Bass_Guardian Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 (edited) Hello fellow basschatters! Wondering if anyone can shed any light on this Hohner bass. I've just bid for it and won it on EBay. I didn't think I would win but hey ho might be a no bad buy. Are these basses any good? What are these made of? Are they built in Japan? I can't seem to find much info on these online Edited July 9, 2015 by Bass_Guardian Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 P.s. sorry for the pics. Had to screenshot them. Quote
Bassassin Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Made in Japan by Moridaira, early to mid-70s - there were no proper copies made in the 60s. I saw this listed when the seller had it up for £250, claiming it was US-made or some such tripe. You got this for a decent price and hopefully it's a good example - apart from the hideous pup cover, it looks original and in good order for its age. Moridaira copies from this era are pretty uncommon but I'd say the truss cover & pickup (not a standard P type) point to this being quite early - later MIJ copies were a little more authentic. This to me makes it more interesting & desireable, and I'd be interested to see a few more detailed pics when you get it. If the pickup turns out to be an 8-pole Maxon (very common on early 70s copies) it may well have a date code stamped underneath. The big black oversprays on the contours indicate that it's probably not solid wood. I think it's likely to be butcher-block - ie constructed from laminated blocks (usually mahogany) with a veneer front & back. This is extremely common on Fender copies from this era. Jon. Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 6, 2015 Author Posted July 6, 2015 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1436140767' post='2815359'] Made in Japan by Moridaira, early to mid-70s - there were no proper copies made in the 60s. I saw this listed when the seller had it up for £250, claiming it was US-made or some such tripe. You got this for a decent price and hopefully it's a good example - apart from the hideous pup cover, it looks original and in good order for its age. Moridaira copies from this era are pretty uncommon but I'd say the truss cover & pickup (not a standard P type) point to this being quite early - later MIJ copies were a little more authentic. This to me makes it more interesting & desireable, and I'd be interested to see a few more detailed pics when you get it. If the pickup turns out to be an 8-pole Maxon (very common on early 70s copies) it may well have a date code stamped underneath. The big black oversprays on the contours indicate that it's probably not solid wood. I think it's likely to be butcher-block - ie constructed from laminated blocks (usually mahogany) with a veneer front & back. This is extremely common on Fender copies from this era. Jon. [/quote] Goodness me! Talk about knowledge. Thanks for the info Jon! I'm not expecting too much considering how much I paid for it. Hopefully it's not a dog but from the pics I currently have, It's pretty to my eyes (Bar the rusty pup cover). Should hopefully be getting shipped out today! Quote
kodiakblair Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 What's happened to the start of the NBD ? 3 days back all looked rosy. Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 Got the bass today! Woo! However no much coming sound coming out the bass. Possible electrics issue :'( Quote
kodiakblair Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 Bummer. Does kinda take the shine of yer NBD. Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 We have sound! Need to clean the pots and change the dead strings then I'll give it a proper blast. Now some pics! [url=https://flic.kr/p/vL7v8h][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vL7v8h]IMAG0654[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vNqqNB][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vNqqNB]IMAG0653[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vMPDBE][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vMPDBE]IMAG0649[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vvP9QJ][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vvP9QJ]IMAG0648[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vvPcmL][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vvPcmL]IMAG0643[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vL7ApE][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vL7ApE]IMAG0644[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 [url=https://flic.kr/p/uRHTs2][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/uRHTs2]IMAG0671[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vw79CX][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vw79CX]IMAG0664[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 10, 2015 Author Posted July 10, 2015 Put new strings on the bass. First impression - ooft some output off this bass! Mids and highs are really strong, the lows are a bit muddy however... Neck is chunky but I don't notice it after about 5 mins of playing. The tone control is pretty non existant but I never really turn that down. Does the P bass hollow sound, especially when I add a bit of mids through my amp, I like it! Quote
alyctes Posted July 10, 2015 Posted July 10, 2015 Interesting six-bolt neckplate. My bitsa P-style fretless has a six-bolt plate; people seemed to think it might be a Kay, but this says maybe not. Its pup doesn't deliver anything like the output you're talking about though Quote
Chiliwailer Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 Really pleased you're loving the bass, it's got a vibe! Could be pretty cool with some flats on too, bit of foam under the bridge even? Good score! Quote
Jus Lukin Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 (edited) - Edited February 28, 2022 by Jus Lukin Quote
Painy Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 I'm quite liking the big bold swirls in that tort! Quote
kodiakblair Posted July 11, 2015 Posted July 11, 2015 I'm quite liking it full stop Ditching the pickup cover was the best idea. Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 12, 2015 Author Posted July 12, 2015 The pickup cover is horrible. I don't know what was going through the previous owners mind. Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted July 16, 2015 Author Posted July 16, 2015 [url=https://flic.kr/p/w5N58f][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/w5N58f]IMAG0674[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/vNPvFw][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/vNPvFw]IMAG0676[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr [url=https://flic.kr/p/w481eb][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/w481eb]IMAG0675[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/128378472@N06/]Alex Shields[/url], on Flickr Hopefully receiving a KiOgon wiring kit soon too to sort the pot trouble then happy Alex! Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted August 31, 2015 Author Posted August 31, 2015 KiOgon wiring kit now installed after many weeks putting it off! OOOOFT! The output of the pickup on this bass is immense. I'm a happy guy the wiring kit sorted the issue! Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted September 2, 2015 Author Posted September 2, 2015 Now on the bay. Can't really justify this impulse buy. Quote
kodiakblair Posted September 2, 2015 Posted September 2, 2015 Shame. But if you can't justify it then it has to go My motto of " Och it's no eatin a piece " has lead to a house full Quote
Bass_Guardian Posted September 2, 2015 Author Posted September 2, 2015 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1441209377' post='2856972'] Shame. But if you can't justify it then it has to go My motto of " Och it's no eatin a piece " has lead to a house full [/quote] Haha trying to avoid that! Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.