The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: 8va on June 20, 2008, 09:43:36 PM

Title: What is this bass?
Post by: 8va on June 20, 2008, 09:43:36 PM: Hi, pardon the intrusion (I'm the rare guitarist who doesn't even dabble in bass), but I'm wondering if anyone can identify the bass being used in the opening musical number here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK968eCnJek (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HK968eCnJek)
The relevant bit starts at ~1:57, if you're not up for 70's kid show wackiness.

The shape is very Les Paul-ish, but doesn't seem quite right for a Les Paul or Triumph and the knobs are definitely wrong. I haven't been able to find anything else from the era (Wikipedia says '74-'75) that matches.

Thanks!
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: TBird1958 on June 20, 2008, 09:54:09 PM: Hi and Welcome :)

Just a wild guess.....its got a huge headstock.........maybe Guild
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Dave W on June 20, 2008, 10:29:01 PM: Not sure, but man, that was painful to watch.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: chromium on June 20, 2008, 10:37:49 PM: Everything is fun when there's an emu involved!

Not sure on the bass either, but the Japanese foundaries in the 70s were producing Les Paul inspired basses (sold as Ibanez, Electra, etc...) - which is what the one in the vid resembled.

Here's a link that shows a couple examples of these - neither of which look exactly like the one in that clip.

http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1544&highlight=
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 21, 2008, 05:08:02 AM: Hahaha that was freakin hilarious... thanks mate! :mrgreen:
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Dave W on June 21, 2008, 07:33:25 AM: All I remember about the Hudson Brothers is that they put out a few sappy albums and that Bill was once married to Goldie Hawn and is the father of Kate Hudson.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: godofthunder on June 21, 2008, 02:14:53 PM: I am embarassed to say I remember that show !
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: gweimer on June 21, 2008, 10:08:23 PM: Hard to say. I don't think it's a Guild, though. I don't remember Guild using pickup covers. It could be a Univox.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: 8va on June 21, 2008, 11:38:27 PM: Now I'm intrigued, I had half expected the first reply would be, "It's a ____. Duh!"

Quote from: Dave W on June 20, 2008, 10:29:01 PM
Not sure, but man, that was painful to watch.

Haha... I like to check out the instruments in these kinds of clips. It seems like the cheesier the performance, the more likely you are to see something interesting or obscure.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 22, 2008, 03:37:46 AM: Anyone see Rod Hull and Emu mentioned? This guy was hilarious on TV here in Australia. Didnt know he went to the US.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: HornetAMX on June 22, 2008, 09:07:49 AM: Ibanez and Electra made Les Paul copy basses that look similar.

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electra/2250.php
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Blazer on June 22, 2008, 10:51:52 AM: Quote from: gweimer on June 21, 2008, 10:08:23 PM
Hard to say. I don't think it's a Guild, though. I don't remember Guild using pickup covers. It could be a Univox.
Err...

(http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/m85.jpg)
No pickup covers you say?
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: gweimer on June 22, 2008, 11:27:52 AM: I had a Guild M-85 much like the one in the picture. What I was referring to was the fact that the bass in question has covers like Fender uses. They appear to mount to the body, and go over the strings the way a Fender pickup cover does.
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: rockinrayduke on June 22, 2008, 12:47:08 PM: I can't bear to watch it again for a closer look, took me HOURS to get that damn song out of my head! >:(
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: TBird1958 on June 22, 2008, 01:12:45 PM: +1 On that Ray! A railroad spike to my forehead really helped!
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: uwe on June 23, 2008, 03:30:54 AM: I like that song. :-[
Title: Re: What is this bass?
Post by: Freuds_Cat on June 23, 2008, 04:49:53 AM: Nah the song sucked but suited the kitsch comedy of it all :mrgreen: