I've always liked the non-reverse thunderbird look ... but I also like basses in roughly the same shape family. By which I mean: asymmetrical, rounded bouts rather than big horns longer on top than bottom ... hourglass-ish shape... What else is like that? There are probably some I've never seen. I'm hoping people will chime in with pictures of interesting and obscure bird-ish basses.
First off is the bird itself, of course:
(https://encrypted-tbn2.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSA84-ZOJQ6WFKnA1huOy8ER9YxV8q6w19w9TFH13rXHSCASk_3)
The Ampeg Scroll bass is a fascinating-looking beastie, never played one of these:
(http://www.xstrange.com/049050frontfull250.jpg)
I do like the Fender Jaguar shape:
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Fender_Jaguar_Bass_front.jpg/247px-Fender_Jaguar_Bass_front.jpg)
I've seen some "double-reverse" knockoffs - essentially an upside-down "regular" bird - such as this Greco:
(http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/mijsixstringskatana/2011-09-18/183.jpg)
The Reverend Rumblefish is a little more angular for my taste, but kind of cool:
(http://www.revfan.com/images/Rum-Banner.jpg)
So... what else is out there? Obscure vintage budget crap, pricey boutique custom jobs, as long as it looks cool let's see it!
A lovely Silvertone!
(http://www.vintagesilvertones.com/guitar/silvertone_1443bass/silvertone_bass_1443.jpg)
Every time I see one of those Ampeg scroll basses, I marvel at just how gorgeous they are.
Ovation Magnum is a distant cousin:
(http://www.halkans.com/images3/908ovation.jpg)
The younger, more pointy cousin ....
(http://www.dv247.com/assets/products/80832_l.jpg)
The Bass VI is similar to the Jaguar, but the upper horn is more Strat-like:
(http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/8608/bassvidressingroomblackxl6.jpg)
(This is a mock-up I did with a program at OffsetGuitars.com. But don't go there right now! Firefox just said it's an "attack page" - it may have been compromised recently. It was fine a few days ago but better safe than sorry...)
Quote from: Aussie Mark on November 13, 2011, 03:30:02 PM
The younger, more pointy cousin ....
Wow Mark, that Music Man (I think?) thing is really ugly! :) What is the story on that thing?
Looks like a bass version of a MM Albert Lee gtr.
Hieronymous, you reminded me that Lakland did a similar shape with the Decade:
(http://www.lakland.com/images/basses/449-IBM-100dpi.jpg)
The upper bout on those makes them feel a lot more fender-ish than gibson-ish to me.
I was hoping more obscure stuff would come out of the woodwork, like that Silvertone job.
What else you guys got? :)
Ah, I should've googled Teisco sooner!
(http://cdn1.notreble.com/buzz/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1965-teisco-del-rey-closeup.jpg)
(http://harmonyguitar.net/files/2010/07/-6041105509215700.jpg)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NzY4WDEwMjQ=/$(KGrHqEOKjcE5hLSR-OQBOmQJBW1M!~~60_1.JPG?set_id=8800005007)
(http://www.fetishguitars.com/img/crucianelli/solidbodies/elite_teisco01.jpg)
Quote from: leftybass on November 14, 2011, 12:14:39 PM
Looks like a bass version of a MM Albert Lee gtr.
It is - the "Big Al". I own one, and it's the best Musicman ever made, in my opinion. Don't let the look fool you. The stacked single coil pups, 18v preamp, and the passive/active switching gives it a gazillion tones. And it's the most ergonomic bass I've ever played. I recorded with it last year and the engineer loved it too.
I'd love to have a Big Al someday. Not on the horizon anytime soon.
That Big Al does sound interesting. Too bad about those angles.
Meanwhile, over on fetishguitars, I found this "Meazzi Jupiter":
http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/meazzi/jupiterbass.html
(http://www.fetishguitars.com/img/meazzi/jupiter/jupiterbass/meazzijupiter12.jpg)
IIRC built for Adam Clayton...I want to see the case.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/ReverseExplorer.jpg)
Ah, a reverse explorer? Kinda cool.
(Although I have to wonder, why does Adam Clayton want 24 frets!)
Quote from: slinkp on November 15, 2011, 09:08:29 AM
(Although I have to wonder, why does Adam Clayton want 24 frets!)
Same reason he wants a Buzzard headstock?
Here's another cheapo cousin... an old Eko bass from ebay:
Armenian bass on eBay:
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/9/1/7/8/webimg/524491307_o.jpg)
^ That looks vaguely similar to a POS.
Quote from: Dave W on November 19, 2011, 08:34:41 AM
^ That looks vaguely similar to a POS.
Yes, it's a striking resemblance.
Keep the POSes coming! I enjoy those.
Dayum Dave!
I looked at that picture and thought "Armenia isn't a bastion of musical instruments" and felt. . .a little . . . .well dirty for the thought.
Then I read your post and choked on a diet pepsi 8)
Quote from: Rob on November 19, 2011, 08:48:40 PM
Dayum Dave!
I looked at that picture and thought "Armenia isn't a bastion of musical instruments" and felt. . .a little . . . .well dirty for the thought.
Then I read your post and choked on a diet pepsi 8)
The Armenian guitar industry is apparently so bad it doesn't even rate a mention on Cheesy Guitars (http://www.meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/guitars.html).
Check out the headstock... classy.
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/9/1/7/8/webimg/524491378_o.jpg)
I've been messing with this on and off for a while, it's definitely NR influenced. It won't have that exact headstock if it ever gets finished and the P/G needs Slimfast.
(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/RNR/P1050067.jpg)
If you are into 6 string Bass VI style basses you could look out for a Teisco TB-64.
Paul Rhoney, a luthier from California makes pretty neat TB-64 style replicas. He's also a very nice guy.
Here's the original:
(http://blogimg.goo.ne.jp/user_image/11/40/ec2aa8dbad156feb0555cb29583d06f9.jpg)
And here's a Rhoney one:
(http://paulrhoney.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PICT2290-e1318653260395.jpg)
:)
Quote from: ilan on November 19, 2011, 12:11:55 AM
Armenian bass on eBay:
(http://img.auctiva.com/imgdata/1/2/8/9/1/7/8/webimg/524491307_o.jpg)
Needs a bottle opener.
Quote from: Aussie Mark on November 20, 2011, 03:37:32 PM
Needs a bottle opener.
There ya go.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Awktw5PDAbg/S1bhordJuhI/AAAAAAAAAF4/i5VofizTNFs/s400/20742_1307513480603_1013531811_30941314_2976080_n.jpg)
Guild Jetstar should be here as well , no pic of one though.
You mean like this?
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Dearmond%20Basses/PB070011.jpg)
Quote from: Pilgrim on November 23, 2011, 01:13:34 PM
You mean like this?
(http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j306/apowell1/Electric%20Basses/Dearmond%20Basses/PB070011.jpg)
That one is pretty neat.
:)
that's vaguely similiar to gumby, dammit.
Quote from: nofi on November 24, 2011, 07:31:21 AM
that's vaguely similiar to gumby, dammit.
That's the way I describe it, yessir.
... and not a hint of p*rpl*... ;D
Quote from: ilan on November 20, 2011, 03:48:45 PM
There ya go.
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_Awktw5PDAbg/S1bhordJuhI/AAAAAAAAAF4/i5VofizTNFs/s400/20742_1307513480603_1013531811_30941314_2976080_n.jpg)
The market still craves a Corvus bass...
In this other thread, http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=7665.0 , Saltymonkey just picked up one of the Silvertones I had posted earlier in this thread...