What's a fair price for this SR4 30th?

[Steamthief]

There's a large chain that has a 30th on clearance. Said bass is missing the volume knob, is very poorly set up, may have a dead spot at the G string 7th fret (maybe a setup isue), a ding on the headstock, no case (the case isn't coded in on the sales tag), and looks to have been wiped down by a fourteen-year-old after a bucket of KFC. That being said, it sounds wonderful, even with the pickup screwed in flush with the body, and I fell in love with the feel of the neck. Ballers, what would you pay for this diamond in the rough?

 

[shamus63]

There's a large chain that has a 30th on clearance. Said bass is missing the volume knob, is very poorly set up, may have a dead spot at the G string 7th fret (maybe a setup isue), a ding on the headstock, no case (the case isn't coded in on the sales tag), and looks to have been wiped down by a fourteen-year-old after a bucket of KFC. That being said, it sounds wonderful, even with the pickup screwed in flush with the body, and I fell in love with the feel of the neck. Ballers, what would you pay for this diamond in the rough?

I think I saw the same exact one at the San Jose GC last weekend.

I can't reveal the price here...but if I had the cash, I would snag it up for the asking price.

 

[barginkov]

i think 1,100 out the door is a good price for the 30th aniv

 

[Steamthief]

I think I saw the same exact one at the San Jose GC last weekend.

I can't reveal the price here...but if I had the cash, I would snag it up for the asking price.

Heh-heh, I'm in SoCal, KFC must be the official snack of those that demo, but don't buy a 30th!

Not looking for the actual selling price, I'm just wondering what you feel is a fair price for the particular bass I described above.

 

[Big Poppa]

go ahead and post these prices as I need gc to clear the shelves of the damaged shopworn stuff

 

[PzoLover]

finger slickin' good

EBWonder Wipes will take care of the guck ... grab that baby before you live a lifetime of regrets

clean it up, post some pics and play it in good health
ATB,
/PL

 

[Hutton]

Look at danomar's thread 'Props to EBMM! 30th AV Bliss'. That 30th may already have gone!

 

[Steamthief]

One or two wonder wipes would really improve this bass a whole lot! It could use some lemon oil on the board, too.

Despite the aesthetic flaws, I think I'm in love. For crying out loud, I'm posting about this bass at 1 AM, and I have to be ready for work at 7! How much does a replacement knob go for, anyway?

 

[RobertB]

How much does a replacement knob go for, anyway?

Who cares?! Did you notice the tone of the bass??

 

[oli@bass]

Upcharge for the included case?!

go ahead and post these prices as I need gc to clear the shelves of the damaged shopworn stuff

BP, I got the impression from one of the threads about 30ths on sale that the limited editions came with a case included in the price, and GC is not allowed to sell the bass without the case, or ask additional money for the case. What's up with that?

 

[Hutton]

SERIOUSLY! Check with danomar regarding this 30th. There seems to be too much co-incidence about his purchase yesterday of a 30th without case from a GC. No point in getting all excited if its gone.

 

[silverburst]

go ahead and post these prices as I need gc to clear the shelves of the damaged shopworn stuff

$1050 without the case seems to be the discount price at GC. Marietta GA and Lake Forest CA both had them for that price within the past month.

 

[Hutton]

We really need to ask why there are so many of these special edition basses available without cases? They are obviously intended to be sold as a package. That's what makes them 'special'. I hope no 30th owners have been trying to get a spare case so that one can be kept in perfect order whilst the other is used for gigging purposes!

 

[silverburst]

That's GC policy.

They divorce the case from the bass when it comes in, and drop the price of the bass accordingly. So, for example, if a 30th had a list price of $2500 (I think that was close), they would sell the bass for $2250, and the case for $250. So you would think you were getting the bass cheaper, and you negotiate the price and then "bammo", you find out the case isn't included so you have to negotiate that separately.

This has been covered alot on the forum previously. GC says this policy is because alot of people want to have the choice of what kind of case they want with their guitar.

S, anyway, alot of guys say "screw it" and walk out without the case, so I bet there are an s-load of 30th cases sitting in back rooms at GCs. unless they have sold them with other basses.

 

[danomar]

Look at danomar's thread 'Props to EBMM! 30th AV Bliss'. That 30th may already have gone!

I got mine at the GC in town, not Marietta. We have two down here.

And yes, the deal with cases is standard for GC, which I think devalues their instruments. But then again, they are in business to move widgets. I think maybe someone in corporate said to move out all old stock—they will be having a special one-day sale on the 18th for "preferred customers"—so maybe MM fans are just getting lucky. I do not recall seeing a 30th Anniversary at the Atlanta store last time I was there, and I would notice that, but that was a few weeks ago.

Folks at both Atlanta and Marietta have been good to me, but this recent episode was a slight turn-off. FWIW I paid more than $1050 including a standard plastic case, more than the value of said case added to $1050. Maybe I didn't get such a great deal after all. I tried to negotiate but the salesdrone said he gave me the lowest possible price.

Still, it was slightly cheaper than a regular Stingray, and the 30th is worth it. My goodness, the sustain alone is worth it!

 

[Hutton]

Thanks for the explanation silverburst. It now makes sense although it's still a bad policy when applied to special editions such as the 30th SR4 which should never be separated from the case.

 

[Dr Stankface]

Tell you what, you sell me that metal flake brown beauty and it'll make it easier to buy that 30th.

 

[Steamthief]

You still interested in it, Stanky? If I do step up and get the 30th, Apollo will be on the block. I'm thinking of bringing a mechanic's rule and philips head to GC, set up the 30th to EBMM spec, and playing it again.

I played it yesterday afternoon, so I doubt it's gone. For the sake of debate, since we've got BP's blessing, is $1,049 a good price for this bass?

 

[slow roasted]

go ahead and post these prices as I need gc to clear the shelves of the damaged shopworn stuff

Chainwide, the 30th. is $1049 as far as I can tell. The Bongo 4HH I bought was $831.63 The Bongo 5HH was $879.00. The Bongo 5 was listed at that on the in store clearance list, but when initially rung up, it came up to $959.13. My guy was nice enough to honor it, but YMMV...

And of course, some of it is damaged. They had a 30th. at the Bedford Park, IL store that had at least a 30 degree clockwise twist in the neck, sighting from the top of the headstock! And I actually sliced my palm open on a fret end playing it! Sounded like the voice of God though....

I can just hear their managers now...."Humidifiers, we don't need those out here, put 'em in the acoustic room"

 

[timmy5strings]

There is a 30th in Towson, MD for about $835 and is in good condition. They are not letting the cases go with them, you will need to negotiate, but you should buy the case The bases I saw were not in bad condition, really.