The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: Denis on May 18, 2010, 11:12:57 AM
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Now that a bunch of us have the BaCHbirds added to the collection, quite a few of you have picked up a number of basses since I joined this here forum and I've had a chance to play various basses of my own, what are your top favorites?
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Still the same three since '87... :o
Fretless RD
Peter Cook Custom
Hohner Jack
all radically different - all just fine...
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I always try to find a modern back up for my Thunderbird, but no Thunderbird... I already have one...
And I always come back to the '76er... I am trying out a bass now, which could be nice. More about that later:)
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It's really hard to say, and changes with the day.
My '63 P is an old friend I've had for 40+ years, and it's a great, solid bass.
My gold top Epi Casady has a unique voice that I really like.
My short scale Gretsch Electromatic Jr Jet 2202 has a super-hot pickup and is a breeze to play.
My MIM Jazz in Midnight Blue is a very cool bass, and the E string sustains like the pedal on a pipe organ.
My Univox hollobody 335-copy is the prettiest bass I have, but it needs different pickups.
The P/J that I refinished and defretted is lovely, but I don't have a lot of reason to play it.
And I have a few others with varying degrees of attachment. I'm selling the Jay Turser 401, hopefully tonight, because I never play it.
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For me, my go-to bass over the past couple years has been the fanfret Precision project.
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b170/gweimer/basses/PC300227.jpg)
Depending on the music I'm doing, my second in line is the Johnson Scroll bass, or the BaCH TH-1.
The Holy Crap bass seems to be on hiatus for now.
The G&L L-1000 is more decoration these days, and the Magnatone needs to get the neck fixed (slight warp up past the 12th fret).
The Hamer Cruise 2Tek is one I'm wrestling with. I don't play it, but I do like it. I've been thinking that getting rid of the Barts and putting Lollars in it might change things.
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My favorite bass?
The one I'm playing......of course!
Funny thing, even tho mine are all Thunderbirds no 2 sound exactly alike, or even play alike.
I need another one ;D
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You just bought another one! :mrgreen:
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So many Thunderbirds... so little time... ;D
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My current favorite is the bass I play out live. A 1986 Guild SB-605 Pilot 5 string I picked up a while back for $400. It has a great neck and a nice flame maple body. EMG Jazz bass pickups are standard and I prefer them because you don't have to worry about having your bass grounded while playing in strange venues. I'm also really digging the Framus Nashville that Denis picked up and shipped to me. I want Denis to pack all of my basses from now on. He does a superb job!
(http://i47.tinypic.com/28w2uyw.jpg)
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Rd Artist
Blueshawk
Lp Standard
EB-0 Project bass
Each have a role they fill.
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My current gig favorites are the 76 and the BlueBaCH:
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/thunderbird/DSCF0404.jpg)
...and the occasional Triumph:
(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k125/0chromium0/forums/triumph/DSCF0014a-1.jpg)
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I'm down to 6 now, which is the lowest number of basses I've had since 2002.
The two Nash P basses are both great, as is the mahogany 30th Anniversary Stingray and the Jetsons inspired Swiss Army Knife, also known as the Musicman Big Al.
I'm also really digging my two SG RIs and my Epi Rivoli.
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I am really diggin' the black ex-Hörnisse Bach lately, but the bass I always go back to is my Carvin B4. It's neck is just right in my hands and it is pretty light-weight too.
And chromium, if you ever decide to sell the BlueBach, let me be the first in line. That is beautiful.
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My 74 Jazz is still the go to workhorse.
Old reliable, never lets me down.
Epi Allen Woody is the number 2 due to its specific tone and the fact that its a shorty. Always gets a look in at least 10 or 12 songs.
Third is the Cargill fretless because there are always at least 3 songs that just beg to played with this bass.
My Utility bass is the $200 Dean Edge that I have recently put EMG passive Humbuckers, CTS pots and a Gotoh 201 bridge on. Covers all bases ;D and gets taken to those overnight country shows when the Jazz misses out.
Recent studio stuff used the Jazz and the Woody.
This is a pic of all of the guitars and basses used on the recordings.
