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SOLD - Takamine B10 - lined fretless acoustic bass guitar
£1300

EssentialTension

By EssentialTension,
in Basses For Sale

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EssentialTension Grand Master

EssentialTension

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[b]SOLD[/b]

[b][font=Calibri]The background:[/font][/b]
[font=Calibri]This is a Takamine B10, the earlier and discontinued model of the still in production [url="https://www.thomann.de/gb/takamine_tb10.htm"]Takamine TB10[/url] (£2189 at Thomann).[/font]
[font=Calibri]I bought this bass from Basschatter Clarky in October 2011. Here’s the sale thread from that time: [/font][url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/157967-fs-takamine-b10-fretless-gone"]http://basschat.co.u...0-fretless-gone[/url]

[font=Calibri]Researching the serial number (01031451) shows that this B10 was the 51st guitar completed at the Takamine factory in Japan on Wednesday 14th March 2001. [/font]

It has a spruce top, sycamore back and sides, striped ‘tiger’ ebony fretless fingerboard, and is finished in antique nutmeg satin: [url="http://www.takamine.com/B10"]http://www.takamine.com/B10[/url][font=Calibri] … and for comparison, here’s the still in production TB10: [/font][url="http://www.takamine.com/TB10"]http://www.takamine.com/TB10[/url]

[font=Calibri]The main difference is that the B10 does not have the Cool Tube pre-amp. As you will see below this sale includes two pre-amps.[/font]

[font=Calibri]Originally unlined, as are all factory B10s and TB10s, the bass was purchased new from a Dublin store by Basschatter Paulie. Soon after, the lines and side dots were fitted by Irish luthier Chris Larkin: [/font][url="http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/"]http://www.chrislarkinguitars.com/[/url][font=Calibri] [/font]

[b][font=Calibri]The bass:[/font][/b]
[font=Calibri]I gigged the B10 regularly for about five years with a now defunct folky-cum-Americana band with acoustic guitar, acoustic tenor guitar, electric piano and a percussionist, sometimes with full (but small) kit, sometimes only cajon. After trying several kinds of string, I settled on old La Bella 760FS strings through a Mesa Walkabout 112 combo. I played the B10 horizontally and never upright. I added a strap pin on the neck heel for this purpose and it balances unproblematically for me. The band and many audience members always commented positively on everything about how the B10 looks and sounds.[/font]

[font=Calibri]The experience of playing it and its sound are both somewhere between a fretless bass guitar and an upright - although any upright aficionado is probably not going to be wholly impressed. The action will feel high to most bass guitarists but, IMO, that is in part responsible for the sound produced. The bridge is not adjustable and the intonation is in your left hand. The body shape does not allow for proper arco playing; so if you are looking to bow it then it’s not for you. The 34” scale neck, with its tight radius, is shaped more like an upright bass neck than a bass guitar neck. [/font]

[font=Calibri]The hard case is large and, with the B10 inside, is heavy. I commonly use a soft but heavily padded ‘cello bag which remains bulky but is much easier to carry and has several pockets for other bits and pieces. The 'cello bag is included in the sale.[/font]

[font=Calibri]The bass is in excellent condition, especially for a 16 year-old well gigged bass. There is however a tiny scuff on the reverse of the neck behind the octave position.[/font]

[font=Calibri]There are lots of YouTube demos, none of which I am responsible for, here: [/font][url="https://www.youtube.com/results?hl=en-GB&search_query=takamine+b10&gl=GB"]https://www.youtube....amine+b10&gl=GB[/url]

[b][font=Calibri]The sale:[/font][/b]
[font=Calibri]Included in the sale are:[/font]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]1 The B10 itself fitted with La Bella 760FS strings[/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]2 The original endpin for playing upright - which I have never used[/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]3 The original hard case[/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]4 A soft ‘cello bag (£100+ purchase price)[/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]5 The original preamp with its instruction booklet[/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]6 A Takamine CT4B II preamp which I found preferable (approx. £100 purchase price) - [url="http://www.takamine.com/pre-amps"]http://www.takamine.com/pre-amps[/url] [/font][/indent]

[indent=1][font=Calibri]7 The side position dots sit between the fret position lines as is common on a fretted bass. However, my preference on a fretless is for position markers at the actual fret position. Hence, I have covered the off position side markers with black sticky dots and used white sticky dots to mark the actual fret positions. You can see both in a picture below. This is easily reversible and I can leave or remove my sticky dots as a buyer prefers.[/font][/indent]

[b][font=Calibri]The possibility of a trade:[/font][/b]
[font=Calibri]I might be interested in the following with cash my way:[/font]

[font=Calibri]> [u]semi-acoustic guitar[/u] e.g. Epiphone Casino or Sheraton or Riviera or similar - [/font][font=Calibri]preferably Korean made. [/font]

[font=Calibri]> [u]jazz archtop electric guitar[/u], e.g. Epiphone Joe Pass or similar.[/font]

[font=Calibri]> [u]short scale bass[/u], e.g. Fender Mustang or Rascal or Coronado or something similar.[/font]

[font=Calibri]Those might possibly be of interest depending on exact details. However, feel free to offer any trade even if I am likely to reject said offer.[/font]

[b][font=Calibri]Postage/Collection/Meeting:[/font][/b]
[font=Calibri]Due to the size etc., I would much prefer collection or a meet up and exchange of some kind. I am based in [b]Brighton[/b] but I can travel to [b]London[/b] and around M25 and am occasionally in [b]Birmingham[/b], [b]Liverpool[/b] or [b]Cambridge[/b]. I will be travelling to [b]Cornwall[/b] last week of July.[/font]

[font=Calibri]If that turns out to be impossible I will consider posting at the buyer’s expense.[/font]

[b][font=Calibri]The pictures:[/font][/b]






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EssentialTension Grand Master

EssentialTension

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[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000530.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000534.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000551.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/IMG_1249.jpg[/IMG]

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[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000549.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000547.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000543.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000544.jpg[/IMG]


[IMG]http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o316/EssentialTension/P1000545.jpg[/IMG]

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