Basses you hardly ever see for sale

[Mrbigstuff]

The philippe dubrieulle jazz bass I once played and missed out on. It was for sale in Wunjos maybe 15-20 years ago and never to be seen again. I check online occasionally just to see if it’s resurfaced but no such luck.

[Leonard Smalls]

7 hours ago, dannybuoy said:

Sandberg Basic also - picked one up for about £350 several years ago

I saw one a while ago for £1300 on ebay!

Was tempted to sell mine, but then I realised just how good it sounded in my punkyfunky band...

[Terry M.]

9 hours ago, tubbybloke68 said:

I recently brought a trb5 mk1 off the very nice joe geezer on here( though he was selling it on eBay. The thing is absolutely  amazing for the money I paid, and  all I can say is the legendary reputation is totally justified. It’s just under 34”scale and the B string note definition has blown me away.😊.very lightweight aswell x

One popped up early last year on Gumtree in the amber finish,it was basically mint.£500. I contacted the guy and hesitated until...it sold!!! Less than a week later it resurfaced in Bass Direct on commission sale for almost double the price. I was in there while they had it and when I tried it that's when I REALLY wanted to kick myself. It was stellar in just about every way. I always thought they were the full 34" though? I know the 90s TRB5P was through neck and 33 7/8" scale. You don't mean that one do you?

Edited 15 hours ago by Terry M.

[tubbybloke68]

9 minutes ago, Terry M. said:

One popped up early last year on Gumtree in the amber finish,it was basically mint.£500. I contacted the guy and hesitated until...it sold!!! Less than a week later it resurfaced in Bass Direct on commission sale for almost double the price. I was in there while they had it and when I tried it that's when I REALLY wanted to kick myself. It was stellar in just about every way. I always thought they were the full 34" though? I know the 90s TRB5P was through neck and 33 7/8" scale. You don't mean that one do you?

Yes i played that one in bass direct direct but decided against getting it. I’ve got the slapcut bolt on job though I am on the lookout for a trb5p . I paid £730  for mine and it’s 33 7/8 i believe. The action was pretty low but I’ve managed to get it even lower. Funny because I’ve never particularly been a fan of wide necks but it just seems to fit like a nice glove! Appy days! Cheers terry x 

[gjones]

A G&L L2000 tribute is a rare beast in the UK. G&L have given up on selling in the UK - or possibly retailers have. 

 

I bought a 5 string a few years ago but preloved 4 strings, at a sensible price, are very few and far between.

[BigRedX]

I'm of the opinion that if you are prepared to wait long enough and spend time looking at all the different selling outlets eventually anything, no matter how rare it is supposed to be, will come ups for sale. I went through a phase of buying unusual guitars and basses and there were several models that I never expected to see for sale let alone at a price I could afford, but I was still able to own a Born To Rock F4B Bass and a Yamaha BJ5B of which only 50 were ever made

[Woodwind]

18 hours ago, oldslapper said:

Status Groove Basses. Best neck profile for my hands. Massive regrets selling mine. Never see them come up. 
 

All that aside….great to see D Grohl playing drums again. 😂

 

 

Only bass I regret selling. Groove 5 string.

Phenomenal bass.

I initially wished it sound more like a stingray, but then realised the sound was "better" - more useable.

And Yes that neck, damn.

 

I saw my old one up for sale and didn't move fast enough to buy it.

 

As you say, they're rarely on the second hand market

[Bassassin]

22 hours ago, BaggyMan said:

Washburn Force 42.  Headless 80s bass.  Never seen one for sale since the 80s

 

Three years ago, right here!

 

You'd have had to fight me for it. If I hadn't missed it too.

[uncle psychosis]

2 hours ago, Terry M. said:

One popped up early last year on Gumtree in the amber finish,it was basically mint.£500. I contacted the guy and hesitated until...it sold!!! Less than a week later it resurfaced in Bass Direct on commission sale for almost double the price. I was in there while they had it and when I tried it that's when I REALLY wanted to kick myself. It was stellar in just about every way. I always thought they were the full 34" though? I know the 90s TRB5P was through neck and 33 7/8" scale. You don't mean that one do you?

