Jump to content
Why become a member? ×

Shergold Marathon - sweet


Recommended Posts

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1434696326' post='2801842']
I'm shallow and the refin puts me off... the checked and cracked finish is part of what makes these basses appealing.
[/quote]

I think that's why it hasn't been snapped up. I was intending to refin my black Marathon in white, but I like the 'Shergold Peel' so much that I'm going to leave it as-is.

Also 'the peel' makes it easy to tell if a Shergold has been refinned or not.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1434700657' post='2801893']
It was me who asked him about the output sockets. That's what put me off. Had it been in original stereo format I might well have gone for it.
[/quote]

Jack, it [i]is[/i] in original stereo format. When you have both sockets connected, you get one output from the E and A strings and the other from the D and G strings. With just the first socket connected you get normal mono output from all four strings. With just the second socket connected you get output from the E and A strings (or possibly D and G strings) only.

My 1979 Marathon is exactly the same, it's all stock and how it should be.

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Bloody hell! What I read was:

[color=#002CFD]One socket is wired for stereo output from d-g strings but the other one appears to have been rewired for mono output for all four strings.[/color]

What you've written puts a rather different slant on the whole thing!

So what's the thinking with splitting the stereo by way of E-A and D-G? Would you treat each pair of strings to different FX pedals? Would you run them through different amps?

Not sure I understand the benefit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1434704592' post='2801957']
So what's the thinking with splitting the stereo by way of E-A and D-G? Would you treat each pair of strings to different FX pedals? Would you run them through different amps? Not sure I understand the benefit.
[/quote]

What he's written is basically correct, but he doesn't seem to understand that you need to have two jacks connected to properly split the signal. I have no idea of the benefit either... your suggestions are as good as any. It's faux-stereo at best. I think the FX theory more likely, you could have a solid low-end happening on the E and A and have FX on the D and G for some solo-type shenanigans. Don't see the point of bi-amping a split pickup, unless you were going for a Chris Squire-type set-up. Which may have been the angle at the time. I think it's more of a gimmick really, but it's true that in the 70s there was loads of wacky way-out stuff going on. Remember quad PA systems?? :blink:

It would have made more sense (to me) to 'stereoise' the Modulator Bass, which at least has two pickups.

Edit: You should get that Marathon in any case Jack, I think you'd really like it! :) I'm loving mine! :gas:

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1434721615' post='2802191']
Tempted, tempted, very very temped. I'm very tempted.
[/quote]

Buy it - if you don't like it after a few weeks I'll have it off you. Seriously. :)
Though I strongly suspect you'll fall in love with it like I did with mine. Lovely, lovely, lovely, everything! :D

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='CamdenRob' timestamp='1434722119' post='2802202']
So this thread has taught me that my chances of aquiring a nice original shergold for a resonable price are entirly reliant on Jack not seeing it first :blink:
[/quote]

Yes, and on me not claiming DIBS on it next! :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1434750617' post='2802625']
...Great idea, but there is a lot of bleed through each pickup half. For example, the A string pole pieces sense a good whack of the D string and even the G is detectable. This means you cannot truly isolate each pair of strings without some slop...
[/quote]

There is less bleed from a Marathon pup, the split seems quite well-defined. I don't know if it's something to do with how the pup is wound, or what. The electrics seem a bit nuts, too... given it's a P-type split pickup with one volume and one tone control, I'm not 100% sure why each control has stacked pots and a tropical fish cap... a set for each output jack? There are other electrical shenanigans going on too... far beyond my somewhat limited knowledge. I'm sure I'm missing something, here. Any ideas..?



I was going to remove these guts and install a much simpler mono KiOgon P-Bass loom as an upgrade, which would have had 250k pots and a 0.1uF cap, leaving one output jack unconnected... these original pots are apparently 100k and the caps are 0.47uF... however, the bass sounds epic, and as I decided not to refin the body I thought I may as well go the whole hog and leave everything totally original. I have the stock perspex bridge cover, too. :)

Edited by discreet
Link to comment
Share on other sites

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1434714477' post='2802088']
It would have made more sense (to me) to 'stereoise' the Modulator Bass, which at least has two pickups.
[/quote]

Of course! The whole concept of the Modulator was that you could fit different modules according to what 70s wacky shenanigans you required. There was a stereo module AND a quad module (!) And several others, including a 'Recording' module... :)

The modules were completely interchangeable across the whole Modulator range and could be shared by basses, six- and twelve-string guitars AND double-necks... wild!

The Super-Booster Module was powered by a PP3 battery and must surely be an early active circuit?

[url="http://www.shergold.co.uk/modules.html"]http://www.shergold.co.uk/modules.html[/url]

Edited by discreet
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...