are there any cheap retro / vintage looking basses?

[wengus]

I've been feeling the need to buy a retro looking bass cuz they just look so damn cool! I was looking at the Hagstroms and fell in love, but obviously an original is like finding gold dust.

I know some of the Japanese brands used to make replicas until they started their own models, so would that mean I'm doomed to scour ebay only?

[The Burpster]

It would help if you define what your idea of 'retro looking' is....

Because of course one mans retro is another mans vomit inducer!

[neepheid]

[quote name='wengus' post='186989' date='Apr 28 2008, 08:59 AM']I've been feeling the need to buy a retro looking bass cuz they just look so damn cool! I was looking at the Hagstroms and fell in love, but obviously an original is like finding gold dust.

I know some of the Japanese brands used to make replicas until they started their own models, so would that mean I'm doomed to scour ebay only?[/quote]

I'll have some spares left over from my Hagstrom resurrection project if you want to spend the next few years finding the remaining parts

[Musky]

It also depends on your idea of cheap.

Italia, Eastwood and DiPinto are a few names to look out for that produce new retro styled offerings. You might want to keep an eye on the JapCrap thread as well - [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7473&st=280"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=7473&st=280[/url]

[BigRedX]

Unlikely to get any of the modern retro basses such as Italia, DiPinto, Eastwood or Hallmark for under £250 even on eBay. The cheapest seem to be around the $600 mark in the US and then you have figure shipping and import/VAT on top of that. Even the DiPinto Belvedere Deluxe that sold last week with a BIN price of approx £175 would have been over £250 by the time it arrived in the UK.

Your best bet will be to search through the bass guitar listings on eBay and find something very cheap that needs restoring.

[Lfalex v1.1]

Danelectro 63 series? £249 (If I recall correctly) Available in Red Burst and some Light Blue colour.
Available in 32" and 34" scales...

[Bassassin]

Ibanez Jet King:



A reissue/update of one of their own 60s designs - £209 from Nevada music.

Jon.

[Doc B]

Are the Squier Vintage Modified Series your sort of thing?

I just got a 70s style jazz with maple board and block markers. The Telecaster type bass is cool too.

[paul, the]

I see loads of basses similar in style to Hagstroms in that price range.

[url="http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search.dll?sofocus=bs&sbrftog=1&catref=C6&sacur=0&sorefinesearch=1&saslt=2&from=R14&saobfmts=exsif&saaff=afdefault&fcl=3&frpp=200&fss=1&rv=1&satitle=%28bass%2C+basso%2C+bajo%2C+Bassgitarre%2C+e-Bassgitarre%2C+basse%2C+bass*%29+-%28synth%2C+bassoon%2C+bin%2C+bins%2C+sub%2C+subs%2C+Accordion%2C+tuner%2C+drums%2C+Akkordeon%2C+drum%2C+pearl%29&sacat=619%26catref%3DC6&floc=1&sargn=-1%26saslc%3D3&sadis=200&fpos=DT4+0NR&fbfmt=1&sabfmts=2&itemcondn=1&ga10244=10426&ftrt=1&ftrv=1&sabdlo=&sabdhi=&saprclo=&saprchi=&saslop=2&sasl=music-outlet-shop&fsop=2%26fsoo%3D2&coaction=compare&copagenum=1&coentrypage=search&fgtp="]This[/url] is my every BIN bass search where I often see them. You'll get an idea of what to be looking for. It's usually German sellers that have them.

[parker_muse]

Do you mean 'roughed up' basses?

Like the vintage icon series perhaps.

[paul, the]

Here yar:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-50ger-MIGMA-MUSIMA-HALBRESONANZ-ELEKTRO-BASS_W0QQitemZ230247449109"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-50ger-MIGMA-...emZ230247449109[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Guild-B301-F-fretless-bass-guitar-with-hard-case_W0QQitemZ160234665041"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Guild-B301-F-fretles...emZ160234665041[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jolana-Iris-Bass-vintage-TOP-condition-incl-case_W0QQitemZ290225380143"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jolana-Iris-Bass-vin...emZ290225380143[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-70S-JOLANA-IRIS-BASS-DAS-KULTTEIL_W0QQitemZ230246529593"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-70S-JOLANA-I...emZ230246529593[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-JAPAN-60s-KAWAI-SHORTSCALE-ELEKTRO-BASS-GITARRE_W0QQitemZ230246528643"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-JAPAN-60s-KA...emZ230246528643[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1960s-Futurama-Bass-Guitar-Project-VERY-RARE-FIND-99_W0QQitemZ140227487106"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1960s-Futurama-Bass-...emZ140227487106[/url]

I might watch that guild, myself.

[bass_ferret]

Depends what you mean by retro - after all the Precision is still the original bass guitar.

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

[quote name='paul, the' post='187467' date='Apr 28 2008, 06:53 PM']I might watch that guild, myself.[/quote]
mmmm that is nice.

