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The Bass That Got Away
- Thread starter Bassmickeyd
- Start date
I've had a couple that got away.
First was my very first bass (in 1987); a 1967 Gibson EBO. I was 9 years old and we found it in a pawn shop for $100 (along with an "old" at-the-time Ibanez acoustic guitar, which I still have). I eventually sold the EBO for $400 in 2000/2001. I still kick myself for letting go of that one! Not real useful to me, but dang cool and would've been fun to pass on to my son who's taken a liking to all things music (boy's got talent, too)!
Second was my 1997 Fender Am. Jazz V with custom Seymour Duncan pickups wound by Seymour himself on the original Fender bobbins. The B-string was superb, the playability was every bit as good as the nicest basses I've ever played, and the tone was fantastic - truly a 5-string "Jazz" bass. Fast-forward 7 years and I'm still trying to get the same nearly perfect sound out of a 5 string, only I just recently became aware that the one I let go is the one I'm trying recreate!
I now have a really great G&L L2500 that I'm scared to death to sell because I don't want it to be the 3rd one that got away. It's no Jazz, but it has it's own thing going on...
First was my very first bass (in 1987); a 1967 Gibson EBO. I was 9 years old and we found it in a pawn shop for $100 (along with an "old" at-the-time Ibanez acoustic guitar, which I still have). I eventually sold the EBO for $400 in 2000/2001. I still kick myself for letting go of that one! Not real useful to me, but dang cool and would've been fun to pass on to my son who's taken a liking to all things music (boy's got talent, too)!
Second was my 1997 Fender Am. Jazz V with custom Seymour Duncan pickups wound by Seymour himself on the original Fender bobbins. The B-string was superb, the playability was every bit as good as the nicest basses I've ever played, and the tone was fantastic - truly a 5-string "Jazz" bass. Fast-forward 7 years and I'm still trying to get the same nearly perfect sound out of a 5 string, only I just recently became aware that the one I let go is the one I'm trying recreate!
I now have a really great G&L L2500 that I'm scared to death to sell because I don't want it to be the 3rd one that got away. It's no Jazz, but it has it's own thing going on...
I could almost write a book
My hits have far outweighed my misses but some of my misses were doozies. Back in the late 70's I traded an old Fender bass that looked too much like a Telecaster to me for a brand new bass from a new company... Music Man. Why not, the Musicman had this thing called a preamp in it and boy was it loud. My understanding was a preamp was almost an amp. I couldn't believe they were going to trade me straight up for my old bass.
The Fender was a 54 P bass. And I traded that first year Stingray a couple of years later for a new bass... a Peavey T40. I couldn't believe they were going to trade me straight u...
I found this cool looking fairly old hollowbody bass at a pawnshop back in the 80's made by Kay. Paid $75 for it, kept it in my family room for over ten years. I played it occassionally, otherwise it sat there not bothering anyone. One day for reasons I still don't recall I decided to sell it. Took it to a store and sold it for $250. It was a Kay Howlin' Wolf and the values went up to around $3k shortly after.
Lesson learned. Know the market or kick yourself later on.
A friend at a local store called me about a very nice Fodera that came in. I think it was a close to new Imperial, heavy Ash with a very cool figured reddish colored wood top and matching pickup covers. Sold for $3400, about half price.
A friend found a JD Supernatural at a pawnshop for $600. Told himt o let me know if he ever decided to let it go. He sold it a few months later to a store for $900.
My hits have far outweighed my misses but some of my misses were doozies. Back in the late 70's I traded an old Fender bass that looked too much like a Telecaster to me for a brand new bass from a new company... Music Man. Why not, the Musicman had this thing called a preamp in it and boy was it loud. My understanding was a preamp was almost an amp. I couldn't believe they were going to trade me straight up for my old bass.
The Fender was a 54 P bass. And I traded that first year Stingray a couple of years later for a new bass... a Peavey T40. I couldn't believe they were going to trade me straight u...
I found this cool looking fairly old hollowbody bass at a pawnshop back in the 80's made by Kay. Paid $75 for it, kept it in my family room for over ten years. I played it occassionally, otherwise it sat there not bothering anyone. One day for reasons I still don't recall I decided to sell it. Took it to a store and sold it for $250. It was a Kay Howlin' Wolf and the values went up to around $3k shortly after.
Lesson learned. Know the market or kick yourself later on.
A friend at a local store called me about a very nice Fodera that came in. I think it was a close to new Imperial, heavy Ash with a very cool figured reddish colored wood top and matching pickup covers. Sold for $3400, about half price.
A friend found a JD Supernatural at a pawnshop for $600. Told himt o let me know if he ever decided to let it go. He sold it a few months later to a store for $900.
It was only a Rickenbacker guitar...the one that lit up when you played it plugged in...$300.00 bucks in 1979...mint. I thought, I had 3 other guitars...
