Shaggy Posted April 6, 2014 Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) All priced on basis of collection from near Swansea, (though I drive to E Anglia occasionally) - can post at cost within UK. Open to trade offers; vintage basses, guitars, mandolins, amps....... (1) First up: *Edit - now TRADED* 1985 Gibson Explorer bass in Ferrari red. All-original apart from one tuner (replaced with a Schaller), and small area of paintwork adjacent to the bridge p/up has been re-touched, as over-enthusiastic use of plectrum by a previous owner had exposed a 50p-sized area of wood. With original and essential Gibson hard case (a bit tatty, but functional). A fair bit of checking and wear in the finish, but overall in decent condition. (NB: sticker on body in some of the pics now removed, and didn’t cover anything!) · Body – alder, Ferrari red finish · Neck – set maple neck, medium-scale (32”), fretted rosewood board. · Pickups – 2 x single coil, Gibson-logo black plastic covers (same units as Grabber bass) · Bridge – chromed Gibson-logo Schaller (similar to 3-D but chunkier) · Tuners - chromed Gibson-logo Schaller, 4 in-line · Controls – passive V-V-T, black “top hat” speed knobs, output jack at body side. These are incredibly under-rated basses; it’s easy to overlook the substance because of the style (IMHO: THE most iconic shape in rock, along with the Fender P). That body is a really ergonomic shape for playing finger-style – you can rest your right palm on the upper body bout, and the medium-scale neck is lightning-fast. Huge sound; the tone is really more Fender than Gibson, I guess thanks to the alder body, maple neck, and single coil pickups. I’ve gigged this in a rock power trio and a very trad blues / R&B band and it’s suited both perfectly. And it sounds clichéd but it’s true; this is the one you totally feel like a rock star when you put it on…… £800 - PRICE DROP £750 Edited August 21, 2017 by Shaggy
Shaggy Posted April 6, 2014 Author Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) (2) Next up - 1979 CF Martin EB-18. A rare bird this one; E-series was Martin’s last foray into the world of solid-body electrics. USA-made, 100% original, in excellent nick, with OHSC. · Body – solid maple, with walnut central contrast laminations, natural finish · Neck – set one-piece mahogany neck, long-scale (34”), fretted rosewood board. Rosewood veneer to front of headstock · Pickups – single DiMarzio Model One humbucker, crème plastic cover. · Bridge – chromed Badass unit (original model) · Tuners - chromed Grover Titans, 2 + 2 · Controls – passive V & T, phase switch, chromed brass knobs, output jack at body side. Typical Alembic-inspired late ‘70’s styling, but very funky I think. This one of the early models with the CF Martin logo branded into the rear of the body by the neck heel. Solid and beautifully constructed, tonally quite Precision-like with rather more sustain. NB: includes letter from Martin USA to previous owner dating the bass by serial no £800 - ********Price drop £700******** Edited May 14, 2016 by Shaggy
Shaggy Posted April 6, 2014 Author Posted April 6, 2014 (edited) (3) Next - Custom Thunderbird *WITHDRAWN* This has been my main gigging bass over the last couple of years; it’s gradually morphed from a Fenderbird with P/J pickups into a rather special Thunderbird. · Body – Warmoth one piece mahogany, book-matched cocobolo top with ebony pin-stripe between, gloss poly finish · Neck – maple, bolt-on, Epiphone (Korean I think) made, long-scale (34”), mahogany poly finish, fretted rosewood board. · Pickups – 2 x Thunderbucker “66” humbuckers, nickel-silver covers · Bridge – chromed solid brass “tune-o-matic” bridge and separate stop tailpiece (like ‘60’s T’birds) · Tuners - chromed Gibson-logo Schaller M4S’s, from ‘80’s Gibson Victory bass, 4 in-line · Controls – passive V-V-T, chromed brass knobs (solid cocobolo knobs fitted if preferred), output jack at body side. This was built so that I wouldn’t have to gig my 1965 Gibson Thunderbird IV, and in all honesty it sounds even sweeter than the ’65; nothing short of a Mike Lull will sound as good as this does. Main reason is the pickups; Thunderbuckers are hand-made to order in the US, reverse-engineered from original ‘60’s units – cost me around £300 for the pair, but boy are they worth it….. The only flaws are purely cosmetic and not obvious; (1) the neck-pocket on the body is Fender-fit, but the Epi neck is around 2mm narrower. So there’s a tiny gap between edges of neck and body, which I was going to fill with a couple of slivers of dark hard-wood, but haven’t got around to it. (2) same goes for the neck-pickup cavity, which was originally routed for a P pick-up – narrow gap at the backt of the pick-up ring. Likewise, was going to sort with a sliver of hardwood. Neither affects performance in the least. The polished aluminium-alloy “pickguard” which I’ve pictured, I got and never fitted (NO screw-holes!), will throw in included in price if wanted; it comes with a separate matt black back-plate but looks better without. In a really robust as-new Thoman soft case, but if posting I’d prefer to ship with neck off. EDIT: Now with a Gibson logo TRC, blank one included £450 collected (S Wales, or meet en route with regular drive Swansea < > Cambridge), shipping on top Edited August 20, 2017 by Shaggy
Shaggy Posted April 6, 2014 Author Posted April 6, 2014 [quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1396805194' post='2417529'] I recognise that P pup! [/quote] Lol - yes, and very nice it is! Plan certainly wasn't to sell on this quick......
