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The elusive JayDee 5 string

Chad Bennett

Chad Bennett

Feb 1, 2015
259
239
48
Richmond VA
#1
so I'm on the hunt for a JayDee 5 (let me know if you have any leads on one). I may have found one for sale, but no price given, wants offers. Being these things are so rare, I don't really know what to offer. Anyone know the going rate? I know the Supernatural 4s usually go in the 1600-2000 range.
 
#2
Chad Bennett said:
so I'm on the hunt for a JayDee 5 (let me know if you have any leads on one). I may have found one for sale, but no price given, wants offers. Being these things are so rare, I don't really know what to offer. Anyone know the going rate? I know the Supernatural 4s usually go in the 1600-2000 range.
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I know my experience isn't worth the time taken to write this, but I had a Celeste 5 string years ago.

The neck was badly bowed and the trussrod snapped long before I could get it straight.

The B string kept jumping out of the nut too and should have either had a string tree fitted or a better break angle over the nut. The string spacing wasn't exactly wide either. I haven't seen (m)any other examples of 5 strings by JayDee but to be honest, I wouldn't be looking for another too hard either.
 
#4
pianomarc said:
Did you ever get a price?
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The owner backed out of wanting to part with it, so no I'm still no further than I was before. Over the past couple years I have only seen 3 Jaydee 5s, only one was for sale, and I was a little too late on that one. I did end up with a Jaydee Series 2 4 string for $1700. I absolutely love it, and it has kind of been my bridge back to 4 strings. Since then, I also got an Alembic Essence 4. I still love my 5 strings, but I'm more open to grabbing a 4 now. I have come to terms that most likely I will never find a Jaydee 5, but I still keep on the lookout...
 
#5
Thanks for the reply. I recently also went back to 4 strings after a year and a half of solid 5 string playing but my shoulder was getting such a pounding with the weight and being stood up for 20 hours a week gigging plus practice etc....but I might be about to start going to the gym as I have found a black supernatural 5 string that I may be able to purchase, hence my interest in the price. It belonged to a friend who died about 15 years ago and I assumed his wife had already let it go, but it seems it's been with her all the time and she's willing to let me buy it...Obviously I want to give her a fair price as the cost goes to his daughter as part of her inheritance and I have known the family a long time so theres no way I'm gonna try to get a deal that nails them to the floor, thats not in my nature anyway.... I will let you know how it goes, if it happens it will be a special guitar indeed as it belonged to my mate and I gigged with him and it many times back in the 90's, plus I am in constant contact with the family so it will be seen to be looked after. I have mailed Jaydee with the serial number to see if I can get any info on the beast.
 
#6
pianomarc said:
Thanks for the reply. I recently also went back to 4 strings after a year and a half of solid 5 string playing but my shoulder was getting such a pounding with the weight and being stood up for 20 hours a week gigging plus practice etc....but I might be about to start going to the gym as I have found a black supernatural 5 string that I may be able to purchase, hence my interest in the price. It belonged to a friend who died about 15 years ago and I assumed his wife had already let it go, but it seems it's been with her all the time and she's willing to let me buy it...Obviously I want to give her a fair price as the cost goes to his daughter as part of her inheritance and I have known the family a long time so theres no way I'm gonna try to get a deal that nails them to the floor, thats not in my nature anyway.... I will let you know how it goes, if it happens it will be a special guitar indeed as it belonged to my mate and I gigged with him and it many times back in the 90's, plus I am in constant contact with the family so it will be seen to be looked after. I have mailed Jaydee with the serial number to see if I can get any info on the beast.
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I can tell you the 5 Calibas I missed out on sold for around $2300 usd. With duty and shipping I would have been into it more like 2700. Did you end up with it? I would love to see pictures, not many around.
 
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#7
image.jpeg
I must apologise first for the fact that due to a long journey home after a gig I made two fundamental errors in the last post.....it is a calibas, not a supernatural, I spent all day with a four string supernatural and it must have been playing on my mind - and also it's not black, I must have been rammed full of coffee when I wrote the post. My friend also had a lovely black Les Paul that he used as his main axe and when I think of him I see him holding a black guitar....many apologies.
THe bass in question is arriving to me in August but here's a photo anyway. John Diggins has confirmed from the serial number that it was made in 1988, as a custom order I believe, and cost around 2500£(uk) when new.
 

