Burns-bass

Sounds like half the listings I read for vintage Fender. ”All original apart from new pots, rewound pickups, a new nut and a swapped scratch plate…”

Yes I’d offer what I thought was fair. I encourage others to do that and it’s rare I’ve sold things at the price advertised. As long as it’s done in a polite and positive way and the person is interested in a sale, why not?

That’s just the light where it was pictured. They’re both tort guards. Definitely worth messaging them.

I said “I think” - could even be others before that date I guess.

I think they started in 1970 but in very small numbers.

I saw this a few days ago and it seems like a reasonably priced vintage bass in great condition. https://www.bassdirect.co.uk/product/fender-precision-bass-fretless-natural-gloss-1973-pre-owned/ I reckon if you’re buying for investment purposes this would be a good shout.

Cheaper to build a Time Machine. The price is just insane.

I did the same today. Pre gig: and post gig:

Hi Rabbie, I think this is what I’ll have to do. I’m at a gig now and it really doesn’t fit into a 3/4 case. It’s sort of swims in it.

There’s a fair price and an idiotic one! The rule of the internet is: if it appears too good to be true, it probably is. (I say this as someone who was recently contacted by the Police and accused of handling stolen goods!)

When I did have stuff to sell I was a bit cheeky and asked Bassbros what they’d offer me as trade in and used that as the basis for sale prices. If I hadn’t sold them in a week or two, I would have traded them in. For context, I was offered £350 by BB for a 1970s Mexican jazz (block inlays one). I sold it for £375 which was, give it take, what I paid for it. I have seen them for sale on eBay and here for over £600 which seems mad to me.

Yes I think secondhand retailers have an influence on prices. We’re still experiencing a covid hangover where people assume that whatever they’re selling is hugely desirable. We’re all teaching mass “stuff” and with the economy as it is, I expect a fair old correction. Personally, I sold off 85% of my bass gear and did so through eBay for the speed and simplicity. In most cases I specified collection only and it worked out. I’m now well on my way in my mid-life crisis savings pot.

Agreed. Let's take a bog-standard US Musicman Stingray. I've seen these for sale used in shops from between £1400-£1500. Private sellers are trying to achieve the same prices without considering the costs of new strings and set up, delivery costs, credit card fees (2-2.5%), a small profit for the retailer.

I’m with you on this. Before picking up bass I played keyboard and guitar (and failed). My dad said “you pick something you want to do and you pay for it” - so I did. Played for hours and hours every day to get it right, and since then he’s been a hugely supportive fan.

People can obviously advertise things at whatever prices they wish. But when you’re trying to get £500 for a Fender Player Series jazz bass I’d take it as a sign you maybe have priced things a bit too high and save the exasperated posts.

As I’ve said before, a guitar shop owner told me the used market is “a lot of people which not very desirable items trying to charge shop prices then getting upset when they don’t sell…” The whole used market is due a reset. Too many people trying to charge what shops do with none of the benefits. The stuff that hangs around (there are some listings here that get bumped every week with no change to price) are pretty much all over-priced items that are common.

I had one of the first batch of Sire basses and it was an exceptional instrument for the price. The problem is that they're not professional level instruments, and if you play regularly you'll have to make changes that (in my experience) often add up to the same price as a premium bass, minus the resale value...

Please just take your time to heal properly and don’t rush it.

Hey, it doesn’t matter because it plays so well. (£14,000 worth, apparently…)

Hey, I’m charging £14,000 and a few things may have changed, but it’s not about vintage it’s about how it plays etc. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/176427396275?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=FOG9Z1W2SD2&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=tlvCI0P7RsO&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Excellent to get expert advice. Thank heaven for friends, eh?!! Good luck with the new business venture. Even though you’re taking on an existing lease you might be eligible for a new business grant. My brothers wife received £10,000 to refurbish a hairdressing salon recently. Obviously depends on where you are, but you should be able to find details.