project_c Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 (edited) Played a nice old Shergold (I think it was a Marathon) today, it weighed a ton, the setup was pretty awful, high action, but the tone was AMAZING, growly vintage dirt. So as a result of that now I have a severe case of GAS. It was just like the one in the pic (not my pic, found on google but I believe it belongs to someone from Basschat). A couple of questions: The bass I played had a switch above the tone pot, which was apparently a 'mono / stereo' switch, according to the guy in the shop. Is that actually true? Did these come with that as standard? Or was it modded? When the switch was over on the bridge side, the output on the D & G strings dropped to almost zero, which is apparently what happens with the bass in stereo mode but going to a mono out. I'm not sure if this is true or if it's just bull, can anyone chime in and let me know? The neck was very nice, but it was bowed and it desperately needed a good setup, the action was way too high. The guy in the shop told me there was a slightly unique way of doing this - you had to adjust the truss by removing a little panel on the back, which gives you access to a spoke wheel or something similar - but it should set up without any problems. Does that sound about right? The paintwork was cracked but regardless of that it was very nice, and the cost was around £350. How does that price sound? I'm tempted to go for it but I would welcome any input / advice you guys may have. cheers! Edited November 19, 2013 by project_c Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted November 19, 2013 Author Share Posted November 19, 2013 Thanks for the reply, the cracked paintwork was actually really nice, so that's not a problem - would you be prepared to buy a bass like this with a bowed neck, or would you want it to be set up properly before committing to it? Thanks for the link - it will add much unnecessary fuel to my GAS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted November 19, 2013 Share Posted November 19, 2013 If it were me I wouldn't buy anything that didn't have an action that I could live with. Some basses are set up as well as they're ever going to be without some major work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 (edited) [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1384899310' post='2282179'] Played a nice old Shergold (I think it was a Marathon) today, it weighed a ton, the setup was pretty awful, high action, but the tone was AMAZING, growly vintage dirt. So as a result of that now I have a severe case of GAS. It was just like the one in the pic (not my pic, found on google but I believe it belongs to someone from Basschat). A couple of questions: The bass I played had a switch above the tone pot, which was apparently a 'mono / stereo' switch, according to the guy in the shop. Is that actually true? Did these come with that as standard? Or was it modded? When the switch was over on the bridge side, the output on the D & G strings dropped to almost zero, which is apparently what happens with the bass in stereo mode but going to a mono out. I'm not sure if this is true or if it's just bull, can anyone chime in and let me know? The neck was very nice, but it was bowed and it desperately needed a good setup, the action was way too high. The guy in the shop told me there was a slightly unique way of doing this - you had to adjust the truss by removing a little panel on the back, which gives you access to a spoke wheel or something similar - but it should set up without any problems. Does that sound about right? The paintwork was cracked but regardless of that it was very nice, and the cost was around £350. How does that price sound? I'm tempted to go for it but I would welcome any input / advice you guys may have. cheers! [/quote] That's my Marathon in the photo. It isn't heavy. In fact it is considerably lighter than my 1974 Fender Jazz and the action is very low. £350 is a very decent price if it is good one as they seem to be rapidly increasing in price. The most recent ones i've seen were priced at between £400-500 and there is one on ebay at the moment at more than that. Here's one that was for sale recently......... [url="http://www.thelittleguitarshop.com/Bass.html"]http://www.thelittle...p.com/Bass.html[/url] Edited November 21, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 My Marathon is definitely no heavy, the body is so light it's neck heavy.Also mine doesn't have a switch on he control panel,it has 2 jack outs for mono/stereo.£350 doesn't seem too steep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 thanks for the replies, it's possible the one i played was a bit heavier than yours, but in any case I'm going to go back and have another look at it. The neck was definitely all over the place and needed sorting, I'll see what he says about that, if it's not screwed up beyond repair I'll go for it. Very pretty basses with great tone, no doubt about it. First bit of GAS I've had in over 2 years.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted November 21, 2013 Share Posted November 21, 2013 Buy it, my Marathon(s) are all superb and really are classics with true Burns lineage. My Marathon 4 is similar to the one in the pic and it's very light weight the action is superb. Earlier Marathons were made from Hayman parts and had truss rod access at the back of the body as you have said, these are a little more awkward to adjust but the necks are generally very stable owing to Jack Golder's very strict way of seasoning the woods used. It's also worth noting that NOS necks to come up for sale occasionally as there was some stock left over following the demise of the Shergold company. Post some pics if you get it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted November 21, 2013 Author Share Posted November 21, 2013 If I have time tomorrow I'll go over and have a closer look at it, I'll grab a couple of photos of it while I'm there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 Here it is - just a couple of pics taken on my phone, still thinking about it, I haven't bought it yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hookys6stringbass Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Great basses ...wish I still had my 4 string Shergold... it was even better when id replaced the standard 100 pots with 250ohm pots.