 

If its the same bass (bass direct can't have had too many amber trb5 mkI for sale in the last few years) it was anything but lightweight. I bought it and returned it because I couldn't stand the hiss from the preamp and it seemed like sacrilege to consider changing the electronics. A shame because it was a nice bass.

[Jonesy]

14 hours ago, Beedster said:

 

Love that pic @BaggyMan 👍

 

And in answer to your question.....

 

Modulus Sonic Hammer

Fretless Ric 4003

Lakland Decade

 

 

 

 

 

I've had an eye out for a Decade for ages and they don't come up too often. There's Skyline on FB now, but it's the active model. I think that's the first one I've seen in about 7-8 years

 

[Happy Jack]

3 hours ago, snorkie635 said:

Roscoe Beck V in Candy Apple Red. (Maybe they only made two or something?) ☹️

 

Lovely basses, but stupidly heavy ...

 

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, uncle psychosis said:

 

If its the same bass (bass direct can't have had too many amber trb5 mkI for sale in the last few years) it was anything but lightweight. I bought it and returned it because I couldn't stand the hiss from the preamp and it seemed like sacrilege to consider changing the electronics. A shame because it was a nice bass.

It's the same bass. They told me the customer sent it back because they didn't like the preamp. I didn't mention the weight of it though? It seemed okay to me but then my Warwicks are heavier so...

[uncle psychosis]

It wasn't outrageously heavy, but it most certainly wasn't 'very lightweight' as someone mentioned earlier in the thread.

[snorkie635]

16 hours ago, Rosie C said:

 

Hagstrom H8 and Aria Pro II Wildcat - I've been looking for both for ages!

 

There's a Hagstrom 8 on Bass Direct's website right now. Good luck.

[snorkie635]

4 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

 

Lovely basses, but stupidly heavy ...

 

That doesn't bother me too much - I gig Gibson RD Artist basses regularly. 😂

[Woodinblack]

6 hours ago, gjones said:

A G&L L2000 tribute is a rare beast in the UK. G&L have given up on selling in the UK - or possibly retailers have.

 

There are quite a few L2000s, wouldn't call them rare at all. an M2000/2500, now they are rare

 

I am sure all these basses are common compared to chapman sticks!

[martthebass]

Status Chris Wolstenholme original graphite neck version.  Can't remember the last time I saw one on here for sale.

[JohnR]

Any bass in left handed. 🤨

[Rosie C]

38 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

There's a Hagstrom 8 on Bass Direct's website right now. Good luck.

 

Bah! Already out of stock!

 

I shall comfort myself that I'd have preferred red. 

 

[W1_Pro]

20 hours ago, Wombat said:

I was going to say Manson. There must be JPJs out there but you never see them second hand.

Or the old Kestrel basses. I've been looking for one for ages. Plus of course my seemingly endless quest for a Manson Explorer... 

You also very rarely see Gibson Victory basses in  the UK. 

[Wombat]

Aye, I can’t see me selling my Kestrel. I’ll have to give my kids your details 😂. 

[Terry M.]

People seem to hang on to their Carvins,selfish lot!!!

[Boodang]

20 hours ago, Hellzero said:

The Vigier Arpège Delta Metal is a pretty rare bird too.

The delta metal fretless neck thru as well (rather than the current ‘money saving’ bolt ons). I was at the bass centre in Wapping many moons ago and had one in my hands but instead bought a Warwick, which, while not a bad bass, is not a Vigier. I do regret not buying it and now almost impossible to find. 

[Terry M.]

16 hours ago, dannybuoy said:

Came here to say Sandberg Basic also - picked one up for about £350 several years ago, I wouldn’t mind another one!

Funnily enough Bass Direct now have a used Sandberg Basic Ken Taylor 5 in stock.

[Boodang]

Ovation Magnum I or II. Love or hate it body shape, unique pickups, as used by Jah Wobble.