Just about a month ago, I went in the local shop to see if my Cort bass had sold. While the girl who runs the store was writing me the check (yay!) she asked if I had seen the Geddy Jazz that had been in the store. I said NO! and asked when it had been there. She told me that it sold the day after my Cort had sold. I asked her what it went for, and she said $450. She knows that I'm a sucker for bound and blocked necks.
I think I cried right there in the store. I made sure that she understood that the next time one came in that I receive an immdiate phone call!
BnB
I think I cried right there in the store. I made sure that she understood that the next time one came in that I receive an immdiate phone call!
BnB
Story #2
Couple months back I walked into the Buffalo GC and they had a Lakland Joe Osborne sunburst J-bass used for $1,500. .... I plug it in and it's a killer. You know it is when half of the store staff walk into the bass room and know what bass you're playing right away. ..... I hummed, I hawed I left it alone but still thinking about her. I even asked at the border what the duty would be. About a month later I walk into the store and was saddened but relieved to see that it had been sold. ....
Out of sight, out of mind.
Or is it?
Couple months back I walked into the Buffalo GC and they had a Lakland Joe Osborne sunburst J-bass used for $1,500. .... I plug it in and it's a killer. You know it is when half of the store staff walk into the bass room and know what bass you're playing right away. ..... I hummed, I hawed I left it alone but still thinking about her. I even asked at the border what the duty would be. About a month later I walk into the store and was saddened but relieved to see that it had been sold. ....
Out of sight, out of mind.
Or is it?
I can't even begin to recall how many basses I've let slip through my fingers.
- I went into a guitar shop to buy my first bass. Guy had a mint '88 Ric 4003 in black for $400. Next to it was a used but not terribly abused '65 Fender Precision in Olympic White for $600. I asked the guy (a friend of mine) why the Fender was more expensive. He said something about it being an "L series". I bought the Ric instead.
- I was at a guys house looking at an old Ampeg B-15. I bought it, and he said he had an old Rickenbacker for sale, too. He brought out a '72 Ric 4001, Fireglo w/checkerboard binding, and said he wanted $350. I saw the tuning keys had been changed, so I said "No thanks".
- I went into a guitar shop to buy my first bass. Guy had a mint '88 Ric 4003 in black for $400. Next to it was a used but not terribly abused '65 Fender Precision in Olympic White for $600. I asked the guy (a friend of mine) why the Fender was more expensive. He said something about it being an "L series". I bought the Ric instead.
- I was at a guys house looking at an old Ampeg B-15. I bought it, and he said he had an old Rickenbacker for sale, too. He brought out a '72 Ric 4001, Fireglo w/checkerboard binding, and said he wanted $350. I saw the tuning keys had been changed, so I said "No thanks".
Yup. Genuine Fender Jazz Bass. Ironically, I didn't think it would fit with the Zeppelin covers my band was playing. Thud. Thud. THUD!
This was only an hour ago. Looked on my local craigslist seen a 74 jazz owner said neck was slightly mis-lined and body had a few decent scratches other than that..good player $500.00. Texted him....he replied ...just sold it....oh well might of been nice.
My dad occasionally tells me a story about when he was in a country band in the early 80's... His band had a regular gig in this one bar and one of the waitresses tells my dad that her ex-boyfreind had run off a few months prior with another woman but had left a bass behind. She told him she would sell it to him for $50. He said he'd have to see it first... It turned out to be (as he describes it) a "50-something Telecaster bass" (I'm thinking old 50's era P bass with the tele headstock? Not sure - I was only 11 or 12 at the time). He choked back his enthusiasm and said he would have the money the following week. The next time he saw her, one of the guitards from his band had gone back to her and bought the bass out from under him...
About a month ago I logged on to CL on a Sunday morning, something I never do on a Sunday, and the 1st thing that popped up was an Ovation Magnum series l for $200.00. I grabbed the phone and called the number. The guy said "that was quick" and while we were talking about it 3 more people called him. He came back on the line and asked what he had and was he asking to little. I told him the truth that he could maybe get 3 times more for it but he said I could have it for $200.00. I jumped in the car and drove the 45 minutes to his house. When I got there he was standing there with another bassist who was playing it! I told him who I was and he said yes, he did say I could have it, but this other guy showed up 1st. Other guy was cool and handed it too me to check out. I said I would take it but other guy said he was 1st, I said I called 1st. Owner tried to get us in a bidding war and we both had $210.00 on us. Other bassist finally said lets flip for it, I agree and call heads. Its heads and sitting in my practice room right now. So I guess this story is for the other bassist, the one that got away from him! Here it is.
