Good luck with that carved JS2, it looks great in walnut and would be a great match for your JS1.
If you do decide to get it at least you won`t have to pay for shipping.
Thanks Hagmeat. If I get that carved JS bass, it would only be because I was able to trade for it...and I probably would not keep it long term. I just want to trim down my arsenal, and thinking maybe in the end I could break even on the Carved JS, and help someone out that wants one. maybe someone around here, or close to here, already has the carved guitar, and wants the bass to match? But either way, if the trade is there, ill do it. But- there is a good chance it will not come together at all. I really just want to see it (and hear it).
In the meantime I have spoken to the guy (my neighbor) and shed some light on the long scale mystery, and a handful of other fun facts about his Guild instrument. I expect (and hope!) he will update his ebay listing to be as accurate as possible, for his own benefit, as well as any potential buyer. Seems like a nice guy on the phone, but said he's in Florida, so I don't know how soon he can edit his listing. I told him "If someone thinks they are actually getting a Carved LS which would be EXTREMELY rare and basically does not exist...at that price...and then they get it in the mail, to see it is a short scale...you may have a problem." So I warned him enough, and he understood, so expect he will at least change that and "maple" to "oak" asap.
I do like the Walnut on the JS though. have seen one or 2 others with the natural/grain headstock. I think they were all JS 1's but not sure. mine and one other for sure are JS1's w/natural headstock (both 1972).
also thanks for the heads up on the 1977 Walnut JS2 on ebay w/ Muller bridge...birth year and all. That one, unfortunately, is also not in my short term future, but I will keep an eye on it. didn't examine it too close but asking price seems reasonable. I have seen several 70's JS2's sell for less than $800 on ebay, original hard shell case and all...various colors, some were even fretless-all looked nice! I have also recently seen at least one nice one on Craigslist, who's asking price was $700. We even saw one go on ebay-with a bisonic! and it was green! albeit, had seen better days...but still had tons of life/mojo, and that sold for $7xx something...
at the same time I have seen one or 2 JS2's right around the $1,000 mark...they must have been nice...but people can also play games on ebay, so who knows. (just because it says "sold for $1,000...does not meant it actually did. it might not have sold at all...lots of tricks out there!!!)
The JS1's, from what I know, sell for almost as much as a JS2 (600-800, in nice shape). I think there are less of them, and they may have been discontinued prior to the discontinued JS2. It says in Hans' book but I don't recall at this moment.
so I think they are the best deal going on vintage short scale (if you like the humbuker or have plans for new pups)...they are 40 years old +/- that mahogany is nice and ripe now! i just love the neck on mine, more and more each time I play. and the body, the way it sits...i have actually started to wear thru the finish a bit from playing it. some nice self inflicted natural patina! I can see the wear in all my guitars (from myself). I dont know how someone can keep a new finish so mint if they play it, even occasionally. but that's just me.
