I doubt this could be considered spam for 99% of Lowdowners.

Howie Epstein's estate is auctioning off his jaw-dropping bass collection including a '60 P Bass played at Live Aid, a '61 P, A Dan Armstrong, a Rick Turner, etc, etc.

The entire collection: http://topshelfguitarshop.com/HowieEpstein.html


What caught my eye, though, was this Wal:

Howie Epstein Estate sale

Me want.

Hey Phil, a back-up bass and a fretted bass, all in a handy Wal shaped package!

Alex

I'm GASing for some of the non-bass items, too, but I just don't get the 12-string banjo. [Nice to see yet another bass player with a mandolin. I think JPJ is still the most serious mandolin-playing bass player, though. Got to love the Ric 360/12 12-string. Mm mm good!]

Too bad the links don't work yet.

What, no fives?

Very cool collection, but I wonder how long it'll take Jim Hall to try to shut down the sale of the Rickenbacker bass copy. :rolleyes:

I looked into the auction when Entwistle's stuff was auctioned off. There was a lot of interesting and unique stuff there (like in Epstein's auction) and it all went for more than normal market value prices because of the 'owned by a famous person' cachet.

Somehow, I don't think the price will be right.

(I'm embarressed to say that I had to ggole to find out who Howie Epstein was though: even more embarrassed when I found out but Tom Petty was always more famous Stateside for some reason).

Seriously, if anyone sees a Wal at a decent price (check the Wal groups/forums at Yahoo and Dudepit to compare) - buy it if you can afford it. There value is increasing and they're wonderful instruments.

I'm a big fan of Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers' early work. That was the Ron Blair days (before the late Mr. Epstein joined). Nice collection though.

I'm not sure having belonged to Howie Epstein carries the same cachet as having belonged to John Entwistle.

http://www.gumtree.com/london/40/7413940.html

Just down the road from you I think mate

Just the 'afford it' part is difficult for me now.

hehe

There's some really nice instruments in there. I hope they find good homes.

I'm sure there are some Tom Petty fans out there that will throw huge sums of money at this stuff that will make it impossible for mere mortals to even consider any of it. Sad. I would love to own that Wal. Or any of the early 60's Fenders.