Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1330626153' post='1560717'] I assume you looked at the house and went through some sort of trusted agent or bank? What happens when something goes wrong? [/quote] Agents have no assurance or trust whatsoever. The responsibility of checking what you buy is purely with the buyer, the agent simply brokers the deal. If the house falls down a week after you buy it, the agent has no responsibility at all. The onus is on the buyer to carry out any checks he deems appropriate, which may involve a 3rd party, such as structural engineer, etc. same applies with a guitar purchase, its up to the buyer to take responsibility for [i]his[/i] action, and purchase.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1330626153' post='1560717'] I assume you looked at the house and went through some sort of trusted agent or bank? What happens when something goes wrong? Done doesn't mean finished if the bass (no idea where houses and cars came from, or why) has faults. While this has nothing to do with the post count topic i really envy those who live in this perfect world and every thing they buy, unseen is perfect. [/quote] I [i]always[/i] look at my basses before I buy, unless its cheap, in which case i'll take my chance. I know what i'm buying, know what to look for, and if it's right, and the price is sensible, then I'll buy, if not, i won't. No perfect world about it. If you send money to someone you dont know, on the off chance they'll send a bass matching the description....or a bass at all, then that's the chance you take, and it is a chance, that's the 'real world', which is also where i exist. I have bought basses off people on here, who i didnt know (Just because they have 5000 posts, doesnt mean [i]I[/i] know them!), and i take my chance. I have faith in human nature, and so far i've never come unstuck. If i sent £800 to someone i didn't know, and it went wrong, then i would deal with that in my own way, but its a chance you take. If i was buying a £10k bass, i'd go and see it, anyone who does different is foolish. But we all have a choice. I don't get the 'perfect world' reference in this though?

[quote name='CPCustomdubwise' timestamp='1330622425' post='1560622'] ...and one further consideration... "You have a bass I want,can I buy it?" "Yes" Sold Done "...well sadly,NOT done as we are constrained by BC policy from continuing this transaction...so,instead,here is my email address,drop us a line and we'll do the deal OFF BC as we have no choice and,moreover,we are free agents,even though we'd both benefit from doing it within the BC community,even if that can't guarantee us complete protection...." "OK..." People would just be obliged to circumvent what seem largely to be a very successful system.And a lot of them would do exactly that.If you keep it in-house,at the very least people can warn each other if necessary. [/quote] Agree entirely.

[quote name='dave_bass5' timestamp='1330598842' post='1559938'] i wouldnt buy from anyone that just comes on here to sell something. Getting to know people before buying or selling is important to me, thats why i would never use eBay or Gumtree for expensive items. [/quote] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]I don’t get this at all?, perhaps I’m missing something?[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]If there’s a particular bass I want, and someone is selling one, then I’ll try and buy it. Simple as that. I have absolutely no interest in getting to know the seller beforehand, it’s the bass that I would be interested in.[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]Having said that………..if (as has always been the case in my own experience), during the buying/selling process, you befriend someone, initially due to a common interest in bass-related stuff, then that is a bonus. I’ve met some fantastic people via my bass-world, many of whom I’d consider friends, some I see often, others rarely, and some never, although this is normally down to geographic location, and I still communicate with them often.[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]Would this be a consideration [i]before [/i]buying a bass? Never, why would it?[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]If I was buying a car, which in most cases would be a significantly larger expense than a bass, would I insist on spending 2 weeks with the owner, holed up in a caravan on the Suffolk Downs, before deciding if it was the right car for me?? Errr….no.[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]“You have a bass I want, can I buy it?”[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]“Yes”[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]Sold[/color][/font][/size] [size=3][font=Verdana][color=#000000]Done.[/color][/font][/size]

Sold my '58 Relic to Seni, lovely guy, great communications, would recommend him to you all. Nice 'n Easy. You're still not getting my Bravewood Jameson Precision though................yet!!!

I don't think there should be any restriction to sellers. I wasn't aware of this forum until last year when i was selling my '55 Precision, and someone told me to try on here, i then joined, [i]primarily[/i] to sell my bass (Which didnt happen....on here anyway), but having then posted, got some nice comments, and feedback, started looking round the site, and now I love it on here, I'm sure lots of others are the same. Why is that an issue? Also, If someone is here purely to sell gear (And won't be staying around), and someone on here gets a nice deal, or a great bass, or an item they've been after for a while, then again, wheres the downside of that? Can't see any problem at all personally.

Excellent stuff, thanks for posting!!

Woops, I think I've just cum!

[quote name='spinynorman' timestamp='1330368291' post='1556374'] It would be interesting to know what percentage of basses put up for sale actually sell. It's not really a Basschat problem though, I'm sure most basses put on eBay with a BIN or a start price close to the market value don't sell either. [/quote] I agree, I don't think it's a basschat problem, although in my experience, eBay exposes your item to 1000x the audience. From my experience of basschat, more people are up for swaps and trades. I've done this 3 times on here, but never managed to sell anything. Sign of the times also i think!!

