Basses you hardly ever see for sale

[msb]

Over the years I’ve managed to find some interesting stuff , and after making the purchase will often continue looking … just to see how prices might be changing. Just to convince myself I might have found a deal. When I picked up an Epi Flying V bass I did not realize that they had been fairly small runs. I did realize my set neck Ric 4000 was fairly rare. I spent some years trying to hunt down a Yamaha Flying Samurai , and then wound up finding a second one I couldn’t pass on. I wasn’t surprised when Gibson stopped producing those lovely little DC Jr basses , they’re wonderful little things. (I have heard rumours that they might be soon doing another batch). I did find a Unicorn on our local kijiji. Last year I went looking for a Gretsch 5123B hollow body. Managed to instantly find one near Boston , the exchange and duty were brutal. I’ve only seen a couple come up since. That made me want a 6128B Thunderjet. No longer in production , and not common. Found one in Kentucky , and once more brutalized by the exchange , duty and shipping.  
I’ve only seen one come up for sale since. I still look at TB Classifieds , but I’m not jumping into anything in the US these days. 

 

[12stringbassist]

[BaggyMan]

I have been extremely lucky to have commissioned a Zemaitis bass, back in 1989 when Tony was still producing guitars from his quirky garage workshop.

My 'Z' is also a fretless which makes it rarer than a rare thing.

One (fretted) made the cover of Geddy Lee's 'Big Book of Bass'

 

There are two phases of Zemaitis, the original made by the man himself, and the Greco manufactured current line. 

Never seen either for sale on here.  

Wouldnt mind a Greco era one but ony if is it wasnt LP style.  Dont like LP syle basses.

 

[LukeFRC]

On 14/05/2025 at 20:48, binky_bass said:

USA Conklin basses... Unbelievable things, exceptionally rare on the second hand market for very good reason.

 

Bee Basses... for the same reason as the above!

5 string Conklin here for £550… https://www.facebook.com/groups/321515614550229/permalink/23978327848442340/?sale_post_id=23978327848442340