Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Affordable 1975 Bass


sbrag
 Share

Recommended Posts

I've got a significant birthday next year and my wife has asked if I'd like a bass and if so what I'd want. Given that a Wal is out of the question its got me thinking about YOB basses for 1975 but something that costs in the hundreds rather than thousands so no fenders.

Some of my initial thoughts like Peavey T40 or Guild b301/302 apparently didn't start production until later in 70s and other thoughts are a gibson grabber/ripper (I sort of regret selling my G3) or something Japanese eg Tokai or matsumoku but what?

Any suggestions for decent basses for reasonable money from this era gratefully received.

Final point is I'm just getting ideas and don't have the money at the moment and thebig dayis a few months away so please don't try and sell me anything yet. Cheers

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A Shergold maybe?

Something like this: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/244852-1980-shergold-marathon-mk1a-for-sale/page__p__2580376__hl__shergold__fromsearch__1#entry2580376

That's a 1980 one but they were around I'm pretty sure in the mid 1970s

Phil

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1416254025' post='2608390']
Gary Mac has a corking 75 Fender P for sale in the marketplace :) http://basschat.co.uk/topic/236109-1975-fender-p-bass-and-original-case/

Might be a bit over budget but you will never lose money on it
[/quote]
Thanks I did see that but as I say not buying at the moment just getting ideas. Also thinking of something other than a Fender.

Shergold is an interesting shout I do like the look of them.

Thanks

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='sbrag' timestamp='1416253214' post='2608380']
its got me thinking about basses for 1975
[/quote]

Buy one of these and spend the rest on something else! [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-sfgr-bass-guitar-surf-green--201561"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-sfgr-bass-guitar-surf-green--201561[/url] :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Conan' timestamp='1416297458' post='2608703']


Buy one of these and spend the rest on something else! [url="http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-sfgr-bass-guitar-surf-green--201561"]http://www.dv247.com/guitars/jandd-jb-vintage-1975-sfgr-bass-guitar-surf-green--201561[/url] :D
[/quote]

I like price but the green is foul. Black or natural looks good though. How do they compare to a squire cv or vm for less than half the price?

I guess with a solid alder body and a few quid on some good pickups and you cant go wrong!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='sbrag' timestamp='1416254682' post='2608399']
Thanks I did see that but as I say not buying at the moment just getting ideas. Also thinking of something other than a Fender.

Shergold is an interesting shout I do like the look of them.

Thanks
[/quote]

The other thing about Shergold is that it's one of the founding brands of the "modern" UK lutherie business. I seem to recall that Rob Green of Status fame partly learned his trade there and I also vaguely remember there being some Wal connections (the Mk 1 Wal body shape is really not far from a Shergold Marathon). Was Ian Waller involved in the active electronics fitted to some Shergold models I wonder?

Hmmm I'm arguing myself into a position of Shergold GAS. Duh!

P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Really like the idea of shergold I can feel the GAS building. I remember playing an 8 string at Electric Ladyland in Bristol when I was younger and it sounded massive. I think the only sensible option is the 4 and 8 string double neck!

http://www.shergold.co.uk/models.html

Edited by sbrag
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was born in 1964 and I have a significant birthday coming up :) YOB Fender Jazz it is for me please if anyone feels like treating me? :gas: I've been dropping hints with the current Mrs Zed however I fear that all my effort are falling on deaf ears. Looks like t could be Sonic Highways by the Foos then!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1416340599' post='2609244']
Defiantly an ibanez!
[/quote]

Finding one will be the problem, 'cos copy era stuff's not too common in the UK, then accurately dating it. Ibby serials didn't start properly until late '75-76.

Jon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='sbrag' timestamp='1416305579' post='2608789']
I like price but the green is foul. Black or natural looks good though. How do they compare to a squire cv or vm for less than half the price?

I guess with a solid alder body and a few quid on some good pickups and you cant go wrong!
[/quote]

Surf green - [b][i]foul[/i][/b]?!?!?! :o :D

Quite a few people (myself included) have bought them and think they are pretty incredible for the price. In fact, even ignoring the price they are pretty good basses (with a bit of a tweak in most cases). [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/222780-nbd-jack-danny-1975-jazz/"]http://basschat.co.u...anny-1975-jazz/[/url]

I'm certainly happy with mine and I won't be changing the pickups as they sound good. The tuners may be getting swapped out though... ;)

Edited by Conan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

There were surely nice MIJ basses built in 1975, but my guess is there were fewer than a few years later.

If I was looking for a 1975 YOB bass, I'd probably go for an old Carvin, great Hofner necks, great pups too, not so easy to find, but prices remain affordable in spite of Deftones hype.

Edited by Hooch
Link to comment
Share on other sites

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GIBSON-RIPPER-GRABBER-4-STRING-BASS-GUITAR-1975-VINTAGE-CASE-/171550324459?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f13236eb

Not a million miles from you, and suspect it'll go for starting price or not much more (already relisted) being collection only.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My experience of buying a YOB bass (and indeed my observance of others purchasing a YOB bass), is that they rarely work out. I understand the sentiment behind it, but purchase a bass because it speaks to you and feels great, not based on the year it was made.
After all, what are the chances of two awesome things being made in the same year?! :D

That said, maybe I'm just bitter and being born in '83, a pretty dry period, especially for Fender ;)

Si

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My guess is 1983 isn't the worst era for a fender-ish YOB bass. With Fullerton AVs and first Japanese Squiers, you got there fine basses and various price range.

YOB bass isn't necessarily a keeper I agree - though your birthday gift is, that's were it becomes tricky.

Short story: I was born in 1977 and sought after a YOB bass. I finally found a '77 Stingray, a nice one with the date on the neck stamp 2 days earlier from my real birthday. Nice catch, but the fact was I preferred my '79 Stingray, which I kept - and sold the preeeecious YOB '77 Stingray.

But it wasn't my birthday gift. If it had been, I'd have kept my '77 Stingray for sure. And probably would have sold my '79, which is a better bass for me though.



Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...