M-85 question

[bassman10096]

Hi guys: Bad economy and circumstances are forcing me to part with a lot of gear - including some real favorites. I have and early 70s M-85 that I put a lot of work and improvements into (the bass was trashed when I got it so vintage restoration wasn't feasible). The really painful part is that it was the best rehab project I ever did. I'm reaching out to you for opinions on what I should ask for this bass when I put it on the market. Here's what it is and what was done: Complete strip and refin with lightly tinted nitro clearcoat Plays fine - no damage, good neck, trussrod Dark Stars (plain brass housings) Alembic-inspired bridge with brass bridge block Electronics are original except the "suck switch" was missing so the hole is plugged. Bottom line - I doubt I'll see my investment in parts back, but I'm looking for some help with the market for modded M-85s. Here's a pic. If you'd like to see more let me know. Thanks Bill

 

[twocorgis]

Bill,
I have no idea how much the mods might affect the value of the bass (some might say some of them increase it), but the work that you've done to it looks professional from what I can see in the picture provided. The '74 M85 that I ordered from the GC in San Francisco finally arrived on Tuesday, and after I put on the TRC correctly it was ready for a shoot:

It too has been modded with Dark Stars, and also the original push-push suck switch (which is unfortunately present) has been replaced with a toggle. Other than that, the bass is in great shape; a small bit of finish missing on the lower bout where the arm rest, and some worming on the back but no buckle rash. I paid $1500 plus tax and shipping ($1642 total), which felt like a good deal to me, and I don't see why yours wouldn't be worth a similar amount. It's a great bass, but with Greenie getting ready to come back from FL in career form, I probably won't keep it, as I'm just not sure where it will fit in the matrix. Happily, it looks like it will find a nice home with another board member here, so all's well that ends well. 8)

 

[bassman10096]

Wow, Sandy - nice bass. The general price you paid seems like a reasonable data point to start narrowing down the price for mine. Yours is definitely more vintage, and beautifully cleaned up. If the finish on my bass had been just a little less trashed when I found it, I'd have just cleaned it up. But it still wouldn't have looked nearly as good as yours. You raised a good point about the mods on mine - I should have mentioned - the work is professional (for what that's worth). I've painted dozens of guitars, including some vintage pieces. Good luck with whatever you decide on your bass and thanks for weighing in (I really want to price this reasonably to sell).

 

[mgod]

Beautiful M-85, wish I could buy it, wish I could get a chance to play it before it goes.

 

[ladytexan]

Walnut....yum! Beautiful bass, Sandy! Great score....again! :wink:

 

[twocorgis]

Well Toni, I guess Stoner's been sleeping on the job, because the M85 is living at bassmyf's house now! :shock: :lol:

 

[bassmyf]

Well Toni, I guess Stoner's been sleeping on the job, because the M85 is living at bassmyf's house now! :shock: :lol:

Snuck it out right under Stoner`s nose, and also past the double corgi security net.
In their defense, they were able to capture my Pilot fretless during my escape... :lol:

 

[twocorgis]

Well Toni, I guess Stoner's been sleeping on the job, because the M85 is living at bassmyf's house now! :shock: :lol:

Snuck it out right under Stoner`s nose, and also past the double corgi security net.
In their defense, they were able to capture my Pilot fretless during my escape... :lol:

Yep, and Stoner and the Corgis are keeping an extra special eye on the new addition since its arrival

They make a nice pair, don't you think (sorry Michael!)? 8)

 

[fronobulax]

Beautiful M-85, wish I could buy it, wish I could get a chance to play it before it goes.

So, we pass the hat on the East Coast and someone buys it (Sandy, Grot, me?). We then have it shipped to the mgod. He plays it - perhaps even on stage or on a commercial recording. He then brings it to NJ on a trip to revisit his roots and delivers it to the owner. He brings documentation of its professional use and the owner then flips it for just a little more than they paid. Or maybe mgod just gives a bass lesson...

 

[hieronymous]

Cool thread - got to see a couple of great M-85s and that shot of the two Pilots is nice!

 

[twocorgis]

Cool thread - got to see a couple of great M-85s and that shot of the two Pilots is nice!

Love my Pilots, Harry! I would have kept the M85 too, but I think that when Greenie comes back, it's going to be all the BiSonic goodness I'll need.

 

[bassman10096]

Any other input or opinions on what I should ask for my bass (and please don't anybody say, "It's such a piece of junk, I'll send you $50 to take it off your hands" LOL)?

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Mmmmaple!

Wow is that fretless gorgeous! Love the dark finish.

What a pair!

 

[twocorgis]

Mmmmaple!

Wow is that fretless gorgeous! Love the dark finish.

What a pair!

The fretless is gorgeous, and I love the translucent black over mmmmaple too, Kurt.

Now I just have to figure out how to play it! :shock: :lol:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Now I just have to figure out how to play it! :shock: :lol:

Does is not have side markers on the neck?

If so you should know that the dot is where the fret would be and therefore it's where your finger goes.

"Mwahhh"

 

[fronobulax]

Any other input or opinions on what I should ask for my bass (and please don't anybody say, "It's such a piece of junk, I'll send you $50 to take it off your hands" LOL)?

But we are supposed to veer.

Sandy's was $1500 plus tax, S&H. My knee jerk reaction is I'm not sure which one I would want if they were the same price so why not start there? I don't think that undervalues it significantly.

 

[twocorgis]

Now I just have to figure out how to play it! :shock: :lol:

Does is not have side markers on the neck?

If so you should know that the dot is where the fret would be and therefore it's where your finger goes.

"Mwahhh"

Oh, I've figured that out Kurt, but what about all the frets that don't have a dot? :lol:

Wifey thinks it sounds "funny". I told her that it's just me. :roll:

 

[The Guilds of Grot]

Oh, I've figured that out Kurt, but what about all the frets that don't have a dot? :lol:

You just need to trust your finger muscle memory. That and your ears.

"May the force be with you!"

 

[twocorgis]

Oh, I've figured that out Kurt, but what about all the frets that don't have a dot? :lol:

You just need to trust your finger muscle memory. That and your ears.

"May the force be with you!"

I'm working on it Kurt! Tonight was better than last night.

 

[bassman10096]

Any other thoughts on what I should ask for my bass?