Kawai Sleekline bass - Any knowledge out there please?

[ead]

Do any of you learned BCers know anything about these basses please?

Cheers.

[attachment=175505:Kawai-Sleekline.jpg]

[ash]

Did you see the one on the Northwest Bass a Gear page? These are nice instruments this model reminds me of those Carvin basses (can't remember what the model number is but there are a couple in the for sale section). The Kawai series were high quality and did a line of Alembic inspired models. Jon ( Bassassin) may well have some info.

[visog]

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1415130467' post='2597098']
reminds me of those Carvin basses

[/quote]

[size=4]SB or [color=#545454][font=arial, sans-serif]Sekou [/font][/color][font=arial, sans-serif][color=#545454]Bunch - apparently now discontinued. I think it looks like a Tokai Talbo[/color][/font][/size]

Edited November 4, 2014 by visog

[Toddy]

This guy really knows his stuff, and good bloke too,, helped me in the past,, and he bought a Kawai off me !

[url="http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkawaiguitars.com%2F&ei=VjZZVKa6BfKV7Aa014DwAw&usg=AFQjCNGXOPbHV5_-AqOpGRVuHl7-XfRFjQ&sig2=C6vhQeuGJdOP_AWqOmNyFA&bvm=bv.78677474,d.ZGU"]http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fkawaiguitars.com%2F&ei=VjZZVKa6BfKV7Aa014DwAw&usg=AFQjCNGXOPbHV5_-AqOpGRVuHl7-XfRFjQ&sig2=C6vhQeuGJdOP_AWqOmNyFA&bvm=bv.78677474,d.ZGU[/url]

[ead]

[quote name='ash' timestamp='1415130467' post='2597098']
Did you see the one on the Northwest Bass a Gear page? These are nice instruments this model reminds me of those Carvin basses (can't remember what the model number is but there are a couple in the for sale section). The Kawai series were high quality and did a line of Alembic inspired models. Jon ( Bassassin) may well have some info.
[/quote]

Yup, saw the bass on the website whilst idly browsing and it just caught my attention.

[LukeFRC]

Bassassin has one.
Google basschat and he posted a bit about them years back.

[ead]

Cheers, I did try but didn't find anything like that. I'll have another go (I think I might have searched only within the Basses topic).

[Bassassin]

I do indeed have a Sleekline:

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:46249]

Anyway, these are MIJ circa 1980 or thereabouts, and quality is consistent with other Fender-derived original designs of the era, like Ibanez Blazers & Aria RSBs. Kawai was a manufacturer as well as a brand, having acquired the Teisco factory in the 60s, and I always felt the styling of the Sleekline reflects some of those odd early Japanese designs.

These are nicely-made basses, sen ash body, one-piece maple neck & decent hardware. Despite basically being a Jazz derivative, the Sleekline has a Precision-ish neck shape with quite a curved fretboard radius. Probably the only real weak point was the pickups - useable but a bit thin on my example.

Mine's mildly (and reversibly) modified - basically when I got it, it was a bit of a wreck & I gave it a full stripdown & cleanup - I liked it so much with the scratchplate off that I made a cutdown version & stuck some different knobs on it. Swapped the pickups for some from the spares box, which beefed it up a little, & also ended up sticking on a Schaller bridge & some old Ibanez tuners I had lying around...

Jon.

[ead]

Thanks Jon. Very interesting, I might take myself down there for a noodle. I think I'm attracted to the styling, as in not just another Fender-a-like bass. Presumably still essentially a Jazz bass?

[BigRedX]

[quote name='visog' timestamp='1415131222' post='2597104']
SB or [color=#545454][font=arial, sans-serif]Sekou [/font][/color][font=arial, sans-serif][color=#545454]Bunch - apparently now discontinued. I think it looks like a Tokai Talbo[/color][/font]
[/quote]

Other than the top horns both having an upward sweep it doesn't really look at all like a Talbo.

[IMG]http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n249/BigRedX/Selling/DSC01581.jpg[/IMG]

[karlfer]

Might be wrong Alain, but I think Drew from the Great British Bass Lounge may have bought this from the north west Facebook site.
He certainly has one up for sale.

[ead]

Thanks Karl, that's indeed where I clocked it.

[earhook]

Bought the one that ended recently on ebay. Bad gas.
Looking forward it's arrival.

[earhook]

Bummer... it had a knackered truss rod. Have ordered a jazz bass neck with black block inlays and binding for it. It should arrive tomorrow.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='earhook' timestamp='1421453011' post='2661625']
Bummer... it had a knackered truss rod. Have ordered a jazz bass neck with black block inlays and binding for it. It should arrive tomorrow.
[/quote]

Shame about the original neck, but that should look great - pics when it's done!

J.

[Mcfadred]

Is it for sale

[Leonard Smalls]

I've got one of these as well! Bought it back in 1987 or so and replaced the pick-ups with EMGs - tis a surprisingly funky little number! 

Doesn't get much use any more I'm afraid...