68 M85 II Project

[dklsplace]

Yep, this is mine.


Best laid plans..... I believe Steve assisted in this rescue back in the day. Think I also have a set of pickups that came from another member. I have my youngest taking bass lessons now, but I don't think he'll stay interested enough to warrant hanging onto this for several more years.

Also putting up my Guild Ashbory.

Any members interested, send me a message.

Time for another boat!

 

[dklsplace]

Relisted as BIN/BO.

If any members are interested, I'm willing to deal here & include the Guild bass humbuckers (date etched 1973). Certainly not stuck on my ebay asking price, but you know...."you have not because you ask not." :wink: Once the ebay listing is done, I will probably pack it back away until my youngest is ready to work on it with me.

 

[jp]

Oh geez, Don -- so tempting!

Before I restored my Hofner Club Bass, I used to scour the net every hour for one of these semi-hollow models to show up. They're truly one of the more rare Guild models. If I didn't have so many other projects on the block, I'd jump at it. Aren't any of you bass guys interested?

I hope someone else in the LTG family grabs this soon, so I don't have to keep looking at it!

 

[Nuuska]

Hello from Finland

If I would write here what I think of the prices you have in eBay, I would either get banned from this site for lifetime because of foul language, or . . .

 

[dklsplace]

Hello from Finland

If I would write here what I think of the prices you have in eBay, I would either get banned from this site for lifetime because of foul language, or . . .

Welp....everyone is entitled to their opinion. As far as value, things are worth only what someone is willing to pay for it. If you're interested, shoot me a message with an offer & we'll go from there. If not.......cheers.

 

[Default]

Iirc, the guy that sold it to you was going to send the original humbuckers when he found them.

I guess he never found them! I remember the neck feeling really good on that bass. It's full hollow with a block under the bridge.

 

[dklsplace]

Iirc, the guy that sold it to you was going to send the original humbuckers when he found them.

I guess he never found them! I remember the neck feeling really good on that bass. It's full hollow with a block under the bridge.

I think that was the '64 Starfire project, & no, he never found them. But Harry had a set of mini humbuckers that he sold me so it's all good.

Was this the one you helped rescue, or was that the Aristocrat? I can't remember.

 

[katthestar]

Just out of curiosity, about how much would it cost to get it into playing shape again?

 

[dklsplace]

Just out of curiosity, about how much would it cost to get it into playing shape again?

Not sure I would hazard a guess if paying someone else to do it. For me, it's primarily time, a bit of fabrication, & elbow grease, because I probably have 95% of the items needed to complete it in my parts & scrap materials bins. My original plan was to finish it like my Aristocrat so I'd have something like a matched set.

 

[Default]

I think that was the '64 Starfire project, & no, he never found them. But Harry had a set of mini humbuckers that he sold me so it's all good.

Was this the one you helped rescue, or was that the Aristocrat? I can't remember.

This bass. I remember that the neck felt identical to my sf3.

 

[mavuser]

this is the spruce top, deeper, hollow, early version of the M-85 bass. these are super hard to find. I can't really comment on it's condition just from the photos, it does look somewhat rough, and the holes in the back are a little gnarly, but it appears all there. Don- has the neck and/or headstock ever been broken or repaired? I am getting the heavy Alembic vibe from this piece. I'd go there myself but this one is not meant to be for me. Very deserving of a second chance! Don it might be worth seeing what an Alembic modded resoration would involve, since u already own it. Does not cost money to ask!

 

[jp]

Hello from Finland

If I would write here what I think of the prices you have in eBay, I would either get banned from this site for lifetime because of foul language, or . . .

That may be Nuuska, but these original semi-hollow examples really are incredibly rare. Considering a non-original, single-pickup model (with added bridge pickup) sold last year on Reverb for $4K, I think Don's asking price for a solid super structure isn't too outrageous. Admittedly, I've always wanted one of these, too, so I may be biased.

 

[Nuuska]

That may be Nuuska, but these original semi-hollow examples really are incredibly rare. Considering a non-original, single-pickup model (with added bridge pickup) sold last year on Reverb for $4K, I think Don's asking price for a solid super structure isn't too outrageous. Admittedly, I've always wanted one of these, too, so I may be biased.

Hello

I must clarify - on the eBay-listings are 446 items ( just to make sure - dklsplace in LTG = fmhouse in eBay as per post #1 ) - the prices for the guitars are fine and reasonable - I was in my earlier post referring to items like a Fender neck plate for 549 USD - usually when someone has hundreds of items I list them highest price first and go down - that´ why I commented first.

Naturally I understand, that there are folks out there, who have tons of money to burn and who think their guitar will sound different if the neckplate is older or if they buy used pots for 695 USD instead of new and smooth for 50 USD.

Over here we often say " The one asking high price is not crazy - he who pays it is". Also eBay dealer policy allows for such pricing with fixed monthly fee instead of provision. I have an acquaintance in Switzerland who sells old ReVox hifi stuff at outrageous prices - or he tries to - he is selling a lot low priced stuff - and those extra-high-price items keep circulating year after year.

