Caution: DryZ's on Ebay

Smokin' Tone · Jul 21, 2008

http://cgi.ebay.com/Greco-Z-dry-pic...ryZ22670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'm a bit suspect of the claims listed in the auction. These are supposed to be original covers / solder joints although the joints look a bit rough and there are some smudge marks around them where someone could have cleaned the area prior to soldering. Most DryZ's I have seen had wax on the base plate but there are no signs of it here. Cleaning it off would have most likely removed the stamp.

One of the covers don't appear to fit well. If you look close at the pics you can see that the screw holes don't line up well. It looks like in one pic on the far left screw that it is set below the cover and raising it may catch it.

The covers looked well aged but the screw pole pieces are very clean. At the least I would say that the covers are not original and possibly not correct although the seller claims he knows what guitar they came from. I'm not saying it's the case but that Z wouldn't be all that hard to replicate either. This seller has had a lot of Z's up for auction lately. I guess I'm a bit skeptical.

Ikkyu · Jul 21, 2008

Howdy Steve. Yep, I already saw that seller's auctions before. He sold at least two or three sets of Zs since sometime.
Looking at those the pole screws look new compared to the covers.

MIJvintage · Jul 21, 2008

Ikkyu said:
Looking at those the pole screws look new compared to the covers.

I noticed the same thing; shiny, new adjustable poles, on an oxidized pickup

Very suspect, to me .........................

Smokin' Tone · Jul 21, 2008

Yeah the pole pieces stand out the most. I wonder if they are even Z's. All of them I have seen have excess wax on the bottom. I wonder if the Z stamp is authentic. These are bringing enough money now that some imposter's may start showing up.

Big Willie Style · Jul 21, 2008

I have no idea about these but I have seen some nice, authentic vintage mij guitars from him in the last few months. Maybe he went over to the dark side... :evil: :lol:

Jason

Ikkyu · Jul 22, 2008

Big Willie Style said:
...Maybe he went over to the dark side...

I think so...

:lol:

CliffsGuitarWorld · Jul 22, 2008

Ok.... I am going stand up for HMGUITARS on Ebay.... Hirotaka is one of the best and most acturate sellers in Japan.. I have purchased many Super Reals from Hirotaka and Dry-Z's... He has been playing and collecting guitars for years. He is simply selling off some of his collection. I have purchased Dry-Z's in the past from him and the Ohms have been right on and in the spec's for Dry-Z's I ought to know I have 9 pairs myself... MarkF (Villager knows him real well and I am sure he would back me up on this one. ONCE AGAIN HE IS FOR REAL>>>>>> Cliff

Smokin' Tone · Jul 22, 2008

I'm not really implying that he is crooked. I'm questioning the product listed. He may be under the impression that the listing is correct. I don't know if it is his private collection or if he obtained them from another source. My point is that the covers do not look original to me as stated. Usually the screw pole pieces would be oxidized to near the point the covers are. What I can see of the solder joints are suspect. That makes me a bit curious. Aside from the Z stamp that could be easily duplicated those look no different than an early pair of Maxon pups.

I don't think it's in good taste to come online and trash a seller and that is not my intent. But I do disagree with the product disrciption. I'm also raising awareness about the possibility of fake Z's coming about. Again he could have someone suppling him with such a product and not know it.

CliffsGuitarWorld · Jul 22, 2008

Steve,...... You have every right to suspect something may be array. I am simply stating my dealings with him and I stand behind him in my past transaction in and out of E-Bay. People can change and I certainly hope he has not gone to the darkseid.... afterall I sure would miss a fantastic source of Japan guitars... If someone is suspect of the Dry-Z's I would email him and voice your concerns and see if he would stand behind the pups and offer a return...Cheers... Cliff

Ikkyu · Jul 23, 2008

Right. I quoted Steve, but if Hirotaka is ok I'm happy for him and for any possible buyer. I don't know the story of the EGF-1800 he took the pups out, but that's something I certainly wouldn't do. Beside this, Cliffs you said you have several pairs: any for sale?
8)

CliffsGuitarWorld · Jul 23, 2008

Right. I quoted Steve, but if Hirotaka is ok I'm happy for him and for any possible buyer. I don't know the story of the EGF-1800 he took the pups out, but that's something I certainly wouldn't do. Beside this, Cliffs you said you have several pairs: any for sale?

Update.. I had a conversation with Hirotaka yesterday and the Dry-Z's were taken out of the EGF-1800 3 years ago before prices started escalating.. He does not have the 1800 anymore.. As for me... I am holding on the Dry-Z's as IMO they are underpriced due to the limited availablility and the killer sound that they produce.. Best,... Cliff

voyager · Jul 23, 2008

AlanN · Jul 23, 2008

voyager said:
awry

Thank you!

Ikkyu · Jul 24, 2008

CliffsComicWorld said:
... I am holding on the Dry-Z's as IMO they are underpriced due to the limited availablility and the killer sound that they produce..

Having always played guitar instead making business out of it, I've always been against speculating on it. Drys sound great, but this doesn't mean they have a value without limits.
If so, how much would it be a set of original '50 pafs?
8)

JohnA · Jul 24, 2008

Ikkyu said:
CliffsComicWorld said:

... I am holding on the Dry-Z's as IMO they are underpriced due to the limited availablility and the killer sound that they produce..

Click to expand...

Having always played guitar instead making business out of it, I've always been against speculating on it. Drys sound great, but this doesn't mean they have a value without limits.
If so, how much would it be a set of original '50 pafs?
8)

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gibson-PAF-Vintage-Double-Creme-Humbuckers_W0QQitemZ190237835252QQihZ009QQcategoryZ22670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Those DRY-Z's are a give-away :wink:

mrsuspend · Jul 24, 2008

Man!

Anonymous · Jul 24, 2008

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Ridiculous. It's a magnet & some wire............

:-?

CliffsGuitarWorld · Jul 24, 2008

Well..... A pairs of PAFs for over $6K.... would this be a bargin in Euro's?... if not then maybe this is a bargain?... I'll stick with the Dry-Z's

http://cgi.ebay.com/PAF-Pickup-Gibson-1959-Les-Paul-Original-Vintage_W0QQitemZ200241141244QQihZ010QQcategoryZ22670QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

JohnA · Jul 24, 2008

Considering there are probably just as few DRY-Z's in the world as pre 1960 PAF's, the DRY-Z's are a bargain, I've never played a set of real '59 PAF's but they can not be worth that sort of money!! A set of used DRY-Z's may appear expensive, but they are only about the same price as a new set of WCR's or equivalent, and they sound fantastic!

Saying that so do WCR, Florance, Wolfetone etc, but taking rarity in to account the DRY-Z's are good value for money.

JohnA · Jul 24, 2008

Just found the exact same pickups on Yahoo Japan????

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d86787963

Caution: DryZ's on Ebay

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