Rare Basses

[LeftyJ]

2 hours ago, Hellzero said:

No, this Nexus has an epoxied burl imbuia fretboard and a 19 pieces neck !!! It's Stradi, another Polish luthier who is making polished stone fingerboard. But I tried a bass in Volterra (Italy) entirely made of alabaster, it was very heavy, but sounding very good.

Check this : http://www.alabastrosonoro.com/elbass.html

 

 

Nexus did too, back when Jacek was located in Belgium and worked together with Noel Coquet. Jacek stopped working with Noel in 2004 because of financial differences. Here's a little bit about it on the old Nexus website, which Jacek still keeps online for some reason:

http://www.nexus-guitars.com/old/news.html#3

[Chris2112]

@Hellzero was that Overwater at Bass Direct recently? Looks a good 'un!

 

 

[cetera]

Some of my rarities.... pics to follow if/when I get a minute....:

SPECTOR SB-1 USA 1976 Active (Walnut/Maple) - one of the first Spectors EVER built
(KRAMER) SPECTOR NS-2 USA Active (Red/Black Lava Crackle) - custom built/painted for Barry Dunaway of Yngwie Malmsteen band (can be seen played live on his 'Live In Leningrad DVD)
SPECTOR NS-2 Euro CR 2001 Active (Holoflash Black) - 1 of approx 5 ever made in this finish
WAL Mk1 Active 2000 “Geddy Lee” (Black with Gold Hardware) - custom built to exact same specs as Geddy model
JACKSON TBX-Pro ‘Jacksonbird’ Active 1 of only 56 made (Black)
HAMER Impact USA Active 1991 (Black & Gold ‘Marble’) Very rare finish of a very rare model!
HAMER Impact USA Active 1991 (Red) Very rare model
PUNISHER "Gene Simmons" Ltd. Edition (Signed/#’d 0007) Active 1997 (Black)
AXE "Gene Simmons" Ltd Edt (Signed/#’d 163 of 250) Active 2000(Black/Silver)
STACCATO MG Active (Black/Magnesium Alloy/Numbered 22 of 34

Edited November 16, 2018 by cetera

[Rich]

33 minutes ago, cetera said:

STACCATO MG Active (Black/Magnesium Alloy/Numbered 22 of 34

Wow, now that really is a rare bird.

[Bassassin]

I have a few basses you won't see many of.

Gordy Blueshift twin-neck. As far as I know this is a one-off, built in 1985 for a Manchester-based pro - his name's on the case but I can't remember it off the top of my head. Did a bit of research when I got the bass & sadly I don't think he's with us any more. It's been refinished in this rather fetching transparent pink - the original black's visible in the routes & pockets. The fretless neck is gorgeous, but my back hurts just looking at the pics.

 

Thematically related - Retrovibe RV4 - only two in the world with this subdued and sober finish:

 

Some may be aware that I have a vague interest in Japanese instruments - some of which don't turn up on Ebay (or anywhere else) much, like this Tokai Talbo B135. This is the 2000-ish reissue, but still spectacularly uncommon. Had this since 2003 after being consumed by a fit of GAS whilst stumbling around Denmark St. The only one I've ever seen in real life, and not seen another come up for sale since.

 

Continuing with MIJ stuff - Washburn SB-40. This model doesn't appear in any catalogues, and seems to represent a halfway point between the Vulture & the Force series - there is some dispute amongst Washburn anoraks whether the model designation's correct, despite what it says on the sharp end. It's almost a fretted version of the bass Bathiki Kumalo used on Graceland, apart from the reversed P pickup.

 

From the same era, a gorgeous through-neck from Kasuga Gakki. Badged as Pro Martin, which I think was exclusive to European markets, elsewhere this was the Kasuga Scorpion SCB1200. Another bass you could search for for years - as I did.