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t253/Freuds_cat/88MPH/Recording/88mph_88.jpg)
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If it comes to live playing I get out my MIM 50s P often. I often play in small venues without a proper backstage and without my own amp, so I'm afraid to take my Bird with me. A P can fall of its stand without getting detuned. It also sounds well on almost every amp.
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#1 fav bass: '53 Gibson
#1 fav guitar: '83 Zemaitis metal front
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My favorite bass is still the 1969 Gibson Les Paul Bass.
-Sounds awesome on any amp. The sound is always there.
-It is shortscale which makes it easy to play.
-The neck is nice and thick, but not wide.
-It balances well on the strap.
-I like the fact that it's a rare bass. You see enough Jazz Basses on stage already.
-It matches my jacket.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4582754156_f369708bbf.jpg)
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The last reason is most important. The one before that too!
I do play a P, but the Fiesta Red with gold anodized guard. That's better than all the balck 'n white ones:)
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My Greco TB II has quickly ascended the ranks to favorite bass status, with my short scale Decade right behind it.
(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn3/saltymonkey/DSC02875-2.jpg)(http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn3/saltymonkey/Decade-1.jpg)
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I'm also really digging the Framus Nashville that Denis picked up and shipped to me. I want Denis to pack all of my basses from now on. He does a superb job!
Glad it arrived safe and sound and that you like it. After my T-bird arrived damaged, there was no way I was going to let that happen to someone else's bass while it was in MY hands!
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Hornisse! A 5 string Pilot! I still have mine. My first and only 5 string bass. Flamed maple/cherry sunburst. I eventually got rid of the EMGs and put a pair of passive Duncans on there. J up front, and I routed the bridge position for a dual coil.
And my favorite bass? 1989 Rickenbacker 4003S, highly customized, but it DOES have Ric pickups - a '92 toaster, and a '06 high gain.
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This is a tuff one for me to answer, I'm kinda in favorite-bass flux right now, not to mention my $-gig requires using certain basses(Hofner, Rickenbacker, Fender Jazz).
For 30+ years I was a Rickenbacker Bass guy, but for the last year or so I've found I love P/J basses, and have gravitated towards my Yamaha BB614 for general use.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/iamthebassman/yamaha002-1.jpg)
And for my fun side project I love my Squiers.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v383/iamthebassman/squiers002.jpg)
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I usually always bring one of my foderas along although if a place is too seedy i will bring the buckeye burl DP bass with alembic pj's. and one of my fretless basses like this 65 ampeg but this one is getting too valuable and fragile to move around.
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Sometimes i feel like a gibby.
76 BI, 64 ebo and les paul recording bass (probably 72 ish)
sorry for the lousy pics.. I need to get some digital ones . these pics are for my insurance and i keep in my desk at work....
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and then for recording or fenderish gigs....
again sh@ty pics scanned
my original 72 pbass which i stupidly striped off the sunburst, added a pup and changed the tortoise shell/ flanked by a 1960
1964 CAR pbass with the extra pickup and circuit done by sadowsky before he took off. Got this from a guy who became handy capped and couldnt play anymore.
my trusty 1980 MM in mint shape flanked by a 1972 telecaster bass that i ruined its value by adding a single coil pup in 1986 before values skyrocketed
Love warmoth stuff - especially the thrift shop in the old days. have tons of warmoth from bak then. wild maple over alder and bubinga birdseye neck (each were $99 in the good old days). I recently changed out the pups to dimarzios and a sd circuit.
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by the way the little girl in the tbird picture is leaving for college in august so these are old pictures.....
hopefully my bachbird will join the rotation. and i have a Bruce Johnson AEB -2 being finished right now. I am sure like GWeimer it will move to the short rotation.
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my favorite. like Rob said, it always sounds just right
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/rsteiner/triumph.jpg)
a close second
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/rsteiner/ric1.jpg)
I really like my son's LP, too. I'll have to get one when he gets his own place
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/rsteiner/lpb1.jpg)
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my favorite. like Rob said, it always sounds just right
(http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b342/rsteiner/triumph.jpg)
I actually meant its predecessor... I like that one even better ;)
(http://www.superfloor.net/LesPaulBass.jpg)
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I had a Les Paul Triumph back in the late 70s, folks had never seen a Les Paul bass back then, really caused a stir at gigs.
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#1 Lakland Glaub
#2 1973 Fender Precision
both lefty.
I've yet to hear another P bass that sounds so right to me as my Glaub, including other Glaub basses I've played.
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This thread helps convince me - I'm going to sell off a couple of basses that I'm not using. My Jay Turser '54 P clone can go (nice bass, just don't play it) and my DeArmond Pilot Deluxe can go...I like it but haven't used it in two months. I'll go ahead and finish the EB-0 > EB-3 conversion with the T-bird pickups, but unless it rocks me I'll probably sell it afterwards, too.
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Not my intention when I started this thread, though I'm thinking about thinning the flock a little bit too. I'll finish my Ripper resto and see which of the two sounds better, although the black '80 will always look nicer. Hmm, two Korean Epi birds are staring at me as well...
I guess my keepers are as follows:
Both BaCHbirds
Japanese Epi T-bird
'74 P-bass
'76 4001
'84 Victory (a friend gave it to me so it will never leave my hands unless it goes back to him)
G&L LB100
One of the Rippers.
Hey, how did I end up with so many?
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My fave is (and probably will always be) my korean Epi Tbird. Call me unorthodox, but I can't keep my hands off of that (chunky) neck.
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My fave is (and probably will always be) my korean Epi Tbird. Call me unorthodox, but I can't keep my hands off of that (chunky) neck.
I'll have to go dig up that thread of yours about putting Gibby T-bird pups in one. I've got two just lying around...
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Haven't fix the height problem yet, I must put some wood under the pups...must...find...some...time...aaargh...
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My favorite 2 right now...........
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Ric%20project/100_2587.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/60s%20NR%20TB/100_1242.jpg)
And just about any of my hollow bodies and the LP Triumph once in awhile!
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One slight downside of having a wonderful and thoughtful wife who has given me two basses at various Christmases is that it makes it tough to sell the bass if it's not one of those I use all the time. I have one such, but I think I'll hang onto it.
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One slight downside of having a wonderful and thoughtful wife who has given me two basses at various Christmases is that it makes it tough to sell the bass if it's not one of those I use all the time. I have one such, but I think I'll hang onto it.
That is a comfortable pickle to be in.
My wife won't let me sell my Fender 51 RI.
So I guess that's one for the wall and one more for me ;)
But I have 4 (counting the schoolbus) and really don't want anymore. Of those I would not part with:
-- The Lakland hollowbody fretless
-- and, believe it or not, the cheap little Gretsch Junior Jet shorty
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By far my Gibson 1965 EB-0, then the 1967 EB-2 and also, I admit, my two Fender Jazz re62
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So let's see....
I can't sell my '63 P, it has been with me too long...
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P-bass.jpg)
And my fretless refin is a family favorite and came out great...
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P-Jbassfull.jpg)
And the Casady isn't going ANYWHERE....
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Jack%20Casady%20bass/IMAG0046.jpg)
And the Gretsch is a fantastic short scale....
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Gretsch%202202/P4100070.jpg)
And the Univox is too pretty to sell....
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Univox335copy.jpg)
And I like the MIM Jazz, as long as my wife admints it's Midnight Blue, not purple...
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P8270400.jpg)
And my wife gave me the Rogue for Christmas...
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/P1010305.jpg)
And everyone should have an acoustic-electric....
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Applause_Bass_WS-2_in_case.jpg)
So I guess I'm stuck with those!
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Some nice basses! What is the story on your '63 P bass? The neck has pearl dots instead of clay dots and it has the TV logo too. Was the neck redone at some point in it's life? Just curious.
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Yup...the truss rod broke one Saturday AM when I was practicing for a gig starting Monday night. I needed a neck fast and got one installed that day. it was about 1972 if I recall correctly...so the neck is a '72.
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Wow! 1972...
I have a hard time remembering what I had for lunch today.
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Well, this is my favorite GIBSON bass. Bought in '65.
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Whoops screwed up, this one's mine, really!
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I'll play!
My beloved Steinberger XP2.
