Guild M-85 II

[mgod]

Back in the pit, I referred to these things un-affectionately as Honkmasters.

DS

[Chris P.]

Issie deral, Rob? Fancy to write a background story for the Vintage page of De Bassist? I'm sure you have read a lot about it!

[Basvarken]

Nope... still no bass.
I could write about USPS and international shipping...

[OldManC]

I could write about USPS and international shipping...

So short scale basses can still get in under the new, shorter USPS shipping specs? That's good to know. Shipping a long scale bass internationally more than doubled for me last year when they cut the package length limit.

[Basvarken]

I don't know George. I paid 175 dollar for shipping to The Lowlands.

[OldManC]

USPS won't even ship a Thunderbird sized box internationally anymore. Forty-six inches is as long as they'll go now. I'd love to be able to send a (long scale) bass to Europe for $175. Another reason not to fear the shorties, I guess! 

[Basvarken]

At last. It's here.

I knew it had an old neck break coming loose again.
But the neck break is worse than I had hoped it would be.
There's a crack on the E-side of the neck that runs from the top down to the 9th fret. The seller did not make a picture from this side of the neck.
The other side shows a clean short crack that would have been easy to fix.

I am happy the bass is finally here. And slightly disappointed I won't be able to fix it myself.
I did have a worst case scenario in the back of my head. So now it's over to plan B: The luthier.



The M-85 fits my Hobbit family well. Lots of similarities. 

[OldManC]

Could the non disclosed crack be a new one that happened in shipping? If so, maybe the seller will do a partial refund to help defray the cost of repairs.
Just a thought...

[Basvarken]

No the crack isn't fresh. It was there already. She just didn't take pics of that side of the neck...

The bass was sold "as is" so I do not expect a partial refund.
Or should I??


The bass came in with the strings tuned way down low. So there wasn't any tension on the neck
When I tried to tune it, the neck break began to open up a bit and I did not dare go any further.
I loosened the strings. Took them off.

The I gripped the neck break as firm as I could and wrapped wide paper tape (the stuff painters use) around the neck. Very tightly at the first two positions. Then I put the strings back on and cautiously brought them up to tension. I was able to tune the bass. And the neck crack stayed closed.

So I was able to give it a first test drive.
It sounds fantastic! Nice deep round tone.

[Highlander]

What a shame... at least you know what she'll sound like post luthier... Pics of the issue, Rob...? is it too much fo CA, or just not worth the risk...?

[Dave W]

That's too bad.

There's nothing wrong with selling something "as is" so long as you disclose known defects. I don't know what laws would apply in this case. In the US, you would probably prevail. Under the new eBay rules going into effect in a week or two, it would be even easier for you to press a valid claim.

At least it can be repired and will sound good when it's done.

[Basvarken]

Haven't got my camera at home now.

Here are the (blurry) pics in the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110419635648&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:US:1123



As you can see  she did mention there's a formerly repaired crack coming loose. But the pics show only half of the damage.
I'll take it to a good luthier and see what he has to say about it.

[Highlander]

What would a good condition model have set you back, Rob...?

I suppose she was sort of "honest" in saying what she said, just conservative with it... but I guess you could politely negotiate the feedback (her first sale, and only 8 points)and a refund to cover repairs if you get the worst possible response... you know, the intake of breath through the teeth, combined with the slow shaking from side-to-side of the head, followed by an "oh dear me..." from your luthier...

"Caveat Emptor", to use Uwe's "home" language...

[Basvarken]

What would a good condition model have set you back, Rob...?

A lot more Ken.
They don't show up that often. There's one for sale at Elderly for 1225 dollar. That is in a much better condition and with original HS case.

http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/55U-3775.htm

[hieronymous]

Glad you finally got the bass!

I thought their description of the Guild pups was interesting: "lower than low hovering cloud sound"