Bass w/ Vine Inlay & Pre-amp - Needs Restoration Help

[Barry]

If you're able to see past the goofy or unfamiliar logos, and see the actual quality under yer fingers, you can pick up some extraordinarily good instruments from this era. Many of the El Degas's, of course, fit into this category.

It's sad to see that a lot of these instruments fell into uncaring hands and were subjected to everything from scraped off logos, to rattle can painting, stickers, and destroyed electronics; all in the name of "upgrading" or "customizing".

Good on ya, niteskunq! Yer one of the smart one's!

[niteskunq]

If you're able to see past the goofy or unfamiliar logos, and see the actual quality under yer fingers, you can pick up some extraordinarily good instruments from this era. Many of the El Degas's, of course, fit into this category.

It's sad to see that a lot of these instruments fell into uncaring hands and were subjected to everything from scraped off logos, to rattle can painting, stickers, and destroyed electronics; all in the name of "upgrading" or "customizing".

Good on ya, niteskunq! Yer one of the smart one's!

Thanks Barry - although it's just a matter of time before I prove ya wrong

truth be told I have a couple horrific guitar stories of my own from my wayward youth:
The 60s Gibson acoustic I cut away and installed pups on to 'modernize'
The G&L hot pink invader I backed over with the car as I prepared to return it to the guitar shop
and the pile of vintage Gibson humbuckers I traded for a motorcycle paint job (it was a Honda CB, so kinda cool)

But your point stands true - there are some amazing guitars out there that have survived the years, and some that after triage can be salvaged, and some you just want to run thru a wood chipper to put them out of their misery

[charles]

That "flaming" Westbury is too funny

[Barry]

Yeah...exactly what I mean.
This is the second time that I'm aware of that this particular guitar has gone up for auction...no takers obviously.
It's a hideous design to be sure, but it was reflective of the times, and I believe made by Matsumoku (likely 80's, not 70's) so the quality would have been there originally. If maintained it would likely be a hell of a good guitar today and worth some money as an unusual collector's piece.

As it now stands...yep, bring on the wood chipper!
Sad.

[niteskunq]

That "flaming" Westbury is too funny

Ain't it grand! (lol)
didja notice the Artist 'signed' their name on the back?

Barry - I know! I've seen it listed for nearly 3X the current asking price.
Reality is sloooowly setting in - better late than never I s'pose.

About a year ago there was a homemade, electrified ukulele/Frankenstein'd 'stringed instrument' (I hesitate to call it a guitar)
on Fleabay for which the seller was seriously asking something on the order of $20,000.
The ad was fantastic - the seller declared they didn't know a thing about it, but went on about how rare it was, and that it must be a prototype, ad nauseum.

And the kicker - they stated if it didn't get any bids
they would relist and (seriously) raise the asking price!
I swear it wasn't a joke, either.

Perhaps that's the kind of insanity one requires to make it in Rock-n-Roll?

[Barry]

That's like the old joke about the panhandler who keep stopping people on the street and asking for a $1million dollars for a cup of coffee.
Finally, an observer couldn't stand it any more.
"Why are you asking for so much?!" he asked.
"Well," he replied, "I reckon that I'll only need one!"