Basses in the 1980s

[JPJ]

Being located approximately 300 miles north of Wapping, i used to pore over the Bass Centre adverts in magazines envious of the outrageous amount of desirable bass gear on display. Don’t get me wrong, we were reasonably well served with bass gear up here in the north with Newcastle having several good musical instrument shops such as Rock City, Kitchens, McKays (secondhand emporium), and JG Windows (which only closed down in the last 12 months 😔), alongside the original Overwater works “Chris & Andy’s” and many secondhand shops that would have an occasional bass treasure in stock.

Back in 1982 I bought my Ibanez RS940TV from the aforementioned J G Windows convinced that a fretless bass would attract the female of the species faster than a bottle of high strength pheromone 😂 (it didn’t). Good news is that i still own her today, and even though she never leaves the house these days (far too much sentimental value), she’s still got the best neck of any bass Ive owned (and there’s been a few 😬).

Note to self, must take a better photo of the old girl.

 

Edited February 8 by JPJ

[tauzero]

5 hours ago, JPJ said:

Back in 1982 I bought my Ibanez RS940TV from the aforementioned J G Windows convinced that a fretless bass would attract the female of the species faster than a bottle of high strength pheromone 😂 (it didn’t). Good news is that i still own her today, and even though she never leaves the house these days (far too much sentimental value), she’s still got the best neck of any bass Ive owned (and there’s been a few 😬).

Note to self, must take a better photo of the old girl.

 

 

Since taking that, have you cut the string ends off or poked them down inside the tuners?

[JPJ]

25 minutes ago, tauzero said:

 

Since taking that, have you cut the string ends off or poked them down inside the tuners?

Both! 😂

[tubbybloke68]

7 hours ago, JPJ said:

Being located approximately 300 miles north of Wapping, i used to pore over the Bass Centre adverts in magazines envious of the outrageous amount of desirable bass gear on display. Don’t get me wrong, we were reasonably well served with bass gear up here in the north with Newcastle having several good musical instrument shops such as Rock City, Kitchens, McKays (secondhand emporium), and JG Windows (which only closed down in the last 12 months 😔), alongside the original Overwater works “Chris & Andy’s” and many secondhand shops that would have an occasional bass treasure in stock.

Back in 1982 I bought my Ibanez RS940TV from the aforementioned J G Windows convinced that a fretless bass would attract the female of the species faster than a bottle of high strength pheromone 😂 (it didn’t). Good news is that i still own her today, and even though she never leaves the house these days (far too much sentimental value), she’s still got the best neck of any bass Ive owned (and there’s been a few 😬).

Note to self, must take a better photo of the old girl.

 

Love the old Ibanez basses, still got my mc924 I’ve had new since ‘83 . She’s well battered , not through abuse, just general use and tonnes of gigs . Fantastic instruments and proper ‘80’s ! 😊x 

[mikebass456]

5 minutes ago, tubbybloke68 said:

Love the old Ibanez basses, still got my mc924 I’ve had new since ‘83 . She’s well battered , not through abuse, just general use and tonnes of gigs . Fantastic instruments and proper ‘80’s ! 😊x 

Are they as heavy as they look? It was 40 years ago, so probably not as much of a problem as it would be now....😢

[mikebass456]

8 hours ago, Skybone said:

My second bass was the Black/Red Raider, in about 1986, though I really wanted a Thunder II or III. Managed to get a Thunder 1A in the early 90's, and it really was a brilliant bass. Wish I'd never sold that one.

 

After the Raider, I bought my first Aria, the bolt neck SB Special II.

Still got my Thunder 3 currently, but looking to move it on in the near future........😉

[tubbybloke68]

Just now, mikebass456 said:

Are they as heavy as they look? It was 40 years ago, so probably not as much of a problem as it would be now....😢

Yes they are heavy basses,but personally it has never bothered me, and still doesn’t even now I’m a lot older. As long as you’ve a nice wide strap,no problem. They were just SO well made, quality indeed 😊

[JohnFitzgerald]

On 29/01/2025 at 14:43, markorbit said:

Just reminiscing. There were some crackers weren't there. I remember visiting the Bass Centre in Wapping numerous times and seeing Steinbergers, Status's and Wals. I bought a lovely Wal Pro 2E Cherry second-hand for I think... 300 quid.
 

