What are these and what are they worth?

[Marc61]

I’m not good with boutique basses. Someone wants to trade with me and I want to be fair, but of course not get ripped off either. Whatever I get back in trade I’m going to sell because cash is what I needed to begin with. Any advice appreciated. The person has other stuff, but it ain’t basses. Not sure why he wants my bass so bad too. Makes me think something is up

 

[bholder]

A couple of Foderas? Must be a peach of a trade...

 

[Marc61]

A couple of Foderas? Must be a peach of a trade...

Well… he didn’t say anything I want even up. I’m guessing he’ll want some cash. He also has a Ken Smith

 

[Element Zero]

What do you have that he wants?

 

[Marc61]

What do you have that he wants?

Custom shop P bass

 

[dalkowski]

cash is what I needed to begin with

I’m guessing he’ll want some cash.

Feels like this proposed deal isn't shaping up in your favor. BUT you never know — play it out and see what happens. Worst case, you're back to square one. Don't be afraid to walk away: If something feels hinky, it probably is.

 

[Marc61]

Feels like this proposed deal isn't shaping up in your favor. BUT you never know — play it out and see what happens. Worst case, you're back to square one. Don't be afraid to walk away: If something feels hinky, it probably is.

There’s been no proposal. I have to be able to value the Foderas and the Smith. Then I will propose

 

[Beej]

I wish I took pics, but I recently saw and handled a "Fodera" that was an overseas counterfeit. I'm a builder and I have to say the fit and finish of the instrument was surprisingly good. One giveaway was that it did not say "fodera" on the bridge.

This seller/trader may be a bassist and have other nice basses too, but I'd be checking on provenance before trading. That's not impossible to do on a real Fodera.

 

[Gnal]

The first bass appears to be a walnut top Emperor II Elite. The case doesn’t appear to be the typical Fodera teardrop case though. If you got a pick of the headstock butterfly and the serial number the folks at Fodera could probably locate the specs for that bass.

The other one has looks like a custom Imperial MG shape. The Bridge looks like a Fodera bridge, but I’ve never seen one stamped ‘Gafin’, I’m not an expert though… If you also got a picture of the headstock/serial number Fodera could probably help with specs.

Pics of the front/back of the bases probably wouldn’t hurt either.

 

[Marc61]

I wish I took pics, but I recently saw and handled a "Fodera" that was an overseas counterfeit. I'm a builder and I have to say the fit and finish of the instrument was surprisingly good. One giveaway was that it did not say "fodera" on the bridge.

This seller/trader may be a bassist and have other nice basses too, but I'd be checking on provenance before trading. That's not impossible to do on a real Fodera.

The suspicion of counterfeit has not escaped me. He also offered be an ES335, a Hohner D6 clavinet and a Gibson Mastertone banjo.

 

[Microbass]

Seems like a bizarre trade suggestion to me - fairly highly sought after boutiques for a no doubt good P, but still a P-bass?

 

[iiipopes]

Is there a butterfly inlaid on the headstock?

 

[lowfreqgeek]

The Walnut top looks like a legit Fodera. The second picture does not. Looks like the bridge says Gafin(?). Some other anomalies about it just don't look legit compared to the first pic.

The Smith looks right, but is a pretty lousy picture to judge by.

 

[lowfreqgeek]

@Marc61, beware!

Headstock/Emblem Identification Help

 

[LowG]

The suspicion of counterfeit has not escaped me. He also offered be an ES335, a Hohner D6 clavinet and a Gibson Mastertone banjo.

A Hohner Clavinet is not an easy thing to counterfeit at least. I think that would be the easiest of the bunch to flip for cash.

 

[knumbskull]

Seems a tiny weeny bit odd for someone to be trading two of the highest value basses money can buy, and to be unable to provide any info at all on them… maybe that’s just me!

 

[J Wilson]

It would be simple enough to gather s/n's on the two axes in the OP and contact Fodera themselves (Phone : 718-832-3455) and have them walk you through a process to determine if these are genuine Foderas.

Then you know where you're at.

 

[Pauly 4001]

A Hohner Clavinet is not an easy thing to counterfeit at least. I think that would be the easiest of the bunch to flip for cash.

You certainly can’t counterfeit a Clavinet and they do fetch large sums these days but the condition is important and you don’t want to ship them either

 

[perfektspace6]

Any other details on how this proposal came about? Someone you met while gigging, craigslist etc.? Just general info as to where this potential deal materialized would help gauge the situation.

 

[Pings Bass]

Hohner D6 clavinet

I'd jump at that, but I'm just into the clav sound lately. The samples I'm using are good enough I guess, but the real thing would be a kick to mess around with.