Rick's Fine '52

[quote name='JMT3781' timestamp='1328816844' post='1533233'] Yeh for sure... to be honest, it was refreshing to see someone who understood why a shop had to be more pricey than ebay etc on secondhand... [/quote] I'm probably a bit slow, but just realised you have a shop!! In this age of multi-media methods of purchasing stuff, and having the whole worlds stores just a click away, it must be incredibly hard to compete price wise. Ultimately though, you can't beat actually sitting down and playing something before purchasing, but i would be worried people use guitar shops to test drive gear, only to then go elsewhere to actually buy it. Must be frustrating at times!? I hope business is good with you though. If I'm over that way, which i am every now and then, I'll be sure to pop over. See if you can sell my Custom Shop Relic '58 for me, can't give it away!!!

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1328817046' post='1533238'] I agree with some of the above.. £1200 is silly money for an AVRI. Hang on, and buy used. [/quote] £1200 was for a used one!!

[quote name='JMT3781' timestamp='1328814714' post='1533190'] Good point... shops can't compete with private sales, simple as that. Remember, if they do get 1200 for it, the government are having 240 of that in VAT [/quote] Exactly, then there's the rent, and the bills, and the staff wages.......oh, and don't forget the profit!! I'm certainly not knocking the shops, at all, just saying you can get things (Certainly new, more common items) alot cheaper elsewhere.

[quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1328779205' post='1532413'] Sorry to disagree here. I know values of guitars and basses is a subjective thing but £1200 is £500 less than the brand new price. If the bass is in excellent nick then I don't think £1200 is unreasonable. I would always pay £1200 for a good used AV reissue than the crazy prices that vintage basses go for. I know there is no right and definite argument to be made here as it depends on whether you are playing or collecting but surely £500 off the new price is not unreasonable. [/quote] The collecting argument doesnt even come into it, we're talking about a used AVRI here? They regularly show up on eBay and other sales media, and sell for between £650 & £850, as another poster has also said above. I'm not knocking the guitars, I'm just saying that £1200 is way above current going rates. But, it's a shop, and they have overheads and wages, so you'd expect the price to be higher. I was just offering my advice to the original thread, to suggest they can be bought considerably cheaper than £1200. Nothing more. £500 below Retail may be good, but if you can get one £1000 off retail, then all the better. If you wanna spend £1200+a bit, go Custom Shop, as was also stated by someone else above. As stated above, I'd make my own. I think the Stack knobs look better worn than new. I made my own a few years ago, based on a slab board reissue, changed some components, lightly relic'd and lacquer crazing added, looked, and played great, for a very small price. Sold it to a fellow BC'er on here last year, here it is, the headstock looks a bit elongated, but its just the camera angle; [attachment=99561:New bass pics 010.jpg] [attachment=99562:New bass pics 012.jpg]

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOME-MADE-BASE-GUITAR-CIRCA-1970-STAR-SHAPED-CREAM-BLACK-/270910911679?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f138c74bf#ht_500wt_1202"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOME-MADE-BASE-GUITAR-CIRCA-1970-STAR-SHAPED-CREAM-BLACK-/270910911679?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f138c74bf#ht_500wt_1202[/url]

Horrific.....

Here's another one that you'd probably get for the same price. Personally I would pay another couple of hundred and get a Custom Shop version, they turn up quite often, and they would retain their value much better, if you ever needed to move it on, £1200 for an AVRI, to me is silly money. If i really wanted a stack knob, I'd buy a good mexican Jazz, and put a Fender stack knob control set and harness (About £50), all in for less than £450 to £500, and even if the pickups werent the best (My experience is they are pretty good though), you could get a set of Fender '62 pups for another £50. Less than half the price. Decals and other components are pretty much the same. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Vintage-62-Reissue-Sunburst-Jazz-Bass-Hard-Case-and-Candy-RRP-2314-/120854788872?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c2381bb08#ht_765wt_1185"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Vintage-62-Reissue-Sunburst-Jazz-Bass-Hard-Case-and-Candy-RRP-2314-/120854788872?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c2381bb08#ht_765wt_1185[/url]

