The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: Andrew on October 29, 2008, 07:39:22 AM
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GGG is shutting down and they have a bunch of basses left, including a few Gibsons. There might be deals to be had. I'm not connected to the store, just thought I'd mention the chance at possible deals to you guys.
http://goodguysguitars.com
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The problem for me (besides lack of spare funds) is that most their basses are priced at least 50% higher than you see in this neck of the woods. They'd have to do some really steep discounting before I'd consider anything on their site a bargain.
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Kevin wasn't at the Arlington show this year which was very unusual, thought something was up. They have a lot of high $$ instruments and people got no $$ to spare.
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I would think that with the market down, the asking prices would need to be adjusted. Fewer people are willing to sell the house for a nice vintage bass. If the market values drop them down under the costs, then there's trouble. Sounds to me, from looking this over, and their inventory, that that might be what's going on. Traveling to a guitar show, setting it all up, buying the space, etc. isn't a cheap week-end. There has to be an expected return somewhere.
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Good Guys had an EB-650 on eBay in May with a $5000 BIN. I've never seen one sell on eBay for over $2,500. The auction petered out at $1624. A poster at Jules' place started a thread to say he had offered (post-auction) in the neighborhood of $1650. The response: "Dude, Its a 5000.00 bass on a bad day. We're blowing it out at 4395.00"
That says a lot. They believed their own hype about the values. From the looks of their remaining inventory and prices, not enough buyers believed the hype.
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Kevin got mad at me over in the BadAss forum when I reminded him that basses are only worth what some knucklehead (like me) is willing to pay for one, not what he wished to get for one. Life's like that! ;)
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I've always felt dealers have been artificially driving up the prices to insane levels just to see if someone with more money than sense will pay the price.
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I just hope that someday my Jay Turser will be worth $5K
;D
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I never bought their self appointed expert hype.
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I remain firmly grounded with the thought that a bass is only worth what I'm willing to pay for it. If someone wants more than that, it's overpriced. And I'm a cheap S.O.B...although highly lovable.
All their stock looked pretty seriously overpriced to me.
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I'm in agreement with pretty much all that's been said. Dealers, even good ones, have pushed prices up because they were selling things. Now that the economic state has started to have an international impact, people aren't willing to pay the price. In a perfect metaphor, these vintage dealers are probably now having to choose the reality of having bought high, and now having to sell low.
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E bay is still the ultimate reality check.
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I've dealt with Kevin and he's always been straight up with me. I felt like I could trust him when it came to the authenticity of a vintage piece and that is worth something for sure. Sure dealers prices always seem high but you can get something that is priceless....peace of mind. Prices might come down and they should in this market, but as stated here a bass is worth what you're willing to pay for it. The consumers drove the prices up and now maybe we'll drive the prices down. ;)
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I'm not commenting on his integrity, just his pricing. There are two used/vintage dealers in my area whose integrity I (and many others) trust, both of them price their guitars and basses well below Good Guys.
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I'm not commenting on his integrity, just his pricing.
Same here. I worked with Kevin/Swami and the rest of the Good Guys at the Arlington & Dallas shows one year and it was a great experience and a lot of fun.
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I'm not commenting on his integrity, just his pricing. There are two used/vintage dealers in my area whose integrity I (and many others) trust, both of them price their guitars and basses well below Good Guys.
It's cool Dave I wasn't implying that. I was just commenting on the fact that price is relevant. I've found most dealers pricing what I would consider high, but haven't the interest, experience or the money to really shop them and compare prices. So I'll just STFU ;D
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Same here. I worked with Kevin/Swami and the rest of the Good Guys at the Arlington & Dallas shows one year and it was a great experience and a lot of fun.
I as well have nothing but kind words for Kevin. He was always straight up with me. If someone pays top dollar, who's to say he should not get it?
True of all dealers of anything vintage. There is scum and there are true enthusiasts that cater to a different crowd than us regular folk.
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Dumb question: Why are they closing down?
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I would imagine that right now most vintage guitar dealers are indeed caught, if they bought more than 60 days ago and are trying to resell. OTOH, if they bought at wholesale, they should be OK. The people who had the money to pay silly prices for collector guitars probably still have it.
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Dumb question: Why are they closing down?
When a business shuts down voluntarily like this, they're not making enough money or possibly they're actually operating at a loss (which wouldn't be a surprise given the recession). If they were making enough money, they could sell the business outright.
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Dumb question: Why are they closing down?
I don't know exactly, but I think it has something to do with a dissolving of the partnership between the owners. I think GGG was started as 3 friends and they agreed to not do it without the 3 guys involved, so when one decided he didn't want to do it anymore they decided to close up shop. Something like that. I imagine you'll see the other guys (or at least Kevin) move on to some new vintage guitar shop or start their own thing.
I've never had occasion to deal with GGG (they have no lefty stock) but Kevin's always been rad to me about giving advice and opinions on old basses. The little I've talked with him I thought he was a sweet dude.
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I'm not commenting on his integrity, just his pricing. There are two used/vintage dealers in my area whose integrity I (and many others) trust, both of them price their guitars and basses well below Good Guys.
If you've noticed lefty basses in either shop that's handy to you Dave, please let me know.
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If you've noticed lefty basses in either shop that's handy to you Dave, please let me know.
Will do.
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The little I've talked with him I thought he was a sweet dude.
He knows a LOT about what he talks about. When you see him in action at the shows like I did it becomes clear. Amazing knowledge of instruments. And he is a pretty good guy, no pun intended. The basses I've gotten from him have been great players.
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He has helped me a bit in the past and impressed me as a stand-up guy. I have often drooled over pics of pre-CBS P's on his website, and thought that when the day comes that I'll get one of these, I'd rather pay a little more and buy from him rather than off eBay.