If I had a time machine and some funds I'd go back and get a Status S2000 in black weave preferably with the script font on the brass bridge plate. I love the look of early Status basses. All shiny and new.

We were spoiled.

I had a similar experience with a Wal in The Guitar Store in Glasgow around that time. I paid £350.

[mikebass456]

40 minutes ago, JohnFitzgerald said:

I had a similar experience with a Wal in The Guitar Store in Glasgow around that time. I paid £350.

Those were the days.

Much later on (late 90's) I had a choice between a new Wal or a custom build from Jon Shuker. I went for the Shuker and never regretted it. The Wals were superb, but just a bit too big and heavy for me - the Shuker was built to my spec so was loads more comfortable to play.  Incidentally the place I went to see was called The Embassy in Mansfield Woodhouse - they had a 'wall of Wals', as they called it! 😁👍

Edited February 9 by mikebass456

[crazycloud]

I still miss my RS824BB, even though I don't play 4s any more, and if I could buy it back I would.

 

Ibanez Wiki image as I lost all of my old photos of my actual bass.

 

Edited February 9 by crazycloud

[Piers_Williamson]

So what is the fretless Sting is holding on the cover of Zenyatta Mondatta

 

[crazycloud]

1982 Ibanez Musician MC924PW

 

Edited February 9 by crazycloud

[Agent 00Soul]

8 hours ago, crazycloud said:

1982 Ibanez Musician MC924PW

I had a book called “New Wave Riffs for Bass” and the cover was Sting playing one of those Ibanezes. 

[Piers_Williamson]

12 hours ago, crazycloud said:

1982 Ibanez Musician MC924PW

 

 

Thanks.  I think the one Sting is playing has  a very slightly different controls layout and different looking pickups (and it's fretless!), but they are both called the same thing.

[markorbit]

I remember Sting's fretless Dark Stain one. Think it was model MC940DS. He always had a phaser on it. Sounded fab and the fact he was a bit loose with the note pitch didn't seem to matter!

Edit: Apparently it's a MC900DS modified to fretless!

Edited February 10 by markorbit

[Rich]

On 30/01/2025 at 09:55, NancyJohnson said:

I caught up with Barry about a month ago, he's a top bloke and it's always great to have a natter about Wapping and his trade show experiences are priceless.

 

Ask him what SWR and Hartke stand for!

IIRC, Hartke is 'Horrid American Rubbish That Keeps Exploding'..? 

Not entirely accurate, I really liked my old HA3500 and it definitely never exploded. 

 

On 09/02/2025 at 15:26, JohnFitzgerald said:

I had a similar experience with a Wal in The Guitar Store in Glasgow around that time. I paid £350.

Likewise. I paid £330 for my beloved Pro 2E in 1986, at Hamer's in Reading. 

Edited February 10 by Rich

[Russ]

18 minutes ago, Rich said:

IIRC, Hartke is 'Horrid American Rubbish That Keeps Exploding'..? 

Not entirely accurate, I really liked my old HA3500 and it definitely never exploded. 

 

Likewise. I paid £330 for my beloved Pro 2E in 1986, at Hamer's in Reading. 

🤣 I had a Hartke 2x10" combo years back that went through three speakers in less than a year. It sounded great, when it worked, but I never trusted them again after that. 

 

I've met Larry Hartke several times. Nice bloke with a magnificent mullet.  But I really can't vouch for the quality of his stuff. Supposedly the newer HyDrive speakers are a lot better and less prone to ripping than the old full aluminium ones, but still, once bitten and all that. 

[NancyJohnson]

8 hours ago, Rich said:

IIRC, Hartke is 'Horrid American Rubbish That Keeps Exploding'..? 

Not entirely accurate, I really liked my old HA3500 and it definitely never exploded. 

