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Update: I sourced a replacement switch and soldered it in. It switches between serial and parallel mode aka 'Dual Tone' as people here have kindly pointed out already.

UPPDATE: I have gotten the truss rod working. Quite simple technique actually -- loosen the strings and then bow the neck across your knee so there is no tension on the rod at all, and it comes undone easily. Gave it a clean and set it as I thought best, gave it a general action setup as well, so it is all good to go ...

Love how the fingerboard dots/leds are slightly offset and so not hidden by the D string as they are on almost all 5 strings I have ever seen ... also the body wings are lovely bare ?ash I presume, lovely sounding tonewood of course. Not for me, but almost worth learning how to play southpaw for ... 😃

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Thanks for your question. The saddles can adjust for width. This photo is from when it was strung EADGC and shows about 19mm string centre to string centre. I ended up with the G and C strings are a little closer together than that. (I quite like variable/compound spacing so the acutal air gap / finger space between the strings is about the same) The bass now has the original Marleaux BEADG set back on. I have adjusted the spacing to be 19mm across the board. They could go down to perhaps 18 and maybe up to 20; not sure.

Heh, if only it was a four (ducks) ... I loved the Lundgren pickup on my 8 string guitar, BTW I believe they are based in Sweden ... GLWTS ...

I purchased this lovely little 1968 bass from The Starving Musician, Santa Clara, California in 1986. It had obviously had a colourful life before I met it -- one mismatched replacement tuning head, another one a little dodgy but which hangs in there once set. The bridge can't be original either, with hacksawed notches to keep the strings vaguely in line. EDIT: Truss rod moves just fine. The pots are little crackly sometimes but only when you are actually turning them. There used to be a pickguard as you can see from the screwholes and the original catalogue entry that I found. Despite all this, it's been one of my favourite basses to play. Currrently strung with Chromes (flatwounds) so smooth and slinky. The shortscale also makes it easy to play, and semi acoustic so no need for an amp -- just grab it and write a song on it. Soundwise, it doesn't seem as plunky-thumpy as a Hofner, it's a bit more zingy, more towards a Mustang sort of sound, but not that either -- it is its own thing really. Winston basses were made in Japan during the 60's at the Kawai Teisco factory which was known for high quality instruments and competed with the American market with their copies (known as the lawsuit era). Winston basses were a trading brand from the American importer Buegeleisen&Jacobson. This Kawai made model is one of the rare Klira copies, according to the 'cat's eyes' f hole which is quite unique and stylish. I would be surpised if there was another Winston 435 in the UK, so this is a chance to grab a unique looking and feeling bass. Just like a Hofner it is fully hollow with a 30" scale. Unlike a 1968 Hofner, this is not for sale at upwards of £1500 ... 2.4 kg according to my kitchen scales. Yup, you have to tie it down otherwise it floats away ... The rosewood fingerboard has 22 frets, including a zero fret and cool string tee/retainer thing. Tatty original case as is de rigeur for a 56 year-old instrument. Cash on Collection from Caterham, Surrey or willing to meet up up to an hour away.

WITHDRAWN After a little TLC and repair, together with extensive shootouts with a Sandberg VS4, this bass is too good to sell and will be remaining in my collection for now. Thanks to everyone for their interest.