SOLVED: Help me identify a bass... from a poor description!

[pantherairsoft]

My google-foo has failed me!

Many (many) years ago I stumbled over a bass maker and one model in particular that gave me major GAS. It was ‘very’ out there, most notably from the fact that the upper horn travelled the full length of the neck and connected to the headstock! I’ve never seen anything else quite like it - I can sketch something if the description doesn’t make sense.

They typically came in very striking colours as well - metallic purples and blues etc.

I seem to think that they were a composite, opposed to wood build, but that detail may be incorrect.

Does anyone know what the hell I’m talking about? I’d love to track down the builder (and ideally, one of said basses!).

Thanks,

Shep

Edited January 17, 2021 by pantherairsoft

[pantherairsoft]

Solved!!!

Basslab L-Bow!

[AndyTravis]

Good stuff 😂😉

[Maude]

Woah woah woah, hang on a minute. 

We can't have a thread on here started and resolved that quick without some political brexit chat. 

😉

[Bassassin]

9 minutes ago, Maude said:

Woah woah woah, hang on a minute. 

We can't have a thread on here started and resolved that quick without some political brexit chat. 

😉

Basslab L-Bow? Bleedin' German, innit? Forrin muck wiv a stupid name, bin stuck in Calais for a month stuffed in a container wiv a load of them French Muslamic immigrants an' some blue passports from Poland. Call that sovrinty???

 

That do?

 

[Maude]

That should do it. 😄

[Teebs]

IBTL

[TheGreek]

 

 

 

Edited January 18, 2021 by TheGreek

[AndyTravis]

3 minutes ago, TheGreek said:

 

 

 

Ah, the lesser spotted Banjeroo.

[Paul S]

I'd never have worked it out.  I don't know my @rse from my L-bow.

[Lfalex v1.1]

I've always liked these.

Basslab's founder,  Heiko Hoepfinger writes a good column on premier guitar.

[itu]

I think the idea has been used earlier in Roland synth bass and Jerry Auerswald's creations. Please take a look:

https://www.auerswald-instruments.com/

[Hellzero]

1984-85 Roland G-77 bass

 

[Hellzero]

The early 90's Argant Stallion guitar with interchangeable necks :

[BigRedX]

Also used on the Born To Rock guitars and basses, although in this case it was to allow the design to do away with the need for a truss rod.

[Jus Lukin]

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Edited March 11, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Jus Lukin]

-

Edited March 11, 2022 by Jus Lukin

[Lfalex v1.1]

Looks like the Auerswald is wooden,  but the reasons for the "bow" seem to be the same as for the (composite) Basslab. It's interesting to note that both manufacturers make models without the bow, which makes me wonder how useful it really is.

As far as the Roland is concerned (want there a guitar model also?) It was to improve the neck rigidity and thus the clarity of the vibrations reaching the synth pickup. 

[Newfoundfreedom]

15 hours ago, TheGreek said:

 

 

 

Want one!

[Lfalex v1.1]

23 minutes ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

Want one!

Start saving!!

[Newfoundfreedom]

4 minutes ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

Start saving!!

No idea what they cost. I can't even find one for sale. 

[Lfalex v1.1]

http://www.ghservices.com/products/basslab/price.html

[BigRedX]

Basslab used to offer a service where you could try one of their instruments for a small fee plus shipping costs, before deciding to buy it or place an order for one of your own specification. 

[Newfoundfreedom]

4 minutes ago, Lfalex v1.1 said:

http://www.ghservices.com/products/basslab/price.html

Wow! I've gone right off them. 

[BigRedX]

1 minute ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

Wow! I've gone right off them. 

Those prices are somewhat inflated since they are for the US distributor and will include EU to US shipping and import taxes as well as a distributor mark-up.