The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Aussie Mark on July 19, 2010, 04:39:56 AM

Title: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 19, 2010, 04:39:56 AM: I'd been procrastinating about this one for a week or two, and had made a couple of unsuccessful offers, but today my latest offer was accepted ....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250666552792&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

(http://i1.ebayimg.com/04/i/001/ac/94/fd0c_10.JPG)

For someone who took 30 years to bond with short scales, I'm really liking my shortie Gibsons these days :o
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: uwe on July 19, 2010, 04:49:58 AM: Oh wow, an early one (two point), very nicely darkened. Definitely from a smoker's home, what a relief!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Basvarken on July 19, 2010, 05:15:43 AM: Welcome to the club Mark!
You won't regret this one :)

I don't think it's darkened/smoked Uwe.
Seller says it's a walnut finish.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: uwe on July 19, 2010, 05:41:39 AM: Never seen a natural Triumph as dark as this, almost darkish forest honey tone. Whatever it is, it looks good.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Iome on July 19, 2010, 08:09:47 AM: That's an italian seller, has a lot of vintage stuff. His got something going for reasonable prices and other things too expensive like grabbers that costs like Tbirds. Anyway, he's on an italian bass site that i've been member of for years, if you need a hand just say it. You can trust him, very professional.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: chromium on July 19, 2010, 10:12:14 AM: Congrats! That bass is definitely on my A-list - love the sound.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Dave W on July 19, 2010, 11:04:46 AM: Congrats, looks nice and the price seems reasonable, especially considering what you usually have to pay in Australia.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 19, 2010, 04:09:55 PM: Thanks guys, the ones I saw advertised at various online stores in the US and the UK and on gbase were all far more expensive than this one, which seems to be unmolested and original.

AFAIK "walnut" was not a colour option for the Triumph, so it must just be a natural 'hog finish that has had a good life!

Iome, thanks for the reassurance about the seller. He responded quickly to emails, and his listings and feedback all look great, so I figured he would be a safe bet to purchase from.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: TBird1958 on July 19, 2010, 05:14:40 PM: Definately a great find Mark! :thumbsup:

If I ever play in a "straight"" band I could see me with one those.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Grog on July 19, 2010, 05:16:12 PM: Congrats!! :toast: The case seems to be in good shape, I've had to at least fix the handles on most of these. The early ones that I've come across usually seem a bit lighter, a definate plus! Enjoy! ;D
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: EvilLordJuju on July 21, 2010, 04:12:21 AM: Yeah that fin looks great - they definately look better browner rather than with the slightly orange tinge mine has. Good score
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Highlander on July 21, 2010, 07:30:40 AM: I thought you were cutting down... ;)

Nice one...
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: uwe on July 21, 2010, 08:49:59 AM: The Aussie lies. All the time.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 21, 2010, 08:38:17 PM: Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on July 21, 2010, 07:30:40 AM
I thought you were cutting down... ;)

One in, one out, is still the rule. An SG RI Faded and a Yammy BBT110S cab are on the block in return.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: OldManC on July 22, 2010, 06:47:03 AM: Quote from: Aussie Mark on July 21, 2010, 08:38:17 PM
One in, one out, is still the rule. An SG RI Faded and a Yammy BBT110S cab are on the block in return.

That's discipline!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Highlander on July 22, 2010, 06:49:49 AM: You missed that one, George... that means Mark's got something cab-like in the pipeline... ;)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Pilgrim on July 22, 2010, 08:33:20 AM: If it plays as sweet as it looks, you're gonna be in love.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 22, 2010, 04:45:13 PM: Quote from: Kenny's 51st State on July 22, 2010, 06:49:49 AM
that means Mark's got something cab-like in the pipeline... ;)

True, currently bidding on an SWR Bass Monitor 12" wedge.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 22, 2010, 07:01:22 PM: Quote
On FedEx vehicle for delivery
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 22, 2010, 08:07:50 PM: It's arrived, first impressions from my in-office inspection (my office is not as well equipped as Uwe's):

Control plate has the to-be-expected chipped corner near the input jack
Neck and action seems fine
Nut is not original
No cracks apparent in headstock
All knobs and switches intact
Weight feels in the same ballpark as the LPB-3 I used to own - ie. well over 10lbs :-)
The bass needs a good bath and shampoo

Wash him and bring him to my tent!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Dave W on July 22, 2010, 09:01:57 PM: Sounds like there's nothing major wrong with it. Good deal (I hope).
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 23, 2010, 03:52:26 AM: Just gave it a 10 minute workout plugged in - all the knobs and switches work fine. My first impression is that this thing has a buttload of tones available at it's disposal - it seems to have beat the Musicman Big Al by about 30 years in the "Swiss Army Knife of bass" department.

Now to scrub it clean and put some Pyramid flats and a set of straplocks on :-)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: uwe on July 23, 2010, 04:29:52 AM: "Pyramid flats"

You really have become hooked on those, right? :mrgreen: Are they available in Australia?
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 23, 2010, 06:09:43 AM: Quote from: uwe on July 23, 2010, 04:29:52 AM
"Pyramid flats"

You really have become hooked on those, right? :mrgreen: Are they available in Australia?

