sold:GBSpitfire5Customc/wsound-to-lightHiscox case.£1750 (incl.) Offer £2250 TS

[eubassix]

GB Spitfire 5 string bass. In good/excellent condition throughout (see photos).

www.gbguitars.co.uk/gb_spitfire.asp

James Durand demonstrating the GB DSP Sound-to-Light unit

Demonstrating the GB G-Spot (onboard tuner)

Demonstrating the GB Kick-Drum (onboard metronome)

Demonstrating the GB Pulse (battery level indicator)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 20, 2020 by eubassix
sold

[bubinga5]

What year was it made.?

[Chris Horton]

I believe that this is one of the older spitfires 

[eubassix]

10 hours ago, bubinga5 said:

What year was it made.?

 

34 minutes ago, Chris Horton said:

I believe that this is one of the older spitfires 

The bass was made for Neil Simpson who played with Roy Wood for years*. BG thinks c. 2008. Not sure re.it being an  'older' Spitfire as not sure how long they've been made (?... IIRC I first played one in the mid 90's?). This video (24th Dec. 2015) 'features' the bass, so could be a bit more recent:-

*   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph-gNR5oJCo

 

[Chris Horton]

I believe that the newer spitfires have an extra”spitfire” sticker near the nut 

[bubinga5]

7 hours ago, Chris Horton said:

I believe that the newer spitfires have an extra”spitfire” sticker near the nut 

Your correct. Mine is a 2015. 

[EBS_freak]

I know this bass well - it's an earlyish Spitfire but has got the full on Rumour circuit and Neil had the G spot and Metronome added to ensure that the bass had all the latest tech. I also believe that he had the sound to light chip reflashed so that it had the latest sound to light algorithm and the latest patterns. I seem to recall that I may have even taken it to and from Brighton for him to have all the electronics updated to latest spec. It was also at this time that the original knurled Schaller knobs were replaced with the gold O rings. Dont quote me on this - but I seem to recall it having a gold round string retainer - if you look under the Hipshot retainer, there may be remains of the screw hole of the original string retainer.

This is also a 34" scale Spitfire 5, which is a little unusual as the common scale length for a Spitfire 5 is 35".

Pretty rare in that it also has a painted fretboard... the only other GBs with painted fretboard being mine and a very early GB Standard with the Spitfire circuitry as opposed to the Rumour circuit which is in this example.

Also with regard to "early" Spitfires, they started in the late 90s... and had a short spell of being called a GB Standard, to avoid upsetting our German friends when a certain Mark King was sporting his pair of GB Spitfires Standards.

Oh... and it's older than 2008 - my oldest Spitfire is 2007... (and that has the Spitfire decal on the neck) and this bass predates mine by at least a couple of years... I would guestimate it to be more like 2004. Having said that, it's not a good indicator as I know that some Spitfires and Rumours go out with and without the model designation decals. But in this case, I know for 100% it's older than mine!

Edited October 8, 2019 by EBS_freak

[itu]

Very good looking neck!

[bassfan]

What’s the weight EU? 

Can anyone else see the demos, the links on the website don’t work on my iPad ...

[EBS_freak]

2 hours ago, bassfan said:

What’s the weight EU? 

Can anyone else see the demos, the links on the website don’t work on my iPad ...

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_bass_talk.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_quite_firm.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_im_further.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_wooten_medley.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_teen_town.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_mr_pink.mp3

http://www.gbguitars.co.uk/mp3/gbguitars_country_music.mp3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcSYVEqVyVc

https://youtu.be/5buqY3hch7U

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um--AdrSfBo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWB1lc-6yG4

 

For the metronome - you literally press the button and a kick drum sound comes out of it, the two buttons speed up and slow down. Both buttons turn off.

G spot is pitch of a bass sounding note going through G D A E B with each click of the  button before clicking again and it turns off.

The battery light indicator is literally a flashing light.... that pulses every few seconds. When the batteries are running out, it pulses very quickly.

[eubassix]

Thanks for the details above EBS-f; always good to have some further  provenance re. an instrument. I can confirm that it is a 34" scale and have added this and other specs/weight to the OP. The estimated date came from Bernie but he wasn't certain. My first Spitfire (4-string) was bought directly from the old Peall Road, Croydon, base - not managed to visit GB/BG since he moved down to Brighton (when was that?). I think it was the summer of '96, and the bass (plus a 5 string Spitfire) appeared in a review later that year. Thanks also for the additional links etc.

[JD1]

Seen / played this. It’s fab. Great condition and playability. As for the light show it is indeed very impressive! Even if you don’t go for the full on audio / visual extravaganza you still have the option of top and / or side LED’s.

[visog]

Wow... lovely bass to which my avatar attests. GLWTS

[eubassix]

£1999 (inclusive of Courier to UK)

[ZenBasses]

Really good basses , I've had my GB IV for over 15 years and it's still the best bass I've owned or own .. This bass was originally prototype for Bernie and the crew and is one of the few very (if not the only ) 4 string finished on Parismic Sparkle 

This has also had the full Rumor circuitry upgrade at the Brighton workshop ..it's a great upgrade 

Can't recommended these enough and I know I would never part with mine as it's defo "road worn" . Whoever bags this it should be a keeper for sure 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/61mLXjXqT9LKyewz9

 

[eubassix]

SOLD