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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Feb 23, 2020 12:18:47 GMT -6
For the few people who will ever read this: Test your Austin knowledge!! First, memorize the list of known Austin models... then glance at a photo... then point out what makes the guitar interesting -- bonus points for the model number & the official name. First up -- this sold for a mere $150:   Ready? Okay, this is of course an AU961 "Era '62 Professional Standard". As a proper Gearhead, you should have immediately spotted all that Trev Wilkinson candy: - the switch plate: puts the switch properly between the knobs, where it's much less likely to be accidentally flipped. The design seems to be unique to Wilkinson, & appears on the upper-end Austin T-types (like my AU962, though mirror rather than matte).
- branded pickups: the Wilkie WVT set with alnico V magnets. (Some Austins built after TW moved on to running his brand actually have the logo scraped off the covers; opinions vary whether they're defaced Wilkinsons or merely made use of the surplus covers.)
- the bridge assembly: again, peak Wilkinson -- classic "ashtray," in matte, with the old-school three-slug design cleverly updated by slugs that allow a little independent compensation. Note they're brass, which nicely takes down a little of the inherent "sting" of a steel-slug Tele.
- Wilkinson tuners: and nice ones at that, again apparently in matte nickel.
ODDITIES: - If I had to guess at the serial number, I'd say this is a 2006. The 2005 catalogue indicates the 961 had a tortie pickguard, so I suppose that'd be a reasonable change.
- The "common wisdom" of maybe 2015 is that earlier models were MIK, then transitioned to MIC. (One Austin fan suggested a "middle era" where Korean components were being assembled in the PRC; while interesting, & maybe dead-on, this has never been reliably corroborated.)
- And those thoughts don't really add up!! I suppose it's possible that this example was essentially unsold stock. Otherwise, it seems odd that all the Wilkie hardware would be on an axe that was numbered AFTER Trevor Wilkinson moved on to better things; alternately, if this had both been marked MIK & hinted at an earlier year, I wouldn't have blinked.
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 5, 2022 12:30:39 GMT -6
Available right now (05 Mar 22). A beautiful (2000? 2010?) AU796, asking $499 with free shipping. Someone seems to have treasured this. Included HSC is a generic dreadnought size, but it's a sturdy shelter.   |
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Post by Rex on Mar 5, 2022 15:04:19 GMT -6
Those block-logo Session Masters are nice. Mine is a delight to play. It’s one of those Austin models that seem to have been designed and built with an extra measure of care. I think the asking price might be a little optimistic, but the buyer is likely to get a guitar that plays at least as well as the price suggests.
Side note: there’s a pillow in that dreadnaught case that might just make for a really nice fit to this 335 clone.
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 6, 2022 9:34:58 GMT -6
the asking price might be a little optimistic The only part I'd (gently  ) disagree with. For a 335 that's likely playable right from the box, I'd put it about right, maybe pn the low side -- but, yeah, that'd be for someone who's actually gonna put it to work and PLAY it and not be worried about resale value or collectibility. Now, THIS is optimistic: $550 + $150  --  I mean, hmm... sure it's a nice bass, a rebranded Alvarez (likely, therefore, that Villain or Sutcliffe did the design and set the specs  )... but that chip is kinda ugly, and there's no market demand (far from that for the guitars). (I think Washburn's XB-400 is one of the best workhorse basses ever put on the market -- but demand is so flat that my 2004 Blue Book actually over-values them on the IRL market.) Also, WTF "Mahogany Burl Figured Mahogany"??  Much more likely alder, and maple veneers. With SRP of $449, Fjestad's Law says ~$225, and absolutely not $449+. |
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Post by Rex on Mar 6, 2022 12:49:20 GMT -6
Okay, for a 335 clone that’s playable out of the box, I’ll agree it’s a realistic price. For an Austin version of that, it’s optimistic — based entirely on what they wind up selling for. My Session Master cost me under $200, and it came with Tone Pros pickups, a CTS wiring kit, aftermarket bridge, Grover tuners, and a hardshell 335 case. Oh, and that “mahogany burl” bass is foto-flame over plywood, and is likely better playing and more resonant than most under-$1000 basses. And yes, it’s very optimistically priced.  |
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Post by Tony Ravenscroft on Mar 22, 2022 23:43:33 GMT -6
likely better playing and more resonant than most under-$1000 basses. Oh, no argument here. I've got its cousin (in Purple Burst), and that shallow neck is just heartbreakingly perfect. I think it cost me like $150 delivered, six or seven years ago. Looking at that finish, I am again amazed at how much effort some brands will put into pushing a mid-price instrument. They could have much more easily put on a Fender-style one-color finish -- at most maybe undercoat, paint, clearcoat -- or a simple burst face and one-color back. Oh, no, not Austin!! Slap on a decal, then burst the edges, then clearcoat... and do BOTH sides. If a guitar is going to be a working tool, it should have a good solid finish that can take more than a few dings without looking chewed up** -- and the same goes for beginner instruments. Fragile finishes are, at best, something that ought to be reserved for the extreme ends of the market: those who really don't care, or those who may never actually play the instrument. ________________ ** -- I really like my natural-finish XB-400 Washburn bass: it's just thin satin clearcoat over naked wood. A perfect call, really: it'd be an easy bomb-can upgrade. But they also had colors that were far too thick, far too glossy, and far too fragile: on the one with the burgundy finish, it's got chips 1+ mm deep. |
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Post by Rex on Mar 23, 2022 1:04:57 GMT -6
likely better playing and more resonant than most under-$1000 basses. Oh, no argument here. I've got its cousin (in Purple Burst), and that shallow neck is just heartbreakingly perfect. I think it cost me like $150 delivered, six or seven years ago. Yes! That slim neck is common to every Austin bass I've had my hands on.
I have the same model and color as yours (AU789PB (purple burst)). I showed mine to a bass-playing buddy. The first thing he noticed: that my $80 Austin plays better than his $1000 Jazz Bass. 
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) disagree with. For a 335 that's likely playable right from the box, I'd put it about right, maybe pn the low side -- but, yeah, that'd be for someone who's actually gonna put it to work and PLAY it and not be worried about resale value or collectibility.
--
)... but that chip is kinda ugly, and there's no market demand (far from that for the guitars). (I think Washburn's XB-400 is one of the best workhorse basses ever put on the market -- but demand is so flat that my 2004 Blue Book actually over-values them on the IRL market.) Also, WTF "Mahogany Burl Figured Mahogany"?? 
Much more likely alder, and maple veneers. With SRP of $449, Fjestad's Law says ~$225, and absolutely not $449+.
