As per suggestion (and because my being a jerk should not be the cause of any else's unhappiness), I thought I'd try a new thread and see if I can get some help understanding.

I confess I can't see the appeal of these old, beat-up Fender basses. What is it? I've listened to them carefully, and at least my ear can't hear anything exceptional. They certainly weren't made of the best tone woods, or by master luthiers, so even new they were deservedly inexpensive.

If the tone ages like fine wine over the decades, maybe I lack these Golden Ears, but I'd be amazed if anyone could really hear this. And certainly they aren't visually impressive - the finish is worn off, they have dings and scratches and gouges and cracks. The paint has faded and discolored.

Now, I know there has to be something to it, because I can look on e-bay and see that these things are fetching prices that would make Jens Ritter or Mike Tobias or Vinnie Fodera envious.

Maybe you need to be a nostalgia buff? I wonder what any of those famous luthiers could get for a "relicked" bass that they cranked out for cheap, then stone-washed it. Do you suppose they could advertise it as "just as authentically mistreated as an old Fender"?

(And I'm really sorry if I stepped on anyone's toes. Hey, I'm well aware that my own choice is generally regarded as not too bright. Maybe my defense is the same as anyone else's: This is what I like.)