Fernandes 'The Function' Explorer

[rahock]

I have no idea who was the first to play a V but I did catch Albert King playing one in the late 60s. I 've got an old friend who buys and sells vintage Gibsons and Fenders and he had one for a while. I jammed with him using it a few times and I was really impressed with it. He liked it so much he claimed that he was keeping it forever, but as usual, he flipped in a couple of months. It was a fine piece, kind of hard to describe the sound, kind of like a Firebird (another of my favorite Gibsons), very powerful and a lot of presence . I can only guess that the reason they were never more popular is the obvious fact that they are near impossible to play sitting down
Vs and Firebirds tend to be the Fender lovers Gibson. I know several die hard Fender players who are pretty anti Gibson, but love Vs and Firebirds.
Rick

[hieronymous]

Chris, I have a PDF of a 1985 Japanese Fernandes catalog, and it has a bass that looks similar to the one you posted:



"Dog Fighter Bass" is the name of the pickups, not the bass. There is some text on the same page, but it refers to the higher priced models, the BXB-115 & -75, and doesn't give much detail. As often happens, the model number refers to the list price. 55,000 yen in 1985 was about $220 USD.

Hope this helps!

[Chris P.]

Thanks, great!!! This helps! I have some questions, maybe you know more:

- Is it made in Japan?
- Dogfighter... Just a nice name for a big humbucker?
- Who's the hairy guy?

Thanks!!!!

[Basvarken]

- Who's the hairy guy?

It's Doug.
Doug Fighter

[Chris P.]

Brilliant


I hoped you wouldn't see this pic, Basvarken, cos I knew you would make fun of me;)

I'll call myself Dough Fyghter as stage name when I play this bass:)

[hieronymous]

Thanks, great!!! This helps! I have some questions, maybe you know more:

- Is it made in Japan?
- Dogfighter... Just a nice name for a big humbucker?
- Who's the hairy guy?

Thanks!!!!

I can't find anything in the catalog that specifically says anything is made in Japan. That would be my guess though.

A lot of the pickups in the catalog, both bass and guitar, are referred to as Dogfighter, but they all appear to have blade magnets, whether humbucking or single-coil.

The guy in the picture is Ban from 44MAGNUM - never heard of 'em except from this catalog!

[hieronymous]

I forgot - it looks like "The Function" is the name in the catalog for some aspect of their line at that time, so I think we might have a match! Too bad there aren't closeups of the headstock in the catalog.

[Chris P.]

Thanks again! I won this bass for 300 euros which is like the same amount of a new Epi Explorer.

It is a headstock crack which is repaired years ago and it doesn't causes any trouble. Hope to have it at the end of the week.

[chromium]

Congrats, Mr. Fyghter!

You will let me know if you decide to trade that frumpy old 4005 for a lifetime supply of spandex, Aquanet, and "body sheen", yes??   

[Chris P.]

You're the first one to know!

[Highlander]

Have I missed something or have we still not seen this instrument "strutting her stuff" with her new partner...?

[Chris P.]

Transferring the money to Belgium took one day too much, so the current owner was a week on holiday when the money arrived. He wanted to send it to me this weekend, but next week I am at the Frankfurter Musikmesse. I asked him to send it next weekend, so it'll arrive in Holland when I'm home again.\

So I have to have another week of patience. But I'll hold a lot of basses next week...

As soon as I have it, the first gigs of the La La Lies will start, so I'll try to get a live pic soon then!

[Blazer]

my Fenderbird also is still for sale Doug if you want to add yet another bass to your collection.

[Chris P.]

Well, The Explorer is in. I can't find my camera anywhere, so no pics yet.

First thoughts:

- It's medium scale! Love that! So it isn't that enourmous.

- The body is very, very light so it has a certain amount of neck diving, but not problematic.

- It has some dents and cracks, but it is in a good shape and very nice aged. Very creamish yellow.

- The headstock isn't that well repaired, but strong enough on first sight.


And the most important thing: It looks good on me!

For the second most important thing: I'll try her out on an amp now.

[Chris P.]

I found an amp, but no wig. Found my camera too.

Well: First thoughts: A real nice sounding instrument. Barking, but also some real good low end. Neck pick up is very warm and even the bridge pick up is P-ish. Both together gives this tighter sound. I think the body is mahogany, but it hasn't got the nosy, nasal sound. Maybe that's due to the bolt-on neck. Maybe it's another light wood.

There's nothing on in about a country, so I guess it's Japanese.

Pics: (bad but I used the timer)