lowregisterhead Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) [size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#282828]For sale is a 70's icon of a bass, a Kramer 450B, in amazing condition for an instrument of this age. It has an aluminium neck and headstock with wood inlays, as played by John Deacon of Queen, Nick Lowe, and Stanley Clarke, amongst others. It plays beautifully, sounds fantastic, and is in full working order. It's had the pots, knobs and jack socket replaced, and the bridge has been adapted for through-the-body stringing. Other than the odd scratch here and there, the only flaw is a crack in the wooden surround ring of the neck pickup. It comes with the original hard case, which has the top of the middle catch missing, but that's not bad after 35+ years! It's still perfectly useable, and bass and case will be packed in a sturdy carton if shipping is required.[/color] A rare and very unusual bass. [s]£995[/s] [s]£950[/s] [s]£895[/s] now £850 including shipping in the UK. Final price reduction - off to The Gallery for a commision sale soon if there are no takers! [color=#282828]Mind you, it's a bit of a trek from Woking to Camden... PM me if you have a figure in mind - I can only say no! [/color] [/font][/size] [font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]NOW SOLD[/font] Edited January 17, 2013 by lowregisterhead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blunderthumbs Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 I Had this exact same bass in the 80's.By the time I'd finished a gig my left hand was black from the alumimium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted November 21, 2012 Author Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='blunderthumbs' timestamp='1353510152' post='1875400'] I Had this exact same bass in the 80's.By the time I'd finished a gig my left hand was black from the alumimium. [/quote] Not a problem I've encountered - was the lacquer stripped off or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TPJ Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 My mate has a P-MM version in green. Lovely sounding thing. Good luck with the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blunderthumbs Posted November 21, 2012 Share Posted November 21, 2012 [quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1353519009' post='1875560'] Not a problem I've encountered - was the lacquer stripped off or something? [/quote] Maybe, Can't remember.Regret selling it though. It's got an Alembic look about it. IMO. Good luck with the sale BUMP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Still for sale... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted November 25, 2012 Author Share Posted November 25, 2012 Still here... don't want to resort to eBay, but as needs must... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted November 27, 2012 Author Share Posted November 27, 2012 Price drop bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EMG456 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Dave, you seem to have a never ending stream of interesting basses! Not in the market right now but for anyone not familiar with these, they were top flight almost boutique instruments in the late '70s. I had a lot of playing time on one back in the day and it was a terrific bass. The wood inlays on the back of the neck also help to mitigate what was perceived as the biggest problem with the similar Travis Bean instruments - a cold neck! I have bought a bass from this man and a great experience it was so buy with confidence. Cheers Ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Thanks for your kind words Ed, and for your observations about the Kramer - I remember when these basses came out, it was cutting-edge design back then, and I think it still looks great. Perhaps not everyone's cup of tea aesthetically, but an excellent bass none the less. I also remember a rumour going around at the time that Kramers would go out of tune at the slightest change in temperature, but in Aberdeen where I grew up, I knew a guy in another local band who had one, and he had no such problems, even in the depths of a Scottish winter. I had a Rickenbacker, and that seemed to need constant tweaking. :-( As for the 'never ending stream of interesting basses' I freely admit to being a complete bass tart! I'd keep them all if I could afford to, but there's a very limited amount of spare cash, especially these days, so it's a case of strictly one in one out. The American Standard P5 I was waiting for arrived a few days ago (got it with me down at the moment, doing a gig in Stavropol in the south of the Russian Federation tonight) so something else has to go, unfortunately... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaggy Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Vintage Kramer "lumie" bump.... Just snagged a 650B after 30+ years of wanting one, utterly beautiful and unique-sounding bass that feels surprisingly "Precision-y" As a bonus it's the ultimate low-maintenance bass - no truss rod (yes, I've owned Rics too....) and ebanol fretboard that never dries out Nick Lowe's old 350B (alledgedly) on eBay for rather more wonga than Dave's 450B.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KRAMER-ALUMINIUM-BASS-350B-EX-NICK-LOWE-VINTAGE-KRAMER-BASS-/390458092072?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5ae91daa28 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTool Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 (edited) I remember standing in Whites music shop in Sunderland in the 70's, looking up at one of these on the wall and a little bit of dribble was coming from the side of my mouth... I also remember it as being the single most expensive bass I had ever seen at the time those pictures took me back, I've never seen anyone playing a Kramer locally and often wonder who the lucky buyer was. That bass of yours is in amazing condition Have a nostalgic thank you bump from me, and yes, I [i]still can't afford one [/i] [i] [/i] Edited December 2, 2012 by BassTool Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 4, 2012 Author Share Posted December 4, 2012 [quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1354357613' post='1885088'] Vintage Kramer "lumie" bump.... Just snagged a 650B after 30+ years of wanting one, utterly beautiful and unique-sounding bass that feels surprisingly "Precision-y" As a bonus it's the ultimate low-maintenance bass - no truss rod (yes, I've owned Rics too....) and ebanol fretboard that never dries out Nick Lowe's old 350B (alledgedly) on eBay for rather more wonga than Dave's 450B.... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/KRAMER-ALUMINIUM-BASS-350B-EX-NICK-LOWE-VINTAGE-KRAMER-BASS-/390458092072?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5ae91daa28"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item5ae91daa28[/url] [/quote] Thanks for your complimentary words about the Kramer Shaggy, and yes, Nick Lowe's one is nearly twice the price of mine. The only difference I can see is the custom neck pickup position (and the celebrity connections, obviously). A bargain then! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 FINAL PRICE REDUCTION to £895 including shipping in the UK - off to The Gallery for a commision sale soon if there are no takers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 [quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1354831605' post='1891123'] FINAL PRICE REDUCTION to £895 including shipping in the UK - off to The Gallery for a commision sale soon if there are no takers! [/quote] Mind you, it's a bit of a trek from Woking to Camden... PM me if you have a figure in mind - I can only say no! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Lots of new pictures added.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share Posted December 15, 2012 I might have to seriously consider taking it over to The Gallery soon if Alex has space to squeeze it in amongst all their other goodies... if you're interested, drop me a PM... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 17, 2012 Author Share Posted December 17, 2012 Still here for now... why not treat yourself to an early Xmas present? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 19, 2012 Author Share Posted December 19, 2012 Bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 Still for sale, turkey-repeating-on-me-and-bored-now-wish-I-could-get-back-to-work-type bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 1, 2013 Author Share Posted January 1, 2013 New Year bump Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 3, 2013 Author Share Posted January 3, 2013 This has to go soon, or it's off to The Gallery, and they'll stick at least 15% on top... be quick with an offer if you want it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 5, 2013 Author Share Posted January 5, 2013 Weekend bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 8, 2013 Author Share Posted January 8, 2013 Last bump before I resort to other measures... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowregisterhead Posted January 11, 2013 Author Share Posted January 11, 2013 Now on eBay.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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