Mylkinut Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 (edited) Does anyone know what this is? It was my first ever bass, and I've still got it to remember how truly, shockingly, humiliatingly bad a bass can be. I haven't changed anything on it, partially because I don't like having to acknowledge it exists. The guy who had it before me described it as 'a bit tatty' and I paid £20 for it. Real money. It's just awful in every way. Apocalyptically so. I can go in to detail about how it looks and sounds, but I'll only do so by request because it'll just be upsetting. Here are some shots of this abomination. I'd say 'I'll let the pictures speak for themselves', but if these pictures could speak they'd probably just scream swear words until you looked away in disgust and vitriolic anger. Here we go: [URL=http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143523_zps57b11b86.jpg.html][IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/mylkinut/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143523_zps57b11b86.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143538_zps9c6123ed.jpg.html][IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/mylkinut/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143538_zps9c6123ed.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143556_zps5e2680c2.jpg.html][IMG]http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y98/mylkinut/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143556_zps5e2680c2.jpg[/IMG][/URL] I'm sorry you had to see that. Seriously though, what is this thing? 1980s department store catalogue? Poorly made school project? North Korea's latest attempt to bring down the West? Any knowledge would be great! Edited December 30, 2014 by Mylkinut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobthedog Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Judging by the finish on both body and head I would suggest it was a very amateur home build. If I am wrong, I would love to employ the salesman who sold them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorks5stringer Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 It looks like a very early (and very rare) POS! I'm sure you will be fending off offers by PM once word gets out that you have this in your possession. A quick scan seems to indicate only 2 functioning Tuners which may account for some of your negativity towards this Bass Icon? As I am unable to offer anything more positive, I did notice a decent job on your floorboards however! Basses like this do spoil you for what is out there at remarkably little extra cost and 50 times better. A suitably vague description on eBay ( "might be Japanese, found under my 'Uncles' bed") should see you recoup your initial outlay.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_5 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 That 'bridge' (and I use the term loosely) might need a bit of a 'looking at'… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 It's all a bit wonky and the paint looks terrible, early Dingwall? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Painy Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 You could always do a Google search for "Which guitar manufacturer finishes their basses in black gloss drainpipe and guttering paint applied with a well used wallpaper pasting brush?" and see what comes up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 There's a passing resemblance to some of the early Aria and Japanese Epiphone basses. It's not quite the same as either, but could potentially be related. I'm thinking of some of the ones pictured here: [url="http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=4573.msg72672#msg72672"]http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=4573.msg72672#msg72672[/url] It looks like someone has gone to town on yours with a pot of household gloss paint though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KK Jale Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Mr Beer is quite correct with the Aria/Epi similarity. I'm going to guess it was badged as a Commodore. Could be wrong though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 It's only 11 months until bonfire night?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cytania Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I'm wondering if we're in reshaped Watkins/Wilson/WEM territory here. Maybe with one lost pickup and the remaining one relocated to the ahem 'sweet spot'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 There are certain similarities between that bass & my first ever bass. The make on the headstock of mine said "Raver" and it was made in Japan. It looked quite a bit better than that one though as it hadn't been given a terrible DIY paint job. Did me OK until I bought a Hondo SD Curlee, and then a Rickenbacker 4001. Come to think of it the build & finish quality of the Raver was better than the Rick...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M@23 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Yeah, looks like a 70s/80s Japanese thing. Or what was once one! A Teisco or something maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 Don't know what this specific "bass" is, but it's plainly a 70s/80s budget cheapo that's been treated with the level of contempt & abuse that this kind of thing genuinely does merit. It's Oriental in origin, although unless a country is stated on the neckplate I couldn't say where. Korea, Taiwan & even Japan turned out this sort of trash in abundance between the mid 60s & mid 80s, and designs & hardware were pretty much interchangeable. I really hope it's not MIJ, though. Unfortunately this level of "instrument" probably discouraged a lot more people from playing than those who went on to pursue music more seriously. I started out on something similar, & probably wouldn't have persisted if a schoolmate hadn't sold me a halfway decent bass. Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merlin Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 box of matches and lighter fuel comes to mind,bwhahaha now mini me pass me my bass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafbass02 Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I'm thinking it looks like something from the old eastern bloc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maude Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 I like it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alyctes Posted December 30, 2014 Share Posted December 30, 2014 What's the scale? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mylkinut Posted December 30, 2014 Author Share Posted December 30, 2014 A quick eyeball suggests the scale's around 28 inches. Thanks everybody for the responses! To summarise, it seems the beast is likely Oriental, 70s/80s and definitely not some long-lost Fender prototype ready to make me some money. I'll go stick it back upstairs, wash my hands and have a stiff drink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40hz Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Sand it down, see if there's anything under that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brother Jones Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 One of these things was also my first bass - in about 1984. Mine was a kind of terrible attempt at a sunburst finish. I remember the 'V' and the 'T' on the knobs, the machine heads and that string retainer very distinctly. Mine had a bronze coloured 'Kay' logo on the pickguard. Three months later my Dad took pity on me and bought me a Hohner Jazz copy for Xmas. Still the best present I ever received... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Convert it to a 2-string, replace the pickup with a cheap Jazz unit jammed into the cavity at an angle, and put it on eBay for £269 as suitable for people with fat fingers. Don't forget to drop a hint about the possibility of it being an early Fender prototype! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1420145325' post='2646154'] Convert it to a 2-string, replace the pickup with a cheap Jazz unit jammed into the cavity at an angle, and put it on eBay for £269 as suitable for people with fat fingers. Don't forget to drop a hint about the possibility of it being an early Fender prototype! [/quote] "Made when Fender's Custom Shop was just finding its feet" should do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 (edited) [quote name='Mylkinut' timestamp='1419951780' post='2644254'] Does anyone know what this is? It was my first ever bass, and I've still got it to remember how truly, shockingly, humiliatingly bad a bass can be. I haven't changed anything on it, partially because I don't like having to acknowledge it exists. The guy who had it before me described it as 'a bit tatty' and I paid £20 for it. Real money. It's just awful in every way. Apocalyptically so. I can go in to detail about how it looks and sounds, but I'll only do so by request because it'll just be upsetting. Here are some shots of this abomination. I'd say 'I'll let the pictures speak for themselves', but if these pictures could speak they'd probably just scream swear words until you looked away in disgust and vitriolic anger. Here we go: [url="http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143523_zps57b11b86.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143538_zps9c6123ed.jpg.html"][/url] [url="http://s3.photobucket.com/user/mylkinut/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20141230_143556_zps5e2680c2.jpg.html"][/url] I'm sorry you had to see that. Seriously though, what is this thing? 1980s department store catalogue? Poorly made school project? North Korea's latest attempt to bring down the West? Any knowledge would be great! [/quote]is that the new Fender for 2015.? kidding of course. Edited January 16, 2015 by bubinga5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twincam Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1420145325' post='2646154'] Convert it to a 2-string, replace the pickup with a cheap Jazz unit jammed into the cavity at an angle, and put it on eBay for £269 as suitable for people with fat fingers. Don't forget to drop a hint about the possibility of it being an early Fender prototype! [/quote] Hahahahaha . I have a "hot rail" pickup just right for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='bubinga5' timestamp='1421368099' post='2660571'] is that the new Fender for 2015.? kidding of course. [/quote] Done properly I think I would prefer this to the "firewood" Jazz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
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.