wright/watt Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I remember in the year 2000 buying a Wal mk1 fretless (defretted bass) for the nominal sum of £400 of a bassist in Kirkcaldy.I do remember seeing this bass sell on ebay for the princely sum of £3000 four years ago,cest la vie.I loved the pickups and the eq on the bass but after that it was the weight of a sherman tank and sorry to say in my opinion had no great playability(can see bassist's up and down the country hackles rise at this) sorry lads and lassies just my opinion (35 years bass playing later)I have no regrets or sour grapes on this(seriously) but just do not know why people find these handbuilt basses a must own bass.Sei,GB,Status,Eve all IMHO make more (A) beautiful looking instruments and ( More playable ones.I was wanting to know whether any of you bass chatters have a similar expierience of selling a prized bass (alledgedly) for a nominal price? Sorry to the good people at Wal and for upsetting the bass gods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Gutted about parting with both my Status King Basses - I should have learned my lesson after getting rid of the first one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreeneKing Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 (edited) I had a Kingbass and found it just about unplayable. I've owned about 100 basses and it was the only bass that I couldn't play due to ergonomics. Other Status were much better. I know a bass builder who was underwhelmed by the reality of owning a Wal vs the dream. I'd not turn one away. Edited January 23, 2017 by GreeneKing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skb558 Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I hope TrevorR doesn't see this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrunoBass Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 [quote name='GreeneKing' timestamp='1485192905' post='3221973'] I know a bass builder who was underwhelmed by the reality of owning a Wal vs the dream. [/quote] Same with Rickenbacker for me 😊 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machinehead Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1991, WAL Mk1 fretless, £200... Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josie Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 From the other point of view, I really hope Lucas (of this parish) doesn't regret selling me two GMRs, each for half to a third of what they're worth. If it's any comfort to him, I'm in love with both, and the only time they're going anywhere else is as named items in my will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el borracho Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 [quote name='PaulGibsonBass' timestamp='1485195269' post='3222001'] Same with Rickenbacker for me [/quote] Me too - had one for 20 years and sold it for £400. It had neck issues and they were going for £500-600 on ebay at the time. Never missed it but I still sometimes see one for sale and get tempted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leschirons Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Yes, we'd all be millionaires with the benefit of hindsight because at the time that we sold all these great basses/guitars/cars/watches/houses etc, we all assumed we could always replace it for the same price. By way of example, if I add the four selling prices of my 76 Gold top, 76 Explorer Ltd edition, my 1966 E-type and my Rolex GMT, they total £1,900 About half the price of a Wal today. And so we move on in life. Hopefully, without regrets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 [quote name='skb558' timestamp='1485195042' post='3221995'] I hope TrevorR doesn't see this [/quote] Don't worry, I'm not (too) traumatised! I'm more than aware that some folks won't love Wals as much as I do. I can even (sorta) understand that position. After all I have literally never played a Warwick neck that I could abide but unaccountably some other folks seem to like them! I'm just thinking of the chap who bought the bass for £350 in 2000 and something. When I bought my Mk 1 Custom in 1992 for £500 I was getting an absolute bargain. In the early 2000s the second hand price was starting to approach a grand. No, I'm not dismayed that w/w sold the Wal bass, I'm stunned that he sold it for a half of or a third of what he could have sold it for!!!! One day soon after the millennium some lucky bassist got themselves a PROPER bargain!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White Cloud Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I can completely relate to this; my Wal custom was the best sounding bass that I have ever owned - but also one of the heaviest and uncomfortable to play. I would however love another one though ...just to confirm or negate my original findings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrevorR Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 [quote name='White Cloud' timestamp='1485205462' post='3222149'] I can completely relate to this; my Wal custom was the best sounding bass that I have ever owned - but also one of the heaviest and uncomfortable to play. I would however love another one though ...just to confirm or negate my original findings [/quote] Oooooh, beware. Paul is making some beautiful Wals and choosing woods which are both resonant and featherlight. There was one at the Bass Bash - a 5 string which I accused him of making from balsa wood. Played and sounded great too. You have been warned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
itsmedunc Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 1990 ish, 73 USA Jazz. £70... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I962 Gibson EB2 -Bought for £50, sold for £150 Jaydee Roadie-Bought for £400, sold for the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miles'tone Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 1976 Rickenbacker 4001. Sold it for 500 quid in '99. 😱 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 (edited) On a side note, a pal of mine who no longer lives in this country ( he married his french wife here and then moved to france ) owns an original Les Paul Gold Top 1957 He had this when i first met him in 1980, so how long he owned it before then i have no idea ... and he still has it. Wonder what thats worth now ? Edited January 24, 2017 by fleabag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Oh..'ang on WTF ?? arghhhhhhhhsssse !! https://reverb.com/uk/item/3462137-gibson-les-paul-standard-1957-goldtop?gclid=CPLiyIvG2dECFU48GwodYF0B6w&pla=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZilchWoolham Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Oof! I think that price might be a tad optimistic. According to Reverb's price guide (https://reverb.com/uk/price-guide/guide/805) they're not exactly cheap either, though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleabag Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 yeah i looked at that guys price and thought ' ambitious ' Still - £53k - £70k ...thats some guitar he's got. I've even got the album my pal made with that Gib LP he used for the recording Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 [quote name='leschirons' timestamp='1485201439' post='3222079'] By way of example, if I add the four selling prices of my 76 Gold top, 76 Explorer Ltd edition, my 1966 E-type and my Rolex GMT, they total £1,900. [/quote] In all fairness, the 1966 E-type suffered from dreadful neck dive. The XJ12 sat far better on a strap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest McBass Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 1992 sold my birdseye maple faced MK1 fretless for £350, it was unlined and my intonation was crap. Now own a MK2 5 and a MK1 custom fretless...lined lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubis Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Traded a burgundy Ric and a fretless SB1000 for a new birdseye maple Wal fretless in the mid 80's Didn't think it was that heavy to be honest Later traded it for a Strat and a Vox amp in a moment of madness Don't have either any more, don't miss them, but every time I pick up a bass I wish it was that Wal.....or any Wal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Sold a Bass Collection SB801 (possibly the only one in existence?) for £250 back in 1990 time, but I had only paid £275 for it when I brought it......I assume in these days of Ebay it would likely fetch a few quid more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Had a few but most memorable ones :- WAL Custom fretless bought £740 back early 80's. Traded for a Ric if i remember right cause it had a dead spot on G string around Eb. WAL weren't interested even tho it was a new bass. Guess i wasn't famous enough for them. Gorgeous flame sycamore lined fretless too. Swore i wouldn't buy another but then again i'm older and wiser now. Also had a Shergold twin neck 4 & 8 string. (£630) This was the 1st 8 string they made and was based on their 6 string bass at the time. Traded in for an Aria SB1000. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Saw a pre-Ernie Ball Stingray for sale for £250 many years ago. Went 'hmmm' and walked away from it. Saw a Shergold Marathon 8-string for sale for £195 many years ago. Went 'hmmm' and walked away from it. Yes. I Am An Idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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