it was worth it for that. I went and got it and the bass is brand new. It was used for a charity auction and apparently went for over $1000. Although its new someone did chip the side. Now it apparently has a autograph of Beach Boy Brian Wilson. I dont like the Beach Boys and boy that autograph looks bad. I know for a fact if I use carb cleaner it wont harm the paint and it will remove the signature ( done it before ) but I haven't committed to it as I dont know if that makes it valuable or what. I guess since I plan on setting the bass up and using it as a practice spot bass and cheap gig bass I can just put a sticker over his sig, play it and remove the stick if I ever sell it thus leaving his signature in place, but in reality I just want to clean it off. Any Brian Wilson fans I am angering? lol

Anyways my cheap classic vibe Jazz with scribbles on it. Had it not been for his sig it probably would have went for around $200 thus my thread title

 

[Oren Hudson]

It is white, but that, and that it does have Fender on it, are the only things anywhere near the iconic Brian Wilson basses. That damage is a pretty good chunk. For any value, the signature would need authentication. Without that, I'd wipe it off and use the bass for what you bought it for.

 

[BazzTard]

cover it with a sticker. Someone might pay more because of that sig in a few years time when you sell it

 

[Pentatonic]

Great jazz, I have one just like it.

 

[Lesfunk]

I'd keep the autograph and throw the bass away

 

[A-Step-Towards]

Yeah idk. I don't really care either way. Its a $380 new bass for $100. The chip is only paint loss no wood so I am just going to seal it with some touch up paint, these CV basses are awesome so its going to be perfect for a beater practice spot bass, sometimes I ride my bike and transporting a bass gets old. I don't really feel like authenticating the Sig, I can't see his autograph as that valuable as apparently his manager fakes most.

 

[ZenG]

Doesn't look much like this one........but then this one could possibly be a fake too...

I read that his assistant will often sign Brian's signature on stuff..

 

[JimmyM]

I'd keep it as is. Even if you aren't a Beach Boys fan, how many basses does Brian Wilson sign? Plus he's getting up there in years...might not allow you to retire but it ain't a bad idea to consider the resale when he kicks it.

 

[ZenG]

This one is supposed to be real too.......

 

[callofcthulhu]

Did you use some nonstandard compression algorithm on these pictures?

There's weird pixelation just on the signature that makes it look like it's been shop'd on.

 

[ZenG]

I did nothing to the signatures........just looked around on the net for signatures that are supposed to be certified his...........but if they put an actual sig of his out there in a picture, it would be easy for criminals to copy and fake it....so who knows?

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I'd keep it as is. Even if you aren't a Beach Boys fan, how many basses does Brian Wilson sign? Plus he's getting up there in years...might not allow you to retire but it ain't a bad idea to consider the resale when he kicks it.

Yeah I just need to cover it some how as if I play it as is I would wear the sig off quickly. I bought it as a cheap bass to play and I ride my bicycle with a bass in a gig bag in sketchy areas of LA so its a high risk some day I maybe mugged so I needed a bass I didnt have much $ into but was still a solid bass so I looked for CV's and found this to be the cheapest one by like almost $100. I just plan to use it so I guess a vinyl sticker that doesnt leave residue when removed and thus doesnt damage the sig. I guess then in the future if I got to sell it the bass will be more beat up but the sig will be there which who knows I guess could go up once he isnt around.

Now I am looking at basses he signed, again not that I care about value just because I was debating removing it

http://www.thesignaturelibrary.com/products-details.php?&product_id=1559

Invalid Link Removed

 

[rojo412]

I'd vote for a wipeoff. Without a COA, signed stuff is worth no more than the instrument itself.
That said, for $101, that bass is a score.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

I'd vote for a wipeoff. Without a COA, signed stuff is worth no more than the instrument itself.
That said, for $101, that bass is a score.

I really dont want it on the bass because it wasnt even done well, no offense to those that have the disease but my uncle has parkinsons and shakes bad and his hand writting is 10x less shakey.

Anyways yeah for $101 it was a good deal. I got a CV once for $150 and that was a score. This one is as new except the sig and chip which I filled with my gf's white nail polish. I think I will mod the electronics and get a black pickguard and call it good.

 

[gfen]

if you're down with a sticker, leave it on. 20 years from now you can make up a story about getting it from him at a show off his bus and sell it on ebay for $20K with a Warmoth neck.

 

[ptensioned]

I can't comment on leaving or removing the autograph. I've always found the whole autograph thing weird. If someone I admire played or recorded with an instrument, then I'm all in. If someone was handed an instrument briefly so they could write their name on it to prove the instrument was once in their presence? Don't get it at all.

That said, I recently watched a documentary about the evolution of music recording in the studio, and Wilson featured prominently. He created or refined a lot of techniques in the recording of Pet Sounds that would later become standard practise, the most obvious one being looping. That record also broke ground for rock music, and pushed the limits of how seriously it was perceived. Fascinating stuff, and a fascinating guy.

 

[Jughead6]

So the bass originally went for over $1000 at a charity auction? Presumably for a mental illness charity or similar good cause. Sounds like the bass has done its job, and you are now entitled to do what you want. Wipe the signature or keep it.

Personally, I would try to find out what the charity was and (if it's genuine) keep the signature, not because I am a Beach Boys fan but because of the charitable cause it represents.

 

[Ewo]

I think Stew-Mac sells clear plastic film that adheres OK and peels off easily. If the bass were mine I'd protect the sig with that. Seems like a fun thing to have on a spare bass.

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

If it bothers you that much, sell it to someone who would really like to have it. Like me?

 

[96tbird]

It seems some posters here think Mr Wilson's assistant may sign fir him and include the Parkinson's related squiggles.

Just let that sit for a moment: Parkinson's related instability included.

Yeah, sounds beyond the scope of reality and all that is good in the world, doesn't it?

As one of you mentioned, like Beach Boys or not, Brian was a genius up there with Les Paul, Martin and The Beatles, etc. Pet sounds should be given a listen to by every musician at least once.

Find out the charity and then contact mr Wilson's handlers for verification. If it's good, and provable, sell it to someone that values it for $300 and get one that doesn't have a sig.