Anyone want one then?, my mate's still selling his starter pack, although to be fair, the amp deserves a better description than starter! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/165285-starter-bass-package-squier-jazz-trace-elliott-combo-stand/page__fromsearch__1"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/165285-starter-bass-package-squier-jazz-trace-elliott-combo-stand/page__fromsearch__1[/url] I think he'll take a good offer, his wife is putting him under pressure to clear it out!!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1328644140' post='1530641'] BTW if you say 'horses for courses' quite quickly it can be followed up with 'Sure they do. That's how foals are conceived' [/quote] Sorry....i was a bit slow there...it was late!!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1328644140' post='1530641'] I really doubt this bass will be gigged whereas a 1965 Ferrari 250GT 'made to be driven' I think would be, though not as we agree for trips to Lidl. [/quote] I have a similar condition '52 Precision, as you can see in my avatar, and i'll bet any money you like it gets played more than someone drives their £5m Ferrari!!!

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1328644140' post='1530641'] BTW if you say 'horses for courses' quite quickly it can be followed up with 'Sure they do. That's how foals are conceived' [/quote] Sure they do..what?

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1328643152' post='1530621'] you wait, give it a few years and new warwicks will be around that! I think when it comes to something like this it's a collectable rather than an instrument. [/quote] Not with you?, are you saying a near mint 1962 Fender Jazz is not an instrument? Surely, if anything, it's a 'collectible instrument'?

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1328642546' post='1530609'] I think you may have missed my point Rick. You've stated that you've recently spent this kind of money on a bass... from The States (you don't mention flying out to get it)... based on a description, photos and questions asked! How is that different from buying this bass, off this guy and through ebay? With what I've read of this seller, and with my own research and intuition, I'd still not buy this regardless of whether I had asked your questions because I'd have the fear that I hadn't phrased the questions in the correct way! [/quote] I use a 3rd person, who, for a living, locates basses for you (From a provided wants list), then, at a fee, flies out, inspects them, dismantles them, makes sure their what they should be, then, following agreement of everything, and ultimately my acceptance of his report, agree the price, he then buys it, flies back, and hands it over. I've done it 3 times. Not cheap, although cheaper than you'd think, with the peace of mind of knowing exactly what you're buying. Plus, theres no customs, tax, import fee's etc, which, if you took that off his fee, it all works out very nice. Obviously not cost effective on a $1000 buy, but on a £8K+ purchase, definitely worth it.

[quote name='The Bass Doc' timestamp='1328642335' post='1530606'] One thing slightly saddens me. This bass will almost certainly never see a gig, at least not at the weekly jam down at the Ferret and Scrotum. Not sure Leo would have approved. He did after all design and build things to be played rather than spend their life in some temperature controlled vault only to be gawped at few times a year. But I suppose once an owner pays the price he can do what he wants with it. Still makes me a bit sad though. [/quote] Don't lose too much sleep, items this good should absolutely be preserved, I'm sure the lucky buyer will have several pre-CBS players basses to take to the Dog n' Duck. I've said this before, if you had a mint 1965 Ferrari 250GT Daytona, you wouldnt use it for the school run, or leave it parked in the Lidl car park, but it was made to be driven!! Horses for courses.

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1328641964' post='1530596'] So its a bit like the old addage - "If you have to ask the price, you cant afford it" only in this case its "If you need me to describe it, you shouldnt be buying it" A [/quote] There's certainly some truth in that I think, but you'd still need to see it before splashing that dough!

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1328640523' post='1530571'] The item is available for sale on eBay isn't it? The fact that is in The States means that there may well be folks on the other side of the World who might be stupid enough to buy this on the strength and faith of the pics and a description! Patently I won't be as I've formed my own opinion of the guy (that and £12k on a bass is chuffin stupid), though I do think the recent case of an ebay counterfeit violin being smashed up might make for an interesting test case on one of his basses! [/quote] Well, I'm on the other side of the planet, and regularly buy guitars from the states, and I wouldnt buy on the strength of an ad alone, and other serious collectors i know would be the same. I recently spent this amount on a purchase in the USA on something that was originally advertised with one pic and a description, needless to say it took a significant amount of following work before i would secure the deal. Yes it is on eBay, as its the most global way of generating interest in an item you have for sale, most people don't have crystal balls to foresee who may have what available, if you're selling something, you need to advertise it, simple £12k on a bass may be stupid to you, the same as £65m for a painting might be considered stupid to many others. Personally I can see the case for both being value for money, particularly if its your passion, especially as both will probably be worth over double in 10 years time, based on the past 10 years anyway. Its all relative to your desires, interests, and of course, finances. I wouldnt knock someone for buying a Maserati, despite the fact that a Skoda serves exactly the same function, fair play to them I'd say!

