Would you buy/bid on this????

[BigAlBass69]

Can a bass sit in a case in a closet with no strings on for maybe 20 years and still be expected to work?

 

[Discount Bassy]

Offer tree fiddy.

 

[pcake]

your poll didn't cover my response - i won't buy anything that doesn't allow returns for non-working or broken items.

a well-kept home could still be a very dry or very humid home. btw, you can't tell if the truss rod works, and if it doesn't - and it hast't been adjusted in decades - you're potentially talking a big expense. and if you're interested in this bass for the tone, you don't know if the pickups work or anything else. yes, almost anything can be replaced, but then the bass won't have the original tone. and then, why bother to own it?

you could be missing out by not buying this bass, but it's just as likely you'd be dodging a bullet. just my opinion...

 

[ZedLepp]

I would bid on it, but oh yeah, I can fix my own instruments.
Haven't had any problems from the few instruments I have bought from Goodwill.

 

[gln1955]

Can a bass sit in a case in a closet with no strings on for maybe 20 years and still be expected to work?

Maybe? A tightened truss rod and no strings is not a good way to store. Can you see any back bow in any of the pictures?

 

[hypercarrots]

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

That can be either really bad or really good with a chance of going bad in the near future. Can be...

 

[BigAlBass69]

No back bow seen but pictures are not direct side view of the neck. I do not believe they want to post more pictures given the nature of their business( sells all kinds of items after large bulk purchases). I will ask.

 

[juggahnaught]

If you want a player's instrument, this probably isn't it.

If you just want to own it, you'll probably spend some of time, effort, and money to get it to a playable condition (although that may matter less to you if you just want to own it - it will probably at least make a sound without any issues). If you want to actually "restore" the bass, that will probably take a lot of time, effort, and cash.

I'd offer anywhere from a hundred to two hundred bucks for it. Maybe less. Probably less.

Take this advice with a grain of salt. I'm not one to purchase vintage gear just to own it, and so the value of this stuff to me is really low as I can get a modern instrument of comparable or better quality at budget prices these days. Color choices also matter less to me.

 

[lfmn16]

Too few details. What bass and how much do you think you'll get it for and what do you think the actual value is. I'd be more worried about neck issues than electronics. You can always replace the electronics, but a twisted neck, or broken truss rod can be really expensive to fix. Just a wild guess, but if I could get it $1,000 less than actual value, I might take a chance. Of course if it's vintage, once it's been repaired, you've lost a ton of value, but you could probably have a functioning bass.

 

[pcake]

Too few details. What bass and how much do you think you'll get it for and what do you think the actual value is. I'd be more worried about neck issues than electronics. You can always replace the electronics, but a twisted neck, or broken truss rod can be really expensive to fix. Just a wild guess, but if I could get it $1,000 less than actual value, I might take a chance. Of course if it's vintage, once it's been repaired, you've lost a ton of value, but you could probably have a functioning bass.

you can always replace the electronics - but if the point of buying a vintage bass is its sound, you may not find the vintage pickups and stuff that give it that sound.

 

[portpc]

Do you have a yearly budget for instruments? Would you spend the amount that you wish to gamble on an unseen instrument which may be a bust as it may blowup your budget?.. Do you have that much financial discipline?

 

[WI Short Scaler]

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

I don't know what I recommend based on the info given, like what it is and the price. But I understand if you don't want to share that because you might bring another bidder to the party.

If the "intoxication" of having it is of greater priority than the potential financial hit you might take on it if it turns out to be firewood, than go for it!

 

[Killing Floor]

Pics not loading. Let me reset my router.

 

[groooooove]

so hard to say.

would depend on a lot of factors.

are we talking a passive vintage fender ? - ie, if there is an electronic problem, it's likely one or two solder joints?

reason for wanting the bass - does it suit a need nothing else does? rare color? how rare?

if you've been looking for 3 years with no luck... why? no others for sale or no other "perfect" deals?

buying a bass with a "no returns" policy can feel like riding a motorcycle off a cliff, but i've done it carefully and not had a problem.

 

[bolophonic]

Pics, or you are bidding on a Barbie car with three wheels.

 

[TheReceder]

I offer 30-40% of what I think the value is if it's in working condition.

Since I'm talking percentages... 90% of the time there will be someone idiotic enough to bid twice as much as me, 9% of the time someone will bid twice as much as what it's actually worth in working condition. That leaves me at 1% of the time I'm really irritating my wife.

 

[Killing Floor]

Was finally able to get pics uploaded. Whatcha think? Should I do it?

 

[hypercarrots]

Was finally able to get pics uploaded. Whatcha think? Should I do it?
View attachment 4577689

looks good for over 40 years old.

 

[BigAlBass69]

Was finally able to get pics uploaded. Whatcha think? Should I do it?
View attachment 4577689

Dang how did you know????

 

[gln1955]

Was finally able to get pics uploaded. Whatcha think? Should I do it?
View attachment 4577689

If that had four strings I'd be all over it.