Blue EB-650! Oh yeah!

[drbassman]

Well, I would love to snag this one, but prices on these babies have gone way over the top.  Sure glad I have my red one!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-1991-Vintage-EB650-EB-650-Bass_W0QQitemZ170220364546QQihZ007QQcategoryZ64402QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Blazer]

What also goes over the top is what people percieve as "Vintage" because 1991 isn't that long ago.

[uwe]

They do look nice in blue and like 90 % of them are red, but the BIN is still, errm, "ambitious". 

Probably the best semi-acoustic to really rock out with. Strung with roundwounds, this bass' snarling sound can put even an angry Ric or Stingray to shame.

[drbassman]

They do look nice in blue and like 90 % of them are red, but the BIN is still, errm, "ambitious". 

Probably the best semi-acoustic to really rock out with. Strung with roundwounds, this bass' snarling sound can put even an angry Ric or Stingray to shame.

Yes, the BIN is over the top and 91 ain't vintage, but they are rare.  Only a few hundred were made, from what I recall, and blue was rare for sure.  Uwe is so right, there isn't a HB bass out there that can hold a candle to this one if you wanted to rock with it.  The all maple construction and TB pups are a powerful combination.  I don't use mine with my church group, even with flat wounds on it, it just barks all over the place!  I hope it goes high though, I want mine to ride on its coattails.  I got mine for a steal several years ago, sold it for a nice $400 profit, and then bought it back when the buyer decided he wanted something else a year later.  Lucky turn of events for me!

[uwe]

"I don't use mine with my church group, even with flat wounds on it, it just barks all over the place!"

I understand what you mean - an unholy bass then. If Ted Nugent was a bass player, I think he'd play one. They could have made the bass a lot less aggressive if they had edged the TB Plus pups a bit more towards the neck, but around the time these basses were designed, Gibson was obsessed with not sounding muddy to combat public perception from EB days (calling the bass an "EB" was then, in true Gibson tradition, selfdefeating, construction- and soundwise it had nothing whatsoever to do with any EB Gibson had ever done before).

PS: I'm fine with the starting bid and could see that bass going to perhaps 2.500 or so, maybe more for the blue fin. But a BIN above 4.000 ... you gotta like blue a lot for that. That is EB-750 territory and those are a lot more rare plus were already more expensive at the time and custom shop built.

Uwe

[ilan]

Kevin had this bass on his website for a couple of months now. I wasn't aware of the rarity of the blue finish, but what do I know, I'm just a Ric/P-bass guy whose only Gibsons are geetars. I just never liked the diamond sound holes, not on this one nor on the Trini Lopez guitar.

[Dave W]

I don't think the blue finish is rare on this by comparison to the cherry, although it was a low production bass. Let's just say Kevin is no stranger to hyperbole and wildly optimistic pricing.

[doombass]

Reminds me of this one which I was tempted to buy. I think it came up over a year ago: http://vintagevaultguitars.com/pc-200-54-sold-1991-gibson-eb650-hollowbody-bass-super-rare.aspx

[drbassman]

Someone, I can't remember who, said the blue and the natural were less common (or rarer) than the red.  Either way, they are rare basses regardless of color, unique in their design and construction and a worthy collector's piece.  If I had seen the natural one doombass posted from last year, I would have bought it at their sale price, no problem, no question.

[Barklessdog]

Than the amber one Daniel posted is the rarest of all finishes?

[rockinrayduke]

Let's just say Kevin is no stranger to hyperbole and wildly optimistic pricing.

Yep. Their prices never cease to amaze me.

[Barklessdog]

What dealer is not?

It's their business to get top dollar, provide knowledge of what your getting for that top dollar and stand behind it. On something like a Gibson Grabber or Ripper does not make much sense to me, but on pricey rare stuff, I want to be sure things are right. I certainly don't know, but again, I would never have that kind of money to spend anyway. How can you fault them for trying to get top dollar?

If their prices where so outrageous then no one would buy from them and they would not be in business. I often wonder how many people  buy from really overpriced places like Chicago Music Exchange (except Uwe, who ended up needing to rebuild a neck joint on his purchase)

I remember looking at the guy in Florida's (Guitar Broker) prices years ago and thought they were high, but today I would have been happy paying those prices.


Dealers have always been pie in the sky pricing. Ebay has been the blessing for the little guy who can get something at realistic prices, but you have to hope your getting what you think you are for what you payed.

The downside of Ebay is everyone can now find out how much something is really worth so a lot of garage sale or little dealers who do not know, can find out pretty quick. Gone are the days of going to that small town thrift store and finding that 60's P bass for $200.

The bottom line is I will never have enough money to buy from any dealer.

[Dave W]

Maybe it's because we've known Kevin from other forums, so in addition to his listings we've heard him talk up prices. He's certainly not the only vintage guitar dealer who does this, but we've heard plenty of overhype direct from him. And not all vintage dealers do this. Kevin reminds me of certain real estate agents who encourage sellers to list their houses at what they wish they could get and hope that someone comes along and bites.

[Barklessdog]

Kevin reminds me of certain real estate agents who encourage sellers to list their houses at what they wish they could get and hope that someone comes along and bites.

That sounds like where I live. Houses for sale are stacking up fast. I know of two that have been for sale for a 2 years, one a divorce foreclosure and the other a house where they built a new house and can't sell the old one. It's an expensive white brick home fondly called the white elephant. They switched realtors several times, tried "Buy Owner" stills it sits there. It has to be a $850,000 house on a tiny corner lot with no yard. Good luck selling that!

The real estate market is getting ugly fast if you're selling here. Great time to buy if you don't have to sell though.

[birdie]

Reminds me of this one which I was tempted to buy. I think it came up over a year ago: http://vintagevaultguitars.com/pc-200-54-sold-1991-gibson-eb650-hollowbody-bass-super-rare.aspx

i tried very hard to get the lowdown on this bass, and was ready to buy it. i suspect that it never was really "available", if'n y'all know what i mean. yup.