GuyR

23 hours ago, RedEarth said:

I did have my fender Ultra set up by Martin and a Sadowsky pre amp fitted. The bass& treble controls do not match or properly or  fit so I’m told by a few people that have had a pre amp fitted ! & when I had a closer look recently the concentric controls stand proud of the body and are a very poor fit ! I was told that the concentric controls that Martin fitted are not correct for this pre amp and should not of been fitted this way ! I’m not happy but I didn’t check closely until recently . 

Are you posting this because you have been back the Gallery to ask them to resolve the situation and they have refused to?

22 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

@Masse, tu as simplement payé la TVA française de 20% sur la valeur déclarée plus les frais de port, ainsi qu'une taxe d'importation et un forfait administratif.

 

Qu'il s'agisse d'un échange ou non, tout matériel importé, neuf ou d'occasion, depuis un pays  hors de la CEE est soumis à la TVA sur la valeur déclarée, une taxe d'importation et des frais administratifs.

 

Le Royaume-Uni étant en dehors de la CEE depuis l'application du Brexit, il est tout à fait normal de payer ces taxes.

 

Le délai est aussi totalement normal si tu utilises une société de transport qui ne possède pas ses propres services de dédouanement et la poste française n'en possède pas vraiment.

 

Si tu avais utilisé TNT, Fedex ou UPS, voire DPD qui est une filiale de la poste française, tu aurais pu recevoir ton colis en 24 heures (j'utilise TNT Express pour cette raison en dehors de la CEE).

 

Estime-toi heureux de ne pas avoir reçu d'amende, ou pire, d'avoir vu ton matériel saisi et détruit, pour fausse déclaration concernant la valeur réelle de l'instrument.

 

C'est un jeu très dangereux auquel tu viens de jouer...

 

For those who want, I can translate this in English. 😉

No need. Just repeat it slowly and loudly in a cockney accent, like we do in France.

It's not mine, buI think this deserves to be back at the top of the list..........

Lovely looking and rare bass, sensibly priced. 

If I were looking for a fully handbuilt relic JB, I wouldn’t look any further than the Bravewood in the classifieds. If you don’t bond with it, it would be difficult to lose any significant money. I have had one, they are great. I have had CS - also very good, but the Bravewood felt more like an authentic original.

8 hours ago, SumOne said:

Not to be a downer on it as I'd like to talk myself into 'investing' in an expensive Bass but I think inflation and wage/spending power increases are a big thing that people don't often consider. 

 

I seem to remember seeing somewhere that a J Bass in the mid 60's cost about £150, average UK wages were roughly £1,000 per year (£83 per month) so it cost nearly 2 months of wages. Average wages are now  £29,600 per year  (£2,466 per month) so that's getting towards £5k for 2 months of wages.  Bass Gallery have a 64 J Bass for £6,500 .....if that asking price gets knocked down a bit and Bass Gallery take their cut you basically sell it for roughly 2 months of average wages - which is exactly the same 'value' as you bought for 58 years ago.  There's also 58 years of risk of losing/breaking it/insurance costs/maintainance etc. so it's probably not such a great investment if it's just down to money. 

The 64 you are referring to is a refin. An original finish one would be worth significantly more, although your overall point is an interesting one.

9 minutes ago, Velarian said:

The problem with owning a fine vintage bass as an investment is that to realise the benefit of any gain in value you have to sell the thing. Who would be happy to do that? 🙁

What a ludicrous notion. 

That’s for your children to do once you are dead, surely?

Nobody actually buys a vintage bass as an investment, it’s a convenient delusional justification.

There is a great deal of sense being spoken in this thread.

IMO, You might generally make more by using the value of a fine vintage bass or three as the deposit for a buy to let property, which may pay for itself by the time you retire and give you an index linked income in perpetuity, as well as a legacy.

On the other hand, moderate sums of money which would otherwise lie unproductive in an account or investment product, effectively diminishing in value and making some other bugger richer, are proving a better return, while also improving the quality of your life tied up in an item of pre-CBS eye/ear candy.

Vintage basses are not currently subject to capital gains tax and I am not aware of any plans on the part of the chancellor in that direction. With houses, pensions and investment products, sadly you are a sitting duck for unwelcome HMRC fiscal pickpocketry, the tax laws changing with the wind.

Of course, no guarantee of future value on anything you do with your money, but if you have a rack full of fine vintage basses and/or guitars, the feel-good factor might insulate you against a sizeable slice of fiscal vicissitude. 

4 hours ago, jimmyb625 said:

Out of curiosity, do people have a "go to" place to look at for vintage fenders? I'm casually looking for a '73 at some point over the next year or two, so I'd like to get an idea what the market rate would be. I know it will vary based on a number of factors, but a rough guide is fine for now.

Bass gallery usually has a decent number of early-mid 70s examples. Andy Baxter is worth a look too.