So finally - my intention was NOT to insult dklsplace - apologies if there was personal misunderstanding.

 

[dklsplace]

I must clarify - on the eBay-listings are 446 items ( just to make sure - dklsplace in LTG = fmhouse in eBay as per post #1 )

Nope. Don't know who fmhouse is, but I'm fairly certain that ebay seller has been discussed here previously.

dklsplace in LTG = dklsplace on ebay as well, with just 2 items currently listed. Member since the late '90's & just reached 200 feedback, so I'm not a particularly busy buyer or seller.

 

[dklsplace]

- has the neck and/or headstock ever been broken or repaired?

Nope! It's very solid all the way around. Yeah, a couple of the holes look rough, but easily cleaned up with a dremel. Not knowing the original construction, I'm assuming there wasn't an access plate for the switch, & someone decided they didn't have time to do the job right. I wondered if maybe this was born as a single pickup & converted to a II, but the routing for the bridge pickup appears to be a factory job.

I am getting the heavy Alembic vibe from this piece. I'd go there myself but this one is not meant to be for me. Very deserving of a second chance! Don it might be worth seeing what an Alembic modded resoration would involve, since u already own it. Does not cost money to ask!

Guess I'll have to look into that if it ends up staying with me. I've been so far removed from big projects for a number of years while my kids are growing up. This was the first year that I haven't coached basketball since '09, & hoping that I'm done coaching football (since 2011) this year too! Spending time on the lake with a cold one in hand is much more appealing than sweltering through 2-a-day practices.

 

[Nuuska]

Nope. Don't know who fmhouse is, but I'm fairly certain that ebay seller has been discussed here previously.

dklsplace in LTG = dklsplace on ebay as well, with just 2 items currently listed. Member since the late '90's & just reached 200 feedback, so I'm not a particularly busy buyer or seller.

Hello

Now I am more confused - at the same time relieved it was not you - I am confused while in first post you wrote Yep, this is mine. - tha link showed me an expensive pickup ring by seller fmhouse - I thought it was you - then it came clear it is not you, but now you write you do not know who he is - so - why did you write "Yep, this is mine " ?

 

[mavuser]

Hello

Now I am more confused - at the same time relieved it was not you - I am confused while in first post you wrote Yep, this is mine. - tha link showed me an expensive pickup ring by seller fmhouse - I thought it was you - then it came clear it is not you, but now you write you do not know who he is - so - why did you write "Yep, this is mine " ?

hey Nuuska,

ebay can be a little odd sometimes and even may display different pages on different devices. Don seems to have ended one ebay auction on the bass, and started another. when u click on his link it shows the previous auction ended, and "suggests other items that may be similar." that is where the confusion is. if you click thru on his bass in that link, it brings you to the new auction. I'm not sure if Don, or you, or myself, or anyone...really knows how ebay operates. The bass is a good project for the right person. I wouldnt butcher it up any more however, this is a professional job. I suggested Alembic for several reasons, but largely due to the existing holes that are not original. other than that id save that spruce top wherever possible.

 

[katthestar]

The lack of neck issues makes me so tempted. I figure it would cost around $1,000 to fix up, but I couldn’t say for sure without asking my luthier. I’d return it to stock as much as possible myself. The only thing that truly stops me is that most of you think it should be Alembicized (possibly a made up word).

 

[mavuser]

The lack of neck issues makes me so tempted. I figure it would cost around $1,000 to fix up, but I couldn’t say for sure without asking my luthier. I’d return it to stock as much as possible myself. The only thing that truly stops me is that most of you think it should be Alembicized (possibly a made up word).

it wouldnt look quite right, imo. for Alembic, all the parts they would cut out anyway is the bulk of the existing holes, particularly on the back. also that spruce top is valueable. use the holes for alembic controls, they may even add a hole or 2 at that point.

If Alembic does it, it might not look repaired, just Alembicized! that would be the only way to get all of your money back in the end. also id get the inlays on the fretboard, but keep the headstock Guild!

Edit: actually the Guild headstock logo may be gone, and/or Alembic may need to change the headstock for some reason.

 

[adorshki]

Hello

Now I am more confused - at the same time relieved it was not you - I am confused while in first post you wrote Yep, this is mine. - tha link showed me an expensive pickup ring by seller fmhouse - I thought it was you - then it came clear it is not you, but now you write you do not know who he is - so - why did you write "Yep, this is mine " ?

Nuuska I'm going to guess that somehow you got redirected to a posting that wasn't Don's, that's why he doesn't know who fmhouse is.
When I tested the link just now I can see the M85 under discussion.
If you still see the expensive pickup ring then there's a technical problem someplace.
Hope that helps.
Edit:
OOPs, missed that Mavuser already offered an explanation, thanks Mav!
:friendly_wink: