eubassix

Here's one to watch out for in the Huddersfield area - although it might appear again nationally (ebay etc.) I'm trying to recover this for a friend/player in Germany (Michael Harmssen - quite a player, who has toured with the likes of Billy Cobham). I don't think the current owner was aware (initially) that this was a stolen bass (c. 1999) when it was first advertised on ebay (details/links below) but once he was made aware (by Michael) he seems to have removed it from ebay (where it wasn't attracting much interest or bids - had only gone up to <£50.) and now seems intent on 'advertising it on the open market for a fair price' (... of course, now he knows what it IS, and that its a handmade Siggi Jaeger instrument!!). Current owner is a Michael O'Mally, based in the Huddersfield area (ebay listing). Michael (H) didn't expect much could be done about the stolen aspect and wasn't expecting it back for free - but wished to pay something reasonable to get his bass back .. but also volunteered too much information (I think). It's also difficult to know where this might appear (shop/s, gumtree, ebay etc etc.) .. but if you're in the area (probably from Manchester to Leeds-Bradford, Sheffield etc.) and see it, then post here or (better) drop me a PM. Photos and ebay listing:- [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320540422656"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320540422656[/url] [i]German custom made six string fretless bass guitar,one of a kind,l bought this in a music shop in frankfurt germany around ten years ago,i'm almost sure the neck is made of maple as i think most guitar necks are and maybe the body too but not 100% sure on either but it is quite heavy and maple is quite heavy stuff! Is in overall good condition with 2 or 3 minor minor chips on the body and a few tiny scratches which would be expected on a guitar of this age but hardly noticable really. Although the guitar is passive it has a built in battery compartment if an active circuitry were required,i believe these cost around £25 but sounds perfectly well as a passive instrument. When i bought it,it had been repaired on the top of the neck where a small gap had appeared (see picture 4) but this was professionaly repaired with epoxy resin when i bought it and is still solid today.Has the serial number 012 at the very top of the neck,not sure if this means anything to anyone or not. Sounds really nice and plays very we'll too but sadly surplus to requirements so may as well go to a good home,has never been gigged and has only ever done a few studio sessions and is sold with no reserve and comes with an option to buy a soft case in good condition for an extra £15 on top of final list price if needed,cash on collection or paypal accepted,happy bidding. On 03-Jun-10 at 15:42:38 BST, seller added the following information: Have had a very interesting e mail from germany,the guitar is aparently made by world famous siggi jaeger of the company 'human bass' instruments have been told that the 'nose' shape on the back of the neck (see picture four) is exclusive to his design,dousnt have any name on it so not too sure about this but it sounds genuine enough and looks remarkably like some of his that are on the net.[/i]

... Thanks Gwil' - all of that is extrenely helpful, including the links (!) Not sure if the trade will go thru, but it puts me into a much better bargaining position .... and I now know a great deal more about KS basses ! ...

