Matt_UK Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Hey guys, Have finally tracked down a rather beautiful 2011 Stingray 4 in completely mint condition and only played one or two times. Unfortunately my knowledge of modern 'Rays is a bit lax, however I have heard that some may have issues (read somewhere about neck pocket gaps???)... Could someone much wiser than me let me know of any problems I should be looking out for? Also, the guy wants £900 firm, which seems a tiny little bit on the steep side to me (in the current market) - although I recognise that he just wants his money back. Do you guys reckon that's a fair price? Cheers all, Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 If he wants £900 firm then walk away (and watch him change his tune ). There are plenty of other fantastic 'rays for sale on here at the moment ... and don't let stories of one infamously rotten apple in the barrel (for that is what you are referring to regarding neck pocket gaps) put you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Don't worry about the neck pocket issue....just have a look at it. My Ray 'issue' was not born from a factory error, it was put together from a different neck and body and they didnt match, but this doesn't normally happen so don't worry. I'd say try is and have a look. I have 5 Musicman basses, all 2010-2011 models....and they are all stunning. Once I got the dodgy one replaced I was VERY happy. If its a standard 3EQ/normal colour, then its steep. But if its a matching headstock HH or HS, in something like vintage sunburst, its a good price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_UK Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Thanks for your input guys, really appreciated. Its a stock model, nothing particularly out of the ordinary (except for being in the exact colour I've been looking for !) and comes with all the original MM case/case candy etc. Think I will go and have a look and offer him what I think its worth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_UK Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 'tis a white one - haven't seen many around! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_UK Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) [quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1332026177' post='1582381'] Nice. Post a picture when you've bought it. [/quote] Lol, liking the 'When' Edited March 18, 2012 by Matt_UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mingsta Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Good luck, if it's minty and exactly what you are after then put in an offer and see what they say. There seems to be a massive difference between uk retail prices and second hand, so it's still a good saving over the cost of a new one. Don't think you need to worry too much about the build quality, musicman are generally very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 This is a bass that is about £1300 new. It's only been played once or twice and it's the colour you want. You've been offered it for £900. I don't understand what price you are going to put on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Well rays normally seem to go for £600-£750 on this forum depending on which shade of ugly they are. So £900 is above market rate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Yep its a sad fact that once you drive a 'ray off the parking lot their value plummets... due mainly to the fact that so many other identical ones are in the market. Whether its a 2011 or a 20xx matters little. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 [quote name='Toasted' timestamp='1332067747' post='1582651'] Well rays normally seem to go for £600-£750 on this forum depending on which shade of ugly they are. So £900 is above market rate. [/quote] But this Ray is new. There are probably some sold as new which have been played more in the shop. It's only my opinion but to expect to pay half of the new price on a bass like this is disgusting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1332074652' post='1582775'] But this Ray is new. There are probably some sold as new which have been played more in the shop. It's only my opinion but to expect to pay half of the new price on a bass like this is disgusting. [/quote] It's the nature of the market. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_UK Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1332074652' post='1582775'] But this Ray is new. There are probably some sold as new which have been played more in the shop. It's only my opinion but to expect to pay half of the new price on a bass like this is disgusting. [/quote] Yeah, it is a real shame, and I know where you're coming from. But I only said I thought £900 was a 'tiny little bit' too high. I've seen some absolute immaculate examples on here go for £800-850 - regardless of how old they are. Edited March 18, 2012 by Matt_UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 OK. I hear what you're saying about the market and I accept that. It is obviously not a good time to buy a new instrument unless you plan to keep it for a long time. If you do buy and then want to sell quickly you have to expect to take a massive hit. I just hope some folk buy new instruments and hold on to them or we won't have any to buy second hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1332076901' post='1582811'] OK. I hear what you're saying about the market and I accept that. It is obviously not a good time to buy a new instrument unless you plan to keep it for a long time. If you do buy and then want to sell quickly you have to expect to take a massive hit. I just hope some folk buy new instruments and hold on to them or we won't have any to buy second hand. [/quote] Far from it man. There are no shortage of 'rays on the market for us to choose from. It wasn't so long ago that the prices plummeted to a staggering £550 for a perfectly decent bog standard 'ray... a year later average prices had risen to £750. The worst of it is that many other brands in the same price bracket do not depreciate in the same way as 'rays do. Maybe due to the fact that they are so Marmitey - those who love them (myself included) really love them and those that don't really don't... making it a buyers market for 'rays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I've seen Musicman basses in general go for a fairly high amount on ebay and the Musicman forums. More so the rarer models. I don't plan on selling any so I don't pay attention to the value secondhand. I think if someone is looking for 'that' bass, £850-£900 for a very very immaculate Stingray in say, Natural, is actually quite fair. It depends on the condition. I've seen a Bongo 5 HH go for £1200-1300 when they are only £1400 new. It just seems on Basschat the 'Basschat Market' is a little tougher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcnach Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 (edited) [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1332083476' post='1582912'] Far from it man. There are no shortage of 'rays on the market for us to choose from. It wasn't so long ago that the prices plummeted to a staggering £550 for a perfectly decent bog standard 'ray... a year later average prices had risen to £750. The worst of it is that many other brands in the same price bracket do not depreciate in the same way as 'rays do. Maybe due to the fact that they are so Marmitey - those who love them (myself included) really love them and those that don't really don't... making it a buyers market for 'rays. [/quote] I remember a beautiful natural/rosewood Stingray, with piezo, being sold near me for £500, just 2-3 years ago. And I passed because it was rosewood... Then, less than a year later I got my natural/maple one, for £695 including original case... £900 is decidedly above the market price these days... but I'd second those who say that if the bass is practically as new, *and* in the exact colour you want, a colour you don't see often... I would go to see it and NOT let him know at all that's the colour I want. I'd have maybe £800 cash in my pocket (I don't mind paying a bit over the odds if I'm getting exactly what I wanted). I'd be very surprised if you show him the cash and he lets you walk away empty handed Edited March 18, 2012 by mcnach Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hutton Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1332083476' post='1582912'] Far from it man. There are no shortage of 'rays on the market for us to choose from. It wasn't so long ago that the prices plummeted to a staggering £550 for a perfectly decent bog standard 'ray... a year later average prices had risen to £750. The worst of it is that many other brands in the same price bracket do not depreciate in the same way as 'rays do. Maybe due to the fact that they are so Marmitey - those who love them (myself included) really love them and those that don't really don't... making it a buyers market for 'rays. [/quote] I see your point Rich. Why spend £900 on a nearly new Ray when you can get one in as good a condition for a good few hundred quid less even although the bass is practically new. Shame though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 [quote name='Hutton' timestamp='1332146649' post='1583756'] I see your point Rich. Why spend £900 on a nearly new Ray when you can get one in as good a condition for a good few hundred quid less even although the bass is practically new. Shame though. [/quote] Ain't it just. Of course there will aways be someone willing to spend a little more 2nd-hand if cast before a wider (and let's face it, less well informed) buying public, hence the reason why as was pointed out before some examples sold on ebay can go for a few quid more... but most of us here wouldn't buy from there - what's the point when as you say you could spend a couple of hundred less buying the same thing on here... and personally if I were selling I would feel better in myself selling to a BCer for the going rate too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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