bottomfeed Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) A student of mine has this wem bass..... anyone ever seen one before?.... got any info ? sorry the pix are a bit sh*te! Edited July 14, 2007 by bottomfeed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I don't know much about these, but can tell you Wem was "Watkins Electric Music" (I have a little Wem guitar amp from the 70s) and is the same Watkins that built some fairly well-known basses & guitars in the 60s & 70s. There's a website about these instruments here: [url="http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/basses.htm"]http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/basses.htm[/url] And scroll down the page & there's your student's bass, in white! Looks like they would possibly be interested in hearing about this one, since they don't seem to know much about it. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 If you look on the guitar page you'll find an Emerald 12 string - they note that they don't know if 6 strings or basses were ever produced. Looks like you'll be able to clue them in. It might well be worth a few bob to collector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 [quote name='Bassassin' post='31795' date='Jul 14 2007, 03:50 PM']There's a website about these instruments here: [url="http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/basses.htm"]http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/basses.htm[/url] And scroll down the page & there's your student's bass, in white! Looks like they would possibly be interested in hearing about this one, since they don't seem to know much about it. Jon.[/quote] That Wilson SAB is quite the stunner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) Now this might be all wrong but... In the late 70s one of the guitarists I played with had a WEM/Watkins/Wilson? guitar...I think it was called a Rapier. He bought it in kit form from WEM in Chertsey, Surrey, and assembled it himself. I'd always thought that that was from where Watkins operated from, they always had loads of WEM stuff there and you could buy spares, valves, speaker grills, cloth etc. from there. Perhaps someone can confirm or deny whether they operated out of Chertsey...it would be nice to know a little more. Coincidentally, several of the older guys in our musical circle back then had WEM amps as well; I used to borrow a Dominator model from one of them and he used to have a really nice white Watkins bass (a solid body, in a Les Paul style*). Cheers P x EDIT *There's one of these on the Basses link from higher up this thread. It was a Wilson Type-W. Edited July 14, 2007 by NancyJohnson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyJohnson Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 [quote name='NancyJohnson' post='31871' date='Jul 14 2007, 06:43 PM']Now this might be all wrong but... In the late 70s one of the guitarists I played with had a WEM/Watkins/Wilson? guitar...I think it was called a Rapier. He bought it in kit form from WEM in Chertsey, Surrey, and assembled it himself. I'd always thought that that was from where Watkins operated from, they always had loads of WEM stuff there and you could buy spares, valves, speaker grills, cloth etc. from there. Perhaps someone can confirm or deny whether they operated out of Chertsey...it would be nice to know a little more. Coincidentally, several of the older guys in our musical circle back then had WEM amps as well; I used to borrow a Dominator model ffrom one of them and he used to have a really nice white Watkins bass (a solid body, in a Les Paul style). Cheers P x[/quote] Just followed the link from above and read through the history...Caxton House in Chertsey. That was the place! My dad used to get his fishing bait just over the road from there, that's the only reason I knoew about the place. Fantastic! P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 If you want to know more about WEM / Watkins amps, the best place on the web is [url="http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/britamps/watkins.html"]http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/britamps/watkins.html[/url] That web-site is seriously good on a range of stuff, especially Hofners. The Watkins Rapier is a fairly well-known 60's guitar, widely used as a first 'serious' guitar by quite a few of our parents / grandparents. The WEM basses never really took off, and were always extremely rare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 (edited) [quote name='Happy Jack' post='31921' date='Jul 14 2007, 10:05 PM']The Watkins Rapier is a fairly well-known 60's guitar, widely used as a first 'serious' guitar by quite a few of our [b]parents / grandparents[/b].[/quote] ........ and us and our contemporaries. You forget there is no upper age limit on BT. Lead guitarist in my 1963-67 band had a Rapier and played it through a VOX AC50 amp and T60 cabinet. Great sound. I recently acquired a WEM 2 x15 cab from a fellow BTer. Nice bit of history. Edited July 14, 2007 by obbm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bald Eagle Posted July 14, 2007 Share Posted July 14, 2007 I've got one no bull, it's in a bad way was given to me with a p bass, it's been hand painted blue it's in the loft and it's well crusty, is it worth a mint then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 [quote name='Bald Eagle' post='31943' date='Jul 14 2007, 11:41 PM']I've got one no bull, it's in a bad way was given to me with a p bass, it's been hand painted blue it's in the loft and it's well crusty, is it worth a mint then [/quote] Seriously? It's like buses - none turn up for ages, then a couple turn up at once! Got a picture? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 [quote name='NancyJohnson' post='31871' date='Jul 14 2007, 06:43 PM']In the late 70s one of the guitarists I played with had a WEM/Watkins/Wilson? guitar...I think it was called a Rapier.[/quote] He he, I started out with a Wilson Rapier bass. Medium scale with a really fast thin neck, but with a tendency to neck dive that would see it at the earth's core in seconds. The expression was due to the guitarist. Not that he'd done anything wrong. He was just a guitarist. The bass was originally 'Flame Orange'. Kind of Barbie Pink, but orange if that makes sense. The stepladder was used for a series of death-defying acrobatic stunts including a washboard and harnessed dog team. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bald Eagle Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 (edited) [quote name='Musky' post='31984' date='Jul 15 2007, 07:39 AM']Seriously? It's like buses - none turn up for ages, then a couple turn up at once! Got a picture?