A rare bird spotted for sale on another forum...

[ajkula66]

First and foremost, NO affiliation with the seller on my end whatsoever...

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/1998-gibson-custom-shop-lee-sklar-signature-model-bass-rare-bass-with-nice-original-case.1573160/#post-26708742

Had it not been for the "Gibson Bass Book" I would've never known that this bass existed to begin with.

Has anyone here played the mongrel in question ? I'm not in the States anymore otherwise I'd take it for a spin...

Curiosity...

[Dave W]

Uwe owns one. Jerome Gaw (a/k/a funkycarnivore) owns one.

I didn't realize that Bob Gollihur had passed.

Price sounds reasonable to me.

[ilan]

I didn't realize that Bob Gollihur had passed.

Me neither. Three weeks ago, apparently. I remember him from The Bottom Line email digest in the 90s and later from the Dudepit. Used to buy upright strings from his shop, always trusted his advice.

https://gollihurmusic.com/news/robert-gollihur-founder-of-gollihur-music/

[uwe]

This started out as a Valley Arts Guitars custom project (where it made sense, given the design Fender boutique they were) which - at the behest of Henry J - was later hijacked by the Gibson Custom Shop (within Gibson's then corporate structure in charge of the Valley Arts Guitars brand name). Sklar was horrified at how expensive the bass turned out, he wanted something good quality, yet affordable.

It's a fine instrument as deluxe Fender-knock-offs go, but not anything you couldn't just as well replace with a G&L model. The mandolin frets give it a slinky feel when playing, but I never heard a sound influence (Sklar believed to hear a "fretless effect", I have yet to discover that). Maybe decreased fret noise, which for a studio player like Sklar is undoubtedly a plus. 

For ages, these things have sold for max 2.000 bucks (pretty much how they came out), is he asking for more or less? So rare and off-the-wall, I can't see it develop much value, especially with Sklar having practically disowned it.

[Dave W]

He has it listed at $1779.

[uwe]

That's ok, neither a steal nor outrageous. It's just too strange a bass to catch attention. Who wants an active bass where you can't add bass or presence, but just dial it down via one single tone knob for both pups and all frequencies? Plus the LS managed the (no mean) feat of being even uglier than a P Bass - now that's something!

[wellREDman]

pretty interesting seeing Sklar talking about it tho. its cool that the signatures started with sportsman not musicians.

now I want to try mandolin frets !

[amptech]

now I want to try mandolin frets !

Just buy an old Jolana Diamant bass It's a fretless wonder for sure! Less expensive too.

[uwe]

Playing mando frets feels weird initially, but you get used to it.