Value of a Scarab bass

[Hardrockracer]

Lately I have been thinking of letting go the Scarab bass I have. Unfortuntely it is not in original condition. It has a black pearl refinish and used to be ice pearl I think. It does have a set of EMGs. I don't know the build year because the idiot that finished it either sanded off the S/N or it is so covered with paint that you can't see it. It has a stadium logo. One thing that really looks odd is how they painted the area around the original logo. To make it look at least nicer one would have to touch up the area around the logo. It has a OHSC. What could I possibly be asking for it?

HRR

[cmatthes]

I'm thinking $250-$350, as described. Does this include the original case?

[Hardrockracer]

As stated in my post it does come with an OHSC. But for that Kind of money I might as well keep it.

HRR

[cmatthes]

Sorry - missed the OHSC part!

Scarab basses in clean, original condition sit on the market at $500-600, so I don't think that the refin, lack of serial number and EMGs will add to the value.

They are nice, typically light, and resonant basses - at least all of the ones I've played - it's just unfortunate that the market doesn't seem to support that.

[Hamer Dave]

I may be interested in something like that for a stage bass. I've sent you a PM.

Dave

[mc2]

My minty white one that I did a trade + cash dealer deal on an amp head for last year is sitting at a different dealer for $1349. I think it got swapped at a guitar show. It is mint, except for the outline of a Def Lepp signature that I tried to remove but was faded in a bit. I got $1500 credit on the Scarab w/OHSC.

There was another really nice, clean all-original one on Craigs List for $600 for nearly 6 months...black cherry metalflake w/matching headstock. The seller would not ship, so that likely made it a harder sell. But it finally moved.

So, your non-original one...$350 to $500 range as a guess. Maybe $600 on EBAY if you get lucky, since it's black. The Scarab is one of those "love it or hate it" basses and they don't pop up all that much. If you do the EBAY thing....I'd go with a $699 Buy It Now with a "make offer" option....so you might get some Def Lepp fan impulse buyer...and maybe mention the one sitting at a dealer for $1349 and your's is "half price" of that.

If that new Tom Cruise movie goes bigtime with the 80s music soundtrack, it might be a good time to move pointy axes. Haven't seen it yet (my Chinese DVD exec is slipping) to know what basses are being played in scenes.

There is also a refinished white one on EBAY...missing the "USA" on the new logo....that is signed by the 5 members of the current Def Lepp that the owners has been trying to get thousands for for months....so your's would also seem a bargain against that.

Aren't you up in the Toronto area now? That's one of the places that a Scarab would probably sell. It's still 1983 in Toronto

[crunchee]

It's still 1983 in Toronto

I have this sudden urge to visit Toronto...

[cmatthes]

The fact that Tom Cruise is IN that movie will more likely make people HATE that music!

[Bennyboy-UK]

A most au fait observation sir, very droll

[RichRS6]

The fact that Tom Cruise is IN that movie will more likely make people HATE that music!

I'm sure you're right, I avoid movies with him in if at all possible.

[Bennyboy-UK]

...apart from Top Gun naturally