The Last Bass Outpost
Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Denis on January 11, 2010, 11:33:02 AM
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There's a black '77 Gibby T-bird on GC's used gear pages for anyone interested. It's at a location in PA.
http://used.guitarcenter.com/usedgear/index.cfm
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$1400. Even if it's been repaired that's a good price. I doubt it will last long.
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Looks like the pickups have been replaced with TB Plus :rolleyes:
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Looks like the pickups have been replaced with TB Plus :rolleyes:
Ah, I didn't see that. I guess I need to look closer before I pontificate on things!
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Well the picture is kinda crappy, I'm not sure but that's what it looks like to me.
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Is it gone already? I don't see it.
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The only way I saw it was doing a search for 'Thunderbird'. It's about 2/3 of the way down the page.
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Okay, found it. Hard to tell what it really is.
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I bought a '79 Ibanez Musician bass from them a few weeks ago. They "assured" me that everything worked and it had been tested. The front pickup was dead and the active electronics did not function. I was bummed! The only good thing is you can return it to your local GC for a full refund.
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I bought a '79 Ibanez Musician bass from them a few weeks ago. They "assured" me that everything worked and it had been tested. The front pickup was dead and the active electronics did not function. I was bummed! The only good thing is you can return it to your local GC for a full refund.
Classic GC :rolleyes:
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No headstock repair. TB plus pups. They say it is beat up bad they gave it a 4. I am working on a deal with them, what do you guys think I should offer them ?
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Hmmm... They probably paid half what they're asking but I have no idea what would be an offer they'd jump at. Anyone here have experience from the GC perspective? I hope you get it, Scott. If you do, maybe we can talk about a little bartering for goods and services. I'll PM you if you get the bass.
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Right before Christmas I bought my LP Triumph from the local GC for $1,000.00 It had been tagged $1,699.00. They sounded anxious to move the bird. I'm think'n 8-9 bills
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Hmmm... They probably paid half what they're asking but I have no idea what would be an offer they'd jump at. Anyone here have experience from the GC perspective? I hope you get it, Scott. If you do, maybe we can talk about a little bartering for goods and services. I'll PM you if you get the bass.
Missing that Black '77 you sold me? ;D
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The local GC's won't come off their prices on new stuff now, I have no idea about used tho. Good luck Scott!!
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No headstock repair. TB plus pups. They say it is beat up bad they gave it a 4. I am working on a deal with them, what do you guys think I should offer them ?
Good luck! I'm glad I held off calling them since it will go to a good home if you pick it up!
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Flash $900 at them they'll take it.
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Missing that Black '77 you sold me? ;D
Oh, it's missed! Nah, I have a few things that might help Scott complete the bass (if that's what he wants to do with it). I could also use his services for a few things so I thought a trade might be in order. Too soon to count on anything though...
As for GC and their dealing, I found a used Ampeg cabinet there the week before Christmas and decided to see what I could get it for. The first guy I spoke to (who claimed not to be involved with the bass dept but was the only one who could help me at the time) said the longer a used piece is in inventory, the more they would deal on it. That being said, the cabinet I wanted had only just come off it's trade waiting period (I guess in case it was hot?), so he didn't think they'd deal much at all. Once the right sales guy showed up I told him what I wanted to pay for it and after checking his book I walked out the door with it for what I wanted to pay, which was $65 less than what they had it listed for. I've been watching GC used inventory ever since and even their asking price was $50 or more under what the cabinet is listed for (used) at all the other locations. I think I did alright, so you never know...
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For the most part I find GC annoying but once and a while you can find a good deal there. My 70's fretless parts bass for 350.00, the Washburn B20 (squared off explorer looking thingy) $165 I flipped it for 700 +, My newly aquired LP Triumph $1,000. Just keep checking and something will pop up.
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You already got the Model G's for it? ;D
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I do and a '76 cover ;D
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There's no equivalent for GC (that I am aware of) in the UK...
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There's no equivalent for GC (that I am aware of) in the UK...
I think the older more established GC's are much better than what I've got here in Seattle - they are filled to the brim with multiple examples of the cheapest crap, utterly detestable. I don't like to even give them money for strings but do so because it's convenient - across the street form my work.
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Guitar Center was one of the first guitar shops I ever entered, back in 1978 or so. It was on a corner across the street where one is now on Sunset in Hollywood. Almost the whole block on that side of the street was guitar stores, so I spent a lot of time there over the years! The attitude and (lack of) organization were loudly evident even then. I think that was before GC was even a chain, but I don't know for sure. I do know that it was the worst shop on the block. I always figured it was because I was a 13 year old kid and they figured I'd never buy anything, but I never got that reception in the other shops and I eventually spent quite a bit of money on that block a few years later.
