Rabbie

Would part exchange for Spiros light or medium 

Previous post from Brian for quick reference 

Hi good people,

I’ve only just bought this beautiful bass from @briansbrew and it is all that it says on the tin and more…

Every 10 years or so, I convince myself that I should own a bass guitar…however, I soon remember that even as I get older, it’s still not my particular cup of tea.
I just love the mammoth inconvenience of logging a double bass around, and thankfully I’ve got the gigs on the upright.

So, here it goes again.

Early Custom shop Jazz bass, with several modifications that justify the “low” price.

Originally Daphne blue, refinished in a deep pink colour, and then again back to the original colour, all professionally done.

The neck binding was stripped and redone as perloid, with a nice touch at the top of the fingerboard saying “L’arbre chantant” (the singing tree in French).

the “V” serial number is typical of early Custom Shop (they only started in 88 so this must be a very early one). The stamps are all original, but the year is not very legible at all.

Gold tuners,knobs, control plate and screws are original to the bass, new gold bridge installed

Brian had the scratchplate imported from the states which is 62-66 period correct.

The pickups that came with it were not that great and not original to the bass, so Brian installed Fender customshop vintage 60's ones: they sound awesome!

The gold bridge cover may or may not be the original one.

A battery compartment was added at the back and a toggle switch to the control plate as an active circuit was installed, but now the original circuit reinstated and it’s all passive.

Non-original Fender moulded included, strap locks and leather strap.

Weight is 4.4 Kgs.

A black strap and strap locks as pictured are also included.

Great wee thing I literally just bought new, because I thought I was going to use it in my workshops with primary schools, alas…everyone likes the double bass better, so I’m selling the Kala.

I was amazed at how good this sounds, especially since I pair it with Flatwound strings (that cost me £65!)…

only tiny imperfection is a hairline mark that does not even go through the varnish (photographed). Comes with original foam bag, in original box, with the original round wound strings shoved in the bag as well, in case you prefer them to flats.

postage no problem (UK only).

This is a great pickup, but I have had it for a couple of years and never used it, ever. Hence, it’s time for it to move on.

Please ask any question.

The price for this is 299 euros. Mine is new, but since I’ve had it sitting in the house doing nothing, how about £180?

Yeah I resisted the idea for years…was worried the sound would be thin, but somehow it is very much not the case…detuned solos make sense: easy to play, still very good projection and no sore fingers. If they were Spiros instead of dominant I’d have kept them. My other bass is a slightly shorter scale and I heard dominants prefer a regular scale

One month old set of Dominant Solo strings. I bought them for the bass I just sold and they wouldn’t suit my other basses. Although they have been on the bass for about a month, while it was for sale, they really haven’t been played at all, so I hope they would still have their whole life ahead.

Like most people do (in the non-classical world) I had them tuned down a step the standard G-D-A-E (instead of A-E-B-F#, which is what you will see written on the packets), and they produce a really satisfying blend of presence and ease of play. I think the superb Herve Jeanne (String Matrix) has an old video of them).

Anyhoo, they come in the original package and they retail for £262 at Bass Bags, so £160 seems very fair.

Any questions please ask.

I can do A and D together for £80 posted (The D Evah Slap is in a separate listing)

I can do D and A (both Evah Slap in superb conditions) for a total of £80

posted. The A string is on a separate listing.

The G is now gone, only the D string is available 

Photo dump of the case! I like the fact that you can travel with the body inside a soft bag, which protects it in transit, but then also that comes in very handy when you get to destination: you can rebuild the bass in the hotel and go to gigs on the soft bag as you normally would.

the neck is kept in place by a foam recess built in the lid and the case has wheels, a retractable handle and very sturdy handles on the long sides too. A great job!

40 minutes ago, bassadder said:

Hi Rabbie 

 

Have you got an EVah Pirazzi Weich E & A available by any chance?

