Going rate for a Hobbit?

[Dave W]

Excuse my ignorance (again)...what model?

P

The solidbody Les Paul basses of 1969 to 1979.

[Granny Gremlin]

the original Gibson Les Paul Bass (low Z pickups) and the successor model The LP Triumph.

[uwe]

No model I'm allowed to say something about here without the Minnesotan's disparaging comments.

But I'll give it a try: To combat the deluge of Far-Eastern cheapo guitars, Gibson set about in the early seventies to come up with some more budgety non-maho SG body shape models called SB-300 (short scale), SB-400 (long sclae) as well as their successors SB-350 (short scale) and SB-450 (long scale).



More info here, thanks to Jules' painstaking archivist's work:

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/SB.php

http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/1973gibsonSB450.php


As with my SPCB



and SRCB 5-stringer







my humble ownership of all four specimen of the SB series is generally met with derision here, but I have long gotten over the pain and general feeling of neglect.

[Granny Gremlin]

I don't think you get any derision for the SBs - no shame there (or very little; respectable enough).  It's more the SPCBs and 2020 which make us laugh (I remember when you got the blue one.... I was apparently AWOL when the 5er came in). It's actually uglier than I remember.

[Dave W]

The SB  basses aren't the worst sounding basses I've ever heard, nor the ugliest I've ever seen. How's that for a compliment? 

Seriously, the ones I've heard just didn't sound good to me. Nothing terrible, yet nothing I would buy.

[amptech]

I checked out a walnut SB bass once, shortscale with two small singlecoils.

I think it's one of the worst sounding and playing bass I've laid my hands on, but it did need a setup.

[Dave W]

Lavonne's use to come down a reasonable amount from the asking price, it's been a while since I've been there though. Some years back, they had one of the heaviest original Les Paul Basses I'd ever picked up. The logo decal was scraped off exposing a square MOP inlay.

I called back and talked to Pete, he says the tag reads $2500, not $2300. Problem is, turns out it's a consignment. He called the owner who said he could come down to $2250. I told Pete thanks but way too high in light of what the last two sold on eBay went for.

[Barklessdog]

Did'nt we call the SB basses banana basses ?

[uwe]

Why did you have to bring that up, John?!

[Grog]

I called back and talked to Pete, he says the tag reads $2500, not $2300. Problem is, turns out it's a consignment. He called the owner who said he could come down to $2250. I told Pete thanks but way too high in light of what the last two sold on eBay went for.

The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................

[Dave W]

The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................

Maybe. I won't hold my breath.

[Granny Gremlin]

The guitar would have to be in unplayed condition to justify that kind of money. If it sits there long enough, he might come to his senses....................

Or be the rarer white finish (or the ever elusive single black one they ever made) in decent shape.

Mint white ones can go for up to 4K, usually 2.5 to 3. Nobody's seen the black one for years as far as I know.

[Dave W]

Or be the rarer white finish (or the ever elusive single black one they ever made) in decent shape.

Mint white ones can go for up to 4K, usually 2.5 to 3. Nobody's seen the black one for years as far as I know.

Olivia's has a 1979 in Silverburst for a mere $5,995.

[Dave W]

Thinking about checking out this one. It's a '77 for $1700. Knowing the store, that price won't be negotiable.

[hollowbody]

I played the Hobbit at Lavonne's last week. It played very nice, but nowhere near their asking price. I also liked the 75 fretless Ripper, and considered buying it, but I picked up two more fretted Rippers a few days before and couldn't justify it at the time.