GuyR

They could do a lot better in my opinion. I wouldn’t criticise other people’s choices but to me Fender CS relics are unconvincing, the necks usually being less authentic than the bodies, especially the belt sander effect.

First time it sold in 2012, there were a number of his basses in the shop. I remember there being a Wal, an Ibanez I think, and a few others. It was priced at £2900, which was about £1000 or so over the going rate. Pino had owned it for about 20 years and it had been used only when his main bass was in for work, he couldn’t give any detail of particular gigs or sessions. When it next sold about 2 years or so ago, the gallery recommended asking £5000, based on their educated guess of what the market might bear. It didn’t sell for a couple of months, then they received an offer of £4250 which seems reasonable, maybe £1500 over the going rate. It is a very clean and original example, and plays as you would expect. I keep an eye on the gallery website, I’m pretty sure this is the only Pino Stingray they have had for sale.

I have bought a couple of very nice guitars there. If you post a decent description including weight and good photos it should sell, priced right. With something as expensive as a masterbuilt, I would leave it on consignment with one of the custom shop importers, like Peach or Coda. They will have the right buyers and should get a price that covers the commission, compared with a private sale. Or just keep it.🙂You can’t have too many nice guitars.

Are you posting this because you have been back the Gallery to ask them to resolve the situation and they have refused to?

No need. Just repeat it slowly and loudly in a cockney accent, like we do in France.

If I were looking for a fully handbuilt relic JB, I wouldn’t look any further than the Bravewood in the classifieds. If you don’t bond with it, it would be difficult to lose any significant money. I have had one, they are great. I have had CS - also very good, but the Bravewood felt more like an authentic original.

The 64 you are referring to is a refin. An original finish one would be worth significantly more, although your overall point is an interesting one.

What a ludicrous notion. That’s for your children to do once you are dead, surely? Nobody actually buys a vintage bass as an investment, it’s a convenient delusional justification.

There is a great deal of sense being spoken in this thread. IMO, You might generally make more by using the value of a fine vintage bass or three as the deposit for a buy to let property, which may pay for itself by the time you retire and give you an index linked income in perpetuity, as well as a legacy. On the other hand, moderate sums of money which would otherwise lie unproductive in an account or investment product, effectively diminishing in value and making some other bugger richer, are proving a better return, while also improving the quality of your life tied up in an item of pre-CBS eye/ear candy. Vintage basses are not currently subject to capital gains tax and I am not aware of any plans on the part of the chancellor in that direction. With houses, pensions and investment products, sadly you are a sitting duck for unwelcome HMRC fiscal pickpocketry, the tax laws changing with the wind. Of course, no guarantee of future value on anything you do with your money, but if you have a rack full of fine vintage basses and/or guitars, the feel-good factor might insulate you against a sizeable slice of fiscal vicissitude.

Bass gallery usually has a decent number of early-mid 70s examples. Andy Baxter is worth a look too.

A further thought re refretting; If you continue to use your bass with low frets, wear on the fingerboard is greatly accelerated. At some point you are going to have to replace the frets. Don’t necessitate replacement of the fingerboard too.

50-70 years on from manufacture, there aren’t too many vintage basses of any merit that haven’t been refretted. As time goes by, the number reduces further. If you intend to do more than look lovingly at your bass, it’s going to need a refret at some point or become an expensive ornament. All my vintage basses are refretted (I assume, I care so little, I don’t actually know) The only vintage instrument I acquired with the original, very worn, frets in place is my 66 Tele. First thing I did was order vintage correct replacements from Fender CS, fitted without any planing of the fingerboard. The original frets are in the case, In the event that whoever my kids sell it to when I’m gone might be interested. I’m not. I am fastidious about other aspects of originality, insofar as any vintage bass or guitar I have has first and foremost to Have the original finish and pickups, and be fully functional, so an irreparable switch or tuning machine would receive a period correct replacement. I am immediately suspicious of mint original instruments, either that they are not authentic, or not good players. All mine are fairly grizzly, because they are good enough to have been regularly used.

I can absolutely help with your question, lowdowner. I was fortunate enough to acquire Pino’s 79 stingray fretless sunburst backup bass, direct from Pino on commission via bass gallery a good few years ago. A magnificent bass in all respects. Sadly, it failed to endow me with any godlike chops or groove and unbelievably, when recently sold on, my ownership was not deemed sufficiently relevant to be mentioned in the gallery’s online description, only the former keeper’s.

Sorry, I couldn’t help myself........

If you had any expectations of high ticket sales, that sentence has rectum

I don’t think there is a massive value in instruments owned by the types of players generally most popular with the members on a specialist interest bass-centric community. Bass has a much narrower appeal as an object of veneration than guitar. I would expect something like John Paul Jones’ jazz bass, or Roger Waters’ precision would make big numbers.

Now that is funky!!

In addition to his unparalleled technique, he was also the most lyrical and expressive player. My elderly tablet doesn't allow me to post a link to Jeg gik mig id en sommerdag from "the eternal traveller" album, but it is a thing of beauty.

I have an 80s Tokai Jazz sound which has quite precision like neck dimensions and is also a great bass. Fender custom shop relics can be surprisingly chunky also. Haven't tried any of the other brands you mention. precision neck on a Jazz body might be a solution?

Bass Gallery. As you say, 15% (inc vat) sold four basses in the last 2 years, for a total of £10k. Mainly took a couple of weeks, one a couple of months. One sold for considerably more than I expected. Zero hassle, comms good, funds immediate. 10/10.

You are right. When the ghastly spectre of logic raises its ugly head in relation to a bass purchase, all chance of a favourable outcome is lost. I bought an all original 62 custom colour jazz bass around 2000/2001 for £3.4k. I have had 20 years wonderful use out of it. I spent an hour playing it this evening. I'd probably not lose money in the unlikely event of selling, although that was absolutely irrelevant to me when I bought and still is. I never think of it as a collectible.