Bought in "like new" condition when my student defaulted on his payments in 1986-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/IMG_01491200.jpg)
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Front001-1.jpg)
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Front002.jpg)
Some buckle rash-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Back001.jpg)
Slight finish checkering-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Butt001.jpg)
Funk-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/NeckPU.jpg)
Fingers (that's about 1/4" deep)-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Thumbrest.jpg)
Pick (compare the E and G saddles)-
(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/GonzoBass/Bridge001.jpg)
Not for sale.
;)
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MAGNIFICENT!
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Rode hard and put away wet..............................
Many, many times.
Basses are tools, good to see one treated as such - and yet be loved too.
Awesome, really.
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Gonzo... tha's GONZO...! 8)
How many Normandy landings has that lady survived...
What's that joke about one careful owner... just not this one... ;D
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I forgot about my Danelectro. I like this bass too. :)
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l111/bigtreebluesea/DSC04757a.jpg)
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Rode hard and put away wet..............................
Many, many times.
Yes, many, many, many
but it get a complete field strip with 3in1 and an old tooth brush
(bridge disassembly included),
then lemon oiled with an old sock about once a month.
Loved?
Oh yes.
Most definitely.
The best part is that I know it's reciprocal.
Although I am suprised it even speaks to me
after some of the things I've asked it to do.
:)
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Whoops screwed up, this one's mine, really!
Verrrrry cool. I'm envious.
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My favorite 2 right now...........
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/Ric%20project/100_2587.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/60s%20NR%20TB/100_1242.jpg)
And just about any of my hollow bodies and the LP Triumph once in awhile!
Is that your Avatar t bird finished? It been a while .We met on line when you won her , we were both biddin if I remember correctly :mrgreen:
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That TV Yellow Bird does it for me. What's its story?
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I believe if you look close at Docs avatar you will see a similarity. :mrgreen:before & after.
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That TV Yellow Bird does it for me. What's its story?
Was that the maple body bird?
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Mine are-
78 RD still my favorite- Does anything I ask from it, ordered it new back in 78
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/P1000451.jpg)
Blues Hawk has become my number 2
A blast to play, light & a lot of tones to be had from it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/ripper%20project/P1040035.jpg)
Number three-
My LP Standard- Great cutting rock tone. Far better than my 68 Non Reverse & Fenderbird, for me. Also with low action, its a fast bass, even with the chunky neck.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/MY%20BASSES/kimapaul.jpg)
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I believe if you look close at Docs avatar you will see a similarity. :mrgreen:before & after.
Quite a transformation!
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Blues Hawk has become my number 2
A blast to play, light & a lot of tones to be had from it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v104/Fenderbird/ripper%20project/P1040035.jpg)
I didn't know Gibson made a bass version. That's awesome!
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I didn't know Gibson made a bass version. That's awesome!
Gibson didn't make that, although they should have. It came from the Barklessdog Laboratory, with many Gibson parts.
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I didn't know Gibson made a bass version. That's awesome!
Check out this thread for some build pics of that bass - http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=419.0
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I didn't know Gibson made a bass version. That's awesome!
Blues Hawk!!!Damn that is a fine bass.That build inspired me to do this"Moderne bass"
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shadowcastaz/th_IMGP0950.jpg) (http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shadowcastaz/?action=view¤t=IMGP0950.jpg)
and this(unfinished )S1 bass
(http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shadowcastaz/th_IMGP0917.jpg) (http://s34.photobucket.com/albums/d138/shadowcastaz/?action=view¤t=IMGP0917.jpg)
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That Moderne... 8)
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That Moderne... 8)
I made it short scale too. long scale looked goofy(er). It reminds me I have to tweek the wiring .
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Hi Guys, I just saw the discussion about my 60's rehab NR. Yep, I think Mike the Shadow and I both bid on the carcass in my avatar and I won. It's an original that needed a new headstock and work over. I love this bass. It sounds great and plays really nice.
I did another using it as a model. It's an all maple version, ala Ric 4003, and I used custom SD pups made to 60's specs. It sounds awesome too! It's done in a trans blonde finish.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/60s%20Repro%20NR%20TB/100_12872.jpg)
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sweet bass. did i understand you right - that is the wreck in the avatar. nice work. are those origina pups or aftermarket. looks good without a pickguard. something to think about????
