Dating your bass, specifically your hollow M-85

fronobulax

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Usually the date chart here is reliable enough to use. But as Hans will patiently mention, Guild serial numbers and dates are not a simple subject and much of the published information is incorrect or inaccurate.

So the site lists the hollow ("first edition") M-85 with BB101 to 109 for 1968 and BB110 to 194 for 1969 after which the BB prefix was not routinely used. However, on page 47 of Han's book, the chart lists BB101 to 109 for 1967 and BB110 to 194 for 1968 and BB195-241 for 1969. After seeing those numbers I noticed a model number of BB195-241 at the web site. It seems pretty clear that there was some kind of "mechanical" error when building the table.

This post is mostly to help me remember this when I don't have Hans' book at hand.
 

mellowgerman

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"specifically your hollow M-85"

hmmm, is there a hollow M-85 II in frono's near future? black maybe? :wink:
 

fronobulax

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mellowgerman said:
"specifically your hollow M-85"

hmmm, is there a hollow M-85 II in frono's near future? black maybe? :wink:
specifically a hollow M-85 :wink:

Negotiations have been started but it is not clear what the outcome will be.
 

bassmyf

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fronobulax said:
mellowgerman said:
"specifically your hollow M-85"

hmmm, is there a hollow M-85 II in frono's near future? black maybe? :wink:
specifically a hollow M-85 :wink:

Negotiations have been started but it is not clear what the outcome will be.

With Rivington or Mrs. Frono? :)
 

fronobulax

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bassmyf said:
fronobulax said:
mellowgerman said:
"specifically your hollow M-85"

hmmm, is there a hollow M-85 II in frono's near future? black maybe? :wink:
specifically a hollow M-85 :wink:

Negotiations have been started but it is not clear what the outcome will be.

With Rivington or Mrs. Frono? :)
Both (and I was wondering if anyone would ask) :)
 

mgod

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According to a letter I have from 1974, my M-85 #BB-172 is from 68.

DS
 

fronobulax

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kevin the bass man said:
when are we going to see pics of your new addition, frono?
Don't I wish. First offer was not accepted. Trying to decide what the second will be. Dealer's listing is here. Also threaded in eBay section.

Edit: Sold. Not to me. :( I will drown my sorrows by giving the Starfire I some quality time.
 

hieronymous

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Sorry to hear it, but "there will always be another." Plus, your current collection is not too shabby!
 

fronobulax

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hieronymous said:
Sorry to hear it, but "there will always be another." Plus, your current collection is not too shabby!
Thanks. One of the reasons my initial offer was too low is that, if push comes to shove, it is hard to justify a M-85 on the basis of sound or playability with a comparable Starfire I in the stable. It was too easy to say they were asking over $3K for what would effectively be adding a bridge pickup and a suck switch to my sonic options. The exercise has made me realize that if I am going to pay a premium price (or something with a tremendous opportunity cost) condition is going to be very important.
 
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