Earthwood prototype?

[ilan]

A bargain at $15K 

[Dave W]

I wouldn't call that a prototype, just a transitional model.

He's dreaming of a green Christmas. I don't think so.

[rahock]

Hmm.........I wonder what my 1972 model is worth. I had an adjustable bridge custom made for it that cost almost what the bass did. The bridge was the weak point on those. Mine is one out of about 400 produced according to Sterling Ball , and my bridge is the only one that was ever made .
Rick

[nofi]

i thought this thing looked familiar. it was up last week for 6,999. and no one bid. i guess that was before he found out it was the super rare, one off, transitional touchstone that it has now become.

[Dave W]

Take a look at this Earthwood guitar, it's actually marked as a prototype, and look at the price he's asking: http://www.gbase.com/gear/earthwood-prototype-1970

[Highlander]

Confuscious, he say, "Nun on crowns back, virgin on lidiculous..."

[ilan]

Relisted with no reserve, now at $449, with five days to go.

[Dave W]

"The Crown jewel in the realm of legendary Earthwood Bass Guitars"

Legendary for miserably poor sales? Legendary for construction problems in the first production runs? Legendary for lack of acoustic volume compared to an upright bass?

At least he omitted the reserve, now the market will decide.

[rahock]

They may lack volume when compared to an upright but there is no other ABG I've come across that comes close in volume. The tone is also unmatched.
I've played a lot of ABGs and newer ones have a lot more usable room at the 12th fret and they are smaller bodied making them more comfortable to hold but when in comes to unplugged sound, there is nothing like an Earthwood.
I also have an Olympia (Korean Tacoma) which is great for plugged in and pretty good unplugged. It is a plywood bass and it lacks the resonance of the solid wood original Tacoma , but bang for the buck, it can't be beat.
The only other ABGs out there that  produce a really good volume and tone unplugged IMO are the Tacoma and the old Guilds (which suffer the same size and playability issues of the Earthwood).
Earthwoods are something special in spite of their issues
Rick

[Dave W]

I agree, I was just having fun with his over-the-top hype.

[nofi]

speaking of abgs, does anyone remember the all mahogany thunderchiefs someone was selling a few years ago. the entire bass was solid mahogany. it was a pretty bass with all that dark wood and some lighter highlights. i can't seem to find any info on it.

[rahock]

I saw a picture of one  . I believe I saw a picture of one that was all maple also. IIRC both were pretty fancied up and pretty pricey and the comments about them were favorable but the guy who played them preferred the less expensive plain jane Thunderchief.
 Around the Detroit area Tacomas are near nonexistant. When I was on a quest to get my Olympia I found one Olympia and one Tacoma and neither place carries either one anymore. I have only SEEN two Olympias and two Tacomas.
Rick

[nofi]

the only place around hear that you can find thunderchiefs is at the high end BASS EMPORIUM. they even have red and blue ones. other than that i have seen one thunderchief and one olympia, period. in atlanta we have three sitar centers, a sam ash and lots of independent stores but the inventory is weak. do you have any idea where used basses go to die because they cetainly are not in stores like they used to be.

[Pilgrim]

It has been re-listed at $2,025 starting price.  A note of near-sanity has intruded.

[rahock]

the only place around hear that you can find thunderchiefs is at the high end BASS EMPORIUM. they even have red and blue ones. other than that i have seen one thunderchief and one olympia, period. in atlanta we have three sitar centers, a sam ash and lots of independent stores but the inventory is weak. do you have any idea where used basses go to die because they cetainly are not in stores like they used to be.

I think used basses go to ebay to die .  It seems like the majority of  used REAL brand name basess do not show up in music stores. All you find is various shades of Brand X in the used department and used ABGs are about as close to zero as you can get. 
Rick