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sweet bass. did i understand you right - that is the wreck in the avatar. nice work. are those origina pups or aftermarket. looks good without a pickguard. something to think about????
The bass just above is the all maple 60's reproduction I built.
The bass below is the one from the avatar. An original 60's NR that I rehabbed.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/60s%20NR%20TB/100_1242.jpg)
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I did another using it as a model. It's an all maple version, ala Ric 4003, and I used custom SD pups made to 60's specs. It sounds awesome too! It's done in a trans blonde finish.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y16/drbassman/60s%20Repro%20NR%20TB/100_12872.jpg)
Beautiful brace of birds! How much were the SD's?
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both qre really nice. pretty close copy. maple one looks less rounded on the edges. Is the maple bass much brighter???? what covers are on the duncans???
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Newbie bump .......
My faves change with the season I'm afraid ....... At this moment it's a toss up between the Iba ARTB-100 ( modded with singel-coil Chi-Sonics and generic elephants-ear tuners ) and the DeArmond Starfire .......
(http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto-UAI4CBSN-D.jpg)
(http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Foto-BUZYMJU6-D.jpg)
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Beautiful Martin!
Got some more pics of those?
I totally forgot about that pimped Ibanez.
Do you have any soundclips?
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My main take to gig and band-practice bass is my 4003 MID/BT/BH.
(http://blaat.net/bass/plaatjes/800/body-fr-4003midbt-800.jpg)
At home I play anything in my .sig with the '73 AZG refin as current favorite and the Squier as not favorite, but having sentimental value (my first bass).
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Beautiful Martin!
Got some more pics of those?
I totally forgot about that pimped Ibanez.
Do you have any soundclips?
Sorry Rob, I wouldn't know how to make soundclips to save my life ........ but pics (http://www.mijnalbum.nl/Album=L4BTSOEP) I do have ...... Did you know Elmer at the BGF has already copied the Iba idea ? He calls it his Chibanez ..... ;D
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Wow! I really like it.
Elmer might not be the only one who thinks it's a great idea 8)
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My favorites tend to rotate depending on what I've played most recently.
I can tell that the Dano '63 reissue is going to be one, and the '64 Gibson EB-0 is guaranteed to be a lifelong keeper. Too sweet a bass to let go of. It will have pride of position next to my '63 P.
I think If I had to jettison everything else, as of this AM I'd keep the '63 P, the EB-0 and the Epi Jack Casady. Three classic sounds, all different.
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I'm another one for "whatever I'm playing now." I have too many basses, but while I am playing most of them I'm thinking "this is the best bass ever made." I think that's how it should be, whether you have one bass or 20. The top and the bottom here are Ristolas, I have 1 5 and 1 fretless but several fretted 4 strings so I tend to rotate those.
(http://img40.exs.cx/img40/3316/ristolas-alembic.jpg)
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love the fretless, nice
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I'm another one for "whatever I'm playing now." I have too many basses, but while I am playing most of them I'm thinking "this is the best bass ever made." I think that's how it should be, whether you have one bass or 20. The top and the bottom here are Ristolas, I have 1 5 and 1 fretless but several fretted 4 strings so I tend to rotate those.
What's the center Explorer?
This is my favorite fretless, the only 5 string I own. Ibanez GWB-1, ebony board, custom Bart, EQ bypass. Bought in Hong Kong.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Chrome%20Soapbar/CHROMED/GWB-1-BASS.jpg)
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Alembic logo on the head...
Never seen a black Alembic - what's the story, Fealach...?
That's a really nice looking piece of wood on the five-stringer, Dada...