Kinal Kompact (acoustic-electric) Bass Topwood - Sitka spruce Neckwood - maple (or mahogany) graphite reinforced, adjustable truss rod Back and sides - alder and maple Bracing - parallel design Fingerboard - ebony (or rosewood) Bridge - rosewood Scale - 30" - 24 fretlines Electronics - Piezo style with bass, treble, and midrange Nut material - bone Body finish - satin polyester Colors available - natural, sunburst Case - hardshell style Options Exotic wood back plate Ebony fingerboard Dot inlays I recently acquired this fantastic Kinal Kompact acoustic/electric fretless. This bass is just great to play and the closest I've tried to a DB sound! Don't let the small size fool you - it's got some volume! You don't need to plug into an amp for practicing at home, even if playing along with music. Mike's craftsmanship is top notch. From the simple, elegant spruce top, the ebony fretboard that extends to the soundhole, the wooden bridge, the stunning curly maple back, to the subtle piece of spalted maple on the back of the headstock where the serial number is, everything is just classy. The built-in tuner on the preamp is a nice touch too. (featuring Greg Bagley - now using a custom-built Kinal A/E Kompact 6) [url="http://www.youtube.com/user/GBagley#p/u/65/lMGhJ9JAECs"]http://www.youtube.com/user/GBagley#p/u/65/lMGhJ9JAECs[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP9NM4JCxgQ&feature=related"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wP9NM4JCxgQ...feature=related[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB2S4kWF2yo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB2S4kWF2yo[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ8P52DRuqo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ8P52DRuqo[/url] [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rNqVbA__YE&feature=fvw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rNqVbA__YE&feature=fvw[/url] Here are my other two Kinal basses (5 fretted + fretless) - more 'traditional', but the best I've played to date £ for £. They have been mentioned eslewhere on BC, along with my previous Kinal 5 (Rayman/Mick) 1. Kinal (fretted) MK-5B: 34.5" Scale; 24 fret Pau Ferro fingerboard; Alder body w/ GoncaloAlves top; 5-piece Flame maple/purpleheart neck; Black and gold Hipshot hardware; Pickup ramp; Bartolini Pickups--dual coil neck and triple coil bridge (splittable); Bartolini 18V preamp--Volume (push/pull for active/passive), Bass, Mid, Treble, 3-way Mid frequency switch, EQ bypass switch, series/parallel/single coil switch for bridge pickup 2. Custom-built Kinal MK5-B, 5 string fretless bass. It has a 34.5” scale length, 5A curly maple top, ebony accent layer, and a matching curly maple headstock. The body has a very light and resonant swamp ash tone wood and is quite acoustically loud for a solid body bass. It is also light for a bass of this nature . The bolt on neck is figured maple with a high grade ebony + maple fret lines fingerboard - coated with boat epoxy . This neck combination really makes this bass 'sing'. Gold hardware - ABM bridge / Gotoh tuners / gold knobs. The neck position ramp is removable. Bartolini NTMB-F preamp and 3 Bartolini humbucking pickups. The knobs are for volume, pan, treble, mids, bass. The switches are for preamp bypass, 3 position mid frequency centre switch and a pickup control switch for the pan knob. The pickup control switch works like this. In position #1, the bridge and middle pickup signals are sent to the pan pot to blend their outputs. In position #2, the bridge and neck pickups are bendable. And in Position #3, the middle and neck pickups are blendable. This is a unique feature that allows you to get some great fretless sounds.. Weight is only 8 & 3/4lbs

[quote name='walbassist' post='856749' date='Jun 4 2010, 12:54 AM']The BSRJ was Ken's first attempt at a less bling and J bass version of his US-made basses. They are very well made, as are all of Ken's US basses, have a good core tone and maintain the Smith reputation. They don't sound like his basses that have the soapbars in them, but you wouldn't expect them too. As to a price, personally, given their bolt on nature and simpler woods etc, I would say something less than £2k tops for a mint condition one. Hope that helps Gareth[/quote] .. thanks Gareth; most helpful. I'll also drop Gwil' a PM. Cheers !!

Not sure if this is 'proper' so will understand if it is moved or removed... Been offered (via ebay NOT BC) a Ken Smith BSR 5J against my Celinder 6 (which was previously listed on ebay). I've been thought a fair number of instruments (!) but really don't know the KS's at all: they were available in Singapore, but only the Burner series .. and I wasn't impressed. This seems to be the 'budget' USA-made model, with a street price (new) of around $3500 - but no idea what sort of value they hold here; the bass seems goood overall, but there's obvious wear above the neck-pickup and a more serious repair to the headstock edge (lower) below the 'B' Tuner. Any comments on the bass and/or 'value' would be great (here or via PM)

Having taken ages to complete this matched pair of Tokai J's, thought I'd share the result (and ideas, if interest) here ... although not sure if it's the right place (?). Bought the two (identical) basses online. There's no fretless version available - so then had to source tools (fret removal) and investigate what's available to create something similar to the glossy finish on the Pedulla basses, whilst avoiding the use of superglue or epoxies (which sounded a bit risky, with limited skill/s and resources). So, basically, all I've done is to remove one neck (after spending some time playing the basses and deciding which was the better fretted/fretless option), then spent hours removing frets, filling slots (decided to use filler rather than veneers, as I knew I wanted to try the poly-coating; and a more subtle red-mahogany, then the usual white-maple) and then sanding & coating the f/board. Quite pleased with the results (see photos) - as the basses feel exactly the same and the fretless has worked-out pretty well; not quite as glassy (or Perfect !) as the Pedulla boards ... but it does 'sing' and resonate well (plent of 'mwaaahh'). I've decided to use some LaBella Deep-Talkin' flats on the FL initally, just to see how the finish copes - although it is described as 'the toughest finish for all interior woodwork/furniture (heat, impact, alcohol & solvent resistant)' and was/is used for Bar top coatings (hence the alcohol reference!).