Basses you hardly ever see for sale

[Hellzero]

7 minutes ago, snorkie635 said:

BTW, my first Wal cost me £50 (not a typo), when I bought it second-hand, as the guy selling it loathed it with a passion!

It made my day! 😂

[snorkie635]

47 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

It made my day! 😂

That you got £50 for it?

[Linus27]

1. Washburn Status with unlined fretless neck - I know they exist but I have never seen one for sale or in the flesh.

 

2. ESP 400 Series 62RI Jazz Bass - This is the mid to late 80's model made in the Fender Japan factory and has the Fender shape headstock. I have one and it's the best Jazz bass I've played. Only ever seen one for sale in the past.

 

3. Fender Japan 51 Reissue in Yellow - These were first released around the mid 90's and they came in Sunburst and Yellow only. I have only ever seen two in the yellow, one I owned which I stupidly sold and the other someone owned on here. Fender later did a re-release and replaced the yellow with Butterscotch Blonde.

 

 

 

[diddywah]

A Callowhill. Especially a Callowhill MPB.

Would absolutely love one 

[prowla]

54 minutes ago, Linus27 said:

1. Washburn Status with unlined fretless neck - I know they exist but I have never seen one for sale or in the flesh.

 

2. ESP 400 Series 62RI Jazz Bass - This is the mid to late 80's model made in the Fender Japan factory and has the Fender shape headstock. I have one and it's the best Jazz bass I've played. Only ever seen one for sale in the past.

 

3. Fender Japan 51 Reissue in Yellow - These were first released around the mid 90's and they came in Sunburst and Yellow only. I have only ever seen two in the yellow, one I owned which I stupidly sold and the other someone owned on here. Fender later did a re-release and replaced the yellow with Butterscotch Blonde.

 

 

 

I bought a Washburn Status (fretted) new when they came out; it was OK, but not great.

It went when I bought a real Status Graphite (which was in a totally different league!).

[ash]

Shergold Marathon 6 only around 100 made  originally - most owned by Peter Hook 😉.
I’ve had four over the years and had an Eastwood version which I sent back as it was really heavy compared to my original one. 

[W1_Pro]

45 minutes ago, ash said:

Shergold Marathon 6 only around 100 made  originally - most owned by Peter Hook 😉.
I’ve had four over the years and had an Eastwood version which I sent back as it was really heavy compared to my original one. 

I've got one of the original ones. Its a lovely thing but the pickup is a bit weedy I find. How does it compare to the Eastwood ones?

Also, I wrote to Paul Day (The Guitar Guru) in the pre internet age looking for some information on the bass. I seem to remember he said they made 73 six string ones. Which seems like a suitably bizzare number...😆

Edited May 21 by W1_Pro

[ash]

57 minutes ago, W1_Pro said:

I've got one of the original ones. Its a lovely thing but the pickup is a bit weedy I find. How does it compare to the Eastwood ones?

Also, I wrote to Paul Day (The Guitar Guru) in the pre internet age looking for some information on the bass. I seem to remember he said they made 73 six string ones. Which seems like a suitably bizzare number...😆

Pickup on mine is strong so it may be a faulty one or wiring issue. The Eastwood ones seem to have a generic humbucker. It didn’t sound like my original at all.

[W1_Pro]

3 minutes ago, ash said:

Pickup on mine is strong so it may be a faulty one or wiring issue. The Eastwood ones seem to have a generic humbucker. It didn’t sound like my original at all.

I'll have a look when I have a mo. You wouldnt happen to know what the resistance accross your one is would you? If its the same as mine then I might just be expecting too much...

 

[dudewheresmybass]

BC Rich Usa models rarely seem to come up, but even some of the older Japanese ones don't seem to appear often.

 

Warlocks are quite frequently seen in the wild, as are the occasional eagle and mockingbirds, But I have yet to see another Ironbird for sale (usa or import) for many years - I picked mine up on here courtesy of @Cosmo Valdemar. Subsequently, I've had messages from all over asking if I would part with it.

 

There are two 'holy grails' that I've been in search of for many years - A Wave and a Bich. In fact if I did find one I would seriously consider the sale of relatives

 

 

 

[ash]

44 minutes ago, W1_Pro said:

I'll have a look when I have a mo. You wouldnt happen to know what the resistance accross your one is would you? If its the same as mine then I might just be expecting too much...

