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Vintage cheap basses

#121
My early 90's Squier Protone Precision 5 is a sweet bass. Gigged it many times. They were only made 2 years. They stopped selling them when they realized the sales of their Fender P5's were dropping off! Skip ahead to the VM P5.....deja voo all over again.....LOL.
 
#125
I gigged extensively in the late 70s with a Hondo II Precision (Black/Black/Maple). It was pretty cool.
I sold it when I upgraded to a something with a name (because it was the early 80s, and I was an idiot).

ETA: The friend I sold it to still has it. Will he sell it back to me? No. He won't.
 
#126
ThudThudThud said:
I gigged extensively in the late 70s with a Hondo II Precision (Black/Black/Maple). It was pretty cool.
I sold it when I upgraded to a something with a name (because it was the early 80s, and I was an idiot).

ETA: The friend I sold it to still has it. Will he sell it back to me? No. He won't.
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That stinks! Did you see my Hondo 2 back on page 1 of this post? I think it’s page one.
 
#127
This old Kay was bought off ebay for $200 and came in surprisingly playable condition. It took just a little tweaking to put it in pretty good shape. It's nice and light and produces a nice variety of tones.

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#130
I'm confused by a terminology issue here. I've always heard the word "vintage" used to justify charging a high price for something that used to be cheap. So, in my mind, there is no such thing as a cheap vintage instrument - if it's vintage, it's no longer cheap.
 
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#131
micguy said:
I'm confused by a terminology issue here. I've always heard the word "vintage" used to justify charging a high price for something that used to be cheap. So, in my mind, there is no such thing as a cheap vintage instrument - if it's vintage, it's no longer cheap.
Click to expand...

I read it as "cheap" referring to their original cost compared to the mainstream "big" brands at the time. As one would assume, what one paid for them would depend on when they were purchased. All I've seen were available cheaply and didn't artificially inflate in price due to "vintage" markup to keep pace with the mainstream "big" brands.

I got mine several decades ago when they were very, very, very, very, very cheap.
 
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#132
micguy said:
I'm confused by a terminology issue here. I've always heard the word "vintage" used to justify charging a high price for something that used to be cheap. So, in my mind, there is no such thing as a cheap vintage instrument - if it's vintage, it's no longer cheap.
Click to expand...
Back in the day they were cheaper than name brand, they’re also vintage due to their age. Besides it seemed to strike an interest since this morning. As far as price, I still get these fairly cheap. $50 to $150 tax and all.
 
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#133
Heck yeah. Matsumoku Factory basses of the late 70s and early 80s.
Since I'm not collecting anymore I'll spill the beans (via wikipedia)
Vox Guyatone Greco Yamaha Aria Norlin Epiphone Unicord Univox Westbury Electra Skylark Memphis Vantage Westbury Westminster Cutler Lyle Fell Ventura. not all those companies where ALWAYS produced at that factory, and there were likely many more companies produced at that factory.
Not all may be winners, but many of those brands that you are unfamiliar with are probably good, some are certainly great.
Have at it internet dealmeisters!
 
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#134
mongo2 said:
I read it as "cheap" referring to their original cost compared to the mainstream "big" brands at the time. As one would assume, what one paid for them would depend on when they were purchased. All I've seen were available cheaply and didn't artificially inflate in price due to "vintage" markup to keep pace with the mainstream "big" brands.

I got mine several decades ago when they were very, very, very, very, very cheap.
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Mongo did you happen to work at guitar center years ago?
 
#135
40Hz said:
That Kay actually was the first electric bass I ever touched or played. I posted the story about that here in case you’re interested.

(I’m still shopping parts for the restoration.)
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Ha, that’s a great story. I hope you get it thumping again. Mine was a Kay, too. I may be wrong, because it was 30+ years ago, but I think it was transparent cherry with two pickups. Maybe not, I wish I had a pic of it. I’d like to have it back but, honestly, I regret unloading that Tele more...
 
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