Refinished 1981 G&L L1000 @ GC $500

Pretty average for a Refin G&L for Guitar Center. I would expect them to sell one in the 500-600 range used for an older model. However it's a HOT DEAL for how people price them on here

 

Be aware that we have an unofficial Hot Deals Task Group monitoring threads and issuing written reprimands when the contents do not meet their criteria.

Captain Bobo in particular does not like posts "wasting readers' time", and may revisit repeatedly, writing numerous, lengthy posts, over a period of days letting you know.

 

I'd say keep this here - $500 for a playing L-1000 that you'll never see in Talkbass is a great deal - and you can't find them on Craigslist either at that price.

I agree I have seen several L-1000's at $499 and $599 in the Vintage Bass section of Guitar Center's site (not in the regular 'used.guitarcenter.com" portion of the site
and they last only a day or two.

Hot Deal!

 

+1

 

Anyone want to go take some pics for me and email them to me? ;-)

 

Nice, which store is this at?

 

Looks like a previous solid color that was converted to a trans stained natural finish. Just my guess due to the grain mismatch (used for solid colors), but it still looks cool to me at least in the pic. If the neck is good and the electricals are solid & original that's a decent deal. It does look like the string tree is something bosched, the toggle switch red cap is missing (not too uncommon) and the strap buttons are not original (original style still available), so I'd give it a good once over.

 

Great deal, if you ask me.

 

If you're looking for an L-1000, this is the one you want. It's always better to buy an original bass than a refin. Unless the refin is an absolute steal. And at 500 clams, that refin was not.

 

Ooh, nice. that's what I paid for mine, although mine also has an ebony fretboard.

 

Spending 80% more for the same bass for it's finish might not be better in some people's minds. And if you only had $400 for your next bass or your first bass - the $899 isn't even in the ballpark. Regardless of what you want. And then there's the other risk. You buy the $900 G&L with finish issues ("mojo") and you love it. Except for the finish... You'll always want to refinish it after that.

It is a nice looking bass though!

 

for something that i am most likely going to fall on or one of my friends is going to knock over, drop, or spill beer on 500 is a bit too much, but 450 maybe

 

80% of people might want to hit themselves on the head with a hammer. Doesn't mean it's a good idea.

I never met the person who bought a refinished vintage bass and later didn't wish they saved their money and bought an unmolested example. If you only have $400 and need a bass NOW, then peel off $150 and buy a used Schecter. Put the rest in your piggy bank and save for a G&L that hasn't been stripped. That's the move.


Nobody removes the original finish on a vintage bass these days. That stopped happening in the late 80's. Anyone who wants a pristine finish buys new.
That G&L is rated as being in excellent shape. Where do you see finish issues with it?

 

Let me rewrite what you said, but outside of the bass world "That's not a hot deal on a car - this other car that costs 80% is the one you want" .

Next - I didn't say 80% of the people. I said your suggestion cost 80% more and that might not be better in "some" people's minds.
Do you disagree that when comparing something to something else - if that something else costs 80% more it might be relevant to some people?

I didn't say there was or wasn't any finish issues with it. What I said - and this is also totally true - was " And then there's the other risk." . Meaning you can spend $900 on an original finish G&L, get it, and find some cosmetic issues that are minor, weren't originally seen, and drive you crazy enough to want to refinish it. And when you do the only difference between the "refinished" G&L you paid $900 for and this $500 one that you get refinished a second time - is $400.

That might not be you - but that doesn't matter. It's not about you.

"Anyone who wants a pristine finish buys new. " And so anyone who wants a pristine finish on a G&L L-1000 does what? Pays $2000?

And also - a used Schecter is a better buy than a $500 L-1000? Really?

 

You're hung up on me using "80%" in my analogy. I'll rephrase - Just because 93% of people think hitting themselves on the head with a hammer is a good idea doesn't mean it is.

$500 for a refinished L-1000 isn't a "hot deal". It's not even an average deal. It's $100 over where the bass should be priced. Anyone who buys that G&L will have a difficult time unloading it years from now without taking a hit. That disparity in wood finish is pretty hideous, and since a decent refin will run around $300, that will never happen. Buying a bass like that is a bad idea.

Spending $150 on a used Schecter/Ibanez/Yamaha/Epiphone is a MUCH better idea than spending $500 on this G&L. You're socking away $250 into a fund that will eventually buy you a nice, unmolested, collectible vintage bass. As opposed to buying that turkey.

Anyone who wants a pristine L-1000 from the early 80's will spend $1,000. But most people aren't looking for pristine L-1000's from that era because such an instrument is an uncommon find. And no one is crazy enough to be so bothered by minor surface blemishes on a vintage instrument that they would refinish that instrument rather than sell it and buy a better example. That's just pure fiction.