[quote name='leftyhook' timestamp='1330340908' post='1555811'] I can get [i]that [/i]sound out of a Westfield bass that I have.[/quote] Are you sure it's not new ears you need?? I joke by the way!

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330274400' post='1554995'] Having made my previous comments, I actually do have a custom 'vintage' P-Bass incoming, so it will be very interesting to see what that's like! It will have an Allparts neck though, so hopefully it won't make me too much of a hypocrite! [/quote] I'm sure it will be fab. If its to [i]your[/i] spec, then it will suit [i]you[/i], and [i]you[/i] will be happy with it for sure, as its what [i]you[/i] want. Thats the single most important thing about any guitar that you intend to play regularly.

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1330272228' post='1554958'] Exactly. Finishing aside, anyone who took enough care ought to be able to emulate basic Custom Shop standards out of Warmoth or similar components. [/quote] This can certainly be the case. I've made (By 'made' I mean 'assembled') 3 basses to replicate my real ones, a '52, a '56 & '58. I've been very selective with regards to components, and they have probably cost me (Not allowing for my time), around £4-500. Are they as good as my Ltd CS Relic?, they probably are yes. But not everyone has the time or patience to source the parts and assemble, set them up. Here's my 'Project' '56 & '58's; [attachment=101056:1.JPG] [attachment=101057:7.JPG] [attachment=101059:10.JPG] [attachment=101058:DSCF1354.JPG] [attachment=101061:DSCF1365.JPG] [attachment=101062:DSCF1358.JPG] (I didnt mean to hijack the thread!! ) Sorry.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330269433' post='1554898'] Tru dat. It doesn't elude me, though. I've never understood why you'd need to get a luthier to make you a 'vintage' Fender when it would be a lot more 'authentic' to have it made from high-quality production parts. [/quote] It certainly doesn't elude me either, probably because it's not entirely true, but i understand the intent of the remark. I agree with you though Discreet. I think people often buy Custom Shop Fenders, not only because they will get a pretty high quality instrument, but because they generally retain value. I'm sure we've all seen luthier made P's and J's that have been hand made, hand finished, with quality components used throughout, which probably cost an arm and a leg, only to realise 1/4 of that outlay when it comes to re-sale. Is it worse than a Fender CS?, probably not, but brands retain value, and re-sell easier, not just in the guitar market.

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1330268584' post='1554872'] Until the advent of the Custom Shop in 1987, no Fender had ever been made by a luthier. Craftsmen, yes, but usually trained on-the-job. Fenders were explicitly designed the way they were so that lutherie was not required, just very good basic workmanship. This simple fact seems to elude most vintage Fender lovers. Leo, I guarantee, would probably prefer the current production lines at Fender to his own, as mass-production on this scale was what he aspired to, of never achieved. [/quote] I think you've taken a part of my quote, which isolated reads differently to my whole quote, but I know what you mean, and mostly agree. Early Fenders were hand finished, and the attention to detail was considered, unlike some latter examples. I agree with you though, they were designed simply, mainly so parts could be changed easily. I think Leo would be happy with today's mass market share the brand has, especially as they have a product for all budgets, which I think would have pleased him more. From my knowledge though, I don't think he ever aspired to mass-production and domination of a market. He was quite a boffin type inventor, whose real passion was in the tool shed, creating instruments that people found useable, and fulfilled the musicians needs. The mass production part was really a bi-product of him creating instruments that were far more successful than he ever imagined, partly due to the era itself, and mainly the fact Fender were the first company to properly create consistently good instruments for all genre's.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1330217654' post='1554349'] What, John Entwistle took the pic? [/quote] No, sadly, he passed away about 5 years prior to this pic. V&R had several of his basses they were tasked with selling. I'd arranged to view the '60 Jazz. This is now very dull and no doubt disappointing, I may edit this post later with a "Yes, we were great friends" reply instead!!

This is me, not a good shot at all, It was a couple of years ago in the cellar of V&R on Denmark St, I was checking out John Entwistle's Mint '60 Blonde stack knob, and thought the occasion deserved a photo!! (Yes, I am quite sad eh! ) I was busy trying to explain how the camera worked, when it took the pic. I was too embarrassed to ask him to take another!! [attachment=101014:DSCF02881.jpg]

Bauhaus is the best I can do from Northampton. So i guess I'm at the bottom of this particular league table then!! (The High Numbers played here though, which doesn't count, but I had to add some cred after that didn't I??)

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1330170417' post='1553645'] Calling Rick's Fine 52! [/quote] This used to be mine!! Its a lovely bass, i moved it on in order to upgrade to my current '52. I let him have it for a lot less than that price though! As has been said above, the body and neck are refinished, pickguard replaced, pickup rewound, non-original case, apart from that its all there. I think it would take someone very brave to pay that much for a non-original bass, but that's just me, there are very few in the UK, so it may go for that. The refinish is fantastic though, he's a lovely guy, and i wish him luck with the sale. He actually contacted me to see if I was interested in taking it back, which i would have considered if i didn't have mine, but then if i didn't have that, i would still have his......if that makes sense? It's a lovely rare slab bass though.