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#8
There is a Gibson 347 for sale with it, also will have possession of that in August to get checked out for condition pre sale (I'm a guitar tech/service guy by day, pianist and bass player when the sun goes down) only photo of that I have has my friend in it and I'm not comfortable posting that in public but I'll have detailed pics of both of them in August, I'll post more then.
 
#9
That is a special bass, both in rarity and the personal attachment you have to it. In the US the only Jaydee I have actually played is the one I own, they are quite a rarity not even to mention 5 strings.... I have heard the Calibas is pretty heavy (but worth it in my eyes to play such a nice bass). There are a few guys on here that are pretty knowledgable on Jaydees. JDGA fan and Jaymi come to mind. Just wondering, if you know, what makes an es347 different from an Es335? My guitarist plays a 335.
 
#10
Chad Bennett said:
That is a special bass, both in rarity and the personal attachment you have to it. In the US the only Jaydee I have actually played is the one I own, they are quite a rarity not even to mention 5 strings.... I have heard the Calibas is pretty heavy (but worth it in my eyes to play such a nice bass). There are a few guys on here that are pretty knowledgable on Jaydees. JDGA fan and Jaymi come to mind. Just wondering, if you know, what makes an es347 different from an Es335? My guitarist plays a 335.
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Thanks Chad, Just to clarify, all Jaydee basses are "Supernatural" basses. The Calibas is one specific model of "Supernatural" bass. First ones were built in 1988. I think all of the early basses were numbered sequentially, starting with 88XXX. They are usually heavy because of the exotic hardwoods used. Nothing "custom" about that bass; all of the features were standard on the Calibas (bound neck, bound headstock, 4-band EQ, push-button PU selector, etc.), but they were the top of the range. Not currently offered on the website and not too many built.
 
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#11
Great info guys.....to clarify, I wasn't referring to it as a custom model, rather it wasn't "off the shelf"....he wanted that model, there wasn't one available so he ordered it and they made it for him and he paid them for it, so I'm lead to believe - I think the receipt between him and Jaydee is with it....it was a long time ago but I remember he told of getting exited and anxious as it neared completion as it coincided with his date for moving to Spain......anyway, I'll have it in my hands in a couple of months so I'll post some detailed pics, these are photos of actual old photos in an album.

BTW.....serial number begins 98 and MR Diggins himself emailed me with the 1988 build date.

Still researching the 347.....so far made in Nashville 1982
 
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#13
pianomarc said:
Great info guys.....to clarify, I wasn't referring to it as a custom model, rather it wasn't "off the shelf"....he wanted that model, there wasn't one available so he ordered it and they made it for him and he paid them for it, so I'm lead to believe
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Sorry, I wasn't very clear in my response. I just meant the features were "standard" for this bass.

pianomarc said:
BTW.....serial number begins 98 and MR Diggins himself emailed me with the 1988 build date.
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Well, John would know, but that doesn't fit with all of the ones I have seen that were made that year. A leading 9 would normally suggest a different year. Either way, super nice bass, and commiserations for the loss of your friend.
 
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#15
To continue the thread, if anyone's interested in the calibas in the photos, it's currently in Madrid with the widow of the original owner and she's asked me to see if there is any interest while she is there to pack and post it on, otherwise it has to either go back in storage or come to the canary isles for me to check over, where it may be a little more expensive to get sent on from. It's too expensive for me at this time unfortunately or I would have loved it. I can get more fotos or info as required, just ask away, but to clarify, it's been in a case with no string tension and battery removed in a stable temperature in Madrid. The owner died in 2001 and it wasn't played for a few months before he died and hasn't been played since. I last saw it used on a gig we did together in 1998 and it was in great condition then. I'll pass on any enquirers and act as translator for anyone who needs it
 
#16
pianomarc said:
To continue the thread, if anyone's interested in the calibas in the photos, it's currently in Madrid with the widow of the original owner and she's asked me to see if there is any interest while she is there to pack and post it on, otherwise it has to either go back in storage or come to the canary isles for me to check over, where it may be a little more expensive to get sent on from. It's too expensive for me at this time unfortunately or I would have loved it. I can get more fotos or info as required, just ask away, but to clarify, it's been in a case with no string tension and battery removed in a stable temperature in Madrid. The owner died in 2001 and it wasn't played for a few months before he died and hasn't been played since. I last saw it used on a gig we did together in 1998 and it was in great condition then. I'll pass on any enquirers and act as translator for anyone who needs it
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I sent you a pm
 

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