syntaxerror Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Hi guys just signed up to this forum for your expertise and knowledge. I've just been rooting in the loft and I've come across the old bass and was wondering if its rare / worth anything? I've not tested the electrics still work, but was wondering if any of you could help me out with any info at all. Cheers guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
throwoff Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Ill have it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syntaxerror Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 Haha that didn't really help me mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 Just spent ten minutes researching these. They're quite interesting, made in the mid 60s, and sold under various brand names, they were also known as WEM, or Watkins. Info on their construction here: [url="http://www.guitarsite.com/hotlicks/about2419.html"]http://www.guitarsit.../about2419.html[/url] [quote]Charlie Watkins made the amps, his brothers Reg and Sid did the guitars. Reg was in the furniture business (I think he may have made the cabinets, too). Instead of using a pin router, the bodies are made from two halves (looks like white pine), so that pup and neck routs could be just jig-sawn out. The two were then glued together and, once the body was rounded and painted, the join's not visible until you remove the scratch and pup plates. The paint, BTW, was an early polyester and cracks easily if subjected to big temperature changes. [/quote] Even more info here: http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/basses.htm Apparently Ice Blue ones like yours were quite a rare colour offering! Also more here about WEM basses: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/2981-wem-bass/ According to completed ebay listings, this one sold for £399, but that seems like a very high price for one to go for. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-WATKINS-WILSON-BASS-LATE-SIXTIES-/171146011050?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27d918e1aa There are also completed listings for slightly more sensible prices: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-1950S-60S-BASS-GUITAR-WILSON-WATKINS-/111161701329 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WEM-SAPPHIRE-RARE-1960s-BRITISH-BASS-GUITAR-WATKINS-/181226065607 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syntaxerror Posted November 30, 2013 Author Share Posted November 30, 2013 Thanks dude, that's really appreciated. I'll have a read of that. Really appreciate you taking the time to help me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulWarning Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 (edited) I've got a lefty Wilson Rapier 6 string (guitar) it's not very good Edited November 30, 2013 by PaulWarning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gust0o Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 I'll admit, I'll be no help here - so credit to allighatt0r for a much more knowledgeable post. It does look cool, in a very kitsch way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gareth Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 had one at the time - they are sh*t basses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allighatt0r Posted November 30, 2013 Share Posted November 30, 2013 [quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1385833824' post='2292693'] I'll admit, I'll be no help here - so credit to allighatt0r for a much more knowledgeable post. It does look cool, in a very kitsch way [/quote] Awww shucks... It was just some humble googling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 (edited) [quote name='syntaxerror' timestamp='1385817880' post='2292500'] I've just been rooting in the loft and I've come across the old bass and was wondering if its rare / worth anything? I've not tested the electrics still work, but was wondering if any of you could help me out with any info at all. [/quote] I've had a few Watkins, Wilson & WEM basses and a still have a couple. They are interesting from a nostalgia point of view for me. The Blue colour you have is less common than the Red that most were but isn't that rare. Most bassess are either Red, Blue or White but they also made them in other colours which are by far the rarest. Blue was the second most popular colour. Being left-hand makes it rarer than a right hand one but that doesn't make it worth more as most collectors will want a right hander. P.S. It certainly is NOT skip material. It may not be the best bass you'll ever play but plenty of groups had these in the 60s and with very little work you have a nice piece of British beat group history. Edited December 1, 2013 by BetaFunk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spike Vincent Posted December 1, 2013 Share Posted December 1, 2013 Agreed, they're not particularly good instruments and not particularly common.That's the second left handed one I've seen and the other one was in a right state. Also, I'll have it if it's heading for the skip... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 2, 2013 Share Posted December 2, 2013 I picked up a scruffy '63 Watkins Rapier 3 guitar at my local car boot a few years back. I bought it along with a wreck of a Strat copy & paid 15 quid for the pair - after a good clean up, the Rapier fetched £250 on Ebay. If you bung the bass in a skip, make sure it's the one down the bottom of my road! Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syntaxerror Posted December 3, 2013 Author Share Posted December 3, 2013 Well thanks for your help gentlemen, at least I know it's not old trash, I'll see if it works and put it on eBay I think as I'll help hopefully with the cost of Christmas. If any of you are interested i'll put a link in here for the auction if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sblueplanet Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 If you get it working try selling it on here first on the lefty sale forum as you wont be hit with 10% fees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BetaFunk Posted December 5, 2013 Share Posted December 5, 2013 [quote name='sblueplanet' timestamp='1386273492' post='2298193'] If you get it working try selling it on here first on the lefty sale forum as you wont be hit with 10% fees. [/quote] You would if it sold for £70............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.