[/quote] Even Spookier it's the one in shergolds picture, except like I said it's been handpainted blue and is well crusty, I will get it down and get some pic's if would like some, might as well get some of the P whilst i'm at it. And quite right SG the neck is really thin. Edited July 15, 2007 by Bald Eagle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted July 15, 2007 Author Share Posted July 15, 2007 hmmmm...... interesting!...... thanx 4 the links etc.. The owner picked it up real cheap at a boot sale, I think...... but it plays like an absolute pig! (....& unfortunately sounds sh*te too!!) may be worth some TLC & a set up.... had seen the WEM site & that white bass is the same but the headstock is different.... not like the Rapier style melted fender boomerang thingy!.... maybe it's a hybrid? on the subject of WEM, just done an afternoon outdoor gig (in the rain !) & the guitarist in t'other band "the Bloody Marys" had a WEM copycat!..... now there's a nice bit of kit! ShergoldSnickers, is that an H/H bass combo I spy to the right of your acrobatic ladder? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerdragon Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 The only thing i have left from the seventies is the curly lead which is still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 [quote name='Bald Eagle' post='32105' date='Jul 15 2007, 04:56 PM']Even Spookier it's the one in shergolds picture, except like I said it's been handpainted blue and is well crusty, I will get it down and get some pic's if would like some, might as well get some of the P whilst i'm at it. And quite right SG the neck is really thin.[/quote] Ooooh, now then.... If the frets have been removed and replaced by strips of white plastic card, then it could be the one in the photo, sporting yet another paint job. I'm sure you'd have mentioned if it was fretless though. Long shot really. If it is that one, watch out for the crack in the body wood where the neck joins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 [quote name='bottomfeed' post='32111' date='Jul 15 2007, 05:27 PM']ShergoldSnickers, is that an H/H bass combo I spy to the right of your acrobatic ladder?[/quote] Yes. The ladder sounded better too. Seriously, the bass combos were never as good as the guitar ones, and it taught me to listen properly before buying anything else, although the cool look for the time did mitigate this slightly. They tended to complain rather fartily if driven too much, and the 'Valve Sound' was just awful with a bass. That combo had a 100W amp driving a 15" unit, and was horn loaded after a fashion. There's a fretted Shergold Marathon propped up against the combo - no stand! I later swapped this for a fretless one. The fretless is still my only bass. We just mesh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted July 15, 2007 Share Posted July 15, 2007 [quote name='bottomfeed' post='32111' date='Jul 15 2007, 05:27 PM']ShergoldSnickers, is that an H/H bass combo I spy to the right of your acrobatic ladder?[/quote] So it is! Looks like a H/H VS combo, same as my first proper amp. Had mine in 1982, I think, and it was probably 5 or 6 years old when I got it. VS stood for "Valve Sound" - in other words, a switchable buzzy distortion effect, which I never used. I loved the way the front panel glowed green when the power was on. I think Bottomfeed's student's bass probably has a neck from something else. The bridge looks different, too - possibly repositioned to accommodate a longer scale. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 [quote name='Bassassin' post='32172' date='Jul 15 2007, 07:24 PM']I think Bottomfeed's student's bass probably has a neck from something else. The bridge looks different, too - possibly repositioned to accommodate a longer scale. J.[/quote] ....Reckon you may be right there.... any ideas on the neck? I know a keyboard player who still uses the H/H VS musician (2x12) combo.... the "valve sound" is pretty harsh but mmmm!..... green light! curly leads rock!.... why don't you see them much these days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 [quote name='bottomfeed' post='32471' date='Jul 16 2007, 12:48 PM']curly leads rock!.... why don't you see them much these days?[/quote] I just treated myself to one of [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Retro-coiled-guitar-Cable-Lead-20ft-6M-Cables-curly_W0QQitemZ160136376221QQihZ006QQcategoryZ47075QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem"]these[/url]. What a deal. Changed the plugs to Neutriks. It's great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 WOW!!!............ :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShergoldSnickers Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 [quote name='bottomfeed' post='32490' date='Jul 16 2007, 01:16 PM']WOW!!!............ :wub: [/quote] Yes, it's time for a curly lead revival. Just realised - the lead I'm using in the picture is a curly one in transparent plastic! Wonder what happened to it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted July 16, 2007 Author Share Posted July 16, 2007 [quote name='ShergoldSnickers' post='32501' date='Jul 16 2007, 01:38 PM']Yes, it's time for a curly lead revival. Just realised - the lead I'm using in the picture is a curly one in transparent plastic! Wonder what happened to it?[/quote] transparent!!!!...... way cool! I used to have one of those too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted July 16, 2007 Share Posted July 16, 2007 I use these things: [url="http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Bullet-Cables-Coiled-Straight-to-Angle-Cable?sku=330072&src=3WPGWXX"]http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Bul...amp;src=3WPGWXX[/url] Superb piece of kit. They're bloody heavy, mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted July 17, 2007 Share Posted July 17, 2007 [quote name='bottomfeed' post='31753' date='Jul 14 2007, 01:48 PM']A student of mine has this wem bass..... anyone ever seen one before?.... got any info ? sorry the pix are a bit sh*te! [/quote] All I'll say is Coxxy!!! And at college it's known as The Oar! But as Dave said it's horrible to play and sounds dreadful, but then again our college equipment dosen't help the matter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bottomfeed Posted July 17, 2007 Author Share Posted July 17, 2007 [quote name='Josh' post='33084' date='Jul 17 2007, 03:10 PM']All I'll say is Coxxy!!! And at college it's known as The Oar! But as Dave said it's horrible to play and sounds dreadful, but then again our college equipment dosen't help the matter.[/quote] hi josh!..... how r u getting on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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