ped Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 I love complex electronic setups in basses. My main bass has an inbuilt V bass system and even the standard basses have a fairly unusual setup (80s Vigier) The 'Unicorn' I've been hunting for some time is this very early example of the 'Nautilus' bass. Check out the pre in this beauty. I've read the manual several times and I'm still not sure what does what. At least you know that it'll sound fantastic bypassed! Anyway I originally came across this bass in 2008 and started talking to the seller, who didn't know much about it. He's in Canada and was reluctant to sell, and I didn't have any money either. Since then we've talked about it a bit until last year I sent him an email to ask if he still had it. I got no reply and gave up, started looking for another. There aren't any. Yesterday he sent me an email to say he rarely checks that inbox any more but by chance he did so and spotted my email, several years after we last spoke. He's going to get it out of storage and send some more pictures soon so I'll add them. I can't remember what he said about the condition so I've asked for an update; you can see the physical condition is excellent and I think he said the electronics were functioning but with a limited understanding it would be hard to say conclusively. The colour had been white originally it its faded to a more cream shade now, though some pics make it look yellow! I'll be mainly checking the neck is dead straight as it should be - the electronics I'm less worried about because with these systems they tend to work fine or not at all, and the foot switch is also included, which is really rare. More news as it happens, if you're interested - but I'll have to work out how to pay for it first - that is, if everything pans out. Cheers ped [url=https://ibb.co/kOyG2a][/url] [url=https://ibb.co/bYVkvv][/url] [url=https://ibb.co/m0YuoF][/url] [url=https://ibb.co/giepNa][/url] [url=https://ibb.co/iOzjoF][/url] [url=https://ibb.co/ejyzNa][/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
molan Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 That should keep you busy for a few hours 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Cripes chief! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer of the Bass Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 I've never understood why the convention of not labelling controls on instruments still holds out when there are that many of them! I wouldn't fancy having to memorise the layout of all those knobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 that is a serious knob collection. Good luck, hope it works out for you Ped. I have to admit to struggling when faced with anything other than P bass controls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 That makes my head hurt. Not that that should stop you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Lovely bass ped and hope the fella sells it to you However what are these complex electronics you speak of ?? I raise you this [attachment=246132:Midibase guts.JPG] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v8bass Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Good Grief an Arpege Nautilus .....Merde Alors ! ...Go Ped ! Only ever seen and played one ( so long ago my head hurts ) and had the most epic want ever since ... Regular updates on this most certainly needed .. Wow ! Gary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Amazing preamp !!! I will also say the bass looks very cool..... has a great shape ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 Thanks chaps. I don't necessarily find these setups difficult after 10 mins of learning them - as long as the bass sounds great with everything bypassed then I enjoy playing with the other settings. Seems like a good opportunity to show my family Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 28, 2017 Author Share Posted May 28, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1495978376' post='3307871'] Lovely bass ped and hope the fella sells it to you However what are these complex electronics you speak of ?? I raise you this [attachment=246132:Midibase guts.JPG] [/quote] I think the only way to rival that would be to install my VB99 right into the instrument. Something I've actually thought about doing! Is that the Peavey MIDI bass thingy with the display on the top horn? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kodiakblair Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 It certainly is the midibase No idea why I've got it,my first experience of midi was kinda limited. BMF 88/89?, Wal had the tech and a group of us were watching it getting demo'd. The demo fella handed the bass to me I says "Aye.Very nice." an promptly handed it right back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 Last time I saw a [font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Nautilus was in Soundpad about 5 years ago, It was a white one with the pedal. Did not give it a go but had a play unplugged. [/color][/font] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamfist Posted May 28, 2017 Share Posted May 28, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1495978376' post='3307871'] [attachment=246132:Midibase guts.JPG] [/quote] Total awesomeness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 [quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1496003072' post='3308081'] Last time I saw a [font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]Nautilus was in Soundpad about 5 years ago, It was a white one with the pedal. Did not give it a go but had a play unplugged. [/color][/font] [/quote] What! I'd have had that! I wonder where it went. I should have said this one in Canada is super rare because it's a graphite neck version (making a super rare bass even more rare) - did you recall the neck in the one you saw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 It was a graphite neck Ped (I owned a couple of Vigiers back then so looked for them) from what I remember it was about £950 but had been in the shop a long time. It was too intimidating to plug in with all them controls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 [quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1496045458' post='3308256'] It was a graphite neck Ped (I owned a couple of Vigiers back then so looked for them) from what I remember it was about £950 but had been in the shop a long time. It was too intimidating to plug in with all them controls [/quote] Maybe I should call them and see if they know who bought it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geddys nose Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 Be worth a try, Might be unused in someones bedroom, Could you get different modules for them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted May 29, 2017 Author Share Posted May 29, 2017 [quote name='Geddys nose' timestamp='1496046030' post='3308265'] Be worth a try, Might be unused in someones bedroom, Could you get different modules for them? [/quote] There was a later version with different modules you could slot into the back of the bass a bit like a games cartridge. I've only seen it on a passion bass and never seen a 'spare' module. I've got the manual though that shows how to swap the modules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted May 29, 2017 Share Posted May 29, 2017 [quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1495978376' post='3307871'] Lovely bass ped and hope the fella sells it to you However what are these complex electronics you speak of ?? I raise you this [attachment=246132:Midibase guts.JPG] [/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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