MICA - Questions about the Little MG bass at Larry Morgan

[Bryan Threlkeld (vikingman)]

Mica,
 
Questions about the orphan bass at Larry Morgan music.  
 
When was it built (they were thinking it was nearly 20 years old)?  What would it cost to build a similar one today?  I was playing on it today, and I thought it was pretty cool.  
 
Trouble is, it's got someone else's initials in it and a cheesy little plate over the removed Series electronics connector... and it seems very pricey for an older non-series bass.  Also, if I buy it and later decide to sell it, it might take 20 more years to find a buyer :-)
 
I'm struggling between an Alembic short-scale and a Fodera Victor Wooten right now.  I've found these two basses have the best feel.
 
Thanks for the info,
 
Thanks!
Bryan

[Bryan Threlkeld (vikingman)]

Mica,
 
I hope my previous post didn't sound too critical - it is a nice bass.  
 
One more question... If they would negotiate the price, what options might I have for removing the MG initials and covering over the Series electronics connector?
 
Thanks,
Bryan

[mica]

I think that bass was made in 1995.  
 
Removing the initials isn't simple - it also involves refinishing, which runs $750. Then the question is, what would you want in their place? We thought an engraved brass plate over the initials would be least expensive solution (and one you could even take care of locally). At a later date, when the bass was in need of refinishing, take care of the initals change at that time.  
 
That little plate over the old 5-pin connector is mother of pearl by the way.
 
The reason we have that bass is the person that originally purchased it could make a terrible buzz when he played it. Nobody else has been able to make the noise happen (I even asked Jimmy Johnson to try it on one of his visits). We wound up making him an entirely new bass, and just kept that one here. The bass has been in Texas longer than it was with the guy who ordered it. He lives in a nearby town and didn't even have it for a day.
 
The bass is new with a warranty, and we are comfortable with the price we offered.  

[Bryan Threlkeld (vikingman)]

Thanks Mica,
 
That clears things up a bit.  First I was confused as to how it could have been built in 1984 and have Anniversary electronics.
 
I'd have to think about the brass plate idea.
 
I know the plate is mother of pearl, but it really stands out as awkward to me.  What is under the plate?
 
So what would be the cost to have a bass built like this one?
 
Bryan

[mica]

There's a big hole under that plate - it was originally fitted with Series electronics which we put in MG's new bass.  
 
That bass would run about $5950 new with case (not counting the inlay of course).