 

Staying with the Big K - 1975 Kasuga EB750, one of the most elusive (and prettiest) MIJ Rickenfakers out there:

 

And a curious Japanese take on the Jazz, with styling influenced by mid-60s MIJ design (and a few sympathetic reversible mods by me), a Kawai KB-10 Sleekline:

[Bridgehouse]

There are a load of basses in this thread that I look at and think “I’d have that.. nice” 

And it makes you wonder why they are so rare. I know a lot of players have pretty conservative tastes, but there’s some cracking looking basses out there for which it seems weird that they aren’t more common

[bartelby]

1 hour ago, Bassassin said:

Continuing with MIJ stuff - Washburn SB-40. This model doesn't appear in any catalogues, and seems to represent a halfway point between the Vulture & the Force series - there is some dispute amongst Washburn anoraks whether the model designation's correct, despite what it says on the sharp end. It's almost a fretted version of the bass Bathiki Kumalo used on Graceland, apart from the reversed P pickup.

 

 

 

I'm not normally one for non solid colour finishes. But this is bloody lovely!

[Hellzero]

4 hours ago, Chris2112 said:

@Hellzero was that Overwater at Bass Direct recently? Looks a good 'un!

I don't think so, it's in Spain nowadays, but let me check at Bass Direct.

Checked and found a 5 strings version in 36" scale : http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/OW_Progress_5.html

Is it the one you are talking about ?

Edited November 16, 2018 by Hellzero

[Hellzero]

4 hours ago, LeftyJ said:

Nexus did too, back when Jacek was located in Belgium and worked together with Noel Coquet. Jacek stopped working with Noel in 2004 because of financial differences. Here's a little bit about it on the old Nexus website, which Jacek still keeps online for some reason:

http://www.nexus-guitars.com/old/news.html#3

You are right, I should have remembered this. 🧞‍♂️ 

[Hellzero]

2 hours ago, Bassassin said:

Some may be aware that I have a vague interest in Japanese instruments - some of which don't turn up on Ebay (or anywhere else) much, like this Tokai Talbo B135. This is the 2000-ish reissue, but still spectacularly uncommon. Had this since 2003 after being consumed by a fit of GAS whilst stumbling around Denmark St. The only one I've ever seen in real life, and not seen another come up for sale since.



 

Those Tokai Talbo are gorgeous, being original or reissue. 👍

[kodiakblair]

@Bassassin

This one should pique your MIJ interest 🙂 Around 83/84 (?) Guitarist magazine had aTune Bass Maniac review and I was smitten. The black fretted model looked great but the piezo fretless blew me away 😍 The Bass Centre had them for £899 and I had a YTS paying £16.40 weekly,couldn't feed myself on that wage nevermind save for a bass.

 

Never saw one for sale anywhere ☹️ When I discovered bass forums online I'd follow every Tune thread looking for the fretless of my dreams,with no luck. Danny,who runs Bass Japan, told me even in Japan they were like hen's teeth. On the various Tune Bass owners clubs and FB pages I only found 3 people who owned 1. 1 fella is in Italy,another in Japan and 1 fella in Australia had one briefly (his fingerboard went wonky and the replacement was the  2 octave version)

After 32 years wait 1 came up for sale,in Japan 😱

[Chris2112]

4 hours ago, Hellzero said:

I don't think so, it's in Spain nowadays, but let me check at Bass Direct.

Checked and found a 5 strings version in 36" scale : http://www.bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/OW_Progress_5.html

Is it the one you are talking about ?

Yes, silly me.

[stu_g]

Rivertone stradobass

[stu_g]

Aria jpj3

[stu_g]

Standard gordy blueshift

[alembic1989]

Heres my Greco GOB 1200

https://photos.app.goo.gl/u28jhUQAUH99aaYD9

Edited November 16, 2018 by alembic1989

[Hellzero]

3 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

@Bassassin

This one should pique your MIJ interest 🙂 Around 83/84 (?) Guitarist magazine had aTune Bass Maniac review and I was smitten. The black fretted model looked great but the piezo fretless blew me away 😍 The Bass Centre had them for £899 and I had a YTS paying £16.40 weekly,couldn't feed myself on that wage nevermind save for a bass.

