The Last Bass Outpost
Main Forums => The Bass Zone => Topic started by: daan on December 21, 2017, 06:30:46 PM
-
https://reverb.com/item/6470301-greco-sb-850-suzi-quatro-model-1970-sunburst
So while I'm at work at nights, I have time to search for stuff. Of course I gotta look for Thunderbirds (or similar), and either they're trashed, I can't afford them (I have NO business buying a 4-digit bass, but I still want one) or they're bolt-on neck Epis :mrgreen: Anyway I saw THIS and thought it looked cool. Then I looked at more of them, and wondered why this one is half as much as the other ones... So does anybody here, have a Greco 'bird, or even one of these? Yeah I know the headstock is different (but I like it) and it has P/J pups, so it won't sound like a real one. But I can (almost) afford this one... THese should be made of "real" wood, not ply, right? Or should I be concerned that this one is broken or something? I know where the credit card is, so that little voice is repeating "It's better to ask forgiveness, than permission" in the back of my mind... ;D
-
I only know that Greco basses in general seem to have a pretty good reputation, but I don't know anything about this model in particular.
-
The only Greco I know is the bird I have, a more conventional TBIV copy. It looks nice, plays well, and sounds good, although has less treble than a real 60s bird.
I got that one for about $500 over ten years ago and thought it was a reasonable price.
-
This one's pretty beat up don't know if it's worth the asking price or what they've been selling for.
It is the same model used by Suzi.
-
1970 seems too early.
When I think of Suzi Quatro and basses, I think of that cream Telecaster bass she played. On videos and things the bass looks about the same size as she does.
I'm not sold on the Greco. It looks too much like one song to the tune of another. The Fender-style pickups make it look a bit cheap really.
-
(https://i.imgur.com/5cqoIfp.jpg)
-
They're real wood alright. Proper mahogany.
But it's short scale. Suzi was/is a tiny girl and those full size Thunderbird, Rippers, etc looked silly big on her. So Greco made her a smaller one.
-
That one is probably priced low due to the broken (off) scroll pieces on the headstock. Don't know how they sound.
-
Those headstocks are really begging to be broken. Even worse than the Ibanez Black Eagle's.
-
Worse than a 60's T'Bird for fragility...? :vader:
-
Oh, I meant the decorational parts which are fragile.
(https://www.bonedo.de/typo3temp/GB/csm_Ibanez_Black_Eagle_033FIN_5b27e2e292_a6e0ed483d.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/LMRnU08.jpg)
-
Lower shot looks more "Norwegian Blue" than Black Eagle... :mrgreen:
-
Had to fix the lower shot because it was froma Photobucket and stopped showing up. It worked when i initially posted though.
-
Oh, I meant the decorational parts which are fragile.
(https://www.bonedo.de/typo3temp/GB/csm_Ibanez_Black_Eagle_033FIN_5b27e2e292_a6e0ed483d.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/LMRnU08.jpg)
If you took good care of them, they could become a perm(anent) fixture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtVOhqarpVo
Never mind the hair (ironic how almost all of the band from the then Apartheid state wanted their hair curled), that song was catchy.
That Black Eagle was still flying on their next hit too, tells you how girls take good care of their stuff!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6DV3JEv-I
I won't comment on the fact that some of the erstwhile female band members grew moustaches and beards. Must have been those long tours away from home. :-X
Ha, it even held up for the third (and last) "discofied Blondie"-hit!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sB6WklWLJos
What am I saying, there was a fourth one of sorts, perms and Black Eagle still in full splendor!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zM7wKUCJeYA
-
Looks like they had an Ibanez endorsement. They all played an Ibanez.
-
In full-Apartheid-heyday SA, American instruments probably weren't so easy to come by due to the sanctions and the strict SA foreign currency management ("Financial Rand", they had a virtual currency for imports). Japan, otoh, never had issues dealing with Apartheid SA, they sold a lot of cars there.
But you're right, come the latish 70ies, Ibanez was pushing hard to establish itself as a brand and they were very successful at leaving the "law suit"-image behind them. Lots of professional German bands played Ibanez around that time too - ones that could have afforded Fender or Gibson with ease.