Trying to decide what would be the 'best' outcome here, so I'll invite others to give their opinions. Including 'collectors' and those who know how to place value on these things.
I'm lucky enough to have two 80's Musicians, both originally had the active pre (one still does). One is an '83, the other an '84, so both have the P/J setup with the taller front cavity and narrower rear.
One is in Polar White, has had the original pre/pups ripped out, and replaced with Bart soapbars (the rear one looks like it sits on top of the cavity - at least they didn't route it out!) Nice tone, but not the same. It has at least an 8/10 body (yellowing notwithstanding).
The 'new' one is a fretless (MC940), in the DS, and it has a working pre. Doesn't quite sound the same as what I 'remember' back in the day - but it all works, has the circuit board, the 'candy tin' shielding cover, etc. Thing is, there's much more wear on the body / fretboard than the PW has. The seller described it as '8/10' - if it is, the body of the PW should be a '9/10'. I'd call the fretless 7/10, but I'm no expert.
Before I saw the 940 in person, my plan was to get it and find a good home for the PW. But now I'm kind of torn between a few different options. I'm also lucky enough to have some other nice basses to play, so no option here would result in a 'daily player' - most likely a case queen that wouldn't see much use - especially because I can't replace anything that breaks with the pups/pre.
- Sell the PW as-is and keep the fretless as-is.
With this option, I've got someone wanting to trade me a nice Demeter rack pre for the PW. I've always been an integrated amp guy to this point, but have been thinking about outboard pre/power setups lately)
I know the fretless is even *more* rare, no matter that it's in not as nice shape (the bridge needs some adjustment and doesn't quite look right (bent?) ; not sure if there are other issues with it); there is wear on the ebony fretboard (not eaten away, mainly just loss of color from the strings, especially in the 'A' area, and that string was raised when it came to me).
I got the fretless with original HSC, and case candy(!), so this might lean a collector to keep this one, mojo be d@mned.
- Keep both, as-is.
Easiest option, but I'm obviously wanting to try to 'improve' the situation here, so I don't think I'm going to stand pat, or wait for these to rise in value (I really don't care about that, to be honest - it's a sentimental thing with me).
- Keep both, and swap the 940's electronics /pups into the 924's.
Problem here is potential breakage of the electronics, and my preference, if I keep one, is to have the dark stain. But I might be waiting a long time to find a body as nice as the PW has.
- Take the 940 fretless and have it refinished.
Parts and cost are a factor here, and it's probably better if I don't refinish it, from a resale (?) perspective.
- Sell both and walk away from the idea of having a nice, all-original Musician in DS.
Problem here is that the Musician is the first bass I ever got to put my hands on as a teenager (it was my bandmate's), and I had it for about 6 months and fell in love with it.
- Some other option I haven't thought of (like get rid of both and find another with the 'total package' I want.) These might not show up locally too often (that's how I go the white one - from CL), but they do occasionally show up on TB (how I got the fretless).
Thoughts? I can take pics for those interested.
