GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Did anyone ever visit Music Ground in Doncater? Were you ever shown the secret mystery bass room upstairs there? I was... it was about 20 or so years ago now, and that shop is long gone, so in my memory it was a secret Narnia type room... I remember them showing me some basses the likes of which I have never seen since, and I'm hoping someone here will be able to help me track down the origin of these mytical basses. I don't remember much about them but they had very heavily radiused boards. I mean they were like a quarter of a circle! I think they said they were aimed at double bass player who wanted something recognisable under their fingers when they needed to go electric. They were, to the best of my recollection very erm, ergonomically shaped bodies... Very fluid and almost like they'd been designed based on a shape seen in a lava lamp. They seemed to me back then (back when Ibanez were still relative newbies) to be VERY high end and custom luthier-ish, although iirc there were quite a number of them on the wall. I also remember the knobs on them were conical rather than the usual cylinders, ...and I think made from turned brass as *one-offs* rather than the usual stock item usually found on basses. Anyone know if this really happened, or was it just a blue cheese induced dream? I tried a search on here, and Google and also on Music Ground (Manchester, I think) website, but without knowing a name I dunno where to even start! Help me put this memory to bed and help me track down this silly stuff. Cheers guys. (I know *someone* here will know something!) Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 Zeta Crossover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I'll have some of what you've been smokin'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacker Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 I remember going in there enquiring about a bass they were advertising in Guitarist (or Bass Player) and being told it was sold, only to find out a day or so later that it was still for sale. Seems I didn't smell of enough money to those goons. Good f***ing riddance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1319404798' post='1413835'] I remember going in there enquiring about a bass they were advertising in Guitarist (or Bass Player) and being told it was sold, only to find out a day or so later that it was still for sale. Seems I didn't smell of enough money to those goons. Good f***ing riddance! [/quote] I was shown this super secret room, given a coffee and treated very hadsomely! Ironic cos, although they wouldn't know it, at the time I didn't have two pennies to scratch my arse with, but I obviously smelt right!!! (I heard many bad things about Music Ground and I believe the recent history of the owner is, erm, shall we say "allegedly" very colourful) Nowadays I have loads of pennies to scratch my arse with. They smell horrible. Edited October 23, 2011 by GremlinAndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1319404352' post='1413826'] Zeta Crossover? [/quote] Nope. Not if my memory serves me well. They weren't quite so hybrid looking. They were strange, but didn't look a halfway morph between a regular and an upright... Edited October 23, 2011 by GremlinAndy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big_Stu Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 The Doncaster shop used to have several John Birch customs and one of their staff - James - was their JB expert. Not so sure about the neck radius thing but certainly the weird shaped bodies was right down his street. I bought a JB pup off them for about a tenth of what it would be now. Now the MG name is only known for constant rip-offs & lies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 I remember the nack radius thing very strongly actually. It was the first time I ever saw anything like that before, and they looked to me at the time like ther were fashioned by aliens on Jupiter or something. I was only used to Fenders. Rics and Gibbos, plus cheap Wal and Shergolds (who knew? Lol) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman Sam Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) [quote name='GremlinAndy' timestamp='1319406001' post='1413855'] I remember the nack radius thing very strongly actually. [/quote] Are we still talking bass necks here? Edited October 23, 2011 by Bassman Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 (edited) MB1. Sounds like youve stumbled into the rehearsals for The lion the witch and the wardrobe? ...given a coffee? in musicground? Edited October 23, 2011 by MB1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted October 23, 2011 Share Posted October 23, 2011 [quote name='MB1' timestamp='1319408770' post='1413886']MB1. Sounds like youve stumbled into the rehearsals for The lion the witch and the wardrobe? ...given a coffee? in musicground? [/quote] They told you it was coffee, but they'd actually sprayed coffee smell around the rim of the mug full of dyed water.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 hah hah Sounds about right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 23, 2011 Author Share Posted October 23, 2011 [quote name='MB1' timestamp='1319408770' post='1413886'] MB1. Sounds like youve stumbled into the rehearsals for The lion the witch and the wardrobe? ...given a coffee? in musicground? [/quote] Yeah but in fairness they *had* closed within 2 decades. That'll learn 'em for givin' all the profits away in the form of weak one-off coffees. Anyone know about these imaginary basses? I'm close to assuming it was just a dream.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I remember playing an Atlanssia bass once that had a neck very much like that. Can't remember anything else about it tbh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I met a guy once who'd come up with a design like that but I don't think he sold any. It's the second item down on this page: http://www.otheroom.com/namm98/Inst.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 I'm sure u r talking about the atlansia (not sure on spelling) basses. Very weird. I've played 2 owned by students, both from music ground. One was a 'garland' model I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 24, 2011 Share Posted October 24, 2011 If it was an Atlansia then it will be somewhere on [url=http://www.atlansia.jp/BASS.NEW.HTML]this page[/url]. Mine has a perfectly flat fingerboard though... But then it does only have a single string! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 24, 2011 Author Share Posted October 24, 2011 YES... YES YES YES YES YES YES YES!!!!! A thousand yesses! That's the very chappie! Now I see this page it reminded me about the seperate pickups... each string had it's own little pick up! Or two! I have been wondering about these for YEARS! Thanks to everyone who contributed ...helpful, funny or otherwise! This forum rules! Andy [quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1319455069' post='1414175'] If it was an Atlansia then it will be somewhere on [url="http://www.atlansia.jp/BASS.NEW.HTML"]this page[/url]. Mine has a perfectly flat fingerboard though... But then it does only have a single string! [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoffbassist Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 About 5 years ago I had 2 new students starting lessons. The two lessons were next to each other and both had Atlansia basses! What are the odds on that! One came from music ground Leeds and one from music ground London. Very different, but interesting basses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 [quote name='geoffbassist' timestamp='1319528540' post='1415108'] About 5 years ago I had 2 new students starting lessons. The two lessons were next to each other and both had Atlansia basses! What are the odds on that! One came from music ground Leeds and one from music ground London. Very different, but interesting basses! [/quote] Did you play them? Remember if they were any good? Wouldn't mind tracking one down tbh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 They told you it was coffee, but they'd actually sprayed coffee smell around the rim of the mug full of dyed water.. MB1. Rohyppnoll ? Glad you found out it wasnt all just a cheese dream Gremlin Andy! Now the quest to find one begins! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 [quote name='MB1' timestamp='1319644379' post='1416839'] Now the quest to find one begins! [/quote] [url=http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01442558]Atlansia Pegasus[/url] [url=http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01423799]Atlansia Garland[/url] [url=http://www.digimart.net/bass/inst_detail.do?instrument_id=DS01289246]Atlansia Concord[/url] All in Japan I'm afraid, but available for sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Check this out http://basschat.co.uk/topic/21480-atlansia-patents/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowdownRumble Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 bit of a high jack, but couple of years ago i saw a black hollow body bass in a shop and cant for the life of me remember what it was. As i said it was black hollow body, four string, quite a wide neck, small body and im not sure but i think it had warrior in its name. Dont know if that was the company or the model. Also it had gold hardware. Anyone, please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GremlinAndy Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 [quote name='LowdownRumble' timestamp='1319671404' post='1417222'] bit of a high jack, but couple of years ago i saw a black hollow body bass in a shop and cant for the life of me remember what it was. As i said it was black hollow body, four string, quite a wide neck, small body and im not sure but i think it had warrior in its name. Dont know if that was the company or the model. Also it had gold hardware. Anyone, please? [/quote] can't help I'm afraid... but if you don't have any joy here it might be worth starting a thread with it in the title. The guys here are, as a community, so helpful and knowledgable! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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