Fretless Hobbit on Reverb

Grog · October 15, 2017, 07:36:14 AM

This has been for sale for 2 years. If it was a factory fretless, it could be interesting. No binding on the fret board, which I find odd if it were factory. Other features bastardized & a refin..........

https://reverb.com/item/1066464-gibson-les-paul-triumph-bass-1973-very-rare-fretless

66Atlas · October 15, 2017, 07:48:18 AM

Pretty sure that thing is a refin/mod but nonetheless its a cool bass. The thing that threw me about it was if you look at the cover plate it has been reshaped at the point near the output jack an it appears the old screw hole for the missing section has been filled a cleared over during a refin. Same with the bridge cover screw holes. The sculpted heel is an interesting mod, whoever built it put some time into it.

edit- i guess he admits all that in the ad. What do I know, Ha!

Basvarken · October 15, 2017, 09:47:02 AM

Nice. But I don't think this was originally a fretless.

Highlander · October 15, 2017, 12:27:51 PM

Floats my boat but not my pocket...

clankenstein · October 15, 2017, 01:22:52 PM

Interesting but stupid expensive.

Grog · October 15, 2017, 04:42:12 PM

It's been there for two years at that price & is destined to be there for many more.............

Granny Gremlin · October 15, 2017, 05:36:04 PM

Definately heavily modded. The neck joint has been ergonomically redesigned, which proves it's a refin (or at least a very pro touchup ... nope - there is no Triumph model name decal on the rear of the headstock - def refin).

Also non-original case; non-original knobs; non -original control plate screws (one missing - looks stripped). Missing the bridge cover (holes filled - def refin) and replacement nut are par for the course.

Doubt that's the original fretboard (looks like ebony , those were rosewood and not bound).

It's not worth half that, which would be a reasonable price for an original one in not-rare fin. With that one on that auction site where the 6 string RD bass is listed at 900, it's no wonder this thing has been up for 2 years without sale.

Dave W · October 15, 2017, 07:25:17 PM

Two sets of side dots and he thinks it's factory? Yeah, right.

Basvarken · October 16, 2017, 02:37:31 AM

The (rather confusing) double row of side dots. The absence of a binding at the fretboard. The non original black top nut.
As far as I'm concerned they are tell tale signs for a non original fretless finger board.

And yes, the refin is obvious. But the seller already admits it in the ad.

@ Jake: About the Triumph decal at the back of the head stock. It is normal that it isn't there. Mine didn't have that too.

Grog · October 16, 2017, 04:54:15 AM

Wouldn't the decal only be from 1975 to early 1977?

Basvarken · October 16, 2017, 05:01:17 AM

That is possible yes. Maybe Jules knows this exactly

doombass · October 16, 2017, 05:53:50 AM

Quote from: Grog on October 16, 2017, 04:54:15 AM
Wouldn't the decal only be from 1975 to early 1977?

Yes. 1975 with 99-prefix, 1976 00-prefix and 1977 06-prefix.

Granny Gremlin · October 16, 2017, 02:08:04 PM

Huh, didn't know that. I do see a 1980 Triumph on ebay now, but it's a second so maybe they never [put a decal on for that reason. I guess that explains the confusion over that model's name - half of them don't say Triumph anywhere on the thing (TRC says Les Paul Bass).

66Atlas · October 16, 2017, 03:46:53 PM

Yep, just those years with the decal serial number got the name, same case for the grabbers and TBs although I've seen Grabbers from that era that got stamped serials for some reason..those may well have been seconds.

My Hobbit is a 78

Granny Gremlin · October 16, 2017, 04:16:49 PM

And a beauty pee pee yellow (formerly white) it is too ;P Just like mine (75; with decal).