GuyR

We all have our own reasons for playing vintage basses. I bought my first in 1979 and have usually looked to buy them when I wanted a new bass. It’s alway been my default purchase. As I have possibly said previously, in my opinion the comfortable, worn-in feel of a 60 year old nitro finish neck cannot be surpassed, so the playing experience of a vintage bass has a head start. I have had a number of more modern AVRIs, custom shops, JV Squiers and although they are very good, they are not the ones I reach for when I am searching for Musical inspiration. In fact, I almost never reach for them, when I want the best possible bass. In my opinion, asserting that other people you have never met own vintage instruments as a status symbol or are part of a cult, are “bonkers”, or buy to prevent others from buying is an interesting point of view. But it isn’t a view that reflects me, or as far as I can tell, the people I have met that play vintage kit, many having owned them since before they were of significant value.

https://www.instagram.com/guitarauctions/p/DPByRFeDVYr/?img_index=4 Some quite nice kit coming up in the next GH auction, particularly for enthusiasts of CAR and the year 1966

Have just bought a vintage fender bass case from Brian. A pleasure to have a deal with you Brian, couldn’t have been better. Cheers. Guy

Very nice, that was the most appealing lot in the GH auction. Excellent purchase.

Lack of a sound provenance back to 1990 or thereabouts puts me off buying a vintage instrument.

When you look at the Denmark St Guitars website, the multitude of authentic blackguards, original custom colour and prototype Strats, genuine paisleys and completely legitimate celebrity owned guitars leads you to only one conclusion. One can only be in awe of their ability to consistently track down and secure for sale such a stellar and market-leading selection.

I tried a CAR 65 Strat that Clive Brown had restored and examined it closely. The finish was convincing. In particular, the parallel line checking that seems more prevalent in CAR than any other vintage Fender finish was replicated perfectly. It was indistinguishable from my own examples, both of which have sufficient provenance for me to be confident as original finish. I would have had no hesitation in accepting it as original had it been so described. Any example of his work without the “tells” would only need to pass through the hands of one miscreant to be established in the canon of the bona fide. I wonder how many times that has happened- I hope he’s never worked for the Harrisons.

At a glance, maybe neck, tuners, front pickup, bell plate, bridge and guard look ok. In my opinion, if the body was right, it’s still worth £3-4k but without any confidence re the body, it would feel like a leap of faith to pay much over £2k including fees. Its a shame you have to buy it first, to be able to strip the body and check the various tells that would demonstrate it was original, under the “refinished before these basses were worth faking” paint. The router hump appears to be there, so if it plays ok, it might be worth a punt, but without two original pickups, I would walk away.

I can imagine circumstances where I’d spend that on a bass. But not that bass. Forgiveness sometimes, permission never.

Great basses, well done for getting a bargain. Looks much better without the ghastly scratchplate!! Good to hear about a stand-up seller

I have a very nice 83 Fullerton and 82&84 JVs. The 84 was picked from every new Jazz bass available in Denmark St one day in 1984. It’s a great one. Which is better? They are all very lovely and I enjoy playing them, but neither they, nor any other modern bass will, for me, come close to replicating the feel of a worn nitro finish, preferably pre CBS Fender bass. The sticky, thick poly finish wears in a completely different, flaky, and less agreeable way, so they can never look authentic and, as @Steve Browning quite rightly says, the tort is a crime against humanity. It might be 43 years old, but it’s not a vintage bass to me.

If I were buying the one he wanted the least out of 40, I’d definitely want to try it first😀

You know which Stingray it is though?

Is that image taken outside Bass Gallery?

I had the privilege of seeing Dill Katz play on numerous occasions in the 80s and 90s. In particular with his “Mr Gone” ensemble featuring Ted McKenna, Tommy Eyre and John Etheridge. He was a masterful player, with a very distinctive style and sound, with his fat sounding Ned Callan modified Jazz Bass, the unlined fretless fingerboard extended to the pickup. His soloing was captivating and expressive, unafraid to push the boundaries. A great shame to hear of his passing.