Rick's Fine '52

I'd be more worried about someone asking 15000E for a 4000E bass!

I've seen this before, but for the life of me cannot recall what instrument it was on, from memory, the '2 of 3', referred to the components for final assembly, as in '1 of 3' is the body, '2 of 3' is the neck, and '3 of 3' is the pickguard (I recall it was a custom colour Stratocaster, with loaded pickguard). Can't say that's the case here though, but just remember that being the case on another instrument. In my experience, as its not a Master Built, there would be far more than 3 made of such a well known, desirable finish. LPB on a Jazz is the most common custom colour on originals (Along with CAR), so I would say they would be safe making 100 of these, as is typical from the CS. Matching headstocks wasn't so common in 2001 though (quite normal now on CS CC J's), so maybe someone requested it, so it had the neck took off and peg sprayed, and the parts numbered so it didn't get mixed up?

Just back from 10 days away, gutted I missed this, if I'd seen it, I would have sold the '52 to land this baby......... Ok, lets look out for the re-list, probable start price £59, and still no takers, lets be honest, its barely worth the shipping cost!!!

If it's just the comfort feel that you have an issue with, as you've implied, then I would contour the back like a regular P, and re-spray the back only in black, cheap and easy to do, and relatively invisible if its done nicely, then you should have the bass you want. If its just a maple neck, contour P you want, then sell this bass (I'd recommend selling the neck and body seperately), which would give you more than enough for a nice, early japanese '57 reissue......for example? I'd be more concerned with how the neck is set up, as it's a micro-tilt, 3 bolt neck, presumably rigid fixed with a 4-bolt plate? Just my opinion though. Rick

[quote name='PierBea' timestamp='1368659711' post='2080041'] Great comments, everyone: I see the value in all of them. I myself especially agree with EssentialTension's (both in his positive and his negative comments). Be that as it may, I won't be drinking beer for a while (I prefer wine, anyhow, and what a wonderful off-topic this can be)! That is to say that this wonderful bass has a new home in Italy (40th birthday gift to myself). And, yes, it is a dream (IMHO, the sound does match the looks: they are both incredible)! It's been said that we're all different (and I couldn't agree more, thank goodness): to me, this is THE electric bass. Doesn't mean it's perfect or there's nothing I would change. However, even so, this is THE electric bass. Period. Thank you Mark Stickley for being so helpful and courteous! ... and thank you Dennis Galuszka for ... you know ... building this beauty! Ciao, all. Pier PS. Please don't classify this post of mine under "bragging" but, rather, under "happy and in a mood to share this" :-) [/quote] Good for you Pier. One mans meat is another mans poison as they say. If it's [i]the[/i] bass for you, and you've managed to not only find it, but buy it, then thats [i]all[/i] that matters. Many musicians spend their whole life looking for [i]that [/i]special instrument, and never find it, you have, and you have [i]every[/i] right to celebrate it!! I'm delighted for you, because i know how it feels to land your very own holy grail. Rick.

Nice job! Congrats.

[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1368465611' post='2077422'] Pino's was Fiesta red over an original desert sand finish. I think 'cos of the fashion thing of fiesta red due to Hank Marvin's strat. [/quote] Many Fenders in the mid 60's were refinished by Selmer, in the UK, to meet the demand of the UK players, who wanted Fiesta Red, like Hanks. These guitars are known as 'Selmer finished', and advertised as such. Selmer simply refinished imported guitars, and basses that they already had in stock from imports, and finished them, in the UK, before passing them to dealers/shops. Imports at the time were in very limited numbers, and so they simply met demand. This is well documented. I'm not sure if Pino's is one of those (Not sure what year Pino's is?), but it certainly could be.

[quote name='Oversoul' timestamp='1368463780' post='2077401'] You're right, but me personally I can't get that from Fender as well. They're overpriced fad tools, that's it. they look cool, but far away from a real old soul. Fender just uses it's history to charge big time for a half-assed, badly baked instrument that could come in the Squier catalog. (It would make more sense.) [/quote] Couldn't disagree more. I don't think anyone who has played a real 50 year old Fender would imply that a relic comes close to it in terms of sound or feel, but if you cant afford £5-20K for a real one, then what's wrong with having one that looks like it, yet has all the modern benefits, that some players may like. Half arsed? Badly baked?, I haven't seen a Custom Shop bass that ticks either of those two boxes, and I've played lots! Certainly not comparable to a Squier either, I mean not even close. They are also available for around £1200-£1500, unless you want a rarer edition, which is exceptional value. I don't think you can get anything else with that vintage vibe for that price, that also will continue to maintain its value. Just my opinion of course, but I've never experienced a custom shop bass to be either of what you have described. The quality of parts, and assembly has always been excellent, it's their attention to period detail that always bothers me, like the wrong screws, terrible selected tortoishell material, incorrect finish for era, making random hybrids etc, etc, and that's just because i'm obsessively conventional, especially when its supposed to be a reissue, but Squier comparable, badly baked. Nah.