Shaggy

Some great suggestions. A few years ago I was looking for a Stingray type bass for a funk project; wanted to find something with slightly better playing ergonomics having previously owned a 1980 MM Sabre (plus ‘Rays have gone darn expensive recently.......😕) Settled on a 1998 Warwick FNA, bought on BC of course - does the midrange heavy growly/punchy Stingray tone spot on; hardly surprising given the circuit and pickup are Seymour Duncan replacements for MM Stingray, and the ash body. With rather dead roundwounds on it absolutely nails the Bernard Edwards tone. Later on bought a Jazzman Streamer LX for the added versatility of the neck pickup - a really lovely bass in its own right, but on bridge pickup solo much less like a ‘Ray than the FNA, that single pickup “sweet spot” seems crucial.

The Reel Big Fish version? We used to do that too - made me much more fond of a song that I’d come to detest over the years....🤔

Met up with Rich in sunny Lampeter today to buy a loaded bass body off him. Smooth easy deal, great communications, top guy to do business with 👍

Have to say I never knew that about the lap- steel pickups, but it’s what manufacturers did at the time, using up surplus parts in other instruments. Gibson had huge amounts of tonewoods for mandolins stockpiled during the mandolin craze of the 1920’s (which faded out during the depression years), which they then had to use for guitars, I’m lucky enough to own a 1965 Thunderbird IV (twin pickup), but have always thought that the single pickup T’bird II is probably the coolest looking bass ever made. There is a recent signature Thunderbird model (non Gibson) with the bridge pickup moved up to the P bass “sweet spot” and the neck pickup moved right up against the end of fingerboard. I can’t for the life of me remember the name or find any images, but TBH that twin pickup arrangement would be my preference.

In the antiques / secondhand world; generally something has to be at least 50 years old to be called vintage, and at least 100 years to be antique Edit: beaten to it.........😕

Mojo is an overused word, but wow that bass has it in spades 😎 - definitely in a Jim Lea style I was often tempted to do something similar when old EB-0’s were cheap as chips - sadly no longer..,..🙁

See also: https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/248557-show-us-yer-headstocks/#comment-2595574 My personal favourites -

Around November I climb inside my nice cosy bass cab and hibernate until March........😔 I think the only difference is having to brush up on the poxy jolly Christmas songs for the set in winter. ☃️ In Wales of course it just means the rain is a tad colder.

Eye of the beholder - I love that sunburst and shape! (but owning ‘58 sunburst and ‘69 cherry EB-2’s I would.......😉) Don't remember Tom Peterson ever playing that......

Thats something Wal will never, ever do. Every part on a Wal bass is bespoke apart from the tuners, and they know that’s a big part of what makes their bases unique and effectively uncopyable (there are close custom build copies of course - IMO the Enfield Cannon is pretty much a copy of a mk2 - but never exact). I acquired the ‘83 Wal Mk 1 Custom that Beedster sold on here a good few years ago, that had been previously modded with the pickups being swapped for Seymour Duncan Jazz bass pickups, and the preamp circuit for a generic 2-band one; probably in the late ‘80’s judging by the parts. Why? Some things will forever remain a mystery.....🤔. I approached Wal asking if they could supply pickups and a circuit so that I could restore it to original spec; they were incredibly suspicious at first, but once I brought the bass in they were happy to fit the replacement parts and do the necessary bit of remedial woodworking, as long as they did it themselves. Which of course they did a fantastic job of doing. 👍 Moved that one on, but I’m lucky enough to still own an ‘85 Mk 1 fretless and ‘83 Mk 1 fretted. Bassfinger’s analogy with Morgan cars as a business model similar to Wal’s is an apt one. Any modern sports car will blow a Morgan off the road, are more technologically advanced, are produced more efficiently and economically, and may even be considered better looking. But to drive a Morgan (as I have) is a unique and special experience, and it’s the perfect original design and hand-build care on a small scale that keeps them special.

Thought hard about this, as I love stuff ranging from flamenco to punk to Bluegrass to bagpipes to Bulgarian folk songs, but I guess if there is a single theme in music that moves me utterly, it’s to hear a perfect example of Northern Melancholia. So music from Thomas Tallis and John Dowland, through to Jean Sibelius and Vaughan Williams, through to Joy Division, Siouxsie and the Banshees, the Smiths, and Magazine. Seems to be an entirely British / Scandinavian thing.

Very nice indeed; lovely palette of tones there. A Wal-alike, but not a Wal clone - a very attractive bass in its own right. Enjoy! 👍

Had a FREE bottle crown capper off Dave, so that I can re-live my misspent homebrew-loving youth 🥃 Great communications, package sent off straight away. Definitely one of BC’s good guys - cheers Dave! 👍

Only what I’d said in an earlier post above, in it looking like a bass FS here ages ago, which had facings made from an antique piece of mahogany furniture (or could even have been part of an old stately home?) - which I guess would make it the original “coffee table” bass! 😉 I could of course be wrong, but fairly rare to see basses with fancy grain mahogany facings, as the big old proper mahogany trees with lovely figured grain were cut down and used for furniture many years ago - any remaining probably now protected, like Brazilian rosewood.

I’d agree with that. Added to which is the near certainty that however much you spend on a Wal, you’ll make money when re-selling it (much less likely with an ACG/ Fodera/ Alembic), it’s an ‘80’s era Wal - which does add kudos, and if it’s the one I’m thinking of then with those facings it’s unique. Probably a realistic price, currently.

To be honest, I’ve noticed that prices for all “desirable” vintage basses have shot up lately - maybe it’s where the clever (or not so clever?) investors are putting their money in these financially uncertain times. I’ve been looking out for a nice pre-EB MM Stingray, so keep an eye on Andy Baxter’s. The last few he had in (end of last year?) were around £2.3K, the couple he’s had in recently are nudging the £4K mark.....🙁. https://www.andybaxterbass.com/collections/music-man-basses/products/1978-music-man-stingray-natural

Doesn’t look too bad to me, I think some of the apparent difference between the facing halves is due to the lighting. Looks rather similar to one that was FS on here a good few years back, if I remember rightly the facings were made from an antique piece of mahogany furniture. Think it was around the £2K mark then.....🤔

PM’d 🙂

Isn’t it wenge? Beautiful trio! 👍

Likewise, plus just a spare set of strings, battery, allen key and screwdriver. Though after struggling through a gig last night with an absolutely stinking cold, I’m considering a back up digital avatar of myself .......(see https://www.basschat.co.uk/topic/465089-abbatar/ ) *🤔 * Edit: probably the 1985 bleach-blond mullet / spandex strides version, purely to annoy the band 😉

That is not only an absolute stunner of a bass, but also almost the exact finish of my car (Audi “Eisvogelblau”, apparently......) Came close to buying an ‘80’s Supernatural many years ago, always regret that I didn’t. ☹️

Mixed feelings about this. It's incredibly clever, and has made a lot of peoples dreams come true in being able to see (arguably) the greatest pop band in history in their heyday, on stage. ABBA have always been upfront that the main reason trey won't play live again is because they want to be remembered as they were, and they clearly feel this is the best way to make a comeback whilst still staying true to that aim. You have to respect them for that, and its not as if any of them need the money. Nor is it laziness; B & B at least have never stopped working hard in music. But personally, I'd far rather see the genuine oldies on stage, giving it what for and enjoying themselves. Blimey, if the Stones can still do it, anyone can.....

What an amazing score. That sunburst really glows 😎

PM’d