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Post subject: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:43 pm
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Is there anything we can do to shut down these chop shop chumps? I've been looking around on eBay poking around for different models. Found a couple of Ibanez destroyer basses, and some parts. Looking into it, it's the same body and neck finish, but broken up into a couple listings. Same with a Stu Hamm Urge II. I'm furious. What can we do to take these knuckleheads down, if anything?

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 1:55 pm
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I'm curious. Are you saying that Stratosphere is selling counterfeit basses? I've dealt with them many times and always found them to be completely on the up and up. I've personally built a complete parts bass from there, gigged it for years, and eventually resold it. (accurately stating in detail what went into the bass and that it was built from official Fender parts)

Or are you saying that there are other private sellers out there who buy parts from places like Stratosphere and pawn them off as authentic models? If that's the case that you can hardly hold them responsible for the dishonesty of others.

Places like the Stratosphere are great for guys who want certain finish, neck, body or pick up combos that Fender doesn't offer but don't have the ridiculous amount of cash needed to order a CS bass.

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:34 pm
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No, they're breaking down these basses that are hard enough to find in one piece and selling them as parts. I haven't seen any "classics" like vintage fenders but basses like the two I named above are hard enough to get one's hands on as it is without these guys parting them out.

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 2:36 pm
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If they had been selling counterfeit merchant, I'd have let ebay know as well since I know that ebay would take that shiz seriously. What they are doing seems to be in a sort of grey area

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 5:22 pm
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thebassopotomous wrote:
No, they're breaking down these basses that are hard enough to find in one piece and selling them as parts. I haven't seen any "classics" like vintage fenders but basses like the two I named above are hard enough to get one's hands on as it is without these guys parting them out.


I clearly see your point but the bottom line is, they own them and therefore, can do whatever they want to/with them.

As always, this is merely IMO where YMMV.

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 9:43 pm
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I hear that, Martian. And I think that may be my biggest gripe is that they really aren't wrong, it's just seems so messed up.

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 5:28 pm
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It is STRICTLY a business proposition. They make far, far, far more money selling them one piece at a time then they would selling them whole. (Don't try to build a car or a guitar one piece at a time.)

You can tell how many Fenders they are chopping up by the number of Fender factory cases they have for sale at any one time. Don't count the cases up, I tried once and lost count at over 40.

There really isn't anything illegal about it and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it that I know about other than not buying from them. If people didn't buy their parts offerings it would stop. Usually it is more standard stuff than rarer issues but those make money too. It may not be a beautiful business model to one who appreciates the finished output from Corona, but I bet they make at least 100% profit off every instrument they buy to part out and could never make that much selling them whole. Money talks.


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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:42 pm
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I was looking for a certain type of neck for a custom-painted Telecaster. I found a reissue Telecaster with the right neck and bought it to cannibalize it. It was so nice, I couldn't bear to disassemble it. So, I kept looking. thestratosphere was the only guy who had a neck that matched what I was looking for. So I bought it. It was exactly what I wanted. I got what I wanted and my search is over. And I have two nice Telecasters.

Guitars and basses are a personal thing. Different people want different options. You can't really complain about a person who provides those options.


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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:21 am
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I know exactly how you feel. I want to cry every time I see a series of listings it always starts with 19xx pick up cover, then tuners, bridge, control panel, neck etc. makes me sick. It should be illegal, its def immoral. destroying history to make a buck. I don't think there is anything you could do but buy up the pieces and put them back together


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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 10:41 am
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moothra wrote:
...destroying history to make a buck...

While I fully support thestratosphere, I know that feeling.
I get that feeling when someone buys a brand new guitar (e.g. Strat, P Bass, etc.) -- especially the American versions -- and the first thing they do is replace the bridge and pickups.

My thought is "Why are you trashing a perfectly good guitar?" Those aren't "upgrades."
When I go to buy a used guitar, those are red flags. I don't want an American Fender that doesn't have the original parts. You don't know what you're getting.

But there is a time and place for everything. Guitars are very personal. You can't blame someone for doing it his way.


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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 4:21 pm
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To a collector - ethically wrong.

To a business - ethically right.

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Tue Apr 23, 2013 6:52 pm
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I have to admit that I have often stared at those ads with sugarplums dancing in my head with thoughts of endless possibilities for unique partsocaster builds. Those ads give me gas. The only reason I've never acted on the impulse is fear I might feel guilty down the road for enabling an iffy practice. That right there is reason enough for me to wish he'd stop doing it. He encourages me to have evil thoughts in my mind.


OK, so maybe the word evil is a bit of overkill. :lol:

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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:16 am
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Putting rose colored glasses on... there are many many people restoring abused vintage instruments to as close to original as they can get at this point because some people make parts available. I still cringe at the thought of dismantling an instrument because you can get more money selling one pick guard screw at a time but there are bigger battles to fight in this world.


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Post subject: Re: eBay seller thestratosphere
Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 4:57 pm
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I've bought parts from them in the past and will continue to do so in the future. I don't feel the least bit guilty either.


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