 

Likewise. I paid £330 for my beloved Pro 2E in 1986, at Hamer's in Reading. 

 

The Hartke one is 100%.  Barry said they were just trying to entertain themselves at NAMM years ago.

 

Even as an (ex) Hartke endorsee, I could see the humour in this!

[NancyJohnson]

8 hours ago, Russ said:

🤣 I had a Hartke 2x10" combo years back that went through three speakers in less than a year. It sounded great, when it worked, but I never trusted them again after that. 

 

I've met Larry Hartke several times. Nice bloke with a magnificent mullet.  But I really can't vouch for the quality of his stuff. Supposedly the newer HyDrive speakers are a lot better and less prone to ripping than the old full aluminium ones, but still, once bitten and all that. 

 

I'd concur on the QC; I had two different 10" speakers (from Hydrive cabinets) that just start rattling, but Korg replaced them without question.  Beyond this, the cabs were faultless.

 

Larry is just a lovely bloke.  Does what he does best; front of house, working the customer base, getting his product out there.

 

 

[JohnFitzgerald]

Having had my £350 Wal in the 80s, I knew I was never getting one of those again, since prices went into the stratosphere.

That's why I had this homage built, which bears a vague resemblance to a Wal, late last year.

With the multi coil pickups and LPF based preamp, it nails that sound.

[mikebass456]

9 minutes ago, JohnFitzgerald said:

Having had my £350 Wal in the 80s, I knew I was never getting one of those again, since prices went into the stratosphere.

That's why I had this homage built, which bears a vague resemblance to a Wal, late last year.

With the multi coil pickups and LPF based preamp, it nails that sound.

Where did you source the pickups from? The ones that Wal use look pretty unique......lovely looking bass, by the way.....😉👍

[Russ]

15 minutes ago, mikebass456 said:

Where did you source the pickups from? The ones that Wal use look pretty unique......lovely looking bass, by the way.....😉👍

They look like Herricks to me, with the Lusithand preamp (the knobs are a dead giveaway :D). Herrick make great stuff - all handwound to order - but they're not cheap. 

 

https://www.herrickpickups.com/

[Russ]

6 hours ago, NancyJohnson said:

 

I'd concur on the QC; I had two different 10" speakers (from Hydrive cabinets) that just start rattling, but Korg replaced them without question.  Beyond this, the cabs were faultless.

 

Larry is just a lovely bloke.  Does what he does best; front of house, working the customer base, getting his product out there.

 

 

From what I understand, the "Transporter" range used cheaper, less sturdy speakers compared to the speakers in the XL range, and the Transporter speakers were the ones used in my old combo.

 

I got them replaced for free too, but after a while I just got too annoyed with it breaking and sold it on. 

 

When Hartkes work properly, they sound great - they have punch and clarity like nothing else, and a ton of bottom end too. I just wish Larry would pay a bit more attention to QC for the stuff that carries his name. I also find the branding rather garish - huge logos and ugly colour schemes, although not quite up there with Markbass in that regard. 

[JohnFitzgerald]

1 hour ago, Russ said:

They look like Herricks to me, with the Lusithand preamp (the knobs are a dead giveaway :D). Herrick make great stuff - all handwound to order - but they're not cheap. 

 

https://www.herrickpickups.com/

You're on the money there. 
Herrick pickups and Lusithand pre.

I had to sell my 1984 Ibanez to pay for the pickups, but I figured if you do this once, do it right.

Edited February 11 by JohnFitzgerald

[TrevorR]

6 hours ago, JohnFitzgerald said:

Having had my £350 Wal in the 80s, I knew I was never getting one of those again, since prices went into the stratosphere.

That's why I had this homage built, which bears a vague resemblance to a Wal, late last year.

With the multi coil pickups and LPF based preamp, it nails that sound.

So glad I got my Mk 1 back in the early 90s (personal ad in the back of Guitarist) and my Pro2E back in 2001 (randomly turned up in a local guitar shop - both for about 500 quid) before the prices got silly!

Edited February 11 by TrevorR