Shaggy Posted April 12, 2014 Author Posted April 12, 2014 [quote name='jakenewmanbass' timestamp='1397329288' post='2422929'] PM'd re P [/quote] PM replied to
plunkrock Posted May 13, 2014 Posted May 13, 2014 Nice collection, if I hadn't just bought a new bass earlier this week I'd be really tempted by that thunderbird! GLWS
Shaggy Posted May 17, 2014 Author Posted May 17, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1400010625' post='2449933'] Martin...mmmmm... [/quote] 'Tis luverly! Driving from S Wales to E Anglia next weekend type bump.....
BassBod Posted May 17, 2014 Posted May 17, 2014 I nearly bought one from Johnny Roadhouse a few years ago....still tempted, if skint.
Shaggy Posted May 17, 2014 Author Posted May 17, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1400355187' post='2453204'] I nearly bought one from Johnny Roadhouse a few years ago....still tempted, if skint. [/quote] I know that feeling...... One at V&R for almost £1200 - I'd do mine for £750 Edited first post for possible trade offers
Samashton12 Posted July 1, 2014 Posted July 1, 2014 Oh god, I wish i had £500. That's a beautiful 'bird, Shaggy.
Shaggy Posted July 1, 2014 Author Posted July 1, 2014 [quote name='Samashton12' timestamp='1404217939' post='2490383'] Oh god, I wish i had £500. That's a beautiful 'bird, Shaggy. [/quote] Thanks for the good words Sam! Open to offers and trades.....
surfguy13 Posted July 23, 2014 Posted July 23, 2014 I have a '78 EB-18 and it really is a superb bass.....different, but just a real joy to play. Somewhere between a P and a J with the phase switch. Good luck with the sale!!!
Shaggy Posted July 24, 2014 Author Posted July 24, 2014 [quote name='surfguy13' timestamp='1406122182' post='2508522'] I have a '78 EB-18 and it really is a superb bass.....different, but just a real joy to play. Somewhere between a P and a J with the phase switch. Good luck with the sale!!! [/quote] Thanks surfguy! Something special about Martins you can't appreciate in pics; this feels just as "crafted" as my series 1 Alembic, albeit simpler NB; I used to live in Ely (Broad st), though not a native "Fenner" - cool place! Still go to the market when I go back to visit
surfguy13 Posted July 25, 2014 Posted July 25, 2014 [quote name='Shaggy' timestamp='1406225457' post='2509579'] Thanks surfguy! Something special about Martins you can't appreciate in pics; this feels just as "crafted" as my series 1 Alembic, albeit simpler NB; I used to live in Ely (Broad st), though not a native "Fenner" - cool place! Still go to the market when I go back to visit [/quote] Yup, the EB-18 looks a little plain and 70s'ish but it feels and sounds amazing. I think Martin didn't quite get the [i]look[/i] right in this case but what the hell - it does look a bit 70s but I quite like that and let's face it, 70s retro seems to be the flavour of the month again! Blimey, another fenny! There's a few of us out there although I have to say it's my adopted home. Great place to live though!
Shaggy Posted July 25, 2014 Author Posted July 25, 2014 [quote name='surfguy13' timestamp='1406278353' post='2509992'] Yup, the EB-18 looks a little plain and 70s'ish but it feels and sounds amazing. I think Martin didn't quite get the [i]look[/i] right in this case but what the hell - it does look a bit 70s but I quite like that and let's face it, 70s retro seems to be the flavour of the month again! Blimey, another fenny! There's a few of us out there although I have to say it's my adopted home. Great place to live though! [/quote] The styling was what pulled me to it - being mainly a Gibson player I liked the Gibson-esque construction (mahogany set neck, big humbucker) plus looks a tad like a non-reverse T-bird. I think there was a later twin pickup version Looking forwards to an Abbott Ale or two next time I'm Cambridge /Ely way.....
Shaggy Posted July 25, 2014 Author Posted July 25, 2014 [quote name='BassBod' timestamp='1406236101' post='2509729'] Shaggy- you got a Series1!? Wow.... [/quote] Yup, a '76 long-scale - sadly my GAS has always outweighed my talent.......
Stag Posted August 4, 2014 Posted August 4, 2014 Good golly gosh... never thought id see this happening old chap!
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