Peter Cook Axis

[FlatEric]

This is a treat for Kenny Five-O.
Gigging with this on Saturday, so I thought I had better set it all up.
I will put better pics up in Flat Eric's Collection, later on.
This is a VERY unusual bass and if there is anybody out there, who has one
please get in touch.
It weighs just over 11lbs, is 45mm thick - 1 3/4 ", and has electronics that have entertained and baffled me. In all the stuff I have, I have a full understanding of what is going on, but. . . . .  Mr Cook, you have me!!
Flick one switch and you loose PUP selection, move it, it comes back, with a different sound. Select active and there is NO EQ as such, more tone shaping, a bit like a Walsh/Frampton voice box. Weird! Anyway, after a couple of hours fiddling, I have got the sound I want.
The bridge has been dismamtled at some point and the saddles put the wrong way round - intonation was. . .  erm. . . .  Out!
Anyway, I am off to finish it now.
Rod works, set the action/intonation and off we go.
Cheers.

[godofthunder]

Beautiful !

[Pilgrim]

WOW!

Does it weigh under 12 pounds??

[Highlander]

Now there's two of us with Peter Cook Basses...

Truly beautiful, Eric, truly beautiful...

[FlatEric]

Now there's two of us with Peter Cook Basses...

Truly beautiful, Eric, truly beautiful...

Kenny, this is for you and anyone else who is interested!
This was forwarded to me by someone else in the Bass Community.
Thanks Nick.
You'll need to sit down for a bit, after you have read it!!!

Here you go:

1. volume knob (near back p/up)

2. cut/boost knob offering 15dB cut/boost

3. Frequency knob which works in turn with cut/boost knob (essentially, you've got a parametric system - freq range of 80Hz to 20KHz).

4. pickup selector switch

5. pickup phase mini toggle switch

6. Active/Passive mode mini toggle switch - I assume this is a 3 way job as it says that you get `passive with top cut, full normal passive and active on'.

Here's the actual text from the book;

The three rotary controls govern volume (aided by a pickup selector switch) but the further two tone pots are not in use when the bass is set passive. When active, the final two pots offer cut/boost of +/- 15dB and the frequency selected on, what is in effect, a parametric eq system. The switches offer pickup selection, pickup phase and active/passive mode control; which means passive with top cut, full normal passive and active on. Overall, the frequency range covered is 80Hz to 20KHz. Soundwise, the Axis is possibly the most versatile active bass produced in the UK. A staggering variety of tones is obtainable; a far cry from from some of the less than phenomenally ranging active basses of recent years. If you can memorise these functions and avoid setting unusable tones, then the overall potential is incredible.

Phew, I've come over all dizzy, now!

Cheers.

[Highlander]

... and she can brew a sweet cup of tea, too... 

Something to be checked... do the strings appear to line-up evenly on the neck...? The bridge may be off-set slightly... I wouldn't be surprised if that is not original... (take a peek under it...?)

General question - iirc, this bass came out in the early eighties... when did the Badass II come out...?

[chromium]

Neat bass!

I got this book entitled "Rock Hardware" (ISBN 0-517-545209) when I was a kid ~10, and I wore that thing ragged.  I still have it, and scanned in a page you might like:




The one pictured there with JE looks somewhat similar to your bass.

[Dave W]

At least there's a face to go with the name.

[FlatEric]

Hi to all WHO (geddit??) are interested.
Kenny, in answer to your question, the strings are well in line, it
it just the angle of the photo. The pics are Pre-refurb, I will get a
couple of nice shots, soon.
The intonation is done (much better)and the action @ 2.5mm at the 12th.
Played it last night for about 3 hours, Mmmm, Nice!
Through a Yam 500 Digi amp and a Hartke 8 x 10, the sound variations
are more subtle than through the 20w amp I test things through - I think
I have just about got the hang of it, so it's up for an outing on Saturday!

Joe, thank you for the scan - I already have a BAD scan of the shot with
JE & PC, that I discoverd during research on my Twin.
Could I ask a huge favour. .  Could you re-scan the just the pic of JE & PC
and see if it is any better. The bass, is indeed, the same as mine, except
for the output. That one, from what I can see, has a Badass. I wonder if JE
ever had one??
I have tried to find the book but it is not even listed.

All the best.
Flat Eric.

[chromium]

At least there's a face to go with the name.

And he's got the shirt to prove it!


Eric- I tried to catch a cleaner closeup for you.  The bridge there looks like a Badass II to me as well.




(I like to envision that this conversation is taking place)

[Highlander]

(chuckling sounds emanating from the shed...)

[Barklessdog]

Really cool bass. How did you come by it & how much did it cost you, if you don't mind?

[Freuds_Cat]

Really cool bass. How did you come by it & how much did it cost you, if you don't mind?

Dito

[Highlander]

I know; I was offered her, and I know how much he got her for... lets just say that imho he got more than just an incredible bargain... 

I've said it before, Mr Cook has disapeared off the radar and people just don't know what they are missing...

And FE, re your question, I don't know, but by comparison, overpriced at the mo...