| Author | Message | ||
| honkylips
New Username: honkylips Post Number: 4 Registered: 8-2005 |
Check em out: http://www.gruhn.com/ | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 565 Registered: 9-2002 |
I'm going to go down there and see these . . . stay tuned. J o e y | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 455 Registered: 8-2003 |
Joey, could you post details on the '77, particularly the weight and the reach to the first position? | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 566 Registered: 9-2002 |
OK, after braving the Nashville Boat Show crowd and the Sound + Speed NASCAR event crowd, I got into a very crowded George Gruhn's . . . thought I'd have to park in Memphis! This is what I found: The Birdseye Series One: s/n 85-3741 REALLY CLEAN, virtually like new. Maple / '2-stripe' mahogany neck, laminations under peghead faces to match, chrome Schallers, brass nut shiny, good frets, nice action, MOP ovals, really skinny truss rod cover in brass. I'm guessing this is a long scale. Birdseye / mahogany /birdseye wings, no accent laminations (kind of reminds me of the 20th Anniversary basses but with mahogny instead of purpleheart), '2-door' back with trim pots in the big cavity next to the pots (not like current ones with the trims on the other side of the body, round battery plate, both in brass that's scuffed up, yet the body in clear gloss is VERY clean, Series One electronics with the 'old-school' p/u rotary selector in the lower horn. Did not see it, but comes with case, cable, and power supply. Both pickups have 'ALEMBIC' molded into the lower right corners, but not gold embossed. Weight not extreme either way, didn't strike me you'd need an orthopedic strap to live with this one. Only cosmetics I saw were occasional dips in the clear, as if in spots there are tiny sinks into the birdseyes. No breaks in the finish, and only visible if you really look for them. If the electronics play as good as this looks, somebody is going to STEAL this for $3250. The 75 is just rough all over. s/n 77-858, stamped in the end of the headstock as the old ones were. Finish checked from head to point. In fact the point is bare wood showing in spots. The back of the head is dull exactly in the outline of the face lamination on the back. Could not figure that out. Brass hardware needs a lot of TLC. Neck OK, frets/action OK. Weight did not strike me as extreme either way, felt about average. I'm guessing this is long scale as well, so the reach to first position is a stretch, like it always is on these. Maple / mahogany (I'm guessing, but it's brown, not purple) neck, ebony, MOP ovals, chrome Schallers. I'm guessing walnut for the peghead faces, back of head maybe stripped to a dull finish, only part that's not checking. Can not figure that out. Walnut (guess) / mahogany / walnut wings. Heavily checking, clear remaining faded to yellowed, rough brass '2-door' back, Series One electronics with p/u rotary on lower cutaway as above. Felt fine, weight OK, action good. I would suppose this may be the usual condition for a well-played 75. Did not see the case/PS/5-pin cord, but they are included. This is DEFINITELY a historical piece, as it's showing every bit of its 31 year age. But for someone on the lookout for a Series from this time period, it may be just the thing BECAUSE of its condition. As Gruhn's is a zoo on Saturday with tourists, not to mention the huge crowd downtown today, I couldn't play them plugged in. But they both felt fine, action was fine unplugged. At least now you have the serial numbers to further research them. I did my best guesses on the identities of the dark woods involved, and the scale lengths, but neither are short scale for sure. IF I could go back to a four-string, I'd have bought that birdseye S1 on the spot. Just my luck . . . Anyway, Gruhn's is top shelf to deal with. One of the handful of vintage dealers with absolutely NO BS. My buddy at Gruhn's, Keith Gregory, tells me these are consignments from a former employee, so he'd know their history. Keith Gregory, keith@gruhn.com, or you can call him at 615/256.2033. I can recommend him highly. Certainly beats rolling the dice on EBay. J o e y | ||
| ajdover
Advanced Member Username: ajdover Post Number: 298 Registered: 11-2003 |
Have to agree with Joey on Gruhn's. I bought my '76 Rickenbacker 4001, and my '73 Jazz Bass from them (I dealt with Keith Gregory on the Jazz; I bought the Rick in '94 and can't remember who I dealt with back then). They're top notch to deal with, and when they describe an instrument, it's spot on, with no BS. They also set them up very nicely as well. Prices are usually right too, though sometimes they'll lower prices on things that aren't selling very fast - seen this with "artist owned" instruments a few times. All in all a great bunch of folks to deal with if one is in the market for a vintage piece, or even a new piece (they've got a boatload of Martins, Gibsons, Fenders, etc.). Alan | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3012 Registered: 5-2002 |
Joey; thanks for a great report! One minor detail; in your text you call the second bass a '75, but the listing and the serial number indicate it's a '77. Unlike a '75, the '77 has an adjustable nut. It also has a truss rod cover and I believe it probably has two truss rods instead of the one that a '75 would have. And I can't tell from the photo but I believe the '77 may have the new style bridge, also unlike the '75. | ||
| honkylips
New Username: honkylips Post Number: 5 Registered: 8-2005 |
One other thing I will add about the customer service at Gruhn: I bought a $625 utility Fender strat from them about 4 years ago. I lived in Michigan at the time, so I bought it sight-unseen (other than on the website). The guy I dealt with over the phone treated me like royalty even though I was buying one of the least expensive guitars in their store. Cannot say enough good about these guys. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 567 Registered: 9-2002 |
You're right, Dave, I just experienced brain-fade. It would HAVE to be a '77 with that s/n. J o e y | ||
| valvil
Moderator Username: valvil Post Number: 824 Registered: 7-2002 |
I'm surprised nobody spotted Jerry Garcia's old Gibson Byrdland guitar at Gruhn's...a bargain at 100K.  A nice one, but I don't like anyone THAT much. Nor can I afford to. Really. Valentino | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 457 Registered: 8-2003 |
Double post, sorry. (Message edited by kungfusheriff on January 15, 2006) | ||
| kungfusheriff
Senior Member Username: kungfusheriff Post Number: 458 Registered: 8-2003 |
Hey Joey Got your tremendously detailed e-mail yesterday but had trouble responding. I think I want a little more out of $2750, but I may have exciting news in the near future. OK. Peace, and my thanks, KFS | ||
| fmm
Intermediate Member Username: fmm Post Number: 114 Registered: 6-2002 |
I just put a deposit down on the 85. Now I've got a Spoiler to sell. | ||
| davehouck
Moderator Username: davehouck Post Number: 3025 Registered: 5-2002 |
Michael; the '85 is a very nice looking bass!! | ||
| tkotmk42
Junior Username: tkotmk42 Post Number: 34 Registered: 5-2002 |
BLAH! I was gonna take a look at it this afternoon!! Already had spousal approval last night.... d'oh!! But it's ok. I just found out that it's a long scale, I wanted a medium or short. Good luck! It sure looks nice and pricec is very good. |
