Rare Lefty Stack Knob

[HornetAMX]

Very nice!

http://cgi.ebay.com/1960-Fender-Jazz-Bass-Left-Hand-Custom-Color-Lefty_W0QQitemZ220204352097QQihZ012QQcategoryZ64400QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Dave W]

Known history with a famous group and custom color to boot. Here's one time when being a lefty won't hurt resale value. The collectability factor is very high.

[OldManC]

Wow, that's a beautiful bass (even if it is backward). 

[Bart!]

You could play that Hendrix-style..

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Doh! Too bad I'm in-between money right now.
Not broke, mind you...just in-between money! =]

She's a beaut! Sure would LOVE to win her, bein' a lefty.
She----e--e---e-e-e-r ry Bay--yay--by!

Was this the first year a lefty bass was made?
Nick would know.
We need a Lefty Section here.

[Dave W]

1960 was the first production year for all Js.

[Rhythm N. Bliss]

Wow~ It's up to 12k. That's what I paid for my pristine 53 Gibson!
This Jazz is more of a work horse bass...could be someone's Number One.
So I reckon it's worth this price. not sure if I'd go much higher or not...
IF I had that much money to spend.
I'm guessin' it'll go up past 15k tho.....

[Dave W]

I think you're right. It wouldn't surprise me at all if somebody who does have the money to spend and really wants it bad has already bid $15K or more. The only question will be at what point the other bidders will drop out.

[HornetAMX]

29K!!  And the bass is back up on Ebay, obviously a hijacked account, for 11K! 

[Dave W]

What a bargain!

As of now I see a listing by the original seller warning that the new listing is a scam, but it looks like the scam listing has been yanked.

[rockinrayduke]

Unfortunately I can't find any documentation of the owner ever being in the Four Seasons.

[Dave W]

You may be on to something there. According to a disputed Wikipedia entry, Joseph LaBracio performed in the Four Seasons under the name Joe Long. But there doesn't seem to be any independent confirmation of that, and I know Nick Massi was the original bassist. There does seem to be an organized PR movement claiming that he was, and should have been inducted into the RRHOF with the rest of the band. But he's not mentioned on the Four Seasons official MySpace page. Is it possible he was a hired sideman?

[HornetAMX]

A quick update on this bass.  In the May 26th issue of People Magazine (with Jenna Bush on the cover) there is an article about Frankie Valli and also a concert photo from 1974 with a very clear shot of this lefty stack knob bass!  Not sure who played bass with them in '74 but there is finally some proof. 

[Dave W]

That's good to know. Especially for the buyer. 

Whatever the reason Joe Long's Wikipedia entry is disputed, the Four Seasons entry does say Joe Long was a group member 1965-75. But it also says that the 1960-65 members were inducted into the RRHOF and that Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli own the group as a partnership (and apparently always have). So I guess they've just chosen not to recognize him in the same way as the original members.