PRICE DROP!!! - Bassix Electric Upright, Custom Made, Fully Composite - Dual Pickup - Price Update: £1100 ono £1500 Penkridge, Staffordshire

[JonnyG]

Hi All,

 

I've decided to sell my Bassix Fully Composite Electric Upright.

 

This is a custom build and hand made to order by Alan Hatswell, who was located down on the South Coast when I visited him at his workshop some 15 years ago or so.

 

I spent a good morning chatting with Alan about the spec. I play a range of styles across different genres, and I'm more proficient on electric bass. Consequently the following features were selected:

 

- Neck action as low as possible - bridge is fully adjustable.

 

- Dual pickups - piezo in bridge for transparent sound and attack, built-in "custom" pickup that picks up the resonance of the body and provides a warm sound. (Secret design by Alan, but it sounds great live).

 

- Pickup blender.

 

- Fully composite construction for weight and durability.

 

- Gloss Black Finish - works with all the styles I've played. 

 

I remember with the various upgrades and options paying around £2200 at the time. These basses are really difficult to value because they're not mass produced like a Yamaha, and each has an element of individuality. 

 

I'm opening at £1500 (recently dropped to £1100), and happy to consider offers.

 

It is advertised on other platforms, but I have priced cheaper on Basschat.

 

Comes with original soft case. 

 

It will ideally be COLLECTION PLEASE, from Staffordshire, but I may ship if additional P&P and full insurance is covered by buyer. 

 

The pictures shown are the actual bass that is for sale taken 30th October 2022.  

 

Thanks for looking and feel free to message with any questions.

 

Best wishes, 

Jon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2022 by JonnyG
Price Updated

[Stingray64]

Hi! Lovely looking eub, what's the scale length and does it take standard upright strings?

[JonnyG]

Hi There, Thanks for your feedback and question. I'm going to have to measure the SL for you when I get back home. 

 

Regarding the strings, short answer yes, you can use any strings.

 

I can't remember the exact make fitted, but they are a really nice spare set Alan provided on build. Flatwound and resemble a gut finish. There a quite a few out on the market with kevlar cores etc, which these resemble.  If your point is regarding whether non- steel strings will work with the pickups, then the answer is definitely yes. 

 

This is because the pickups fitted are piezo at the bridge which translate vibrational pressure into signal. Alan wouldn't divulge the type of pickup built into the body of the bass, but my guess is its some type of diaphragm surface mic. It works really well to fatten up the sound and has its own distinct sound qualities - Clear but warmer than the Piezo.

 

Personally I prefer gut feel to steel, much kinder on the fingers and easier to get the bass to slap and twang. Less tiring on a long gig.

 

There's also a lot of adjustment in the bridge, so you could set it up for different strings & styles. Right now the combination of guy feel strings and a low action make it great for modern jazz styles, where I find I can get around the fingerboard pretty much as fast as on my electric bass.

 

Hope that helps.

[DanOwens]

Hi there. Can the bridge be raised to make it more like a traditional double bass?

 

thanks

[JonnyG]

Hi Dan, 

 

Yes, there is quite a lot of adjustment in the bridge. I have it set low, but there are screw adjusters either side to raise it. 

 

Best wishes,

 

Jon

[HenryH]

GLWS. Someone is getting a wonderful bass for a fantastic price there (in my humblest of opinions). I love my Bassix but it has a slightly different lower body silhouette to this one, but I think I prefer this slightly more complete outline. 

[JonnyG]

Thank you Henry, appreciate your positive comments. Yes they are great basses.

I'll be sad to see it go, but it just doesn't get the use these days. 

 

Best wishes, Jon

[Beedster]

Do you have any sound clips Jonny?

[dmdavies]

If I sell my Dingwall on here, I'm coming for this...

[JonnyG]

Hi Guys, thanks for the comments. Apologies, no sound clips, but if I get time I'll make some. 

 

Good luck selling the Dingwall then dmd 😀

 

:-J

 

[imfinlay]

I have what I understand is the prototype for this. It was built for Jools Hollands’ bass player when he used to do cruise ships. Yours looks like it’s missing the small “wing” that’s the other shoulder? I can see the felt piece it rests against. Pic of another one (not mine) for reference. 
 

Mine came with Presto steel core, nylon wound strings, but I really need to change them at some point. 

[JonnyG]

Wow, nice bit of history there and love the Jools Holland connection. Back in the day I did some work with Chris Difford of Squeeze - Cool for Cats, you know the one, so there's a tentative link to Joel's there too. Small world. Great Bass. 

 

Just to report that the bass has now left to go to a new home. I'll encourage the new owner to join the BC community and hopefully more stories made.

 

Thanks for all the love shown for this bass, lots of nice memories playing it. 

 

I'm just starting to gig again after the pandemic, so look forward to staying an active member of the BC community. 

[TheGreek]

So is this sold?