Last year 1978 fender p bass antigua for 800$ locally , i had the cash i just thought it was over priced has the bridge and pickguard were unoriginal , the rest was original and i bet i could have got 1500$ for it in its current state because it was antigua
My biggest regret
My biggest regret
- Aug 5, 2005
- 7,243
- 92
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: J.C. Basses
I actually had an Ibanez EDA905SVF that I thought looked cool, but I wasn't ever impressed with the tone or inexplicably high action. I progressed and sold it. I've come to realize that a pickup swap and a shim could have solved all of the problems, but I was young and Naive. I saw the same bass (it might have even been mine, I couldn't totally tell) in GC for $250 a couple months ago. I considered purchasing it again, but alas, I haven't much use for a 5-string anymore.
I do miss it from time to time, though, and if I could ever find a 6-string version of it, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.
In less realistic news, I was at SamAsh last year, and I saw a Ritter Roya 6-string for $800 (non-working electronics). I offered them $650 for it and they took the bite. I went to class, went to the bank, got some cash, came back later that day, and it was sold.
I do miss it from time to time, though, and if I could ever find a 6-string version of it, I'd snap it up in a heartbeat.
In less realistic news, I was at SamAsh last year, and I saw a Ritter Roya 6-string for $800 (non-working electronics). I offered them $650 for it and they took the bite. I went to class, went to the bank, got some cash, came back later that day, and it was sold.
Great thread! I'm enjoying these old Fender stories the most. Amazing what these guitars/basses are going for now...
Here's my story...
This past weekend, on Good Friday of all days, I snagged a 1962 Precision refin w/ added Jazz PU and BAII bridge for $950...the guy had it listed on craigslist for that low price...seemed too good to be true.
He listed it on Monday. I contacted him right away, I lurk pretty hard for deals on CL, so I'm not surprised I contacted him first. I explained I couldn't come out until Friday because I live 50 miles away from him, busy schedule etc (but coincidentally he lives only 5 minutes away from where my parent's house is who I was visiting this Easter weekend).
He said he had other email/phone offers for it throughout the week. I got real nervous. One guy even said "Name your price..."
but this fella was such an upstanding guy he held it for me as promised until I could make it out Friday evening.
I went over there expecting to see a 62 Reissue or something, but sure enough, it's the real deal. Then I thought he would try and re-neg to double or triple his price after I had already gotten over there, but nope.
$950 later and she was all mine with an original 67 Fender case to boot, and original bridge, screws, and bridge cover in the case pocket.
I'd say this bass was probably the "one that got away" to some other people, and could've been "that one" to me if this man wouldn't have been so patient with my schedule...but it's mine and I'm holding on to her for myself!
Here's a pic
Here's my story...
This past weekend, on Good Friday of all days, I snagged a 1962 Precision refin w/ added Jazz PU and BAII bridge for $950...the guy had it listed on craigslist for that low price...seemed too good to be true.
He listed it on Monday. I contacted him right away, I lurk pretty hard for deals on CL, so I'm not surprised I contacted him first. I explained I couldn't come out until Friday because I live 50 miles away from him, busy schedule etc (but coincidentally he lives only 5 minutes away from where my parent's house is who I was visiting this Easter weekend).
He said he had other email/phone offers for it throughout the week. I got real nervous. One guy even said "Name your price..."
but this fella was such an upstanding guy he held it for me as promised until I could make it out Friday evening.I went over there expecting to see a 62 Reissue or something, but sure enough, it's the real deal. Then I thought he would try and re-neg to double or triple his price after I had already gotten over there, but nope.
$950 later and she was all mine with an original 67 Fender case to boot, and original bridge, screws, and bridge cover in the case pocket.
I'd say this bass was probably the "one that got away" to some other people, and could've been "that one" to me if this man wouldn't have been so patient with my schedule...but it's mine and I'm holding on to her for myself!
Here's a pic
There was a purple vintage NJ Bich bass that I got beat out for on Ebay. Great looking - this was the older ones that are nice. Some guy in Japan bought it. He was going to paint it black. He mentioned the fretboard was coming off to.
The bass that did not get away is the Mockingbird (1984 USA made) in the avatar. 9 years ago I stopped in a store in Jersey that was old when I was a kid. It was on the wall. The price was OK but I was feeling frugal so I said no. I got halfway back to Harrisburg PA when I realized that I was an idiot as I would never find another like it. I called them when I got home and bought it on a credit card. Much to my surprise it beat out my Alembic Distillate as my main bass. It goes to every job now.
The bass that did not get away is the Mockingbird (1984 USA made) in the avatar. 9 years ago I stopped in a store in Jersey that was old when I was a kid. It was on the wall. The price was OK but I was feeling frugal so I said no. I got halfway back to Harrisburg PA when I realized that I was an idiot as I would never find another like it. I called them when I got home and bought it on a credit card. Much to my surprise it beat out my Alembic Distillate as my main bass. It goes to every job now.
I had a headache at work and needed a break so I brought up CL and hit refresh and up pops one of the good steinbergers for 1K. I emailed him and was at the top of the queue but went chasing after a Rickenbacker which I eventually got and have already sold.
