Sir Horace Panters “Ghost Town” Precision Auction

[Lozz196]

Apparently Horace Panters Fender Precision, which he used on Ghost Town, is to be auctioned, expectations are of £20,000.

 

Bit (as in far too) rich for me I have to say, but although I was never a major Specials fan I thought his playing was fantastic. 

[Misdee]

He seems like a nice bloke, I hope he is selling because he wants to, not because he needs to. 

[Burns-bass]

GH valuations are always punchy.

 

I bought a double bass owned by Jack Bruce with solid pedigree and provenance for the lowest estimate.

[dave_bass5]

£20,000!! Thats just Madness 😎

[TimR]

16 minutes ago, dave_bass5 said:

£20,000!! Thats just Madness 😎

 

No. It's Specials. 

[dave_bass5]

1 hour ago, TimR said:

 

No. It's Specials. 

It would have to be for that price. All i can say to someone who can afford that, is enjoy yourself……

Edited yesterday at 22:56 by dave_bass5

[Grooverjr]

3 hours ago, dave_bass5 said:

£20,000!! Thats just Madness 😎

Certainly One Step Beyond what I would pay 

[floFC]

@Lozz196 not that I can afford it, but is there a link to the auction?

[bass_dinger]

1 hour ago, floFC said:

@Lozz196 not that I can afford it, but is there a link to the auction?

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrx7zg9y9ko

 

"I'm not overly attached to the bass but it would be nice if it went to someone who'll play it rather than shut it in a vault. It plays really well," the musician said.

 

"In 1988, Panter sold the bass but bought it back in 2010 to use when The Specials reunited."

[pete.young]

6 hours ago, floFC said:

@Lozz196 not that I can afford it, but is there a link to the auction?

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/5308df1e9640f28ac03613140e77fd6a/63b778f7668dabe928d3800924a99077/the-guitar-sale-four-day-auction-lot-507/

[Marvin]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crrx7zg9y9ko

 

Any takers?

 

Ghost Town was the first 7"single I ever bought with my own money. I was probably 8 and bought it from a Littlewoods in Exeter (I think it was a Littlewoods). 

Yes, I know, I've always had great taste in music  

 

And yes, whoever 'wrote' the head/line article knows nothing about instruments.

[Reggaebass]

I’ll be surprised if it reaches the top estimate of 20k for a non original 71 but it’ll be interesting to see, if you forward to 35.12 you can see it, and at 29.48 is rod Deas 1960 jazz bass (Showaddywaddy) I believe 

 

[Cliff Edge]

1 hour ago, pete.young said:

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/5308df1e9640f28ac03613140e77fd6a/63b778f7668dabe928d3800924a99077/the-guitar-sale-four-day-auction-lot-507/

Crikey that’s had almost as many mods as my 1972 Jazz which I consider to be a Frankenstein, certainly not original. The buyer, if any, is buying the provenance only. 

[jezzaboy]

Rod Deas bass has "lots of providence" or dirt as it`s otherwise known.

[miles'tone]

£20000? Gangsters.

[tauzero]

4 hours ago, jezzaboy said:

Rod Deas bass has "lots of providence" or dirt as it`s otherwise known.

 

Which one of the dozen or so?

 

I can't help but think of an impressionist (can't remember who) who used to do Jimmy Savile saying "Showaddywaddy". That's a bit offputting.

[Richard R]

There are some interesting basses if you scroll through their full list.

 

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/135be4c15f8b071ca793be3fc3888e73/63b778f7668dabe928d3800924a99077/the-guitar-sale-four-day-auction-lot-278/

 

I'd never play that one, but it has a certain quaint charm.

 

And this is definitely a stage bass:

 

https://auctions.gardinerhoulgate.co.uk/catalogue/lot/a68be14b572e9e7993cfb63bb1dc5076/63b778f7668dabe928d3800924a99077/the-guitar-sale-four-day-auction-lot-267/

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Richard R
Forgot URL

[tauzero]

Don't forget that there's a buyer's premium which with VAT comes to a tad over 25%. And the seller's premium is similar, so the seller actually pockets about 50% of what the buyer pays out. And people moan about Ebay charge.

