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Gear Discussion Forums => Other Bass Brands => Topic started by: Basvarken on June 27, 2008, 03:48:07 PM

Title: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Basvarken on June 27, 2008, 03:48:07 PM
for sale on Ebay: (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-1979-GRETSCH-COMMITTEE-BASS-NECK-THROUGH-BODY_W0QQitemZ120275912200QQihZ002QQcategoryZ118984QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem)

(http://i12.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/f9/1a/7844_3.JPG)


Never heard of it but sure looks nice!
Any of you guys ever played one of these?


Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: JimmyBond8 on June 27, 2008, 04:18:42 PM
I think I've seen one or two of these on Ebay before , but not many; and neither of them were in the great condition that this one looks to be.

I found this, here{ http://bassplaying.com/?q=user/67 }: " I have a 1980 Gretsch model 7629 "Committee" bass. It's beautifully made from walnut and maple with MOP inlays and ivory binding around the neck and head stock.
It has a single passive SuperTron pickup in the 'sweet' spot. The tone runs from extremely dark to extremely bright and twangy. The wide tonal range means I can dial in nearly any tone I want. Pretty amazing for a single Pickup.
"

I don't have a clue how it sounds personally though, but I agree it looks awesome. =) I could speculate that it might sound like the Guild B-301, or maybe like the Rickenbacker Short-scale bass (model escapes me). But thats just my speculation.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Chris P. on June 28, 2008, 03:43:24 PM
Hmmm, I like the semisolids better.

The shortscale Rickies are the 3000, 2040 and 2060.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Chris P. on June 28, 2008, 03:49:52 PM
It looks better if you see alll the pics. I kinda like the see through pickguard surrounding the pick up.


BTW: shortscale Ricks are bolt-on. This one's neck-through.

Are you gonna bid on her, Robbie?
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: godofthunder on June 28, 2008, 05:36:10 PM
 When these came out they sat at the stores, we had them at the H.O.G. I don't have any real memory of playing them but I know they didn't knock me out. Rare for sure, they came and went pronto.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Dave W on June 28, 2008, 05:41:16 PM
I've played one but it's been years and I can't remember what it sounded like.

IIRC it's long scale, so if it's comparable in any way to a Rick (not saying it is), it would be to the 4000 series models.

Chris, FWIW, the 2000 series Rick basses are bolt-on but they're regular Rick 33 1/4" scale.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Chris P. on June 29, 2008, 02:13:26 AM
I already thought it looked longscale.

And you're right. I made a mistake. 2000s are longscale indeed, which makes the 3000 the onlye Ric shortscale.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: HornetAMX on June 29, 2008, 11:11:21 AM
I had the guitar version a few years ago.  I saw a bass about a year ago when I went to look at a bass cabinet for sale but the guy had routed where the original pickup was and put a Music Man type pickup and preamp in the bass.  The other strange thing about these guitars/basses is that you have to adjust the truss rod with a key accessed by the plug in back of the body.  Fortunately I never had to adjust mine!

(http://i30.tinypic.com/2lx1fb.jpg)
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Dave W on June 29, 2008, 12:45:53 PM
Quote from: HornetAMX on June 29, 2008, 11:11:21 AM
The other strange thing about these guitars/basses is that you have to adjust the truss rod with a key accessed by the plug in back of the body.  Fortunately I never had to adjust mine!

That's right, I can see the plug on the back of the one in the auction. Never saw one adjusted, but I remember reading that the key turns a geared wheel that engages the rod. Or something like that.
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Basvarken on June 29, 2008, 02:14:38 PM
Those weird kind of inventions makes it even more desirable!
But no I'm not going to bid... I think...
Title: Re: Gretsch Committee bass
Post by: Chris P. on June 29, 2008, 04:36:50 PM
That's the Burns type truss rod adjustment. Gretsch used that and also the Burns vibrato unit.