Unusual...? Yamaha SB2A "Surf" bass - 1960's instrument...?

[Highlander]

Just an unusual beastie - I know nothing about them... Not that cheap but what do I know...



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290495577587&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123

[Hornisse]

They reissued these with some modern upgrades.  Not sure how much the new ones are fetching though.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Those look like they were the inspiration for Charvel Surfcasters.

[Pilgrim]

They ALL look very surf....instant GAS on my part!

[Dave W]

I've played one of the late 60s versions, it's a cut above most Japanese basses of the time but really nothing special unless you dig the reverse horn and don't mind the neck dive. When you see them here, they seem to be priced about $400.

[Freuds_Cat]

A mate of mine in the 70's had a blue guitard version of one of these.

[Daniel_J]

I remember my dad had a LP of a japanese band from the 60s, named The Wild Ones, and the bass player was holding one of those in the cover of the LP, and I always thought it was very cool when I was a little kid.
I dont really remember, but my mom told me that at one time I cut a piece of cardboard with the shape of that bass and then I kept asking my dad to play his guitar so I could pretend that I was the one playing.

In 2005 I was in Japan, and almost bought one of the reissues, a used yellow one the store was asking about 180 us dollars. But ended up buying an 96 Epi Rivoli RI for 200 and never looked back.

[Chris P.]

I had a sunburst two pick up '67er for a while. I liked the balance control, but not a very special bass. I like the design, but it's shortscale and quite small. A bit too small for me.

[gweimer]

I played one of the RI versions at GC a few years back.  My opinion was that they were very weak.  Looked cool, though.  Kind of the same impression I got of the Ibanez Jet King.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

Yeah; the Jet King would be one hell of a sleeper if it had decent pickups.

[Highlander]

Sitting with no bids at a starter of about $321, but as she's in the UK that would be a costly shipment...

[eb2]

Fatdog had one for years on his website.  Teeny tubey necks.  Fun as all hell though.

[Dave W]

Fatdog had one for years on his website.  Teeny tubey necks.  Fun as all hell though.

It's still there. Fatdawg hasn't updated his site this century. "Hit with the ugly stick. And to make matters worse, its mother took thalidomide." http://www.fatdawg.com/bass.html

[Pilgrim]

It's still there. Fatdawg hasn't updated his site this century.

I'm not surprised...that site would be an absolute nightmare for anyone to update.  But it sure hasn't changed in forever.

[chromium]

Fleeting glimpses at 0:42 onward...