Would you buy/bid on this????

[BigAlBass69]

Real life problem for the experts:
Vintage bass comes up for auction. Been eyeing this model and color for nearly 3 years. Being sold by an auction house that has no ability to test a musical instrument. Reportedly found in a closet of a well kept home and acquired as part of an estate sale. Many high quality pictures posted allowing for high resolution inspection. Everything looks good for a bass over 40 years old. Few nicks and scratches but nothing seems mortal. Few screws on the treble side of the pickguard are rusted. HOWEVER, cannot check the electronics and not anywhere near where one could go there and try it. Seller, a very large auction house, has no interest beyond what is posted, in determining if it works. Therefore no reserve and on a six day auction to the highest bidder. Sale is final and will NOT accept returns for any reason.

So based on pictures alone and your lust for this bass, would you buy it/bid on it, potentially getting it below market value????

 

[mongo2]

Not returns, no sale.

 

[BigAlBass69]

But the idea of getting a long sought after bass that could be a real steal is so intoxicating.....

 

[hypercarrots]

Probably but set a limit to factor in for the possibility of putting work into it

 

[Ricky Caboverde]

Depending on the auction price, I would certainly go for it. As you stated in your poll, "factor in the possibility." You just might come out with a great deal.

 

[Beej]

I don't really understand the dilemma I guess. Anything can be repaired with enough time and money. A non-working pot or sketchy electronics is mostly a non-issue, unless we are talking an Alembic or Wal or something where the electronics are not an easy or inexpensive replacement, but even then there are workarounds that would permit the retention of significant value. I think I'd probably just go for it.

 

[bholder]

I'd give a relatively lowball offer and not increase it if outbid. This is the sort of thing that tends to "run away" in auctions. But if you happen to luck into one where nobody else is really watching, you might get lucky. Of course, could still be a dud for other reasons, so factor the risk into your bid. But I'd probably at least take a lowball to fair offer shot at it. Just don't chase it if it goes up...

 

[hypercarrots]

How important is it to you that it's completely original?
How picky are you about neck straightness and how low do you like your action?

 

[BigAlBass69]

Want as original as possible since it is vintage.
Pictures only have 2 strings loosely hanging on the bass side so no tension yet the neck looks straight.
Like the action low.

 

[39-Bassist]

If it was something I REALLY want, could get an idea of value AND didn't over bid then YES.
As long as you don't over pay then what do you have to loose? You not liking it after the fact? So then sell and pray to break even. (we all do it some time in our lives)

 

[hypercarrots]

Want as original as possible since it is vintage.
Pictures only have 2 strings loosely hanging on the bass side so no tension yet the neck looks straight.
Like the action low.

That's tough because those are the things you can't tell, hence your questions.
It also makes my previous answer moot because if the pots or pickups are non functioning, (and i don't know if this is an active or passive bass, but even moreso if it's active) those things can be difficult to repair and keep original.
However if originality and playability were less of an issue, then there would be less concern over representation of condition on the auction site.
Bid on the value of what you can discern and assume what you can't tell is broken and you won't be disappointed with what you win if you win.

 

[BigAlBass69]

It is meant to be an active bass with specialized (at the time) state of the art electronics.

 

[Gorn]

That’s a big hell no.

 

[BarqsBitMe]

Not a chance. You could end up with an awesome bass...or you could end up with literal garbage. Not worth the risk in my opinion...but if I had tons of disposable income I might take a chance on something like that. I would have to have enough disposable income that it would not matter if what I bought was garbage.

 

[BigAlBass69]

Been saving up for the "right one" so not necessarily disposeable but....

 

[gln1955]

Just how much are we talking?

With anything you're buying without trying and can't return, it comes down to how much you can comfortably lose on the deal.

 

[Gustopher]

Just bid low, with no reserve, who knows. It may go unnoticed/unrecognized and you can snag it for a steal.

 

[75Ric]

Auctions raise emotions easily and can become even more emotional as price rises and time runs short. If it isn't from a reputable seller/dealer who has checked it over and can confirm it's qualities or if I can't personally inspect and play it, I'm not interested no matter what its color or other attributes. I'd rather wait and even pay up a bit to get a vintage instrument I know is sound, but that's me. Some people don't mind taking the risk. You just have to be prepared to have spent a lot of hard-earned sheckles on something that isn't worth it.

 

[mrcbass]

Luckily, I just don't have any "must haves" that would put me in this dilemma.

It doesn't seem like we're going to talk you down (OP), so I'd advise to expect to have to invest in it and offer accordingly. It may be perfect and that's great, but there' also reasonable risk that you'll need to put a bunch into it to get it where you want it.

I'd personally rather miss out on the perfect one than spend "perfect" money on something that needs substantial work.

 

[BigAlBass69]

So I guess it really comes down to how likely you think that, given the circumstances of this bass acquisition, it will actually still be readily functioning with little to no work.