GC can be convenient and worthwhile if you go in knowing exactly what you want and what you think you should pay for it, because the sales guys are rarely any help. Whenever I found one he was gone a month or two later... The upside is the deals you can get once in a while. Even the newer stuff gets blown out every now and then and you can get some killer deals.
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GC can be convenient and worthwhile if you go in knowing exactly what you want and what you think you should pay for it, because the sales guys are rarely any help. Whenever I found one he was gone a month or two later... The upside is the deals you can get once in a while. Even the newer stuff gets blown out every now and then and you can get some killer deals.
You can say the same about almost any big chain, from Home Depot to Best Buy. It's best to know your product ahead of time because most of the time you'll get someone who doesn't know what to tell you and is likely to say what he thinks you want to hear.
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So, for explanation, how do you buy something that you find on the GC website? Say you are in Florida, and the thing you find is in California - do they ship it direct, to a local GC, do they have any standard shipping charges or arrangements? I ask as a while back I was looking on their site and found something on the other side of the country, but it appeared you would buy it either on line or over the phone, but they had no provision for delivery.
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On the website it mentions no charge shipping to your local store, but some things listed are marked as 'local sale only', so I guess it depends on the item or location.
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Two calls in to these guys and still no reply, I guess they don't want to sell it.......................F 'em
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I promised myself I would not call again........................but I did. They want $950 I think I have a new Tbird ;)
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You*think* you do?
Congratulations on your new bass!
I'll be interested to see if the TRC has slanted or straight script Gibson, nothing else says ROCK! like a black Thunderbird :thumbsup:
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/thunderbirds008.jpg)
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Here was my old '78 truss rod cover
(http://i47.tinypic.com/212tojc.jpg)
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It's mine ;D $880.00 plus tax. :o
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Pictures! (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/77tbird2.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/77tbird.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/77tbird3.jpg)
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See above pics.
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That doesn't look too bad up close, and you have the skills to improve it if you want to. If there aren't any serious issues, looks like you got a bargain.
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I like 'em beat up I will leave it as is, laugh if you must but the preservationist in me demands it. Replace the guard and some pickups from SD in '76 covers and I think I'm done........................... and change the knobs. Thanks Denis for pointing this out !
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I just bought a drum machine/sampler from Guitar Center's used website. I got a great deal on it, but really the price you must pay for this otherwise excellent service (which is leagues above going to a real Guitar Center and is somehow all but un-advertised) is having to deal with people who work at Guitar Center. Here was my experience in a nutshell.
I called the number for a GC out of state. last Sunday afternoon at about 1pm. I got a description of the unit. They informed me that it didn't have RAM installed (likely the original user upgraded it, then kept the upgrade) and this would be "like $150 or something, dude." eBay says it costs about $25... but i'll take a $200 discount towards this lofty expense .. ha.
I agree to purchase the unit. They "are going to run my (GC) card and call me back in like 25 minutes." After about four hours I called them and confirmed it was sold, but was being sent to the wrong address. I gave them my proper address, twice, but rules say they must send to the address on the GC card. I use the GC card's phone customer support and change my address. I called them back and told them the address is changed. They said that it was too late to process the order (it was now 5pm, Sunday) but they would "first thing Monday" and they would call me back.
To paraphrase Mr. Thurgood and his Georgia Destroyers, "Now Monday came and went and I didn't get a call... so out the door I went." Since I didn't have time to babysit Guitar Center, I called them back again on Tuesday. I was informed the guy handling my order "just totally left, dude" and that someone would get back to me "in like 25 minutes." Suffice to say repeating my name and phone number was for naught.
It is now Wednesday, four days after attempting to give Guitar Center money (something they must really loathe). I call them again. Not only are they "totally swamped, dude" but fate of fates has conspired that my devoted, loyal servant has stepped out. My name and number were requested although I should have advised them to check out the half dozen post it notes on their counter that probably have this information. Debbie Harry wrote about her own Guitar Center experience, I think, when she penned "Hanging on the Telephone."
Today, I finally reached the man who was burdened with the weeklong labor of selling me something. He left me a message while I was at work asking if I was "still interested in the drum machine." It's very fortunate that I was in the car at the time because my head about exploded. I learned that he had never attempted to run the card again, because he needed to confirm my address! Even though I gave it to him several times and changed it on the system 5 days ago. Politely I obliged and made the mistake of asking for a confirmation number on the shipping.