You can't buy them down here, so this set is the set you posted me, switched from my SG Faded which is now up for sale on eBay. My SG Standard has a set of Pyramids that I bought used on eBay a few weeks ago :-)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 23, 2010, 06:11:22 AM: Ok, when changing strings I have discovered that one of the tuner pegs is broken (one half of the split shaft is missing). These are Schaller M4 type tuners, but from what I can tell, the ones that Schaller sell these days have the mounting screw hole in a different location to the original Gibson tuners. Am I right? If so, what are my options?
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: gearHed289 on July 23, 2010, 07:43:06 AM: Yeah, those old Schallers had the screw hole at the bottom rather than the side. More like the current Gotoh GB7. I've seen them pop up on ebay occasionally.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: ramone57 on July 23, 2010, 09:58:21 AM: Quote from: Aussie Mark on July 23, 2010, 06:11:22 AM
Ok, when changing strings I have discovered that one of the tuner pegs is broken (one half of the split shaft is missing). These are Schaller M4 type tuners, but from what I can tell, the ones that Schaller sell these days have the mounting screw hole in a different location to the original Gibson tuners. Am I right? If so, what are my options?

I may have a spare tucked away. which side do you need?
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Highlander on July 23, 2010, 01:37:54 PM: I can rebuild the (chrome - not mixed with the gold) set I had on the Peter Cook, if they are the same - I still have all the parts in my spares tin - show a pic and give a measurement of the one you need - never had my hands on one of those babes...
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Pilgrim on July 23, 2010, 05:37:58 PM: So - for me, who knows Fenders better than Gibbys - from whence comes the nickname "hobbit" for the original source of this thread??
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Grog on July 23, 2010, 07:01:07 PM: Looking back at the ebay photos, it looks like the "E" string tuner is broken. I may have one from my '69 Les Paul Bass. The difference would be the logo on the grease cap on the back. If I recall correctly, my bass had (3) "G's" & (1) "S" for Shaller. I changed them to a full set of Shallers. The Triumph bass has "GIBSON" stamped on the grease cap. (Nothing anal retentive about me!) I also may have a couple" Control Plate Stiffeners" left. A .015 thick spring steel plate that mounts under the contol plate to help prevent futher crackage.
I also would be interested in how the name "Hobbit" came to be. ???

A set of tuners showed up on eBay, with the proper stamp........... http://cgi.ebay.com/1968-GIBSON-BASS-TUNERS-SG-EBO-/250668768176?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item3a5d05dbb0
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Dave W on July 23, 2010, 08:34:29 PM: IIRC Uwe started using the name because he thought it looked small. This was five or six years ago. It just caught on.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: hieronymous on July 23, 2010, 08:47:50 PM: Quote from: Pilgrim on July 23, 2010, 05:37:58 PM
So - for me, who knows Fenders better than Gibbys - from whence comes the nickname "hobbit" for the original source of this thread??

I asked the same thing over at Jules's Gibson Basses forum. Scroll down, there's a *tiny* bit more info. (http://forums.vintageguitars.org.uk/showthread.php?t=1119&highlight=hobbit)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Dave W on July 23, 2010, 08:51:26 PM: Okay, small but brave. :)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on July 24, 2010, 03:31:25 PM: Quote from: Grog on July 23, 2010, 07:01:07 PM
Looking back at the ebay photos, it looks like the "E" string tuner is broken. I may have one from my '69 Les Paul Bass. The difference would be the logo on the grease cap on the back. If I recall correctly, my bass had (3) "G's" & (1) "S" for Shaller. I changed them to a full set of Shallers. The Triumph bass has "GIBSON" stamped on the grease cap. (Nothing anal retentive about me!) I also may have a couple" Control Plate Stiffeners" left. A .015 thick spring steel plate that mounts under the contol plate to help prevent futher crackage.

That would be great! I'm happy to pay. Shoot me an email or PM with your price and Paypal details and I'll send you my address
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on August 02, 2010, 05:15:17 PM: Reporting back that the tuner and backing plate from Grog are both now installed, and very much appreciated. Thanks mate!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on August 02, 2010, 09:09:52 PM: And Uwe's aid package containing Pyramid flats arrived today as well! To answer your question, I already have some brown shirts in the wardrobe. And that doesn't mean there are Italians in my closet!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: uwe on August 03, 2010, 03:11:11 AM: Then all is well: It was about time you played a Les Paul bass again!

On a different note and more for the sake of Italian fashion taste, than for historical accuracy:

The Italian fascists wore fetching black (something the SS would eventually pick up)

(http://www.sezession.de/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/img5591.jpg)

while their German counterparts (second guy in the above row, swastika flag conveniently obscured), the SA or Sturmabteilung, initially the mainstay of the Naz party, but relegated to a more minor role (to the benefit of a rising SS) once the Nazis came to power and the SA continued clamoring for a "National Revolution", wore ugly brown. In a night raid by the SS in the summer of 34, the SA leadership on the pretense of being gay (they were, but that had never bothered Hitler as long as they were useful to him) and allegedly wishing to overthrow Hitler was massacered.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Barklessdog on August 03, 2010, 09:21:09 AM: I never knew about the black shirt fascist Italians. Then everything made sense,

Observe the black shirt Italy is wearing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AI56OfLgwQ&feature=fvsr

- except why is Germany punching Italy in the stomach, I thought they were friends?

