So I bought a Gibson bass again

[Chris P.]

I think it depends. Nothing from the nineties is really worth more: US nor Asian. But I see stuff like good Japanese Rick copies and old Tokais for quite some money. I guess it depends on the age.

Strange: In Europe normal '70s Musicmasters are sold for around 600-700 euros. Some early ones and Daphne ones a bit more. But the pink and powder blue '97 Squier Vista Musicmasters with matched headstock go for 700-800 here!! I was very surprised when a girl bought a pink one for 700 and sold it for 750 and a guy wanted to trade his Mexican JMJ Mustang for my powder blue Squier!

[gearHed289]

I wouldn't pay $900 for any MIC guitar.

Just the other day I was looking at Dingwall basses. Nice stuff with fanned frets and advanced electronics (if you're into that sort of thing). Made in China versions are like 2 grand! They do mention this on their website:

"PLEASE NOTE: While the Combustion models are manufactured in China to our exacting specs, when they arrive here in Canada each bass goes through a rigorous two hour quality check including all the electronics, fret leveling and final setup. These basses don't leave our Canadian shop till they are up to our high standards."

You can get a brand new Rickenbacker 4003S for $1500.

[Chris P.]

A mindset I guess? The more expensive British Burns basses have bodies and necks made in China but all parts are mounted on in England, so is the lacquering and building. Most Laklands are made in Asia and as I said the Gretsch White Falcon Bass is 3500 euros here. That's almost double the amount of a Rickenbacker and it's Japanese.

[patman]

I gig my EPI T Bird Pro

Fit and finish are perfect. So is fretwork.

I had to cut the nut slots down to the proper height. That's it.

[Dave W]

I think it depends. Nothing from the nineties is really worth more: US nor Asian. But I see stuff like good Japanese Rick copies and old Tokais for quite some money. I guess it depends on the age.

Strange: In Europe normal '70s Musicmasters are sold for around 600-700 euros. Some early ones and Daphne ones a bit more. But the pink and powder blue '97 Squier Vista Musicmasters with matched headstock go for 700-800 here!! I was very surprised when a girl bought a pink one for 700 and sold it for 750 and a guy wanted to trade his Mexican JMJ Mustang for my powder blue Squier!

That's all well and good, but that's not what the used market is in the US, which is what I was talking about.

Just the other day I was looking at Dingwall basses. Nice stuff with fanned frets and advanced electronics (if you're into that sort of thing). Made in China versions are like 2 grand! They do mention this on their website:

"PLEASE NOTE: While the Combustion models are manufactured in China to our exacting specs, when they arrive here in Canada each bass goes through a rigorous two hour quality check including all the electronics, fret leveling and final setup. These basses don't leave our Canadian shop till they are up to our high standards."

You can get a brand new Rickenbacker 4003S for $1500.

Reminds me of the days when Gibson claimed all Epiphones were set up in Nashville. I was skeptical. I don't doubt that Dingwall is doing it on $2K basses. No way I'd buy it, though.

I gig my EPI T Bird Pro

Fit and finish are perfect. So is fretwork.

I had to cut the nut slots down to the proper height. That's it.

And you're paying an appropriate price.

[bobyoung]

Bought this 1970 EB-0L off eBay today for $480. Let's hope I like it more than the 1968 EB2C I once had.

Now the wait.

Wow, that was a deal and a half.

[ilan]

So by now this is my current favourite bass, but the neck dive was starting to annoy me. This is what I came up with. I stuffed a roll of coins, weighing 400 gr (0.9 pound), in a plastic bag, into the control cavity. The <8 lbs. bass is now, with the added mass at its rear end, still under 9 lbs., so it's very comfortable, and balances well on a strap. Did anyone else try this?

[Dave W]

I never tried it with my EB-0L, but I do know of someone who put lead weights in his Bicentennial TBird for balance.

[Pilgrim]

I had a Jay Turser with a super-light body and neck dive as a result. I added a tele-bass style bridge cover to it and then put adhesive tire weight strips under the cover where they were concealed. Worked well to re-balance the bass, and it was so light that the total weight still was not a problem.

[gearHed289]

I've read that Chris Squire hung a pouch full of coins off the end pin on his non-rev T-Bird.

[4stringer77]

So Illan, have any ladies said something like "Oh my your bass neck is particularly erect. Is there a roll of coins in your control cavity or are you just happy to see me?" 

[amptech]

So Illan, have any ladies said something like "Oh my your bass neck is particularly erect. Is there a roll of coins in your control cavity or are you just happy to see me?" 

[ilan]

I was thinking about taking Uwe's advice to rout the bass for a bridge pickup. So today I attempted to simulate what it will sound like - by mounting it upside down over the strings.

[ajkula66]

I was thinking about taking Uwe's advice to rout the bass for a bridge pickup. So today I attempted to simulate what it will sound like - by mounting it upside down over the strings.

Now that's an approach that I've never considered - and I did contemplate routing my own EB-0L on more than one occasion - so thanks for the idea...

[ilan]

This attractive contraption is made with a Staedtler eraser for side blocks, held in place to the pickup with paper clips through the screw holes in the ring.