The end of an era

henny · Post by **henny** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 1:38 pm

"... but I was offered more than I thought it was worth ... "

Jwr2 - Golden rule when it comes to guitars especially: Anything is worth what somebody will pay for it.

wints · Post by **wints** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 3:04 pm

It seems the benchmark has moved up on 60,s Rics again. In original finishes that makes $7500 and $6500 for the last two 68,s. I,m glad Jeff got a price he was was happy with. On that note, Kendall,s 68 seems more and more like a real good buy.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Oct 18, 2004 5:27 pm

I think Kendall's IS a good buy! Its GORGEOUS!! If I had the cash, I would be all over it. In 5 years, it won't matter if it's a refin.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Fri Oct 22, 2004 7:07 pm

Jeff, I can't believe you parted with that bass. For me, that would be similar to parting with my '79 4001 which would be like getting rid of my wife...I can't do it.
Do you miss it at all now? It might haunt you someday !!! LOL

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:25 am

actually it is no big deal ... I don't miss it right now ... I am all about 5 string basses ... I currently own 7 really nice ric basses ... nothing older than 1986 ... in all reality that '68 is yellowed, it has weak pickups, it has exposed wood on the back, the neck is fragile to the point that round wound strings stress it beyond its design specs ... the only thing I used it for was to impress people who came by my house ... I am really glad that I owned it ... but looking back I wish I had moved on to a more modern bass a lot sooner ... for instance a 70's bass is a lot better gigging bass, and a modern bass is more stable and easier to set up and adjust ...

If Rickenbacker made a bass today with pickups that weak and a neck that weak poeple would return them to get their money back ... but since that one is 40 years old people now deem it collectable and desireable ...

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:30 am

You lucky on your sale, this is the second time that I've ended up with a dud buyer. This time the guy snipes the auction and then tells me he has paypal issues and can't pay... Maybe it's a sign not to sell it.

cheyenne · Post by **cheyenne** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:40 am

Keep it Kendall!!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:45 am

Yep, that's what I'm thinking. I'm not too interested in the others that I have listed at the moment, but the 68 doesn't seem to want to leave the house.

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 5:51 am

I agree with Scott, keep it Kendall.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 6:52 am

Kendall ... If I was going to own a '68 I would go for a cleaned up refin like yours ... the guy who bought mine doen't like the exposed wood on the back side ... the problem with selling online is that a vintage bass will look better in the photos than reality ... the camera hides small flaws ... sometimes selling a bass is a matter of being in the right place at the right time ... and finding the right buyer ...

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:56 am

I personally thought your bass as great, it has mojo, and the wood was great!

ken_james · Post by **ken_james** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 7:57 am

I personally thought your bass as great, it has mojo, and the grain was killer!

wints · Post by **wints** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:09 am

Jeff, I can,t see how that guy can complain about the wear on the back of your old bass. It,s clearly there for all to see in your pics, and once you,ve agreed on a price that should be the end of it.
Kendall,s bass is simply a really good deal. There will be more than a few people kicking themselves in the future wishing they had picked that up at the asking price...

anndra · Post by **anndra** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 8:33 am

The value of beat up Rics of a certain age puzzles me.

I'd swap my '73 Ric Jetglo - complete with original toaster, cheq binds, and crushed inlays that go right across the board for something newer and cleaner in a heartbeat.

Some guys seem to love the paint that's gone, the dings, the dents and the pitted chrome. Mine even has grover whale-tail replacements on 3 tuners with the originals in a box needing some TLC and that doesn't seem to bother some.

I prefer mine much less obviously vintage with the finish in good order.

The ONLY problem I have had is finding one with the same wieght and neck profile - both crucial to me.

I've been offered swaps for a number of basses that were very nice indeed, but none so far with the weight & neck combination. I've also been offered £1,200 (about $2000) for it, but that's no use to me until I know where to find a suitable replacement.

Bassically I'm in the same corner as Jeff here as I think the real value of these instruments is in their playability. I'm not building a pension fund and really don't want a bass of such value that I'd be scared to use it in anger.

Unless it fell in my lap, of course

Our guitarist, for example, just spent $6,000 on a '59 re-issue Les Paul that he has lusted after for an age. Aye, it sounds great and all, but he wont consider using it live so he'll have to use something he's less content with.

What's the point in that?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Sat Oct 23, 2004 10:07 am

If you've got the old skinny flat neck profile and you probably do the way you describe it, the early 70's was really the last gasp of that neck style as far as I know. I had a 75 like that and that is the latest I've ever heard of that profile, it had to be a left over, it had Grovers, 1/2" neck PU spacing, small headstock, silk screened TRC, etc. everything except a toaster pickup.