[Misdee]

Well, it's not the bass I thought it was, ie the sunburst/rosewood early '70's Precision he used in the early days of The Specials. Obviously a refinish ect.

 

 What would this bass be worth in a private sale? I would say about five grand, maybe six to a fan of the band. What would it be worth without the provenance? About four grand, may a bit less. If this bass sells for the estimate or anything near it I really don't see it as a good investment. Ghost Town was a great record, but that isn't enough to turn this bass into a holy relic worth twenty grand. 

 

As a general rule of thumb, whenever the phrase "Your chance to own a piece of history" gets bandied about, that is your cue to put your wallet away and let the rational bit of your brain take control for a while. In reality sales like these are actually your chance to subside someone else's retirement by indulging in spurious nostalgia about things that are no longer important and definitely not worth paying for.

[Burns-bass]

GH I’d full of quirky stuff. If you’re considering bidding I’d encourage you to get a full condition report or (even better) to go and visit. The chap their (Luke) is really nice and you get a lot of opportunities to see the items, unless they’re super expensive stuff like the 50s or 60s Strats that are locked away.

 

Sometimes the descriptions aren’t always incredibly accurate. I bought one bass there described as in excellent condition with lots of corrosion. I’d been to see it so I knew what I was buying.

 

When you’re dealing with thousands of items (which they do) it’s understandable and it’s not a criticism. 

 

 

[TimR]

30 minutes ago, Misdee said:

Well, it's not the bass I thought it was, ie the sunburst/rosewood early '70's Precision he used in the early days of The Specials. Obviously a refinish ect.

 

 What would this bass be worth in a private sale? I would say about five grand, maybe six to a fan of the band. What would it be worth without the provenance? About four grand, may a bit less. If this bass sells for the estimate or anything near it I really don't see it as a good investment. Ghost Town was a great record, but that isn't enough to turn this bass into a holy relic worth twenty grand. 

 

As a general rule of thumb, whenever the phrase "Your chance to own a piece of history" gets bandied about, that is your cue to put your wallet away and let the rational bit of your brain take control for a while. In reality sales like these are actually your chance to subside someone else's retirement by indulging in spurious nostalgia about things that are no longer important and definitely not worth paying for.

 

If it was the bass he used to record Ghost Town then its worth a lot of money to a lot of Gen X bassplayers who will now be in their prime of purchasing power.

 

But I'd say in the next 10 years it won't be. 

 

Probably the top of the market right now.  

Edited 2 hours ago by TimR

[Misdee]

9 minutes ago, TimR said:

 

If it was the bass he used to record Ghost Town then its worth a lot of money to a lot of Gen X bassplayers who will now be in their prime of purchasing power.

 

But I'd say in the next 10 years it won't be. 

 

Probably the top of the market right now.  

I'm sure your right Trevor. The only thing that elevates the value of this bass is the idea that because it's been played on an important hit records that makes it worth more money. That "specialness"  is a bit of an unstable commodity, as you quite rightly point out. All I can say is that, despite loving that song and my respect for Horace Panter as a musician, to me all that adds absolutely zero to the amount I would pay for this bass, if in fact I liked it, which I don't.

 

I have never subscribed to the idea that an instrument is more worth owning because a famous pro player has owned it previously. Exactly the opposite, in fact. I'd  rather have a nice new bass that only I have played.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I love Sir Horace, but 20k is crazy money, eSpecially for a bass he got rid of.

[TimR]

37 minutes ago, Misdee said:

The only thing that elevates the value of this bass is the idea that because it's been played on an important hit records that makes it worth more money.

 

Not more money to everyone. 

 

More money to someone who this song is part of their history.

 

It's all part of the "things have emotional value". Like the first bass you owned. Some people have sold their first bass or thrown it in a skip. Others have it in the loft, never to be played again, warped neck, busted pots, but with that sentimental value that means they'll never get rid of it.  

[jonno1981]

Lots of amps and cabs on there for very little. Anyone spot the full trace stack for £100!