Muzz Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) Time for a small post-Xmas "oh my gawd how much did we spend?" mini-clearout, and this bass is part of it. It's a Nightingale, a rare beast these days, here's some info from Russ on here (and thanks to him for this) about Nightingales: "[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Nightingale basses were made by Neil McDonald, who used to be Bernie Goodfellow's business partner in the original Goodfellow Guitars venture. Neil struck out on his own and started Nightingale after Bernie sold the Goodfellow name to Lowden in Northern Ireland (a few years before he started GB). The Nightingales shared a lot of features with the Goodfellow/GB basses, including the custom Kent Armstrong pickups and Dick Straker's active circuit, as well as some similar styling cues, including an almost identical headstock for a while (I loved Nightingale's yin/yang owl logo). The Nightingales were awesome instruments. I owned a lovely bolt-on 4-string for a while and it's one of the basses I really regret selling. [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Back in the mid-90s, Neil McDonald moved his workshop from Croydon to Denmark St. He started to build a profile as a guitar tech, and after he made the perspex bass for Charlie Jones he got some extra visibility as a luthier, but by 2002 or so, he'd closed up shop. No idea what he's doing now, alas. I know Bernie G still services Nightingale basses, since they used more or less identical pickups and circuits to the early GBs (not to mention that the newer GB "bass processor" active circuit just drops straight in)."[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The bass itself is very reminiscent in shape of the early Rumours, and does indeed have a custom Armstrong pickup - I contacted Aaron and his father about it, and they confirmed it's a high output single coil: "[/font][/color]My father would of made this the code stands for the following: J10 = 67.5mm long 12mm tall inside coil measurement; 5X = 3 ceramic magnets 8mm deep; 7kt = 7,000 turns of wire; 63 = 0.063mm guage wire (42 AWG). I couldn't give you an exact date but definitely before my time ( I started working with my dad in 98).[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]. "[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The EQ is active bass and treble, and it's got a surprising sweep of tones for a single pickup bass.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The neck and headstock's got some nice birdseye going on, and a very[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif] nice black ebony board, and the quality of the bass itself is a cut above the usual factory-made suspects.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]It's got some of yer actual mojo going on (see pics), one of the tuners has been refitted t'other way round, but it all works, it plays nicely and is definitely something different.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]No case, but I could sort out a decent gigbag for it, and I've posted enough basses to be able to get it to you in one (insured) piece if neccessary.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]£300 collected (the kettle's always on) or we can sort out delivery depending.[/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Open to trade offers...whatcha got? [/font][/color] [color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]EDIT: I have, in Baldrick's phrase, a cunning plan afoot, so I'm looking at a trade for a Class D head of some sort...[/font][/color] [attachment=209244:IMG_2958.JPG] [attachment=209243:IMG_2956.JPG] [attachment=209242:IMG_2955.JPG] [attachment=209241:IMG_2954.JPG] [attachment=209240:IMG_2953.JPG] [attachment=209245:IMG_2959.JPG] [attachment=209246:IMG_2961.JPG] [attachment=209247:IMG_2962.JPG] [attachment=209248:IMG_2963.JPG] [attachment=209249:IMG_2964.JPG] Edited February 7, 2016 by Muzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiliwailer Posted January 10, 2016 Share Posted January 10, 2016 £300 is a nice price, these are great quality build basses and Neil is a real talent and good guy. Last time I spoke to him he had give up the workshop because his covers band was bringing in big money playing corporate events and the likes of Buckingham Palace. I recall him saying that was a nicer way to earn than being in a basement workshop all day. GLWTS, someone will be well chuffed with that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 13, 2016 Author Share Posted January 13, 2016 Thanks fella...it's a well-made bass, that's for sure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 Aaaaand a weekend bump...open to trades... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 Nice! For £300, that's a very high quality UK hand made bass with some cool features and what looks like a lovely birds eye maple neck.. If it wasn't just after Xmas, I expect this would have gone by now. GLWTS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beneath It All Posted January 16, 2016 Share Posted January 16, 2016 [font=comic sans ms,cursive]Very nice; looks like [size=4]2 tuners t'other way round to me!![/size][/font] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 25, 2016 Author Share Posted January 25, 2016 Aaaannnnd another bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted January 29, 2016 Author Share Posted January 29, 2016 Let's have a pre-weekend bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted February 2, 2016 Author Share Posted February 2, 2016 And another bump... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted February 7, 2016 Author Share Posted February 7, 2016 (edited) Bump for trade edit: thanks to a cunning plan, I have a need for an amp of some sort - Class D for preference, but open to suggestions. Cheers. Edited February 7, 2016 by Muzz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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