Shaggy

[quote name='bassaussie' post='884259' date='Jul 2 2010, 07:21 PM']Thanks for the description. I love the fingerboard on your bass, it's a lovely looking piece of wood (I'm assuming it's ebony, no?).[/quote] Yup, ebony on all Magnums. I've always used roundwounds and it's barely marked. [quote name='Jerry_B' post='884263' date='Jul 2 2010, 07:30 PM']Wow - nice bass Shaggy! I'm guessing fretless versions are somewhat rare...?[/quote] It's the only one I've ever seen, and totally original, although I think BigRedX said he'd seen another - damn shame as I think it's one of those basses that were just meant to be fretless. Individual fret positions are inlaid with fine wire on the upper edge of the fingerboard, but hard to see now as the varnish has yellowed.

[quote name='bassaussie' post='883868' date='Jul 2 2010, 12:31 PM']Shaggy, what is it about these basses that is so good? I'm not that familiar with them, and am curious.[/quote] +1 to FlatErics post above For me; Pros - Funky, oddball styling Ergonomic body; great for fingerstyle (but then I like Thunderbirds too!) Slim fast neck (about a Fender “B” profile) Neck rock solid; 3 carbon-fibre strips integrated Lovely Honduras mahogany construction; real quality build / feel to it. Built like a tank – probably the chunkiest bridge unit ever Articulate, detailed pickups; neck p/up has micro trim-pots for balancing Real winner is the basic tone as I said above – any amount of low end from that huge neck p/up but it’s a nice clear, growly low end like an acoustic upright, no mud / thump. Bridge p/up dials in a nice bit of cutting “honk” Cons – Funky, oddball styling (has been compared to a potato) String-bending on solo neck p/up causes major output drop-off Heavy by modern standards – I find it fine Medium length strings won’t fit due to the long string travel over the bridge (Noisy preamp / heavy battery drain on the active Magnum 2’s) some pics of mine I've probably posted before;;

V&R are usually a pretty good gauge of market price for vintage gear, they recently listed a tidy one at £900 (and probably sold for less) so I’d say this is very optimistically overpriced. These used to be unloved and dirt cheap (mine was £300 five years ago) but are getting rarer and some bassists are appreciating what fantastic basses they are – maybe because of the recent re-discovering of “Don’t stop believing / Journey”? I recently acquired a Wal Mk 1 Custom fretless and the only one of my fretlesses that it didn’t instantly supersede was my Magnum 1; nothing else has it’s distinctive woody / acoustic-ey tone or natural low end (listen to Barry Adamson in Magazine, Ross Vallory in Journey, and – although I personally don’t like his sound – Jah Wobble).

Ebony is the harder wearing option, and black generally goes with any body finish / colour scheme. I wouldn't advise any sort of finish on it - I just give a wipe over with Danish oil ever year or so; never experienced one cracking (all old violins and top classical guitars have ebony boards), although when it comes to refret time is is a bit more brittle - a luthier would have no problems though.

I'm sure someone suggested immersion in coca-cola as a way of restoring pitted chrome-plated parts. Probabaly turns into Iron-bru! I just use autosol on my ol' motorbike, and Glynn's super resin (car) polish on paintwork - on painted basses too.

Just scored a set of new DR MH5-45 LoRider Bass Strings 45-125 (s/s rounds) off t'bay; as all my basses are 4's I don't need the low B. If anyone wants it - first to PM and send me an SAE gets it.

Best I've used is my Retrospec Juice Box (all-valve class "A"), but they stopped making them years ago. So that wasn't very helpful, sorry. Tone Hammer and Sansamp always get great reviews

Good score! I've had my last 3 Gibsons from the US; customs bill hurts, but still works out way cheaper and much more choice. I'd strip this back to the wood, and if it's a nice grain go for a vintage (tobacco) sunburst with a black p/guard. If not, then CAR or even metallic red. Neck should hopefully sand back to unsinged maple. Be sure to post the pics!

That's gorgeous - very Sting circa 1979 Let me know how the Overwaters work out as the flats I've tried so far on mine are a tad too thuddy (Pyramid Golds and Rotosounds)

Bought a P neck off umph, slick deal - cheers fella!

[quote name='Lifer' post='874568' date='Jun 22 2010, 04:37 PM']Lucky bugger, love the (look of the) artist bass what's it like to play?[/quote] I moved that one on - it was a natural finish one someone had put chrome EB-3 p/ups and a bart preamp in, now got an all-original fireburst one; [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=76091&st=60"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=76091&st=60[/url] (second post down) - TBH I kind of preferred my old modded one, mainly as it had such a great tone switched passive; like a T'bird but with more middy punch and endless sustain. Like most Gibsons they're marmite basses; I find this and the T'bird the most ergonomic of all body styles as they're so comfortable for "Entwhistle-style" right-hand technique, are [b]hugely[/b] heavy, clubby neck, extra-long scale (34.5"), and contrary to popular belief don't neck dive. Got it's faults yes - I dislike the Moog electrics - but absolutely unique and produce a wall of sound . Check out; [url="http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist.php"]http://www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bass/RDartist.php[/url]

EvilLordJuju and neepheid are your men for this, but I'd have said £500 absolute tops. Even assuming an all original in good nick with OHSC is worth a grand, the refin halves the value. I paid £500 for an RD Artist with non-orig p/ups and electrics which I reckoned was fair. Nice basses tho!

John fulfilled a long-time dream for me; to own a Wal Mk 1 custom fretless. Involved a three-way deal with GustOo; absolutely couldn't have gone smoother - big thanks to a couple of top, friendly guys. Great communications, put himself out for a meet closer to Wales (I don't like to leave the sheep for too long..... ) Picked up the bass at sunny Aust services tonight, even Italy - Paraguay hasn't stop me noodling on it since. Why have I faffed around with lesser basses for so long? Would deal with again anytime

Gus sold Gus my old BCR CS Eagle, was part of a sudden three-way deal that had to happen fast or not at all, and Gus was a total star Made the decision and paid instantly, heck of a friendly and funny guy to communicate with. Just wouldn't happen anywhere else than here. Cheers fella!

I used a Sabre as my main gigging bass for a decade or so, they’ve a name for being heavy but TBH I didn’t find it any worse than the average Fender, maybe as mine was alder body rather than ash. Necks are solid, no issues at all. Always been cheaper than 'Rays simply because they're not as well known, but do [b]so[/b] much more Pros; Very cool looks, Rare and exclusive Very “Fender-ish” in feel (more like a P than a J), so instantly familiar feel to most players. Nice fast neck Built like a tank Huge range of tones available between the switching and the EQ – more low end and top end available than any other bass I’ve tried. Slap tone on the neck p/up is to die for……… Cons Basic tone is fairly unsubtle “old school” – not a hi-fi bass Treble EQ control will cut glass if you overdo it Fairly heavy on battery drain and no passive option (so always carry a spare battery!) Treble boost switch does so little it’s redundant. Out of phase switching wasn't a tone I personally found usable either Mine had the nototious MM "weak G string syndrome" too (much like the wife... ), don't know if if was that particular bass, and wasn't a big problem