 

Never saw one for sale anywhere ☹️ When I discovered bass forums online I'd follow every Tune thread looking for the fretless of my dreams,with no luck. Danny,who runs Bass Japan, told me even in Japan they were like hen's teeth. On the various Tune Bass owners clubs and FB pages I only found 3 people who owned 1. 1 fella is in Italy,another in Japan and 1 fella in Australia had one briefly (his fingerboard went wonky and the replacement was the  2 octave version)

After 32 years wait 1 came up for sale,in Japan 😱

So, is it yours now ? I must admit that I was also blown away by that fretless at the time. 😉

[kodiakblair]

11 minutes ago, Hellzero said:

So, is it yours now ? I must admit that I was also blown away by that fretless at the time. 😉

I've had it a couple of years now 🙂 When I got the alert it was for sale I just grabbed the credit card,I'd worry about shipping/imported duty later.

 

Thankfully one of my better decisions 😎

[itu]

4 hours ago, kodiakblair said:

@Bassassin

This one should pique your MIJ interest 🙂

Yes, and more pictures, please! Neck attachment, electronics...

[DarkHeart]

A mate of mine has a very rare Overwater, it`s the explorer that broke the camels back so to speak. I`m quite sure it will be coming up for sale shortly as well. Sorry as it`s not mine there are no pics.

[Chris2112]

I've had a couple of rare ones through the door. On the subject of Status Graphite, I used to watch a video of a guy playing one on YouTube years ago, back when YouTube was nowhere near as big as it is now. I later ended up coming across a Series II on Basschat. I can't recall if it was an '87 or an '88. I bought it, and it was when I later watched this video that I realised I now owned the bass featured in that video! A strange coincidence.

I also used to own a first generation headed Stealth six string in natural graphite, of which there could only have been a handful made. I have seen a green tinted Stealth six string for sale here and on Statii.com, but I haven't seen my old bass pop up since. I wish you could still get that S1 body shape from Status, it was really ergonomically pleasing. 

 

Probably the rare bass that gives me the most enjoyment is my Bogart Blackstone, previously owned by Stuart Clayton. I had long been a fan of Stuart's playing, and had known he was responsible for the sought-after Level 42 transcription books. I recall watching his cover of Alain Caron's 'D-Code' on YouTube, probably around when it was first uploaded. I was just in love with the playing and the Bogart Blackstone bass he used in the video. 

I had made various enquiries trying to buy a Bogart over the years, none of which worked out. To me, they were super exotic because graphite doesn't seem to cross borders - England is full of Status Graphite, France seems to do well with used Vigiers and whilst Modulus may seem exotic in the UK, they're pretty easy to get hold of in America. I always put this down to a lack of specialised dealers for these basses, meaning they tended to sell within their own borders. 

In all of this, Germany had the SKC Bogart, Schack and SKC Clover Slapper basses. I understand that Stefan Heß, the man behind SKC Bogart, supplied both Schack and Clover with graphite parts, including the shell for the monocoque SKC Clover Slapper, which was a German analogue to the Status S3000. The German graphite seemed so exotic. So frequently seen on Ebay.de and so rare in the UK. 

In the summer, I chanced across an advert of this guitar for sale at The Gallery and I had to have it! 

 

 

 

[Chris2112]

 

 

And here is the video I was referring to. I sometimes feel as though I've rather pulled off a coup as I got this bass for relatively little cash given the quality, sound and playability of it. I love this video and I hope you enjoy it. Part of the fun for me, and what makes it even more impressive, is that Stuart transcribed it on a 5 string when Alain plays it on a six. The jumps between positions are much wider and tougher on when you don't have a C string!

[itu]

Chris 2112 put a good basic list of carbon / graphite basses, and there are few more like B-quad and G-bass from Peavey (with MG necks). German Basslab. Status necked private builds...

[Hellzero]

Like this BassLab for sale in France for years :

[Chris2112]

26 minutes ago, itu said:

Chris 2112 put a good basic list of carbon / graphite basses, and there are few more like B-quad and G-bass from Peavey (with MG necks). German Basslab. Status necked private builds...

I've had a few and played loads over the years. I love 'em! 

I had a Zoot fretless with a graphite neck that was just okay. I didn't love it. I had a Zon Sonus Special which was really nice. Several Status basses too, but the Bogart is my favourite of the lot. I will own a Modulus some day, Im I'm sure and I love Geoff Gould's new instruments.