 

Mine was rewired by Martin Nash (RIP) who was on here some years ago. Martin and I became friends via a lot of Shergold and Hayman dealings and email chats. I bought the bass from eBay from the original owner’s widow. When I opened it up to have a look in the control cavity I found a note and wiring diagram…..from Martin! Must have been fate - I told the original owner’s wife who was amazed at the coincidence. She also told me her husband had been in a Joy Division/New Order tribute and that the bass had been played by Hooky at a local gig. Here’s a pic of Martin’s diagram…

[W1_Pro]

1 hour ago, ash said:

Mine was rewired by Martin Nash (RIP) who was on here some years ago. Martin and I became friends via a lot of Shergold and Hayman dealings and email chats. I bought the bass from eBay from the original owner’s widow. When I opened it up to have a look in the control cavity I found a note and wiring diagram…..from Martin! Must have been fate - I told the original owner’s wife who was amazed at the coincidence. She also told me her husband had been in a Joy Division/New Order tribute and that the bass had been played by Hooky at a local gig. Here’s a pic of Martin’s diagram…

That is very cool. I'll dig mine out at the weekend and have a look inthe cavity.

Many thanks.

[Chris2112]

On 14/05/2025 at 17:10, Hellzero said:

BassLab basses are super duper rare too, thankfully I own one.

 

This was my thought. Rare, expensive and unique to the point of being irreplaceable. If you want a bass that feels, plays and sounds like a Basslab then it has to be a Basslab. 

[nige1968]

Earthwood ABGs.

[Acebassmusic]

On 15/05/2025 at 15:17, martthebass said:

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

 

Would this be what you're thinking of. Our very own @woodyratm I think 🤔 Now where did I put that piggy bank / kids inheritance? 🤣

 

On 14/05/2025 at 11:33, Supernaut said:

JD basses. Very rare to find one for sale. 

 

....and even rarer is a JD Calibas. I've only ever seen 1 in the flesh, which I owned, and one 6 stringer advertised in the last 30+ years.

 

Edited May 22 by Acebassmusic

[W1_Pro]

Pangbourne Warlord; John Birch Rickenbacker.

[martthebass]

1 hour ago, Acebassmusic said:

 

Would this be what you're thinking of. Our very own @woodyratm I think 🤔 Now where did I put that piggy bank / kids inheritance? 🤣

 

 

No that's a CW-2; that's one of the later one's that doesn't have the graphite through neck though I believe it could still be ordered with the carbon fibre shell like on the original CW-1.

[Hellzero]

1 hour ago, Acebassmusic said:

....and even rarer is a JD Calibas. I've only ever seen 1 in the flesh, which I owned, and one 6 stringer advertised in the last 30+ years.

There was one for sale some years ago in France at a decent price, when I was in my JD years, it took time to sell and I should have bought it, but preferred an immaculate white Mark King "signature". 🤷

Edited May 22 by Hellzero

[Acebassmusic]

Just thought of another bass I had a hankering for once over. Mike Lull Brian Beller BBM5. About 10 years ago I saw 3 for sale within a 6 month period and then nothing. They usually came in red quilt finish but Bass Direct had one in pink. On my only visit there I tried it and really liked it. I remeber thinking "I'll sleep on my decision to buy and then get back to BD as no-ones going to buy it in the next 2 days are they?" You can guess the rest....I think someone off here bought it 🤔

 

[Terry M.]

2 hours ago, Acebassmusic said:

Just thought of another bass I had a hankering for once over. Mike Lull Brian Beller BBM5. About 10 years ago I saw 3 for sale within a 6 month period and then nothing. They usually came in red quilt finish but Bass Direct had one in pink. On my only visit there I tried it and really liked it. I remeber thinking "I'll sleep on my decision to buy and then get back to BD as no-ones going to buy it in the next 2 days are they?" You can guess the rest....I think someone off here bought it 🤔

 

Goodness me they almost look good enough to eat🤤

[NancyJohnson]

All down to personal preference, but you don't see many Hamer, Travis Bean, Mike Lull.

 

At one point I thought I'd like an Aria Primary (one of the late '70s Jazz copies) to go with my Primary P-bass.  Don't see these.

[woodyratm]

On 22/05/2025 at 08:08, Acebassmusic said:

 

Would this be what you're thinking of. Our very own @woodyratm I think 🤔 Now where did I put that piggy bank / kids inheritance? 🤣

 

 

....and even rarer is a JD Calibas. I've only ever seen 1 in the flesh, which I owned, and one 6 stringer advertised in the last 30+ years.

 

I have sold faaaar too many Status basses! 😂 so most likely!

 

 

[itu]

22 hours ago, Acebassmusic said:

On my only visit there I tried it and really liked it. I remeber thinking "I'll sleep on my decision to buy and then get back to BD as no-ones going to buy it in the next 2 days are they?" You can guess the rest...

I saw a brand new red 5-string Vigier Passion II in a shop (this was early nineties). Ran home, sold my piano, came back just few days later - and that red bass was sold! I then decided to buy a 5-string MG Quantum SPi Custom. I never liked it so much, but played it a lot. Now I have a red Passion II, although it is a 4-string.

[ead]

Whatever bass I have developed a totally irrational desire to own disappear from all ads within seconds.