"I don't know if we can do that, dude," he lamented. "Let me call you back on that, tomorrow."
Guitar Center's used website has some good deals if you know what you're looking for, but was $200 savings from the average used price really worth all of this? I find out in a few days if it's even in the condition described.
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My head hurts just from reading that! It seems that GC never changes from year to year (or location to location).
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There's no equivalent for GC (that I am aware of) in the UK...
Wasn't that Sound Control, till they went bust? Now Reverb, but I don't know if they have a used department. Bad service seems to be a common factor in guitar shops on both sides of the Atlantic.
I wish the dollar to pound exchange rate for basses wasn't 1:1. If I could get a used TBird like that for 500 quid, I'd have one.
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I like 'em beat up I will leave it as is, laugh if you must but the preservationist in me demands it. Replace the guard and some pickups from SD in '76 covers and I think I'm done........................... and change the knobs. Thanks Denis for pointing this out !
That's pretty sweet! Congratulations! You're welcome (and etiquette suggests I get first right of refusal if you ever decide to sell it)!
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Very nice... We're definitely the wrong side of the "pond", Phil... ;)
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Keeping things in perspective I think this is a even better deal than the '76 Triumph, once sorted out I think the Tbird will have much more value over the long haul. That long "scratch" on the top of the body has me worried, looks like a crack to me. If so a easy fix and I'll just beat them up and get it for less ;D btw I am not made of money it's a shell game really, gear comes and goes. I have a core of pieces in the collection that are never for sale, others are there for profit. I have been at this a loooooooooooong time, since I was 11. I still have my first bass, If like something I keep it............................................................forever.
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I still have the nameplate off my first bass... does that count...? :sad: (head hung in mock shame)
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I still have the nameplate off my first bass... does that count...? :sad: (head hung in mock shame)
Well of course it counts ;D I am a pack rat I save everything :sad: I am trying to do better since the move, I try to ignore large trash heaps by the road however much it pains me to drive by......................... I have found wonderful pieces of furniture, house parts etc. I even found a perfectly good bass case in a heap once, no pre CBS Fender inside but maybe some day, The big brown truck delivers the bass on Tue the 19th ! I can't wait to get this thing in my hands.
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:popcorn:
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Scott is on a spree!!
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Some day there will be a statue at the ferry dock in Port Townsend honoring Mark. It will be a statue of the back end of a Subaru with a T-bird on a stand behind it. Kids will walk up and try to play the T-Bird all day.
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I saw 'back end' and thought this was going in another direction but you saved it with an apt description of the future memorial.
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Scott is on a spree!!
So far self employment has been a good thing. 8)
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Big day today I can't wait !
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It's here ! A well worn but intact bird ! I spruced her up a bit, new guard and a model G hiding under the neck pup and a dummy cover by the bridge for now. I am going to send off some covers to Seymour Duncan but it could be six months before I see those pups ! I also added the correct knobs. This bass sure was played ! More pics tomorrow. How she arrived(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/77tbird.jpg) and now(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday013.jpg)
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Some day there will be a statue at the ferry dock in Port Townsend honoring Mark. It will be a statue of the back end of a Subaru with a T-bird on a stand behind it. Kids will walk up and try to play the T-Bird all day.
I love this Al, just one correction It should be Pt Angeles.
Scott the lettering on the TRC.......is it slanted or straight?
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Nice one!
Hey did you consider skinning the TB+ pickups and loading up the 70s covers with those? That would save you the time and $ of getting the SDs. It seemed to be a pretty safe and easy process, just like Mark and Tom had said. They sound great in my Bach.
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What a st(d)eal! Looks like it is smiling because it knows it is going to be played!!
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Will she be "modified" for upper neck access...? ;)
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Mark, the stamp on the truss rod cover is angled. I am not a fan of the TB plus pups so I won't be going that route, that is a slick mod if you like 'em though. Kenny no I will spare this one the saw, my white one is a 2001 not exactly vintage.
