54 EB with some contraptions...

[Highlander]

We have seen worse traversties, haven't we...?

[amptech]

Hm.. this is a tricky one.
I´d have to use both hands on this bass.

[uwe]

It's Ter's - reloaded.

[steveonbass]

Still looks better than those things sound  *ducking*

[westen44]

As has already been referred to here:  Jack--

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I was looking at the first shot, but even on the detail pics the "E" and the "G" string look to be close to the same diameter. That's what got me. I was just thinking 'butchered old EB...that's a familiar tale.'

[amptech]

There´s all sorts of reasons why people butcher their instruments. No wonder, who better to turn to when you´re about to turn crazy
than your guitar? There is no better friend than an old gibson bass, and being a bit messed up might turn your personalized axe into something quite different too - it´s become your therapist , doctor or whatever. That´s no bad medicine at all

When I grew up, there was this puzzled old man who claimed to know a hundred different A7 voicings. I never recall seeing him
with a guitar or met someone who heard him play. But one day his fender twin reverb came in for repair in the local guitar store,
and it was painted with dots of different colours all over... And of course, it wasn´t a cosmetic modification.
He said that they coloured the tone of the amp just the way he liked it.

[eb2]

My guess is someone figured out a long time ago that too much tension from a heavier bass string on the old banjo pegs causes the shaft gear to pull away from the knob gear - tuners don't work.  So, instead of reaming it out for Schallers, or subbing in Grover Imperials (no reaming, same ferrules) they improvised a very complicated hunk o' stuff.  I like it!  Thumb rest/handle is fun too.

ALSO - that is about the best Jack Bruce ever sounded, tone wise, live.  Old EB1s sound wonderous.  Go buy a real EB!