Vox Wyman

[Aussie Mark]

I've scored a Vox Wyman at a bargain price for use in the 60s section of our Stones tribute show.  It's on the way from the UK, so I should have it in a week or so.  Based on the photos, the neck pickup has been replaced by a Strat pickup or something like that (might even be a Jazz pickup, but the photo is too small to tell for sure).  So, I'll need to source a white/cream 4 pole pickup at some point in time.  From what Google tells me, these basses are not fantastic players, with baseball bat necks, but for the price I paid I don't mind as long as it is playable and produces sound LOL

I know Thornton owns/owned a Wyman, and I think Leftybass owned a Vox at some point before he bought his Phantom Guitarworks reissue.  Anyone else own a Vox teardrop or Wyman?

[gweimer]

Funny you should mention Vox.  I just dug out some old pictures today.  I started playing on a Vox Mark IV teardrop.  It was a truly horrible bass.  The necks should have been stamped with "Louisville Slugger".  Still, it did teach me how to play.  I eventually put a mini-humbucker in the bridge slot to get any sort of decent tone out of it.  That bass was dumped for my first good bass - '66 Thunderbird II NR.

I wouldn't even buy one for the sake of nostalgia.  It was that bad.

[Thornton Davis]

Mark mine is actually a Stinger IV (see my avatar), which is similar to the Wyman Bass but different. You'll find your Wyman has a thin neck. It's the Mk IV's and Phantom IV's that have the 2x4 necks. In case you were unaware, the Wyman bass was manufactured by two different companies. The "British Version" was made in Italy by Crucianelli which was more of a deluxe version with nice block inlays in the neck and made for JMI around 1965-66. The second and the most common version was made by Eko also in Italy but this version was made for Thomas Organ in 1967-68. My Stinger IV was made by Eko.

I read that Bill never asked for and was never consulted about the creation of the Wyman bass. He said that one day a fellow from Vox showed up and gave him the bass. When he opened the case, he was surprised to see his name on the headstock. Said he tried the bass and hated it for a host of reasons but the main one being the excessive neck dive.

You should be able to find an original Vox pickup for your bass on Ebay. I see them listed for sale regularly. Good luck with it.

TD

[rahock]

When I was a young tadpole and just starting to play bass, I had such a jones for a Vox Wyman bass and a Super Beatle because they looked so good. I wanted to get rid of my Airline amp and Crestwood bass and score the ultimate Vox gear. I figured I would be the coolest guy in town if I could have my dream gear. A few years later when I actually had some money and went out to do some serious equipment shopping I got to try that combo out. I wound up with a serious case of WHAT WAS I THINKING .
Rick

[Dave W]

Bill also said that when their endorsement contract with Vox was up, some people from Vox came and took back all the gear.

FWIW, Toody Cole of the Pierced Arrows (successor to Dead Moon) has played a Vox Wyman for years.

[Chris P.]

I used to have an Italian Vox. It was a Saturn IV and I hated it. The neck was very narrow. Too narrow. A friend of mine has one and he loves it. Another friend of mine bought a Vox stack and she got a bass with it. It is, I think, a Phantom in the coffin shape. I love her bass. The neck is much more P-ish.

[Aussie Mark]

I considered one of the Phantom Guitarworks copies, but at double the price of this old Vox once I'd factored in a hard case and shipping I figured I'd go with the Vox.  It won't be my main player for the Stones shows, but it will get a run when we do club shows where we do multiple sets involving wardrobe and gear changes between sets based on the era.

On the 1966 tour of Australia and New Zealand Bill used a Vox Wyman. The Vox was stolen after the concert in Wellington and went missing for many years until the current "owner" got in touch with Wyman and returned it ... http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/11/1081621836159.html

[Hörnisse]

I'll bet it's going to be tough finding a short scale Travis Bean and Steinberger bass for the 70's and 80's wardrobe changes.   

[Aussie Mark]

I'll bet it's going to be tough finding a short scale Travis Bean and Steinberger bass for the 70's and 80's wardrobe changes.   

I know LOL

I get around that by using a range of basses.  For 60s era shows I've been using my Duesenberg Starplayer, which for the average audience member looks close enough to a Framus Star bass - and it's a totally fantastic bass to play.  Then, I've got my Ampeg Dan Armstrong lucite reissue for Mick Taylor era sets, with my SG reissue used for anything from the 70s onwards or for generic modern era "greatest hits" shows.  It's not totally on the money, but it's a lot better than the Stones tribute bands I've seen online who have bass players playing a P bass or a 5 string Warwick or a Dano Longhorn!

[leftybass]

I used to own the Vox Mark IV shown on the Vox Showroom site, the neck was huge.

[gweimer]

I used to own the Vox Mark IV shown on the Vox Showroom site, the neck was huge.

LOL.  That's an understatement that only those of us who have played them can understand.  If you look really close in the fuzzy pic I posted, you'll be able to make out the Gibson mini-bucker I installed.  By install, I mean chiseled out the rout.

[copacetic]

It's reassuring to know that way back when  ( by the looks of yer haircut and the general scenery) I was not the only one modding bassses.

[dadagoboi]

I love my '65 Phantom.  It's made in England, tiger maple neck, ebony board, 2 Precision type overwound SC pickups.  But my 1970 Italian one was a POS, as much as I hate to say it.  Night and day difference in quality, materials and sound.


Was that a Magnatone amp, Gary?

[leftybass]

I think Leftybass owned a Vox at some point before he bought his Phantom Guitarworks reissue.

You are correct sir, I have a white hollowbody Teardrop. Haven't played it in years, it's a righty.

[gweimer]

Was that a Magnatone amp, Gary?

That was one of the worst amps I ever bought.  That was a very early Carvin 100w, back when they were mail-order only.  The cabinet is a Guild 2x15.