Les Paul Bass

[Freuds_Cat]

Argh! 

I'm not cashed up enough to even consider bidding on this but would dearly love to.

What wouldyou guys reckon the truest value of this baby to be?



The seller is Bob Spencer who I've met once when he played guitar  with a very big 70's Australian band called Skyhooks. Very nice and humble guy and great guitar player. IronMaiden did a cover of Skyhooks song "Women in Uniform" and I'm sad to say butchered it.

Here is the original version, Bob is on the left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNPkQZSOKr8&feature=related

[Dave W]

Got a link?

[OldManC]

Thanks for that. I haven't seen/heard the original before. I guess I'm just an old Maiden fan, but I've always loved their version. Skyhook's vocals are superior, but I like the feel of the track here:

[Basvarken]

What wouldyou guys reckon the truest value of this baby to be?

I'd say about 1500 dollar. But maybe a little less because of the modifications. Of course the non original Badass is obvious. But lucky enough the bass wasn't routed to fit the Badass, so that mod is reversible. Shame about the holes at the tail. My guess is that they once had a trapeze tailpiece installed in order to be able to fit long scale strings...






And I like both versions of Women In Uniform. Never heard the original before (didn't even know it was a cover!)

[uwe]

I could live with the bridge if the electronics and pups - they are what makes this bass in any event - are fine. Otherwise, shape ain't bad. Between a 1,000 and 1,500 bucks, more to the lower end.

Knew the Iron Maiden version, but the Skyhooks version (which I've never heard, I was aware of the band and had heard they were great but too off the wall for broad success internationally) beats it to smithereens. Love that glam/Tubes touch in there. Gonna get me an anthology now.

Uwe

[Freuds_Cat]

Bass is sold for Aus$1800 (about US$1700) I think to a guy in the UK.

Skyhooks are pre Tubes Uwe.  Here in Oz in the early 70's there were 3 big bands.

AC/DC with Bon Scott
Skyhooks
and
Sherbet.

Skyhooks were the biggest selling and probably the most popular across the general public.

Best songs include:

Living in the 70's
Million Dollar Riff
Why dont you all get fuc7ed
Ego is not a dirty word
You just love me 'cause I'm good in bed
Horror Movie (its the 6.30 news)
This is my city
Party to end all parties
Hotel Hell (my personal favorite)



Check out Gregs bass at 3.32

He wrote most of the tunes and was out before it was cool to be out.

[uwe]

Greg's bass? I think he was just trying to keep abreast with matters.

Pre-Tubes? IIRC, the Tubes started on A&M in the early seventies, by the time they had their eighties hits (actually more like one hit) on Capitol they were - like Chicago (though the bands don't really compare at all) - selling out to AOR and it eventually killed the band.

Wasn't there a connection between Skyhooks in a later line up and Crowded House? (EDIT: Of course not, I mistook Skyhooks with Split Enz!)

I just ordered a Skyhooks double anthology at my CD shop. It will join my collection of Australia's fine cultural contributions*** to the world (like, errrm, the two spiketail monitors I have and the two blue tongue skinks, my Bee Gees and AC DC albums, that one Heaven album and weren't the Baby Animals Aussie too?)

Uwe

*** forgot to mention that heavily sedative Moculta red wine!

[SKATE RAT]

i knew the Maiden version also and i agree the Skyhooks killed it! that was awesome.and Uwe your Aussie section needs the Saints. "I'm stranded" is such a great song.

[Freuds_Cat]

Ah Skate Rat what about some Radio Birdman!!!