Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Paul B. once saw a Gibson that had purple finish called Mink and wanted Paul W. to recreate the look. Not having ever seen the color Mink I don't know how close Paul W. came to nailing it. It does not matter though because right or not it is a thing of beauty.

Here it is as played by Billy Hinsche (not a very good pic).

Here's the "Mink" up close Not too apparent is the pearlescent back-painted plexi pickguard. In addition to the new finish are a new tailpiece, high-gain treble pickup and surround. Toaster, knobs, and tug bar are original.

That bass sounded great.

Right now it's my main player. It has TI Jazz Flats on it, and it sounds great through my GK700RB15 combo. I need to do a little intonation on it one of these days.

Ted, that is a great picture.

Going back to the original question which bass is rarer? I would like to follow that up with which bass will be more valuable? Does rarer always equate to more value? Just thought I'd throw that out there.

Rarer has little effect on value, EXCEPT when it's recognized and creates lust...it still comes down to supply and demand.

I once owned one of only two Gibson Les Paul Personals built by Gibson in its year (somewhere in the '69/'70/'71 corridor). It was in absolute mint condition; not even the gold plating had worn. It was complete with its special impedance-matching transformer cord and OHSC. I paid $575.00 for it in '80. I sold it in '98 for...$575.00. No demand. Nowadays the 50 (?) or so made are still only trading in the $1500.00 range.

That's the answer I was looking for Paul. Thanks.

Maybe that's because the model isn't well known? People won't demand what they don't know is out there. I'm no expert, but I haven't heard of that Les Paul variant myself...just a thought.

Low impendence Gibsons?
Here is mine in a bass version:

Nice bass, Kris.

The one the guy is holding in the link above is the twin to my old one, incidentally.

Rarer does not always equal a higher value as Paul W. pointed out and is very obvious in the Chris Squire models, they certainly aren't rare and the value is based on emotion and special features on the bass. Those features don't move me as a collector and therefore I don't see the value.

Now when you start talking checkered bound 4001's from the early 73 period, I start getting the lust that Paul described. And those aren't really all that rare yet, so I'm getting as many of them as I can before the price goes out of reach.

I recently found a 73 checkered azureglo and I'm still working on the details but I changed my refin color on the 73 that Paul's doing from azure to white like on Wint's RM, except it will have checkered binding/small inlays.

Sure you don't want full-width sparklies? I'm doing a couple right now with 'em and it's a day/night difference.

"Rarer has little effect on value, EXCEPT when it's recognized and creates lust..."

One day, the price guide is going to make a distinction and list that bass as 4005wb/jps.