ead Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Do any of you learned BCers know anything about these basses please? Cheers. [attachment=175505:Kawai-Sleekline.jpg] Quote
ash Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Did you see the one on the Northwest Bass a Gear page? These are nice instruments this model reminds me of those Carvin basses (can't remember what the model number is but there are a couple in the for sale section). The Kawai series were high quality and did a line of Alembic inspired models. Jon ( Bassassin) may well have some info. Quote
visog Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 (edited) [quote name='ash' timestamp='1415130467' post='2597098'] reminds me of those Carvin basses [/quote] [size=4]SB or [color=#545454][font=arial, sans-serif]Sekou [/font][/color][font=arial, sans-serif][color=#545454]Bunch - apparently now discontinued. I think it looks like a Tokai Talbo[/color][/font][/size] Edited November 4, 2014 by visog Quote
Toddy Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 This guy really knows his stuff, and good bloke too,, helped me in the past,, and he bought a Kawai off me ! [url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkawaiguitars.com%2F&ei=VjZZVKa6BfKV7Aa014DwAw&usg=AFQjCNGXOPbHV5_-AqOpGRVuHl7-XfRFjQ&sig2=C6vhQeuGJdOP_AWqOmNyFA&bvm=bv.78677474,d.ZGU"]http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkawaiguitars.com%2F&ei=VjZZVKa6BfKV7Aa014DwAw&usg=AFQjCNGXOPbHV5_-AqOpGRVuHl7-XfRFjQ&sig2=C6vhQeuGJdOP_AWqOmNyFA&bvm=bv.78677474,d.ZGU[/url] Quote
ead Posted November 4, 2014 Author Posted November 4, 2014 [quote name='ash' timestamp='1415130467' post='2597098'] Did you see the one on the Northwest Bass a Gear page? These are nice instruments this model reminds me of those Carvin basses (can't remember what the model number is but there are a couple in the for sale section). The Kawai series were high quality and did a line of Alembic inspired models. Jon ( Bassassin) may well have some info. [/quote] Yup, saw the bass on the website whilst idly browsing and it just caught my attention. Quote
LukeFRC Posted November 4, 2014 Posted November 4, 2014 Bassassin has one. Google basschat and he posted a bit about them years back. Quote
ead Posted November 4, 2014 Author Posted November 4, 2014 Cheers, I did try but didn't find anything like that. I'll have another go (I think I might have searched only within the Basses topic). Quote
Bassassin Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 I do indeed have a Sleekline: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:46249] Anyway, these are MIJ circa 1980 or thereabouts, and quality is consistent with other Fender-derived original designs of the era, like Ibanez Blazers & Aria RSBs. Kawai was a manufacturer as well as a brand, having acquired the Teisco factory in the 60s, and I always felt the styling of the Sleekline reflects some of those odd early Japanese designs. These are nicely-made basses, sen ash body, one-piece maple neck & decent hardware. Despite basically being a Jazz derivative, the Sleekline has a Precision-ish neck shape with quite a curved fretboard radius. Probably the only real weak point was the pickups - useable but a bit thin on my example. Mine's mildly (and reversibly) modified - basically when I got it, it was a bit of a wreck & I gave it a full stripdown & cleanup - I liked it so much with the scratchplate off that I made a cutdown version & stuck some different knobs on it. Swapped the pickups for some from the spares box, which beefed it up a little, & also ended up sticking on a Schaller bridge & some old Ibanez tuners I had lying around... Jon. Quote
ead Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 Thanks Jon. Very interesting, I might take myself down there for a noodle. I think I'm attracted to the styling, as in not just another Fender-a-like bass. Presumably still essentially a Jazz bass? Quote
BigRedX Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 [quote name='visog' timestamp='1415131222' post='2597104'] SB or [color=#545454][font=arial, sans-serif]Sekou [/font][/color][font=arial, sans-serif][color=#545454]Bunch - apparently now discontinued. I think it looks like a Tokai Talbo[/color][/font] [/quote] Other than the top horns both having an upward sweep it doesn't really look at all like a Talbo. [IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Selling/DSC01581.jpg[/IMG] Quote
karlfer Posted November 5, 2014 Posted November 5, 2014 Might be wrong Alain, but I think Drew from the Great British Bass Lounge may have bought this from the north west Facebook site. He certainly has one up for sale. Quote
ead Posted November 5, 2014 Author Posted November 5, 2014 Thanks Karl, that's indeed where I clocked it. Quote
earhook Posted December 14, 2014 Posted December 14, 2014 Bought the one that ended recently on ebay. Bad gas. Looking forward it's arrival. Quote
earhook Posted January 17, 2015 Posted January 17, 2015 Bummer... it had a knackered truss rod. Have ordered a jazz bass neck with black block inlays and binding for it. It should arrive tomorrow. Quote
Bassassin Posted January 18, 2015 Posted January 18, 2015 [quote name='earhook' timestamp='1421453011' post='2661625'] Bummer... it had a knackered truss rod. Have ordered a jazz bass neck with black block inlays and binding for it. It should arrive tomorrow. [/quote] Shame about the original neck, but that should look great - pics when it's done! J. Quote
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