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This bass while worn is a lot better than I thought it would be. What I feared might be a crack on the upper wing is just a long compression mark. To install the TB Plus pickups the bridge cavity was deepened, cleanly with a router, no real harm done there. The pick up rings were widened with a file rather sloopy job , those will be replaced (one already has). The back has quite a bit of wear but it is honest player wear. The frets are original and are in excellent shape, no where near the player wear the body shows, must have had flats on it for it's working life. No headstock repair! :o The truss rod nut was ground flat on one side, the threads on the truss rod also look like it got hit with the grinder as some of the threads are ground flat, weird I don't know how or why this was done, the good news is that the truss rod works just fine. Not the prettiest of birds but a real bargain and I am already starting to fall for it. I may just keep the Dimarzio model G under the hood ;D Came with a nice new Epi Thunderbird case.(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday002.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday001.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday003.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday008.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday010.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday011.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/Pauls80thBirthday005.jpg)
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Another "after" shot.(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v102/godofthunder59/77tbird004.jpg)
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So with a decal date instead of a stamp this was produced where? Kalamazoo? Nashville?
I'd have to check the Stamp on mine later but I seem to recall it being a '77 from Kalamazoo.
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I know that the '76 Thunderbirds had the decal and by '79 they had changed to a stamped serial, when that change took place I am not to sure.
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I love it, Scott! Glad it found a good home!
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If I understand they went from decal to stamp sometime in '77, as mine is stamped and yours has a decal, an interesting exercise in date codes and possible production variation.
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Denis thanks again for pointing it out ! Good stuff to know Mark !
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"99" sticker: '75
"00" sticker: '76
"06" sticker: '77 (I know, seems weird)
I don't know if sticker versus stamp means a different manufacturing location or not, only that that's when they switched.
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Looks like she is a '76 :) has a 00 prefix
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IIRC the 06=1977 was a decal, sometime later in 77 they went to the stamp and the numbering scheme they still use today. I don't think you can tell the location from the s/n until the current numbering scheme.
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And like all Bicentennials no gut bevelling at the back of the body, right? Congrats on finally a Bicentennial with decent pups! ; - p
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No belly cut. Those "decent" pups are going up on ebay to help pay for this !
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Belly cut!?
I don't need no stinking belly cut
I have no wait issues ;)
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd306/veronicasteed/NastyHabitsPostNYE35of75.jpg)
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I always wondered, Mark, what cupsize do you wear on stage? (Not the cup underneath the skirt, if any!)
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I thought you'd never ask ;D
I' m a 36 C cup
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Well, it took some courage, curvacious one!
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You Sir, are one sweet talkin' gentleman :)
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Just an update since I was venting about the Guitar Center Experience earlier: they mailed the drum machine to the wrong address anyway! After all of that! They didn't require a signature or anything and just left it on the porch of a place I haven't lived at in almost 3 years. After a day and a half trying to talk to UPS about it, I decided just to go down to the house and see if anyone there saw it (and was honest enough to give it back if they did).
They were happy to let me have it back, which I appreciated, but a curious coincidence was their son was also named "Nick" and had opened it up and messed with it a bit. I certainly can't be mad at him since I probably would out of curiosity too.
So now tomorrow morning I am going to call GC and raise Hell. If they don't offer me a significant return on this cost I'm going to shove it back up their ass and wash my hands of this entire experience.
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I don't blame you. But if it had happened to me, I would return it for a refund regardless.
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Taking her out tonight !
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Taking her out tonight !
Break a leg (not a headstock)!
Can't wait to hear a review...
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No gig last night just a brush up session for the studio. I am very happy with this bass !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spent quite a few hours setting her up and filing saddles to get the action as low as I like. This bass is very resonant much more so that other '76s I have owned. The notes just sing :) Chords shimmer. Right now the only pickup in the bass is a Dimarzio Model G under a Chrome cover, works fine sounds fantastic, the Model G will be staying ;D As usual limited upper register access there are just some songs I can't use it for :sad: but I knew that when I bought it, no breaking out the saw so rest easy, I will just have to deal with it. By far my favorite '76-'79 I have had a number of them over the years. This bass in now dubbed the Black Moria.
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I have a used Model G I could drop in the mail for that empty tail cover (if you like). ;D
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That's awesome, Scott! Glad the old girl is working out so well!
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I have a used Model G I could drop in the mail for that empty tail cover (if you like). ;D
Sure ! Thanks George ! Tell you what I'll swap you the guard for it.
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Sounds good! I sent $35 Paypal, but we can call that a pre-down payment on that other thing. :)
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Sounds good! I sent $35 Paypal, but we can call that a pre-down payment on that other thing. :)
GREEAAaat. Now we have Goodfellas speaking...
'Ey. You got dat ting?'
"Yeah, I got dat ting."
"Put the 35 on dat other ting. It's like a....whadayacall...pre-down payment, OK?"
"Fuhgeddaboutdit."
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My New York roots showing through... :mrgreen:
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(shhh... Secret Squirrel... ;D)