shinksma
What? I get a title?
- Joined
- Mar 20, 2014
- Messages
- 5,325
So I decided to pick up a 5 string bass for my wife (and me, I will admit). Found this online at GC. Single photo was the usual GC quality (i.e. looked like it was taken by Mr Magoo, after several martinis). Arrived today, and I checked it out at lunch.
I'm a little disappointed that there is more "road wear" than usual, and wasn't really described. But the price was pretty good for something of this vintage, and I must admit it feels pretty good to play.
Brazilian FB feels nice and slick. It seems to have "faded" overall, but is dark where played a lot (from natural body oils, I guess) - is that typical?
Here's the rode-hard-and-put-up-wet bits:
Top of front, there is more "scratchy" stuff going up to the bass horn:
Back, belt buckle rash I guess:
There is also a good gash on the headstock:
Here's the SN on back of headstock - so it is a 1987, not the 1986 it was advertised as:
The mini-toggle seems to switch from active to passive modes. It is quite "loose" (can spin around in the switch housing a bit) when passive is selected. I will probably swap that out. I do not have a 9VDC battery handy, nor a good screwdriver, so active mode testing will have to wait until I get home.
Still, despite all the wear and tear, it is the 47th bass ever made by PRS!
It did not come with OHSC, so GC threw in a "free" Road Runner case. The PRS is a little loose in there, so the case is already dinged from the bass horn strap pin slamming into it during shipping.
Got the bass for under half what a couple of SE basses street for, which is a whole lot less than some of the listings out there for other similar-vintage specimens (albeit in a lot better condition).
But I'm annoyed at the condition being just on the verge of "fair" instead of "good".
Good: This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents.
Fair: This product is functional but shows signs of heavy use that could include, but not limited to; scratches, dings, dent, chips, and worn parts/controls.
But I will probably keep it, since it is a piece of PRS history that I am unlikely to find at a comparable price (there is a 1990 Bass-5 at a GC in Manhattan for a similar price, but looks to be in slightly better condition based on the better photos). Everything else is easily double the price, or more.
So, does anyone know how the active controls work on this model of bass? Obviously once I get the battery (or batteries?) installed I will be able to experiment, but an actual "user guide" would be nice.
@Shawn@PRS , anything in the PRS document vaults?
I'm a little disappointed that there is more "road wear" than usual, and wasn't really described. But the price was pretty good for something of this vintage, and I must admit it feels pretty good to play.
Brazilian FB feels nice and slick. It seems to have "faded" overall, but is dark where played a lot (from natural body oils, I guess) - is that typical?
Here's the rode-hard-and-put-up-wet bits:
Top of front, there is more "scratchy" stuff going up to the bass horn:
Back, belt buckle rash I guess:
There is also a good gash on the headstock:
Here's the SN on back of headstock - so it is a 1987, not the 1986 it was advertised as:
The mini-toggle seems to switch from active to passive modes. It is quite "loose" (can spin around in the switch housing a bit) when passive is selected. I will probably swap that out. I do not have a 9VDC battery handy, nor a good screwdriver, so active mode testing will have to wait until I get home.
Still, despite all the wear and tear, it is the 47th bass ever made by PRS!
It did not come with OHSC, so GC threw in a "free" Road Runner case. The PRS is a little loose in there, so the case is already dinged from the bass horn strap pin slamming into it during shipping.
Got the bass for under half what a couple of SE basses street for, which is a whole lot less than some of the listings out there for other similar-vintage specimens (albeit in a lot better condition).
But I'm annoyed at the condition being just on the verge of "fair" instead of "good".
Good: This product is completely functional and shows some signs of use. It may have surface scratches and/or dings and dents.
Fair: This product is functional but shows signs of heavy use that could include, but not limited to; scratches, dings, dent, chips, and worn parts/controls.
But I will probably keep it, since it is a piece of PRS history that I am unlikely to find at a comparable price (there is a 1990 Bass-5 at a GC in Manhattan for a similar price, but looks to be in slightly better condition based on the better photos). Everything else is easily double the price, or more.
So, does anyone know how the active controls work on this model of bass? Obviously once I get the battery (or batteries?) installed I will be able to experiment, but an actual "user guide" would be nice.
@Shawn@PRS , anything in the PRS document vaults?