I'm going to try to resist commeting on this pic though:

[Paul Cooke]

aren't all Fenders retro looking???

ducks for cover... :ph34r:

[nick]

[quote name='paul, the' post='187467' date='Apr 28 2008, 06:53 PM']Here yar:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-50ger-MIGMA-MUSIMA-HALBRESONANZ-ELEKTRO-BASS_W0QQitemZ230247449109"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-50ger-MIGMA-...emZ230247449109[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Guild-B301-F-fretless-bass-guitar-with-hard-case_W0QQitemZ160234665041"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Guild-B301-F-fretles...emZ160234665041[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jolana-Iris-Bass-vintage-TOP-condition-incl-case_W0QQitemZ290225380143"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jolana-Iris-Bass-vin...emZ290225380143[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-70S-JOLANA-IRIS-BASS-DAS-KULTTEIL_W0QQitemZ230246529593"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-70S-JOLANA-I...emZ230246529593[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-JAPAN-60s-KAWAI-SHORTSCALE-ELEKTRO-BASS-GITARRE_W0QQitemZ230246528643"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-JAPAN-60s-KA...emZ230246528643[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1960s-Futurama-Bass-Guitar-Project-VERY-RARE-FIND-99_W0QQitemZ140227487106"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1960s-Futurama-Bass-...emZ140227487106[/url]

I might watch that guild, myself.[/quote]

Most of those, with exception of the Guild, are a bit pricey aren't they?
Nice Commodore semi here:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320241755711&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=011[/url]

[paul, the]

[quote name='nick' post='187647' date='Apr 28 2008, 10:17 PM']Most of those, with exception of the Guild, are a bit pricey aren't they?
Nice Commodore semi here:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320241755711&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=011"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...A:IT&ih=011[/url][/quote]
Aye, but as I said, they give an idea for what to look out for.

[FJ1200]

Danelectro? Can't get much more retro than them.

They've re-issued one of their classics...

[url="http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_aqua.html"]http://www.danelectro.com/bass_ls_aqua.html[/url] - someone posted a YouTube review a couple of weeks ago - the tone is gorgeous.

(I have the Honeytone headphone amp - the echo is VERY 1950's - sounds great with my acoustic bass)

[Jono Bolton]

One day I'll own one of these, despite the protests from my girlfriend. Not cheap though.

Was anyone here on the Guitarist magazine forum, before it became Music Radar? There was a guy on there who had one of these in almost every colour, plus a few rarities, then got bored and flogged them all, some mega cheap.

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='jono b' post='188126' date='Apr 29 2008, 03:51 PM']One day I'll own one of these, despite the protests from my girlfriend. Not cheap though.

Was anyone here on the Guitarist magazine forum, before it became Music Radar? There was a guy on there who had one of these in almost every colour, plus a few rarities, then got bored and flogged them all, some mega cheap.[/quote]
That would be PaulH

[Bassassin]

[quote name='bass_ferret' post='188317' date='Apr 29 2008, 06:55 PM']That would be PaulH[/quote]

That was Paul_C - formerly Arrowheadguitars - and his infamous "collection" - I bought one of them.

These really shouldn't be too dear - no more than £200 for the reissues like the one in the pic (that's an SBV500) and of course there are some of the original 60s & 70s ones floating about - look - there goes one now:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220226931190"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220226931190[/url]

Better be quick, though - 28 minutes left, as I type this...

Jon.

[bass_ferret]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='188351' date='Apr 29 2008, 07:32 PM']That was Paul_C - formerly Arrowheadguitars - and his infamous "collection" - I bought one of them. [/quote]
Close but no cigar eh

[Jono Bolton]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='188351' date='Apr 29 2008, 07:32 PM']That was Paul_C - formerly Arrowheadguitars - and his infamous "collection" - I bought one of them.

These really shouldn't be too dear - no more than £200 for the reissues like the one in the pic (that's an SBV500) and of course there are some of the original 60s & 70s ones floating about - look - there goes one now:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220226931190"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220226931190[/url]

Better be quick, though - 28 minutes left, as I type this...

Jon.[/quote]

Are they good then Jon? The SBV500s I mean. Or are they mainly for looks? There's a red one on ebay now [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-SBV-Bass_W0QQitemZ120253535015QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SBV500[/url]. It's a fairly optimistic listing to say the least.

Does anyone go on the Music Radar forum anymore? I tend not to, it wasn't as friendly or as welcoming as Basschat is. There seemed to be a lot of snobbery, and they seemed more interested in taking the piss than being helpful.

Edited April 29, 2008 by jono b

[Bassassin]

[quote name='jono b' post='188398' date='Apr 29 2008, 08:43 PM']Are they good then Jon? The SBV500s I mean. Or are they mainly for looks? There's a red one on ebay now [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-SBV-Bass_W0QQitemZ120253535015QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]SBV500[/url]. It's a fairly optimistic listing to say the least.[/quote]

"Optimistic" is right! These were about £200 when new - I think they were around in 2000/2001 - didn't sell fantastically well because they're a bit weird looking, I guess. They're actually very good indeed - plays & sounds like a Jazz, mine has a lovely growl. Mine had a bit of a head start, because Paul_C's a luthier, so it was nicely set up - but they're very well-built for a budget bass, like most Yamahas seem to be.

The SBV500 was the only one imported to the UK, but there were loads of variations in Japan, P/J pups, fancy inlays etc, and as far as I know they're still available there.

Keep your eyes open, one will turn up at a sensible price.

J.

[wengus]

Cor blimey you guys are the ultimate bass guitar aficionados!

I didn't get an email about replies and just checked my post now. Two pages long and going!

I'll check them out before I say anything stupid. I feel a little underdressed in my bass guitar knowledge....

[allighatt0r]

I went to Denmark street on Monday (I've been waiting to go for weeks, and really loved it, I wish that the Bass Cellar were a friendly bunch though. there was some nice stuff in there.) And i played an Italia in the shop opposite the 12 bar club (i can't remember the shop's name...) it was a Modulo, a sparkly precision copy with 4 lipstick pickups parrallel to the string, i loved it. (apart from the gold binding string around the edge, that was uncomfortable.)

I think Italia's are a great 'vintage with a twist' sort of bass, as long as you don't mine the sparkly-ness.

Oh and +1 for the Jet King. I'm lusting for one of them as well.