The Last Bass Outpost

Check out http://letstalkguild.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=15198 for video of a neck replacement on a Guild Starfire.  The way the luthier in that video preserved the headstock face (w/the perloid inlaid logo) was interesting and would do a lot to keep the original feel of the instrument.  The integration of an ebony laminate in the replacement neck would increase the fundamental frequencies and sustain in the bass's sound.  Replacing the neck might suggest refinishing the body(?).  Good luck.  Keep us posted.

QuoteThat doesn't look reliced, just used appropriately.  I think I'd just spiff it up and play it.  I certainly wouldn't refin that one.

+1  I wouldn't do anything but clean an polish it.  I refinned mine because the finish was truly, ugly trashed.  Yours looks like a distinguished warrior.  Pretty bass. 

Looking forward to seeing the bass repaired.  I too GAS'd for an M-85 for years before I finally found a beat up one I could afford in Canada (I'm in the US), went through all the shipping issues and got it.  I did a bunch of mods, including a strip and refin (it really was trashed), new bridge (it had a Badass when it arrived) and Dark Stars.  It wound up pretty good:



Looking forward to pix of yours.  Best luck.

Though I'd love to hear a short scale HB in the works, I'd sell blood for the short scale decade. 

Somebody pleeeeeeeze tell me the Decade short scale neck would also fit a Lakland Hollowbody!!  A true, modern Starfire...   

QuoteProbably very steely with chromium overtones.   

As a material to make galloshes, I think chromium is a little "Elton John/Yellow Brick Road".  Am I the only one?   

QuoteThere are stories of early Small Standard basses with myrtle body cores that weigh a whole 6 or 7 pounds.

Wow.  Mine's quite a way north of that.  Never felt it was heavy enough to weigh.  Regardless, it's very managable, given compactness and my attachment to 4" straps.   

Thanks.  This is my favorite bass ever.  It's a shorty (30.75"), but because the bridge is placed so far up the body on Alembics, the reach and wrist angles to get to lower frets are a lot like a 34" scale.  The mahogany (the stringers are: center-Walnut, flanked by 2 beech) realy warms things up.  The sound is much rounder than my maple-necked Alembics, but with no loss of articulation in the high mids and highs.  The body core is myrtle.   

Here's mine.  My 3rd Alembic and the bass they'll have to bury me with.  When I ordered the bass, I combined the neck and fretboard dimensions of my favorite couple of basses and wound up with the Goldilocks special:  Not too thin, but just thin enough; not too wide but just wide enough, etc.  Makes every sound I want.  I have other basses I really like, but once I pick up the Brown Bass, I realize how good it really is.  I'm not an Alembic-Koolaid type, but it's hard not to love 'em.