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1385208189' post='2285587'] Here it is - just a couple of pics taken on my phone, still thinking about it, I haven't bought it yet... [/quote] It's a Mark 1 as it has the large rectangular scratchplate to cover the rout for the Hayman pickups as it's made from Hayman surplus parts. Very nice - if you decide against let me know - I'll have it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 [quote name='project_c' timestamp='1385208189' post='2285587'] Here it is - just a couple of pics taken on my phone, still thinking about it, I haven't bought it yet... [/quote] ..... and if you do you won't need to use the photo of mine anymore to show what they look like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 There is another white one just popped up on eBay - 24hr auction, no bids yet starting at £400. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331072113585?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1385226789' post='2285844'] There is another white one just popped up on eBay - 24hr auction, no bids yet starting at £400. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331072113585?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2649[/url] [/quote] http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222860-shergold-marathon-in-white/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 Doh! Same one, relisted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
project_c Posted November 23, 2013 Author Share Posted November 23, 2013 [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1385221966' post='2285768'] ..... and if you do you won't need to use the photo of mine anymore to show what they look like. [/quote] [quote name='ash' timestamp='1385212242' post='2285648'] It's a Mark 1 as it has the large rectangular scratchplate to cover the rout for the Hayman pickups as it's made from Hayman surplus parts. Very nice - if you decide against let me know - I'll have it! [/quote] You guys are doing a great job of fuelling my GAS.. The guy actually wants £385 for it now, and as you can see from the pics, it's not in the best state (as opposed to BetaFunk's which looks very well looked after, or that white one on Ebay, which also looks pretty immaculate). It will definitely need a proper setup as well as a massive clean-up, it's really grubby right now. I think I'll offer him £350 cash, as long as the truss rod is still ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) [quote name='BetaFunk' timestamp='1385227212' post='2285851'] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SHERGOLD-MARATHON-STEREO-/331070017260?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d154f8eec&nma=true&si=VO%252BkOESrNH1srkJG%252BmLo5fO6gY4%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2047675.l2557[/url] [/quote] Someone made an offer of £475 on this, which was declined! Better get your Shergold basses while you can! Now Vintage & Rare are offering one - at 951 Euros (£795)!! [url="http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Shergold-Marathon-MK1a-Early-80s-White-26752"]http://www.vintagean...80s-White-26752[/url] Edited November 23, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) [quote name='hookys6stringbass' timestamp='1385208856' post='2285599'] Great basses ...wish I still had my 4 string Shergold... it was even better when id replaced the standard 100 pots with 250ohm pots.... [/quote] +1.... IMO upgrade to 250k pots is really needed on Shergolds. I've also rewired the pickup on mine from weedy anaemic sounding parallel wiring to series (in mono) as per P-Bass. It's an easy reversible mod but makes a massive difference - like night & day. Here's my 1980 beauty: [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/shergold_zps06ed797f.jpg.html"][/url] Edited November 23, 2013 by nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) [quote name='nick' timestamp='1385234502' post='2285991'] [url="http://s1087.photobucket.com/user/nickonbass69/media/shergold_zps06ed797f.jpg.html"][/url] [size=4][/quote][/size] [size=4]That is suh-weet!! [/size] Edited November 23, 2013 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBod Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 I've just had a play on Nick's (re-wired) Marathon - fantastic sound, and very nice to play. Light and comfy - the only thing is the short body/long neck effect, but ten mins playing and I was ignoring it perfectly well. Very impressive for a bass we all thought of as a poor relation to the exotic stuff and American imports. I'm going to have to plug it into a Trace Elliot GP11 later….just for old times…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ash Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 (edited) [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1385233187' post='2285965'] Someone made an offer of £475 on this, which was declined! Better get your Shergold basses while you can! Now Vintage & Rare are offering one - at 951 Euros (£795)!! [url="http://www.vintageandrare.com/product/Shergold-Marathon-MK1a-Early-80s-White-26752"]http://www.vintagean...80s-White-26752[/url] [/quote] I contacted him with an offer after it ended but he declined. He told me the offer for it which I still reckon is still too high given the condition of it. My Marathon 4 is near mint and came with the original case, a strap and an old curly lead. It was under £410. These are great basses but don't pay silly prices for them, the really rare ones are the Marathon 6 and 8 strings now they are worthy of silly prices! Edited November 23, 2013 by ash Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 23, 2013 Share Posted November 23, 2013 [quote name='ash' timestamp='1385249163' post='2286193'] I contacted him with an offer after it ended but he declined. He told me the offer for it which I still reckon is still too high given the condition of it. My Marathon 4 is near mint and came with the original case, a strap and an old curly lead. It was under £410. These are great basses but don't pay silly prices for them, the really rare ones are the Marathon 6 and 8 strings now they are worthy of silly prices! [/quote] I agree. For me that's too much money for a Marathon in that condition that needs the binding repaired and also it doesn't have the bridge cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted November 24, 2013 Share Posted November 24, 2013 (edited) This may be of interest to Shergold collectors.......... http://www.thelittleguitarshop.com/Bass.html Edited November 24, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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