Hi, sadly not sorry…my string drawer is getting empty…

Cash offers entertained with kindness.
Trades I’d consider: a Hofner! A good Pbass! And otherwise please feel free to surprise me.

I am in Perth, but happy to drive down a bit and meet in the middle?

Added a little sound sample video just recorded on an iphone

Following enquiries, I made a wee silent video of me assembling the bass and taking it down again, all sped up.

I have realised that as I now smack into middle age, and I like being home with my family, I do not entertain the prospect of flying with a double bass in toe anymore. I have spent several years planning this bass, alas I have only had it for less than one year, so I should let it go before it becomes a part of the family, like my other 2 double basses.

It is a 1950s beautiful hybrid German bass imported in the UK by Foote of London in the 1950s. My luthier friend Will Mackay took its time and made a great neck off job with a very simple bolt system. He cleverly pinned the soundpost (see photo of the back and you’ll see the wee pin) The guys of case-it in Glasgow made me a relatively light and bulletproof flight case, which was not cheap, but it was still less than half the price of those more moulded cases.

I just took it to Morocco on Ryanair, no mean feat! Weight of case & bass 32kg, so I could fly on Ryanair with the bass in the boot for just their standard £60 for musical Instruments: I think that’s pretty astounding if I may say so myself.

The case is not a fancy moulded one, but it was professionally made: it has sturdy wheels, an extending handle and 4 sturdy carry handles too. A proper, proper flight case made by people who make flight cases for very expensive stuff, so it is very secure!

also come with a pickup and a padded soft case to protect the body in the case and for you to carry the bass around once you are at destination and you need to get from hotel to gig etc…

The price is negotiable, but I think you will agree it is a very great price, nearly half the price of much lesser removable neck basses out there. 
if you think of converting your own bass to a removable neck, you may already have found out that the neck work will cost around £2500 and the case around £2000…and that’s without the bass! This bass is an actually great sounding instrument, plus it looks super cool.

Will I regret selling? Of course I will! 
But I’m learning to let go…and my family needs space…and the money helps.

Trades? Tempt me, but I would still need a large part of the price to be cash.

I realise I’m not around the corner for most of you, but these things are best seen and tried. So I really encourage you to come see it, play it, see the neck come and off, etc…Still, postage is, in theory, possible…yet I hope you realise it would cost you a bomb and I would take zero responsibility for its outcome.

please ask any questions. 

Thank you for looking and enjoy the photos!
(I cut the address of the luthier out of the certificate of authenticity photo for privacy purposes)

I made a wee silent video of me assembling the neck and taking it back down here

https://youtu.be/lFhkGWiedk8?si=DIJRZxNiNaQh25Jw

and another of a wee sound sample

Just as a curve ball…I’m thinking of selling my removable neck double bass with its own flight case. It’s not dainty, but definitely way more manageable than those humongous fibreglass beautiful monsters 

Only the A string is left now. Plus the slightly older D and G in my other listing.

the D and G in this listing have now gone.

Yes indeed. Still available 

On 10/07/2025 at 23:02, Jowston said:

Hey Rabbie,

 

I’d be interested if these are still available? 

, sorry for late reply. 

D and G are now sold.

A string is left at £55.
 

Me again with another lightly used trio of Evah slap synthetic 

All strings in lightly used condition and priced super conveniently.

the best price for a G now is the heavily discounted £52 at the brilliant Strings Zone, where a D is £59 and the A £63.

here you can get all 3 for £120, or

- G £35

- D £45

- A £55

2 months of use from new on only one bass.

The D string is practically perfect £45.

The G string is a bit unraveled just where the trying has been wound around the tuning peg. The playing part of the string is perfect, but due to the imperfection at the top £25. G now SOLD

Posted to the UK

Thank you for looking.

Of course. PM me your details and I’ll do the same. Cheers

Yep. Someone messaged yesterday but then didn’t reply so  they are still here and available.

No problem. PM replied