A further thought re refretting; If you continue to use your bass with low frets, wear on the fingerboard is greatly accelerated. At some point you are going to have to replace the frets. Don’t necessitate replacement of the fingerboard too.

50-70 years on from manufacture, there aren’t too many vintage basses of any merit that haven’t been refretted.

As time goes by, the number reduces further. 
If you intend to do more than look lovingly at your bass, it’s going to need a refret at some point or become an expensive ornament. All my vintage basses are refretted (I assume, I care so little, I don’t actually know)

The only vintage instrument I acquired with the original, very worn, frets in place is my 66 Tele. First thing I did was order vintage correct replacements from Fender CS, fitted without any planing of the fingerboard. The original frets are in the case, In the event that whoever my kids sell it to when I’m gone might be interested. I’m not.

I am fastidious about other aspects of originality, insofar as any vintage bass or guitar I have has first and foremost to Have the original finish and pickups, and be fully functional, so an irreparable switch or tuning machine would receive a period correct replacement.

I am immediately suspicious of mint original instruments, either that they are not authentic, or not good players. All mine are fairly grizzly, because they are good enough to have been regularly used.

I can absolutely help with your question, lowdowner.

I was fortunate enough to acquire Pino’s 79 stingray fretless sunburst backup bass, direct from Pino on commission via bass gallery a good few years ago. A magnificent bass in all respects.

Sadly, it failed to endow me with any godlike chops or groove and unbelievably, when recently sold on, my ownership was not deemed sufficiently  relevant to be mentioned in the gallery’s online description, only the former keeper’s.

9 minutes ago, Rich said:

 

I've said it before and I'll say it again...

 

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself........

3 hours ago, stewblack said:

 touch the hem of his ermine robes and maybe even kiss his ring.

 

If you had any expectations of high ticket sales, that sentence has rectum

It’s the neck finish where these score so heavily against Fender CS. Lovely bass. New owner will be getting a treat.

I don’t think there is a massive value in instruments owned by the types of players generally most popular with the members on a specialist interest bass-centric community. Bass has a much narrower appeal as an object of veneration than guitar. I would expect something like John Paul Jones’ jazz bass, or Roger Waters’ precision would make big numbers. 

Now that is funky!!

In addition to his unparalleled technique, he was also the most lyrical and expressive player. My elderly tablet doesn't allow me to post a link to Jeg gik mig id en sommerdag from "the eternal traveller" album, but it is a thing of beauty.

I have an 80s Tokai Jazz sound which has quite precision like neck dimensions and is also a great bass. Fender custom shop relics can be surprisingly chunky also. Haven't tried any of the other brands you mention.

precision neck on a Jazz body might be a solution?

Bass Gallery. As you say, 15% (inc vat) sold four basses in the last 2 years, for a total of £10k. Mainly took a couple of weeks, one a couple of months. One sold for considerably more than I expected. Zero hassle, comms good, funds immediate. 10/10.

5 hours ago, tegs07 said:

I would argue that there is no logic to vintage collectibles unless it’s as an investment. Largely it will be an emotional  rather than a head decision.

You are right. When the ghastly spectre of logic raises its ugly head in relation to a bass purchase, all chance of a favourable outcome is lost. I bought an all original 62 custom colour jazz bass around 2000/2001 for £3.4k. I have had 20 years wonderful use out of it. I spent an hour playing it this evening. I'd probably not lose money in the unlikely event of selling, although that was absolutely irrelevant to me when I bought and still is. I never think of it as a collectible.

G

1 hour ago, tegs07 said:

I would say the same with wiring.. I would want that replaced on a 50’s car. I’m with you I think it’s ludicrous but It’s what I have heard.. frets may be exempt I don’t know, but pots, jack, wiring are definitely expected to be original.

As time goes by, it is inevitable that the proportion of vintage instruments with replaced electrical components and frets will increase and that those changes will become more acceptable, as the stock of completely original instruments decreases. There are few Italian vintage violins that have not been substantially repaired, re-necked, fingeboarded, refinished etc. The inevitable repairs are completely acceptable and do not seem to significantly deter buyers. It seems logical to me to anticipate the market for vintage guitars/basses will follow, but who has a crystal ball. Maybe electric guitars/basses will completely fall out of favour. Authentic original instruments have been trading at premium prices since the early 1980s, so the market is well established.

On another subject,  it does seem a shame to denigrate the choices of others, or assume the motivation of others in making their choices as unsavoury. We are all just bass players making our choices, enjoying our instruments. I'm pleased for anyone, anytime they acquire a bass they enjoy. For me, the very best basses I have played have been vintage.

Lovely looking bass. Godins are excellent value. I have an A5 which has the perfect neck profile for me and a flat ish fingerboard. 

What is the neck profile like on this?

Certificate or not, a lovely looking bass and a sensible price. CS prices seem to have risen strongly in the last year.

Have never dealt with BD but it is always good to hear about positive experiences.