Hetalia is gaining popularity here with people dressing up as the various countries.
http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/18058.html
Quote
The near-simultaneous launch of Tokyopop’s Hetalia: Axis Powers manga (see “Tokyopop Nabs Hetalia: Axis Powers”) and FUNimation’s Axis Powers Hetalia anime (see “Axis Powers Hetalia to FUNimation”) is gaining momentum behind Tokyopop’s bus tour and Web promotion, Tokyopop Marketing Director Marco Pavia told ICv2 at Comic-Con. “We thought this was going to be big, but we’re finding with the tour it has a rabid, passionate fan base,” he said.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Aussie Mark on August 11, 2010, 04:01:42 PM: Quick update on the Hobbit.

I've finally got the neck dialled in after the journey from Italy and associated climate change, and have fitted Grog's tuner and control panel reinforcing plate. It's playing very nicely now, although there is still a lingering odour of musty damp despite giving the bass a good clean. The case is living outside in the sunshine to kill the damp, but fortunately in the meantime my Hiscox cases can do the job admirably.

Took it for an outing last night at Rolling Stoned rehearsal, and the weight surprised me - in a nice way. We rehearsed for 3 hours, standing up, and the balance of the Triumph is near perfect - it did not feel like a heavy bass at all. Very comfortable indeed.

And, there is definitely no "weak E string" on a Triumph - huge, well defined bottom end on the E. Very nice!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: chromium on August 12, 2010, 01:24:34 PM: Hey if it helps- one of my six-stringers came to me in a brand new gig bag (tags and all) that *reeked* of mildew. I lightly sprayed it down with some diluted white vinegar and let it air dry outside, and it got rid of all traces of the mildew smell the same day. The mustyness in the guitar luckily wasn't as bad, and it gradually faded away after I hit it with some cleaner and polish.

I agree about the weight. Mine's a beefy 4.7kg, but the center of gravity is all in that huge mass of a body. Being that it hangs on me dead-center, I don't really notice the weight. The old Ovation Magnum I had was technically lighter at 4.2kg, but I think the distribution of weight (probably because of all the graphite) made it feel a little heavier than it really was. My old mongrel Stingray is kinda like that too.

...and yeah the hobbit's sound is huge, tight, and very well balanced across the strings and up the neck. Its a keeper, that's for sure!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: dadagoboi on August 12, 2010, 01:34:06 PM: Quote from: chromium on August 12, 2010, 01:24:34 PM
Hey if it helps- one of my six-stringers came to me in a brand new gig bag (tags and all) that *reeked* of mildew. I lightly sprayed it down with some diluted white vinegar and let it air dry outside, and it got rid of all traces of the mildew smell the same day. The mustyness in the guitar luckily wasn't as bad, and it gradually faded away after I hit it with some cleaner and polish.

How diluted? I live in Florida, big mildew problem. I've tried undiluted vinegar in shallow bowl in a case for a few days but it didn't completely get rid of the smell. I'm concerned the vinegar might bleach the black plush.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Grog on August 12, 2010, 01:38:53 PM: Honduras Mahogany Fungus! :o Uwe is going to want this bass!
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: chromium on August 12, 2010, 01:41:41 PM: Quote from: dadagoboi on August 12, 2010, 01:34:06 PM
How diluted? I live in Florida, big mildew problem. I've tried undiluted vinegar in shallow bowl in a case for a few days but it didn't completely get rid of the smell. I'm concerned the vinegar might bleach the black plush.

Yeah - valid concern. Be careful if you try it on a vintage case. Maybe test it in a small area. I think I did one part vinegar to two parts water for the stinky gigbag. Also, keep in mind too that I'm in Arizona, and so the arid climate might have worked in my favor.

In the worst case, you guys could just send your moldy cases to Uwe for his new spore collection! ;)
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: dadagoboi on August 12, 2010, 02:59:08 PM: Thanks! Right now I have my Phantom case standing open vertically in front of my A/C. I'll try it on some newer cases first.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Lightyear on August 12, 2010, 03:52:12 PM: My Stingray case reeked of smoke when I got it. I gave it a light dusting of Fabreeze and put in the sun for a day and all was good.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: dadagoboi on August 12, 2010, 04:12:25 PM: I've drenched a few cases in Febreze. Does nothing for mildew mold. That fungus has major mojo.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: Dave W on August 12, 2010, 07:44:17 PM: An cleaning and odor removing solution I use is 3 parts hydrogen peroxide (3% solution) and 2 parts rubbing alcohol. If you try it, try on a small area first to be sure it doesn't bleach.
Title: Re: Incoming hobbit
Post by: dadagoboi on August 12, 2010, 10:36:10 PM: I'll give that a try if the vinegar doesn't do the trick. Thanks!