Russian Ural/Tonika Basses

[rjb]

Have just been reading up on these mass-produced communist era Russian basses...

[url="http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/ural_bass.html"]http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/ural_bass.html[/url]

Does anyone own one? They're still common in Russia, apparently, but have any made it across Europe?

The kitch value alone would tempt me to get one...

Edited December 13, 2008 by rjb

[timloudon]

I wish I did. It would be good for taking out annoying punters!

[rjb]

Just found these pics of a Tonika. Crazy!

[url="http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/tonika_bass.html"]http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/tonika_bass.html[/url]

This website is a bit of a goldmine...

Edited December 13, 2008 by rjb

[BigRedX]

There was one on eBay earlier this year and there was guitar version for sale last month...

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='rjb' post='353541' date='Dec 13 2008, 01:40 PM']Just found these pics of a Tonika. Crazy!

[url="http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/tonika_bass.html"]http://meatexz.com/cheesyguitars/tonika_bass.html[/url]

This website is a bit of a goldmine...[/quote]

Outstanding link!

Thanks.

[skankdelvar]

GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's gnarly.

Edited December 13, 2008 by skankdelvar

[Nick80]

That tonika bass, apart from the shape of the body, looks a lot like the bass the guy in flight of the conchords uses. I wonder if he's using a soviet era bass then? Interesting.

[thebeat]

I like the 'hockeystick' type headstock...pretty cool looking...not impressed by the way they sound though:[quote]The bass sounds low, but not like bass, it's just low. You can describe as McCartney somewhere from 1964 heard through an radio with 2" speaker.[/quote]

[acidbass]

[quote name='Nick80' post='353994' date='Dec 14 2008, 01:15 AM']That tonika bass, apart from the shape of the body, looks a lot like the bass the guy in flight of the conchords uses. I wonder if he's using a soviet era bass then? Interesting.[/quote]

That was my initial thought too! I'd love to know what type he actually uses, I'd buy one just for comic value more than anything else!

[nick]

There are tons of these guitars still knocking about all over Eastern Europe, along with effects pedals. I'm off out to Ukraine sometime in June to visit in-laws, & partly to stem the boredom, was thinking of hunting any down & bringing back.

I've tried a couple on previous visits belonging to my wife's 'musician' friends - would have to say not that playable. However, think they do look cool.