Schnozzalee

I've owned a 4001 type from '75 I think it was. If your a fingerstyle player like me, I would not recommend them as the pickups are so high output, and crackle to the touch.I should also mention, Birch's builds vary massively - some have neck so thin they bow from slight string tension and other's are like a baseball bat - try before you buy!! There's an SG bass in Electric Ladyland, Bristol - it's in black finish but the owner wants close to 2 grand for it and you have to go see him in person - no online shop. He has a double neck guitar/bass 4001 too but it has a repaired neck & headstock. I personally wouldn't pay more than a grand for one, but it's cool that they are vintage, custom shop basses and you can get that Geezer Butler tone straight from the plug in. The truss rod requires a 16 Box Spanner - I had to keep taking mine back to Overwater because it had so little play in over the years. If you find a decent one for sub £1k i'd keep it, my guitar tutor taught me on an SG doubleneck guitar and a green 4001 bass; in my first band, the guitarist had a J1 too, so they're a bit of a nostalgia trip for me. Hope this helps!! Feel free to ask more questions! There's a couple of nice guys on here that own Birch's, hopefully they'll see this thread

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1361211160' post='1982885'] Any better photos that would confirm this? I can't see the pickups or any logo on the headstock, and it doesn't really have enough controls to be a "classic" John Birch design. I would have also thought that something like this would have been in the John Birch catalogue of the time, but I don't recall seeing it in there. [/quote] Sorry, that was a bit blunt of me - the headstock matches the shape of John's J1 guitar

It's a John Birch

I don't think it will happen, Sammy & Michael are best mates. DLR's a better performer, but Sammy's a better singer, so Mike can't lose either way I guess...

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my Sue Ryder P bass - less warmth and more punch. The Bravewood Telebass I owned was nice, but I prefer a split pickup tone...I don't like artificial relic'ing either.

Yeah I woulda said £500 too as a starter

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1360422170' post='1970120'] The most over-rated band in history Very influential etc but I have never actually listened to 90% of their stuff. Not hostile, just never went there. [/quote] Have to completely disagree, the most over-rated band in history is either Metallica, or ACDC.

Kubicki Basses, although, I do tend to think fat neck basses have better tone - my hands are too small though, so I play fat neck guitars

Gorgeous, my birth year too!!

Love this band. have all the CDs - one of my favourites as a kid . Difficult basslines to copy mind!! Well...back when i was using tab

Hmm...NEXT!!!

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1358280893' post='1936341'] Then don't buy an American Vintage '58 or '62 or '63 or '64. Get the '74 with the thumb rest above the strings which always would get in my way. [/quote] Hahaha, I think it looks cool on or off, the more holes in the scratchplate the better - just wish they had the mutes by the bridge so there would be even more holes when I didn't need them. Seriously though, I've owned 2 American Vintage Fender's and neither were worth £1,700.

Gotta be Steve Harris.

It's got to be the Warwick Vampire, although, the Buzzard looks pretty sh*t when the headstock doesn't match the style of the body.

Bob Dylan's bass player used one of these and an upright when I went to see him, looked very comfortable and had a nice presence.

No worries, I wouldn't mind the guitar version - they look cool, I don't know how they sound

You mean a Gibson SB400?