Hondo Rickenbacker splitting for parts

[W1_Pro]

I was looking for a diffferent sort of Hondo when I came accross this  on ebay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267387545803?_skw=hondo+ii+bass+guitar&itmmeta=01K9D2ZE42Y0W47QVFJ4V6XSPD&hash=item3e418a28cb:g:KKEAAeSweKxotb8Y&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA8FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1d32JFlZ9hR7zmL%2F4CyZdNyRH52y%2FiuPIWTFFqJUZtKCFIl2or5Qy5wp%2FcNvcl04axr1Pg5KeLURUDKf1U9hV0JOVcfKowWtX4upMeJi8KtRHKnTnxHWTowLVPNJGP64koTD%2FhvNNaekzeSFB5QoYoHgyegnmXlQcbNLsWbEsmzCSi5qHKs5yITflrV35wQerdR1QF7hlfRDWTHeBQ3RZHoJkT4OUGqjg6%2FxvgqC6w7Ud5Suo6NFTRiFLuhvOvwNCqHXgwqbqikvX0rpAkfMcCw1bjQa%2BLM6q2otzSyAuC6kg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR6zi_aLLZg

 

Its sold by something called 'Bristol Guitars' and if you look at their other items they seem to have just taken a Hondo Rick apart and be selling it piecemeal. Now I understand that these basses are unusual, and may have some collectability attached as its what Peter Hook used in the early years of Joy Divison, but if you add up what they are asking for all of the parts (right down to the strap buttons- a steal at £15.99 each) then it adds up to a faintly breathtaking £1220 odd. And you have to put it together yourself. You have to admire the chutzpah.....

[Shaggy]

This dismantling of intact instruments for parts by dealers has been commonplace in the US for a long time, and I'd be sorry if it became the norm here too 

 

Having said that, I know that anything vintage is viewed through rose-coloured glasses these days, but I never played / owned anything made by Hondo that wasn't completely cr@p.   Crazy pricing

[Huge Hands]

I guess it depends on your view on the morals of it, but a lot of it seems to be happening from what I have seen - I saw an old Squier P5 recently where they wanted more for the body than I paid for the two I have second hand.

 

I suppose it is no worse than someone having an old banger on their drive that they have been offered £200 scrap for deciding to pull it apart and sell the spares to others trying to keep theirs on the road.   It means a lot more hassle and having to go to the post office a lot, but you can make more money if you can be bothered...