Memphis basses?

[Denis]

Anyone know anything about them?
I find this one oddly appealing...

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/2033432645.html

[Hornisse]

A good bass for the money.  I prefer the true lawsuit models with the Fender headstocks.  They actually made them with one piece maple necks and they looked pretty close to the real deal.  Here are some pics of my old one.  It did have one changed tuner but I got it for $100 back in 2004.  They made them with maple cap necks as well with the Fender headstock. 

[nofi]

careful with that axe, eugene. meow.

[PhilT]

I've got scans of a few pages of Memphis catalogs from 1977 and 1982. They were distributed by Coast Wholesale Music, on the West coast, and C Bruno & Son of Atlanta. both of which bizarrely got bought by Kaman Corporation, who made helicopters and also started Ovation guitars.

http://www.kaman.com/history/history_p.html

The 1982 catalog has 2 models, Model 105 and 205, both of which look like P copies under the covers, in sunburst, jet black or natural, with "Fire Power pickups and electronics".

The headstock on the Craigslist one looks rather like the SX shape. Some threads on t'internet suggest the later 80s production, which I guess that is, wasn't so good.

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=218226
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/other-guitars-other-instruments/182624-any-knowledge-memphis-guitars-brand.html

[Hornisse]

Just got this nice Ventura P bass copy today.  Solid 3 piece body weighs 4.4 pounds and it sounds really good too!  These are all similar to the Aria, Memphis, Maya, Greco, etc. basses of the time period.  You can always tell the plywood ones because black finish on the 'burst always covers the contour areas. 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=200541660547&si=g4e0IVXqzjakkvPSuMVvn3l4Lc8%253D&viewitem=

[Denis]

Congrats! I like torty pgs on sunbursts!