... and as for the blue Rickie... 8)
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love the fretless, nice
It's a little more "boutiquey" than I usually go for, but it sounds exactly like I've always thought a fretless should and feels like a dream to play. It and the 5 string are early works from Brian Ristola in New Hampshire, US. He's doing much more elaborate work these days, and I was lucky to stumble on them while he was getting established - prices are out of my league today, but competitive I suppose for what he's building. http://www.ristolainstruments.com/ (http://www.ristolainstruments.com/)
That is indeed an Alembic in the middle, Exploiter body style as they call their spin on it, officially a "Spoiler" model. Bought it used, I think it was from Club Bass in Canada. Serial dates it at 1985. I was actually looking for one that looked more like Entwistle's, always loved the way his looked and his Alembic sound. This one turned up a good bit cheaper than any other I'd seen. It's not really much like John's, being the budget model (HA!) but the 32" scale suits me better and the dumbed down electronics are versatile enough. Neck is thicker than I like, and the design pushes the nect forward if you will, so that it's easy to play high fret positions but the lowest are a reach for a Hobbit like myself. Once I plug it in, though, the sound is worth it. Just got it and my Mouradian CS-74 back from Mouradian Guitar, and the Alembic finally has action low enough to make me happy. The CS is my favorite when I'm playing it, too, but I don't want to spam pictures of all my junk so I settled for 1 pic with 3 basses.
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That is indeed an Alembic in the middle, Exploiter body style as they call their spin on it, officially a "Spoiler" model. Bought it used, I think it was from Club Bass in Canada. Serial dates it at 1985. I was actually looking for one that looked more like Entwistle's, always loved the way his looked and his Alembic sound. This one turned up a good bit cheaper than any other I'd seen. It's not really much like John's, being the budget model (HA!) but the 32" scale suits me better and the dumbed down electronics are versatile enough. Neck is thicker than I like, and the design pushes the nect forward if you will, so that it's easy to play high fret positions but the lowest are a reach for a Hobbit like myself. Once I plug it in, though, the sound is worth it. Just got it and my Mouradian CS-74 back from Mouradian Guitar, and the Alembic finally has action low enough to make me happy. The CS is my favorite when I'm playing it, too, but I don't want to spam pictures of all my junk so I settled for 1 pic with 3 basses.
You can definitely (should definitely!) post pics of the Mouradian! I used to get my basses adjusted by him in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Including an '85 Spoiler/Exploiter, but not as unusual as yours!
I'm going into the studio this week - first time here in California! - and my car isn't that big, so I have to choose carefully what I am going to bring. It basically boils down to my favorites, my '76 Rickenbacker 4001, '03 Alembic Stanley Clarke Signature Standard 5-string, and I'm going to use my '68 Melody Maker Bass for the first time in a while too. It's just me and my drummer, we'll be doing our usual improv thing, but I think I'm going to record some covers for the first time in eight years - Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee" and "Come Together" by the Beatles. I don't see much point in recording covers - not sure about all the legalities - but these have emerged as possibilities. The Beatles tune will probably just be for my own use (karaoke anyone?) but we'll see what I can do with "King Bee"...
This shot was taken while performing "Come Together" at a recent Rickenbacker gathering - I can tell because the neck tone knob is turned all the way down:
(http://a.imageshack.us/img824/8885/barcatg2.jpg)
This Ric was one of the first basses I bought when I got back into music in 2002 (after an eight year absence) - the first was actually the Exploiter I mentioned:
(http://a.imageshack.us/img56/7672/alembrickla8.jpg)
I've since sold the Exploiter - just wasn't playing it enough, plus I kept banging the lower extension into doorjambs!
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My MIJ '62 Reissue Precision gets the most stage time .... next to the WWII era German upright, of course.
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What's the center Explorer?
This is my favorite fretless, the only 5 string I own. Ibanez GWB-1, ebony board, custom Bart, EQ bypass. Bought in Hong Kong.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Chrome%20Soapbar/CHROMED/GWB-1-BASS.jpg)
Does that elevated wood thingy in the middle make any sense with the Gary Willis Ibanez? I always wondered. I know that he is supposed to have a very light touch.
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Does that elevated wood thingy in the middle make any sense with the Gary Willis Ibanez? I always wondered. I know that he is supposed to have a very light touch.
