The Great S8 Quandary

[antipodean]

There's a Midnight Blue S8 in town. It's in beautiful cosmetic condition. It sounds great. It plays great - and my playing doesn't often sound great!

BUT

1) I am concerned that the relief on the neck, whilst not pronounced, may be a little "strange" - the bow seems to be around the 17th to 19th frets;

2)They want around USD 3,250 for it. To put this in perespective, shipping from the US plus taxes and duties will add around USD 600 to the price of a Ric bass sourced from the US.

I'm kind of on a knife-edge here. I think its about USD 500 too expensive and I'm worried that the extra tension of the octave strings is doing something whacky to the neck. Any advice from the sagacious?

[rick_ovic]

Evan, I can't tell from your profile, but I'm guessing you're based in Sydney? If so, I extend a warm welcome to you as a new member of the growing Aussie chapter of the RickResource Forum. If you're not in Australia, welcome anyway!

You might want to check out this earlier thread regarding the same bass:-

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=378555

[antipodean]

Many thanks for the welcome and for the direction Darren!

I'm from the far North of Sydney, where birdsong mixes with the musical hum of the F3 to Newcastle.

[gellkeller]

Evan,

Welcome aboard. Nice place up that way. I have some property at Ettalong.

These ones are always tough.

[antipodean]

Hi Brett,

Many thanks for the welcome! I believe we have conversed on the other Ric forum - my monicker is the same over there.

I'm definitely giving this one a miss. It can probably be fixed up but the price doesn't reflect the flaws. I don't think that GV are really aware of the issue - not many folk in our sweet city are experts on Rics - so it would be hard to argue the toss with them. Alas! To quote Skyhooks, "meanwhile, I'm still searching".

[rick_ovic]

Evan, I used to live in Normanhurst, near Hornsby. A nice part of the world up that way.

[antipodean]

Hi Darren,

I live right next door (so to speak) in Wahroonga. I am back in the area I grew up in following 5 years in the inner west of Sydney and eleven overseas (Japan and the UK). It hasn't really changed that much since I was about 12.

A couple of my best mates (and old bandmates) were at Normanhurst Boys High - was that your stamping ground?