[quote name='warwickhunt' timestamp='1328639261' post='1530541'] I've looked at a lot of this guy's sales over many years and I have to say that a few years ago he used to put a description... and just like estate agents speak, the devil was in the detail with regards to what was or was not being offered for sale with regards to originality! You had to have read enough of his sales to know what I mean but needless to say that should he wish he could very easily have deflected any possible claim that something wasn't as described. However, I now note that he doesn't even bother giving any detail, so it is down to any potential buyer to ask very precise and accurately worded questions to ascertain what is actually being sold! I accept that 'caveat emptor' applies but to give so few details publicly on his listing is ridiculous. [/quote] With respect anybody actually in the market for an item like this, will not be buying it based on an eBay description. I know I wouldn't or havent in the past. Ebay is used to generate interest, and advertise the item. Actual buyers will be dealing direct with him, and getting all the information they need in order to make an informed decision. You would be very stupid to pay £12k for any item from an ebay ad, without further investigation, whether its a car, guitar or whatever. Lets get real on this.

[sub]The most godawful tunic I've been asked to play in, is one like this;[/sub] [sub][attachment=99435:tunic.jpg][/sub] [sub]Oh, wait, hang on, oh, I get it.... [/sub]

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1328612563' post='1529850'] Ok This may be a stupid question since no one has doubted the authenticity of the thing BUT................. Shouldnt that tortoise scratchplate be shrunk and distorted and pulling the screws out all over the place since the thing is 50 years old? I thought thats what happened to the old style plates? Same goes for the Precision. Also the cases these things are in look alot more worn than the basses? And finally I dont read anywhere that says this is all original, hasnt been resprayed etc etc. I have no idea what so ever about original stuff like this so just askin A [/quote] Nitro guards shrink due to exposure, and reaction to external influences, its not a time related thing. These instruments have clearly been kept in the case for the vast majority of their life. The guitars could well have been moved around alot over the years, which may explain the case condition. In my experience, most near mint 50's/60's instruments, including Strats/tele's etc, almost never have cases that are in as good condition as the instruments they contain. Mint condition cases are far rarer than the instruments, and highly prized when they do turn up.

[quote name='redstriper' timestamp='1328569740' post='1529448'] How many of us are there on basschat? Why don't we all pitch in and buy it between us - then we'll have a raffle with the bass as prize. [/quote] Or we can each have it for a month, and just keep rotating it between us!!

[quote name='SebCarr' timestamp='1328518259' post='1528216'] Those two are both exceptional. Wow! They look almost TOO new. [/quote] It is very unusual to find nitro finishes this clean, but they are out there, i guess they must have been stored in cases, out of light and elements for almost their whole life. Its unusual to see zero checking though, but they do exist. I've been fortunate enough to have played (And had my photo taken with), John Entwistle's Mint 1960 Blonde stack knob Jazz, and it was as clean as a brand new American Vintage, stunning. Similarly, the neck on my '52 is unplayed, not a mark on it, or the frets. They do exist, and when they turn up, they command top dollar. I have no doubt at all that this will be sold in a week.

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1328568521' post='1529430'] Not that I have the money or the impulse to buy what appears to be a stunning vintage Fender, but are we saying this particular example is not as it came off the line? i.e. had some parts replaced with others commensurate to it's age? If I was looking at spending that much, I would certainly want to fly over there and give it the once over before I parted with the cash....and buy it a seat next to me on the plane home [/quote] I think some of the comments relate to other items, although my experience of this seller have always been pleasant ones. I can see nothing wrong with this particular bass. But, like you, if i was buying, i'd be needing to check it out in person, or via a 3rd party, before parting with any cash, as I always do.

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1328567880' post='1529412'] Awwww.. I was hoping for some more fun with him!! [/quote] I suspect the only one having fun from this transaction is him!!