The "ramp' is to keep you from digging in which theoretically allows you to get a cleaner "mowr". I keep mine at fretboard height, I very much like the tone. The Pickup is radiused to match the board and has a push/pull to disable the preamp and provide an unEQ'd passive signal. I bought it when I was living in South China. There's a huge music store in Hong Kong, Tom Lee Music. They carry just about every brand of mid level bass and almost all the models of each. I used to take day trips down with my Korg Pandora, headphones and money burning a hole in my pocket. NOBODY bothers you, they're Cantonese and customer service is limited to "You break it, you buy it. Everything is out in the open except for around 25 Fender and Gibby custom shop instruments. They have over a hundred Fender basses and at least 5 of just about any non boutique bass you can name. I spent 3 hours one day playing basses and finally bought this one, the tone amazed me, I'd never owned a fretless before, now have 4. This one gets closest to an upright sound. If you ever get to Kowloon, Hong Kong do not miss Tom Lee. I also bought my '51 RI and some Yamahas there. The store gig bags when I went there were Warwick Rock Bags and they cost around $30.
I declared this bass when I got back to the US, the customs guy let me slide.
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I like its puristic look.
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I like its puristic look.
Careful, you're talking to a member of a mongrel race. ;)
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I didn't say it was Aryan, my dear melting-pot inhabitant!!! :mrgreen:
Actually it looks like what it is - Asian design. And I mean that as a compliment. Reminds me of the Kawasaki Hien:
(http://www.ww2incolor.com/d/61248-2/________________+Ki-61Kawasaki+HIEN+______________________)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ao3uUOVmQo8/SqjIfQGVKVI/AAAAAAAAVVc/WQSzPgKwPhw/s400/kawasaki_ki-78+1942.jpg)
Some Japanese guitar shapes are classics - I myself am a devotee to the Iceman shape which to my mind beats the Explorer.
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I didn't say it was Aryan, my dear melting-pot inhabitant!!! :mrgreen:
Actually it looks like what it is - Asian design. And I mean that as a compliment. Reminds me of the Kawasaki Hien:
Some Japanese guitar shapes are classics - I myself am a devotee to the Iceman shape which to my mind beats the Explorer.
That Hein looks a lot like a Bf 109. I'm getting used to the Destroyer X shape myself in regards to Explorer bodies.
This is my favorite Canadian bass. Who needs those bothersome pups to clutter up the design? It's actually a great Blues bass.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/Chrome%20Soapbar/CHROMED/Charlie/DSC01861.jpg)
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Yeah, when the US Navy pilots first encountered the Hien (which was better than the Zero in every respect except tight curves) they were convinced they had a Japanese Me 109 before them. So convinced that it took a captured Hien to convince them otherwise.
The Japanese tested a few Me 109 Es on loan from the Reich but crashed them and/or were unimpressed with its nasty flying and landing characteristics.
(http://www.j-aircraft.com/captured/testedby/me109/japanese-109-side.jpg)
The Me 109 was an acquired taste, Allied pilots didn't like to fly it either preferring the more benign handling characteristics of the FW 190.
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You can definitely (should definitely!) post pics of the Mouradian! I used to get my basses adjusted by him in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Including an '85 Spoiler/Exploiter, but not as unusual as yours!
(http://a.imageshack.us/img56/7672/alembrickla8.jpg)
This is the most recent pic I hae of my Mouradian:
(http://i6.tinypic.com/6q36kgy.jpg)
Replaced the stock bridge and knobs with gold, Jon Mouradian finished the job with gold Schaller tuners while he was setting it up with a fresh set of Optima Gold roundwounds. They told me it had already been modified - it was apparently passive from the factory, had an EMG preamp when I got it. I don't feel so bad about modding it since it had been already. I added an active/passive switch, the passive tone is different (or superior, depending on my mood). I may replace the preamp or return it to passive. This was #21, one of the ones with much of the work done in Japan; they declared one of the better examples of that series, having only one cosmetic flaw - the logo was inlaid crooked. I got the impression there were QC issues with the outsourced work.
The Alembic in your pic is what I was looking for when I found my black one, but Exploiters are hard to find and expensive even then so I jumped at it. Nice Ric! One thing I always miss when looking at a 4003 is that contrasting wood stripe down the neck. I always liked that look.
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(http://a.imageshack.us/img56/7672/alembrickla8.jpg)
Damn, love that Alembic.
Has always been on my "someday" list.