Things vaguely similar to NR thunderbirds

slinkp · November 11, 2011, 09:41:59 AM

I've always liked the non-reverse thunderbird look ... but I also like basses in roughly the same shape family. By which I mean: asymmetrical, rounded bouts rather than big horns longer on top than bottom ... hourglass-ish shape... What else is like that? There are probably some I've never seen. I'm hoping people will chime in with pictures of interesting and obscure bird-ish basses.

First off is the bird itself, of course:

The Ampeg Scroll bass is a fascinating-looking beastie, never played one of these:

I do like the Fender Jaguar shape:

I've seen some "double-reverse" knockoffs - essentially an upside-down "regular" bird - such as this Greco:

The Reverend Rumblefish is a little more angular for my taste, but kind of cool:

So... what else is out there? Obscure vintage budget crap, pricey boutique custom jobs, as long as it looks cool let's see it!

slinkp · November 11, 2011, 09:56:36 AM

A lovely Silvertone!

ack1961 · November 11, 2011, 10:24:07 AM

Every time I see one of those Ampeg scroll basses, I marvel at just how gorgeous they are.

slinkp · November 11, 2011, 10:43:50 AM

Ovation Magnum is a distant cousin:

Aussie Mark · November 13, 2011, 03:30:02 PM

The younger, more pointy cousin ....

hieronymous · November 13, 2011, 05:47:46 PM

The Bass VI is similar to the Jaguar, but the upper horn is more Strat-like:

(This is a mock-up I did with a program at OffsetGuitars.com. But don't go there right now! Firefox just said it's an "attack page" - it may have been compromised recently. It was fine a few days ago but better safe than sorry...)

slinkp · November 14, 2011, 12:00:18 PM

Quote from: Aussie Mark on November 13, 2011, 03:30:02 PM
The younger, more pointy cousin ....

Wow Mark, that Music Man (I think?) thing is really ugly!

What is the story on that thing?

leftybass · November 14, 2011, 12:14:39 PM

Looks like a bass version of a MM Albert Lee gtr.

slinkp · November 14, 2011, 01:37:43 PM

Hieronymous, you reminded me that Lakland did a similar shape with the Decade:

The upper bout on those makes them feel a lot more fender-ish than gibson-ish to me.

I was hoping more obscure stuff would come out of the woodwork, like that Silvertone job.
What else you guys got?

slinkp · November 14, 2011, 01:53:52 PM

Ah, I should've googled Teisco sooner!

Aussie Mark · November 14, 2011, 02:45:20 PM

Quote from: leftybass on November 14, 2011, 12:14:39 PM
Looks like a bass version of a MM Albert Lee gtr.

It is - the "Big Al". I own one, and it's the best Musicman ever made, in my opinion. Don't let the look fool you. The stacked single coil pups, 18v preamp, and the passive/active switching gives it a gazillion tones. And it's the most ergonomic bass I've ever played. I recorded with it last year and the engineer loved it too.

Dave W · November 14, 2011, 04:22:13 PM

I'd love to have a Big Al someday. Not on the horizon anytime soon.

slinkp · November 14, 2011, 08:08:47 PM

That Big Al does sound interesting. Too bad about those angles.

Meanwhile, over on fetishguitars, I found this "Meazzi Jupiter":
http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/meazzi/jupiterbass.html

dadagoboi · November 15, 2011, 05:29:14 AM

IIRC built for Adam Clayton...I want to see the case.

slinkp · November 15, 2011, 09:08:29 AM

Ah, a reverse explorer? Kinda cool.
(Although I have to wonder, why does Adam Clayton want 24 frets!)