Booga13 Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 So this beastie arrived today and I'm glad I took a gamble, was purchased at a general auction and was listed simply as a 'custom bass guitar' , it looked interesting and of good quality (woods/brass nut etc etc) so thought it worth a punt. It plays REALLY well and has sustain for days, I'd love to know more about it but I cannot find any indentifying marks, the body shape is ringing a VERY faint bell but I can't nail it down, clearly has hints of Alembic but that headstock is very old Aria Pro II batwing, I know there's a lot of trading accross these forums, anyone encountered it before? or have any ideas as to it origins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 That headstock is very Aria. It's not that far off a Westone either. TBH I don't think it's either, but I'm not really Up There with this knowledge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 I wonder if the Saltire on the 12th fret is a clue? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 I did wonder that myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 What’s the writing on the pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 minute ago, Reggaebass said: What’s the writing on the pickups Select by EMG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 It's a Camac, made by Eko in Italy. It's a blinged-up variation of Eko's BX series. These were 80s (obviously!) & very influenced by the styles of the time https://www.fetishguitars.com/eko/eko-the-final-years/eko-camac/ Brandoni Guitars in Wembley bought up all of Eko's old stock when they closed, and interestingly still have these advertised as in stock, either as neck/body or fully built bass. This one's probably a Brandoni bass, as it doesn't look 30+ years old. Should mention that I'd rather like one of these... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 It looks ripe for a bit of upgrading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 28 minutes ago, Bassassin said: It's a Camac, made by Eko in Italy. It's a blinged-up variation of Eko's BX series. These were 80s (obviously!) & very influenced by the styles of the time https://www.fetishguitars.com/eko/eko-the-final-years/eko-camac/ Brandoni Guitars in Wembley bought up all of Eko's old stock when they closed, and interestingly still have these advertised as in stock, either as neck/body or fully built bass. This one's probably a Brandoni bass, as it doesn't look 30+ years old. Should mention that I'd rather like one of these... I have what I believe is a BX7 One P and One J. Stripped back, with a 2 X V and 2 X T mod, which I bought out of curiosity and have found it a surprisingly good bass, I think you would enjoy having one, to add to you family of instruments. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowla Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 It’s like Aria meets Alembic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 🤣 step away for an hour so so to do dinner and Bassassin gets the job done, why am I not surprised!! Great info, if I let her go at some point @Bassassin gets first refusal for just being an awsome font of all knowledge 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 13 hours ago, BreadBin said: It looks ripe for a bit of upgrading Indeed, I'll give her a chance as is and see. So far everything seems to be pretty decent quality but maybe pups... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slojo Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 I had those pickups in a Westone Thunder and liked them, quiet with a balanced tone I thought. Would probably work well with an active preamp (mine were just wired passive). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 I think I have a 3 pot active preamp setup somewhere in my spares but I'm going to give her some time before contemplating any changes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christhammer666 Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 looks very westone from that headstock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, christhammer666 said: looks very westone from that headstock It might do. But it's not. 20 hours ago, Bassassin said: It's a Camac, made by Eko in Italy. It's a blinged-up variation of Eko's BX series. These were 80s (obviously!) & very influenced by the styles of the time https://www.fetishguitars.com/eko/eko-the-final-years/eko-camac/ Brandoni Guitars in Wembley bought up all of Eko's old stock when they closed, and interestingly still have these advertised as in stock, either as neck/body or fully built bass. This one's probably a Brandoni bass, as it doesn't look 30+ years old. Should mention that I'd rather like one of these... There's some speculation these might have been Japanese-made but there appears to be no supporting evidence beyond 'stripy = Matsumoku'. Which is, of course, nonsense. Edited February 23, 2021 by Bassassin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 I'll have a proper search for a MIJ marking although I suspect if it was going to be there it should be on the outside somewhere obvious, I'll dig out my magnifying glass and do a cavity search just in case😲 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 That looks seriously nice. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Missed out a key bit of info here, £££???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 23, 2021 Share Posted February 23, 2021 Heavy??? I tried one at Brandoni's and it felt heavier than the Warwick 5er I took with me... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Booga13 Posted February 23, 2021 Author Share Posted February 23, 2021 44 minutes ago, Kev said: Missed out a key bit of info here, £££???? Excellent question, 140 winning bid, ended up as a total of about 210 with auction fees and shipping, came in a hard case too😁 39 minutes ago, TheGreek said: Heavy??? I tried one at Brandoni's and it felt heavier than the Warwick 5er I took with me... Just popped her on the scales, a shade over 4.6kgs, so not too bad 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 24, 2021 Share Posted February 24, 2021 5 hours ago, Booga13 said: Excellent question, 140 winning bid, ended up as a total of about 210 with auction fees and shipping, came in a hard case too😁 Total bargain. 😎 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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