BetaFunk Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1382609800' post='2254252'] Back in the 80's I owned a Shaftesbury Rick copy It was a really nice bass too I only got rid of it cos it needed re-fretting and I didn't have the dosh for that Now I'm sure many of you are thinking they certainly aren't a rarity! But I haven't seen one in years When I started playing again a few years back, I searched high & low they would get pulled off ebay now anyway but the last one I saw there fetched almost the same as an "original" Damn good basses those Shaftesburys too - apart from the tuning pegs... Folk reportedly stripped them if they couldn't get spares Just wondered how many would be around now, as I say, I haven't seen one since the 80's I wonder how many have survived [/quote] I still have my Shaftesbury 3263 Semi-Acoustic Bass. Here's a pic of Bill Wyman playing one. http://shaftesburyguitars.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/shaftesbury-bill-wyman-bass.jpeg Edited October 24, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted October 24, 2013 Share Posted October 24, 2013 [quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1382312413' post='2250605'] like this ?.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Zon-Michael-Manring-Hyperbass-/271295068137?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2a7237e9#ht_742wt_975 [/quote] That's mine! And as far as I know there are 3 in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted October 25, 2013 Share Posted October 25, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1382620895' post='2254513'] I still have my Shaftesbury 3263 Semi-Acoustic Bass. Here's a pic of Bill Wyman playing one. [url="http://shaftesburyguitars.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/shaftesbury-bill-wyman-bass.jpeg"]http://shaftesburygu...wyman-bass.jpeg[/url] [/quote] Very nice, can't be many of those still left either? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommorichards Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 It was mentioned earlier, but theres an el toro on american ebay at the moment [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-G-L-El-Toro-Bass-Tobacco-Sunburst-w-OHSC-Mpl-Rwd-Neck-Mahogany-Body-/310716766342?pt=Guitar&hash=item4858299886"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1985-G-L-El-Toro-Bass-Tobacco-Sunburst-w-OHSC-Mpl-Rwd-Neck-Mahogany-Body-/310716766342?pt=Guitar&hash=item4858299886[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 (edited) I have a 90s Ibanez SR1205. I seem to recall reading somewhere that they only made 150 of them. Edit: oops. I sometimes forget that I'm not in the UK! Edited October 27, 2013 by JimBobTTD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 Ned Steinberger/Bolin basses? [URL=http://s54.photobucket.com/user/warwickhunt/media/Bolin010.jpg.html][IMG]http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g119/warwickhunt/Bolin010.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Telebass Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 My first Precision was a rare transition piece. Was a 75, with black guard, E-side thumbrest, 76-style sans serif decal with no serial number under it. Number on neckplate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skej21 Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 [quote name='Clint' timestamp='1382608632' post='2254232'] I've had a couple of rare-ish basses before which I've imported from the USA. I had a beautiful custom G&L JB2 bass which at the time was a brand you'd never see over here. I haven't ever seen another USA JB2 in the flesh in the UK and especially not one as beatiful as the one I had! Currently I have a beautiful Pelham Blue Gibson Midtown bass and I was told by the shop i ordered it from that I was lucky to get it as they more or less discontinued the pelham blue model after they offered them for sale (true but mad as its the most beautiful version!). He told me that no others had been officially imported (sales ploy?). Anyway it sounds great, looks cool and because of its rareness I thought it would be a sound investment! Since getting it I have only used it once and now I'm starting to think it may be best if I do get rid of it and buy something else that I may use more...decisions! [/quote] Beautiful! That isn't sales patter either. Pretty much all of the midtown range was released then discontinued within a 2 month period and the limited edition Pelham blue midtown stuff was really tough to get. Great catch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 You don't see too many of these: Tokai Talbo, 2000-ish reissue, the only one I've ever seen (so in a moment of madness, I bought it ), weighs a ton, is insanely microphonic & squeals like a stabbed pig. So it hangs on the wall & gets the occasional polish and the only reason I haven't sold it is that I know I'll never see another. Sad, really! Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 [quote name='Urban Bassman' timestamp='1382619497' post='2254482'] I've never seen another bass (or guitar for that matter) by US Masters. [url="http://www.usmasters.com/basses.htm"]http://www.usmasters.com/basses.htm[/url] I bought my Fretless EP53 from fellow a bass chatter. But they don't seem to have any sort of representation in the UK. It's a lovely bass and plays as well as Stingray 5 Fretless I had a few year ago, anyway here's a pic. [attachment=146819:IMG_2292.JPG] So I guess this makes a rare beast [/quote] You mean like these? [attachment=147048:EP42 twins.JPG] Early serial numbers, 61 and 101, though the Lacewood one has a replacement fretless neck, and the blue one now has the Lacewood's birdseye and Pau ferro neck. Both from BobPalt on here. Cheers Bob! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1382879830' post='2257452'] You don't see too many of these: Tokai Talbo, 2000-ish reissue, the only one I've ever seen (so in a moment of madness, I bought it ), weighs a ton, is insanely microphonic & squeals like a stabbed pig. So it hangs on the wall & gets the occasional polish and the only reason I haven't sold it is that I know I'll never see another. Sad, really! Jon. [/quote] I saw a couple in Denmark street in the early 2000s, but wasn't very impressed with the finish of the aluminium bodies that had some fairly nasty looking casting marks on the back and certainly not a patch on the 80s Talbo Guitars that had got me interested in them in the first place. I eventually found a good looking one through Ishibashi in Japan and bought that. It's recently been sold as part of my purge of 4-string basses. I did toy with the idea of getting a 5-string neck, pickup and bridge made for it, but I got an offer from Japan that I couldn't refuse and so it went back earlier this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Urban Bassman Posted October 27, 2013 Share Posted October 27, 2013 (edited) [quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1382883950' post='2257519'] You mean like these? [attachment=147048:EP42 twins.JPG] Early serial numbers, 61 and 101, though the Lacewood one has a replacement fretless neck, and the blue one now has the Lacewood's birdseye and Pau ferro neck. Both from BobPalt on here. Cheers Bob! Early serial numbers, 61 and 101, though the Lacewood one has a replacement fretless neck, and the blue one now has the Lacewood's birdseye and Pau ferro neck. Both from BobPalt on here. Cheers Bob! [/quote] NIce! Mine is serial 6812. The Purplewood fingerboard is fabulous and no longer offered. They are really well put togther basses. Still quite rare though! Edited October 27, 2013 by Urban Bassman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eubassix Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 (edited) [quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1376785154' post='2179196'] You just missed one for sale in Middlesborough yesterday [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-Musician-MC940-924-fretless-bass-MIJ-1980-/161083736641?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item258156c241"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item258156c241[/url] [/quote] [quote name='EBS_freak' timestamp='1376928028' post='2181026'] eubassix made a nice little earner on that one... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251281014276#ht_292wt_988"]http://www.ebay.co.u...76#ht_292wt_988[/url] [/quote] Just noticed this thread and thought I would ad some photos / details of my Leduc U.bass fretless 5. re. the above (previous) posts - the bass I bought (and had to collect) in June was something of a mess. It required a lot of work (as you can see by comparing my ebay listing photos with those below), + both replacement / refurbished parts. I'd still be interested in a more perfect example. The bass I sold on (as described) was a great player /complete once it had been re-built, but nothing more. [b]Leduc U.Bass lined fretless 5-string[/b]: lightweight swamp ash body, floating spruce top, 3-piece maple neck, and lined ebony fingerboard. Bass features the "floating" top for which Leduc U.Basses are famous: effectively a hybrid solid-body / acoustic bass; the ash body is hollowed out and the bridge rests on a floating spruce top which is braced like an acoustic. It gives you a DB/eub)tone: very warm and "woody." The LaBella 'Deep Talkin' Bass' nylon tapewound strings (as currently fitted) add to this (and they're ultra smooth to play / very low tension). The mini headstock (truss-rod/s beneath) /clamps are designed to work with regular strings... so no need for double-ball strings. 34” scale; 1 & 7/8” nut; 10/18mm string spacing (nut/bridge); 7 & 3/4 lbs Edited November 14, 2013 by eubassix Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazed Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 In the early to mid 90s I had a Larrivee 6string bass. Could never get to grips with it and sold it a year or so after stripping the metallic blue paint and refinishing it in oil. It had a lovely maple through neck and bartolini humbuckers. I saw it again a couple of years later on a trade stand at a Manchester guitar show. It still had the same finish and was for sale, but for a lot more than I sold it for! Never seen one since or online. I think they made quite a limited number and then stopped producing basses. This was back in the days before we all had a camera in our phones in our pockets so no pics of it sadly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoonBassAlpha Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 [quote name='Urban Bassman' timestamp='1382891596' post='2257628'] NIce! Mine is serial 6812. The Purplewood fingerboard is fabulous and no longer offered. They are really well put togther basses. Still quite rare though! [/quote] They will be even more rare now US Masters has stopped building Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcus bell Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 I think alembic series instruments are quite rare Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Veillette Citrons - they only made 260 odd before going bust - virtually every part (except the machine heads) were handmade - as far as know there are only two in the UK, the Redburst fretted is mine, the other I sold to Pete Tapner and is being refurbed as we speak (read/write???..I don't know!!!) http://s1167.photobucket.com/user/FairfaxAikman/slideshow/Veillette%20Citron%20Basses Those who have tried these will confirm that they're great basses.. Both Harvey Citron (electronics) and Joe Veillette (luthier) are still manufacturing guitars and basses - Philw is the UK imported for the latter. Walman's hollow body is a thing of beauty and has a tone to die for.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 (edited) [quote name='funkgod' timestamp='1376782931' post='2179182'] i am sure once you start getting into 60 and 70s basses there must be a fair few rare ones in the uk, but what about 80 90 2000 ones ?? by the big manufacturers ( mass produced) future classics ? [/quote] It's amazing how some threads wander far away from the original post. Edited November 15, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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