Opinion

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Michael Cahill

Ken,

The bass used in my Talkbass ID is the carved bass with the odd button you saw at Arnold's. I just wanted folks to understand that it was not the one for sale but the hybrid was. Yes, it has been posted for a long time with only two people coming to see it. Both were trying to match the size and feel of their Kay basses. Jed did the work detailed in the posting and declared it healthy.

Michael

First off, I was confused with your ID comment. I thought you had the wrong bass pictured. Sorry for that. Second, I did mention that I would need to see it up close to make a real evaluation. Pics don't tell all. Also, I know Jed and his work but you don't mention the Neck or Post area crack in the ad as having been looked at and inspected by Jed for approval. That would be good to do. One side of the neck heel does look open in the pics. The other side looks good. Maybe because I was able to buy my first carved old Czech bass for $200 in 1970, my ideas are jaded. The basic Juzek carved bass back then new was $200 as well from them. Probably a Lang or Wilfer made. I am leaning towards Lang.

I sold a Hybrid Romanian not long ago with a new padded bag for about $3k. They run slightly more now. Because the back is laminated, it's not a bass we consider appreciates in value all that much as compared to a fully carved bass. Having a Post crack kind of kills the value thing if it ever was to be. A proper Post repair is not easy. I have a beautiful 1980s Italian bass in restoration now with a post crack and it was repaired before. We just re-repaired it properly which included an inlaid oval patch thru most of its thickness in the center and fitted and glued in using a plaster mould. Now, the bass will be repaired in a way that I can sleep on. Before, it was hard to look at.