GuyR

Of course we have control. We can simply control ourselves and choose not buy (unlike me last week).

They usually have a number of used Sei basses in stock. It would be worth considering those before proceeding. It would give you a steer to which model you prefer and there is a chance your perfect bass is already in the shop.

Amazing to me that they can still trading. In a line of business where trust is paramount, and the commodity being traded can be faked for profit, I find it difficult to understand how these lowlives can still be plying their slimy trade in plain sight. Anyone who is considering buying a vintage guitar should be aware of these charlatans and give them a wide berth.

I’m very wary of Denmark St as I understand the Harrisons are involved in at least two of the businesses there. There are UK vintage specialists with good reputations including, but not limited to, ATB and Andy Baxter. Both source from the US and I’m sure if they were confident an enquiry was serious and realistic re pricing, they would probably have the contacts to source and import. There never seem to be many 63s available. a search for a genuine example in the UK could take a long time. This looks ok https://www.gbase.com/gear/fender-jazz-bass-1963-sunburst-3 There is an outside chance a wanted ad on here might produce a result.

I have just had the pleasure of meeting Mark and buying his fine 66Jazz Bass, which was exactly as described. A perfect Gent to do a transaction with and a top chap all round. Buy with confidence!!

Fabulous!! A recent acquisition? Tell us more.

To launder money, you would need to receive it back, which might be the flaw here if that was the grand plan

Oscar Peterson on BBC four with sublime NHOP on bass currently

The catalogues a few years ago used to have more photos, higher resolution with plenty of neck stamp, pots and pickups type shots. Every time I have contacted GH in recent times, they have been happy to send me a comprehensive set of high resolution photos for any lot I have enquired about, although that has tended to be the more expensive lots, I’m not sure they provide that for lower budget kit.

The Strat was £22k, so £27720 inclusive, which is reasonable for a custom colour spaghetti logo strat with a one owner provenance.

Sadly, not suspended by their necks

ATB has one of these on his instagram, not yet on his main website, if of interest to anyone here

Your threshold of disgust seems quite low. Buyer and sellers willingly conduct a transaction via a third party market-maker where the terms and conditions are plain in advance to all concerned. Absolutely disgraceful.

I have always simply followed their advice on pricing. They know their market and I don’t.

I’ve sold five basses at the Gallery at prices between£270 and £5k. In my opinion, the net price after their very reasonable 15% commission was at least what I would have achieved selling privately as their reputation and coverage generates confidence, enhancing value. A constant stream of prominent London session players being exposed to your bass is not something you are going to generate from your home. I understand Pino Palladino tried out my defretted 62 Jazz bass. I doubt he would have messaged asking to drop by if I’d advertised it, even on these hallowed pages. One bass they sold for me, a 6 string Shergold, suffered a cracked scratchplate in transit to Italy. No worry for me. A serious ball ache for the Gallery, and no fault of theirs, they dealt with it at their own cost. All my basses have sold within a few weeks at most. @Roger Phillips, I don’t know what you would consider to be a reasonable commission rate, but to me, 15%, of which the government gets 20%, seems anything but downright disgusting.

Lovely looking bass. Congratulations on a great purchase and enjoy it in good health. I don’t know any collector types who are seriously put off by minor replacements of consumable parts that have a limited life, like frets, pots, even tuners. Only one of my vintage Fenders is completely without repair/ replacement parts. To me, the only things that would deter me from a purchase are refin (unless indecently cheap), modification to the wood/structure-routing etc and most important of all, it has to be a great bass, or what’s the point of having it? As time goes by, the proportion of completely original basses, that are still fit for use, will reduce to tiny numbers. In 100 years, if there is still interest in such instruments, how many will have fully functional original electrics, even if they have been unused? Virtually none. Another perspective is that paying a significant premium for a fully original, without minor maintenance repair, bass is a worrying liability. Your bass has changed pots, if it needs new frets, you’re not making the first repair/replacement, so not carrying the loss supposedly associated with it, although as said earlier, I don’t actually know anyone who is put off by maintenance that prevents a bass becoming simply an ornament. Pots. Why would you care? Other than if they didn’t work.

Not sure about the pickups and pencil date, but the tuners are 100% correct. Both of mine have the gap under, as do the original pre cbs basses they replicate. Your bass has a low serial number for a Squier logo bass. Must be just after the change over. I have a JB with a serial number 300 higher than yours and a large fender logo. No reason to believe your bass is other than original from the images.

Beautifully expressed. Any assistant in a music store who thinks that trying to intimidate customers with their Mark King party-piece makes a sale more likely has no place in a service industry, nor some may say, unincarcerated. NB If actual Mark King has ever worked in a music shop, he gets an honourable exception.

I could find house room for this, and because I have an almost identical example, certain parties need never notice……..

Maybe circa £3500 with the stripped finish. Lovely looking bass.

Lots of good suggestions, I often just don’t bother plugging in, or use an old zoom multi-fx. One point worth making, I’m sure many of us here suffer from tinnitus, mine was 100% caused by headphones. Go easy on the volume, particularly over extended periods. Once the damage is done, it is irreversible.

Sorry to hear your very sad news. Depending on where you are in the UK, Bass Gallery Camden, Andy Baxter Leeds, ATB guitars Cheltenham would all be worth a visit. The value depends heavily on whether any changes or modifications have been made and that’s not reliably done by only sending photos. £5k ish if it’s original in good order is the ballpark, if it is in the standard sunburst finish. More if it is a different colour.

Ruined

Another for Hi Beams. They are the zingiest and they last for ages. I use them on all my basses

If you buy a second hand bass, you should btw, spend £40 having it set up. Any local guitar/bass shop will be able to do this in house or recommend a local tech. Have it set up to be easy to play and your initial learning will not be unnecessarily impeded. Welcome and good luck!!