Does anyone know what this is?

[ikay]

Unusual retro fretless currently listed on ebay as 'unknown' ... I'm curious and a bit tempted

[attachment=93764:unknown bass 3.jpg]

Edited November 24, 2011 by ikay

[wateroftyne]

That is SO cool.

[BigRedX]

Very nice. Ask for detailed photos of the headstock (including the TRC) and the neck plate as they may have some identifying features.

[RhysP]

That is lovely.

[charic]

I'm not entirely sure about the "retro" bit.

The controls look like QParts (from memory) and it's got an Ibby style monkey grip. Still pretty funky but I reckon it may be a one off.

[throwoff]

I am 99% sure it is a Defil (or at least started as one)

Polish company from the cold war. Never seen one like it before but the stripe through the neck and the machine heads are a match.

There are sites devoted to them although not many, like most cold war stuff the quality ranges from mediocre to tat.

[Paul S]

That could have been made for the 'Festival of Britain'! Fantastic.

[Conan]

I love the carrying handle!!

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

It looks like it has a tight radius on the fingerboard which is carried over to those lovely chunky pickups, so I wonder whether is has some kind of eub capability - or is maybe designed to be bowable. I love the Bo Diddley / ZZ Top vibe it has

[waldemar]

That's lovely.

YOU NEED IT!

[markstuk]

It will look just the part when you go and play on Tracey Island

[observer]

Maybe try ask on http://cheesyguitars.com forum.

[discreet]

[quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1322149420' post='1447263']
It will look just the part when you go and play on Tracey Island
[/quote]

Yes! The second I saw it I thought, 'Thunderbirds'!

[ikay]

Thanks for all the feedback, particularly throwoff and observer for Defil and Cheesyguitars. From the machine heads it does indeed look like a Defil which would tie in with where it's being sold from (Poland). Listing of Defil guitars from cheesy here for anyone who's interested - [url="http://www.cheesyguitars.com/guitars_poland.html"]http://www.cheesyguitars.com/guitars_poland.html[/url]. This one is the coolest by far IMO. All I need now is a Thunderbirds tribute band

[observer]

You're welcome Ikay.
I don't think so it's a Defil, tunning keys look similar but they were available in shops. By the look of pickups and the handle it's not that "vintage" in my opinion too.
I'd say it was inspired by Hohner/Steinberger and build by some "luthier" (or just carpenter sometimes), which in Poland in 80's and early 90's was only and very popular way to get yourself half decent instrument.
Looks cool but I wouldn't pay £141.00 without trying it or not knowing who really build it

[Stacker]

I really, really fancy this! Big slab of rosewood, but the neck in total looks as thick as a basball bat!

[alyctes]

[alyctes]

[quote name='Jean-Luc Pickguard' timestamp='1322148557' post='1447240']
It looks like it has a tight radius on the fingerboard which is carried over to those lovely chunky pickups, so I wonder whether is has some kind of eub capability - or is maybe designed to be bowable.
[/quote]

That might also explain the rather odd position of the jack socket.

[BigRedX]

No obvious way to fit an end pin though.

[ikay]

Bidding now up to £260 (22 bids) with three days to go so beyond my budget for taking an idle punt. I wonder if any of them know what they might be buying aside from a bit of serious retro cool!