BetaFunk

In the 70s no one cared less about a bass made in 1960 and most musicians if they could afford it would have bought a brand new shiny 1970s one. All those vintage basses and guitars were left for the poorer musicians and the roadworn ones were placed at the back of the shop or refinished so they could sell them. Where did this mania of 'old is gold' come from?

[quote name='Roland Rock' timestamp='1392879633' post='2373695'] I found it quite an interesting, relevant and positive contribution to the thread. [/quote] I just thought that anyone contributing to this thread would have known all of that already. If it has informed some of the history of the fretless bass and they can contribute to the thread then that's a good thing and a positive contribution.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1392894367' post='2373849'] Yes, but that's before they went all prog and changed their name to Ampersand ... [/quote] Sadly that was the downfall of all those beat groups..............prog that is not ampersand.

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1392877727' post='2373691'] A thoughtful member trying to be helpful by providing us with useful background information from a source that would claim to be factual but whose reliability is often linked to the popular phrase 'taken with a pinch of salt' ?? I'm guessing ! [/quote]

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1392891361' post='2373801'] I played it last week with an early 60's British rock'n'roll band (Johnny Kidd & The Pirates, Rory Storm & The Hurricanes, The Big Three, etc.). [/quote] Did 'etc' play all their old hits?

[quote name='merello' timestamp='1392844497' post='2373523'] Wiki The first fretless bass guitar was made by [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Wyman"]Bill Wyman[/url] in 1961 when he converted an inexpensive Japanese fretted bass by removing the frets.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-19"][19][/url][/sup][sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-20"][20][/url][/sup] The first production fretless bass was the [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ampeg"]Ampeg[/url] AUB-1 introduced in 1966, and Fender introduced a fretless Precision Bass in 1970. Around 1970, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Danko"]Rick Danko[/url] from [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Band"]The Band[/url] began to use an Ampeg fretless, which he modified with Fender pickups—as heard on the 1971 [i][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cahoots_(album)"]Cahoots[/url][/i] studio album and the [i][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_of_Ages_(album)"]Rock of Ages[/url][/i] album [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_album"]recorded live[/url] in 1971.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-Bacon2010-21"][21][/url][/sup][sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-22"][22][/url][/sup] Danko said, "It's a challenge to play fretless because you have to really use your ear."[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-23"][23][/url][/sup] In the early 1970s, fusion-jazz bassist [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaco_Pastorius"]Jaco Pastorius[/url] created his own fretless bass by removing the frets[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-24"][24][/url][/sup] from a Fender Jazz Bass, filling the holes with wood putty, and coating the fretboard with epoxy resin.[sup][url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fretless_bass_guitar#cite_note-25"][25][/url][/sup] Some fretless basses have "fret line" markers inlaid in the fingerboard as a guide, while others only use guide marks on the side of the neck. Tapewound (double bass type) and flatwound strings are sometimes used with the fretless bass so the metal string windings do not wear down the[url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingerboard"]fingerboard[/url]. Some fretless basses have epoxy coated fingerboards to increase the fingerboard's durability, enhance [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustain_(music)"]sustain[/url], and give a brighter tone. [/quote] I'm trying to work out what the point of this post is.

[quote name='apa' timestamp='1392836927' post='2373365'] Oh and for the record hes a young Lonnie Donegan [/quote] He's no Lonnie. Jake plays pleasant enough music but Lonnie was not only very talented but also a pioneer.

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1392829414' post='2373225'] Oh gawd, do I have to? [/quote] Oh go on............it's a gas gas gas dontcha know.

I just though i'd revive this thread as these basses look pretty cool. Anyone played one? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98HSpDT8zw4

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1392743353' post='2372239'] He even dresses a little like JC, along with the fact he strums his guitar in that sweeping motion...also some Bob Dylan song writing style in there as well. [/quote] He is nothing like Johnny Cash to my ears or eyes. As far a Dylan goes, that's why i mentioned Donovan.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1392741151' post='2372193'] Stunning guitar player, excellent live vocals, almost like a modern day Johnny Cash. [/quote] More like a modern day Donovan to me.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1392552709' post='2369903'] Could someone please post the url? Can't view embedded clips on my blasted kindle. Cheers [/quote] I wouldn't worry too much as you're not missing a lot.

[quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1392717018' post='2371828'] Jaco wouldn't have been Jaco without the two very new Acoustic 360 stacks (and the bright Rotosound strings). The clarity/intonation thing is very significant for a successful fretless sound to work. [/quote] Jaco also used equipment made by Larry Hartke. These were AMP (Amplified Music Products) amplifiers with cabs made by Hartke. He was still very much Jaco whatever he played through.

[quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1392719761' post='2371874'] Freebo, Jack Bruce, Rod Clements and Rick Danko disagree. [/quote] +1

[quote name='tinyd' timestamp='1392717838' post='2371839'] I don't think that the fretted nature of a BG makes it harder for upright players to switch. [/quote] It doesn't. Back in the early 50s Double Bass players could have easily switched to a Precision. The fact is they didn't want to. To most Double Bass players this was a new instrument that they wanted no part of.

No but i am happy.

I'm not sure what that's got to do with what i said.

[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1392665893' post='2371388'] So was it because Leo had the mindset of a guitarist or just had poor marketing advisors? [/quote] Most buyers were guitarists not double bass players.[quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1392665893' post='2371388'] For instance, when Jaco Pastorius made playing fretless bass popular around 1975 using a de-fretted Fender Jazz bass, Fender still didn't seize the opportunity and offer a similar model fretless till the mid-80's. [/quote] I don't think that Jaco actually 'made playing fretless bass popular around 1975'. I first heard of Jaco in 1975 (although i had 'heard' him the year before on the Little Beaver LP) as a sideman on an Ira Sullivan LP (credited as Jocko) and on Pat Metheny's Bright Size Life LP. He then gained fame with Weather Report but although he had his followers (including many bass players) i doubt if the majority of casual listeners even realised he played a fretless bass back then. The days when everyone wanted to play like Jaco were a long way off in 1975.

I saw Trevor Boulder with Bowie at Kingston Polytechnic in 1972. Best 40p i've ever spent.

[quote name='timmo' timestamp='1392458606' post='2368932'] It may well have been popular with beat groups, it still looks homemade to me by someone who wanted to build a bass but didn`t have enough wood to make a proper body [/quote] Vox were clever in their marketing and asked guitarists and basses what they wanted and it was an exciting time for designers who could create these types of guitars. For anyone who wasn't around at the time this may be difficult to understand so perhaps you had to be there.

I've had a Vox Phantom and still have a 1960s Teisco Phantom copy and neither had neck dive and both were also comfortable to play when seated.

It doesn't look like any Dallas Tuxedo i've ever seen. What scale is it? Broadway sold a UK made bass around 1961 that was similar shape and had a 27.5" scale. I agree that there are 1960s Guyatones that are of similar shape.

I've always found Tom Jenkinson's music interesting. From the drum and bass of 1996s Feed Me Weird Things and the Headhunters like funk of Music Is A Rotted One Note in 1998 to the electro of Just A Souvenir & Solo Electric Bass 1 from 2007/8. Always refreshing and enjoyable to listen to and i always enjoy his bass playing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yQqB5t8igg

[quote name='BurritoBass' timestamp='1392462296' post='2368988'] Looks like they are "available to order" rather than shipping now but loads of links like [url="http://www.soundsliveshop.com/News/Apache-Travel-Bass-Guitars-released-by-Vox"]http://www.soundsliv...released-by-Vox[/url] [/quote] These aren't 'reissues' they are just based on the shape of the original and that's where the similarity ends.