NBD: Shuker Uberhorn 5 fretless

[tauzero]

Must keep away from the Gardiner Houlgate auctions, they're a dangerous place for me, or at least for the integrity of my anatomy if I keep buying basses and can't manage to sell any.

 

Went down to near Bath to pick up this lovely Shuker Uberhorn today.

 

Body: African blackwood topped mahogany body
Neck: seven piece wenge/mahogany with CF strengthening rods, 35" scale
Fretboard: phenolic resin
Electrics: concealed EMG pickup system and Graphtech piezo saddles

 

All in an original branded Hiscox hard case. There's also a card from WM Guitars whose hands it has obviously passed through giving the specs (and the price they sold it for).
 

The strings are described as D'Addario tapewounds in the WM Guitars description, and that's still what's on it, looking a bit worn, especially the long thumb rest string. It will be getting some nickel rounds. The action is ridiculously high, mainly (I think) due to the relief being absolutely huge. The battery is in quite reasonable nick, should get a bit of use out of it.

 

There's a couple of little dings around the edge but nothing major. For some reason, it hasn't got straplocks on it, which I see as a significant omission to be rectified very soon.

 

Pictures are from the Shuker website and the auction website. When I summon up a bit of energy, I'll take some more.

 

 

      

Edited September 15 by tauzero

[Owen]

Lush. I have an Uberhorn and an Uberhorn body Jon made to fit a neck Goodfellow made for me. I heart Uberhorns. 

[tauzero]

14 hours ago, Owen said:

Lush. I have an Uberhorn and an Uberhorn body Jon made to fit a neck Goodfellow made for me. I heart Uberhorns. 

 

I've rather fancied one for ages. Just got to see if the 35" scale causes any issues, given that my other fretlesses are 34". At least it's not a 42" scale...

[Hellzero]

Lovely, really! 😍

[Grooverjr]

Lush. Not generally a fan of too funky shapes but these are really special 

[GuyR]

Very nice, that was the most appealing lot in the GH auction. Excellent purchase.

[Russ]

Nice score. Jon makes some stunning stuff, the fretless Uberhorns being probably the stunning-est.  

[RonC]

Wow what a stunning bass, love the clean and minimalistic design!

[Burns-bass]

11 hours ago, GuyR said:

Very nice, that was the most appealing lot in the GH auction. Excellent purchase.

Interesting how the slab body precision there came back up for sale so quickly….

[visog]

Wow, beautiful instrument!

[tauzero]

Unfortunately it has truss rod issues, and it's off to Jon to be reconstructed.

[martthebass]

3 hours ago, tauzero said:

Unfortunately it has truss rod issues, and it's off to Jon to be reconstructed.

Sure he’ll fettle it, he’s my go to for all things bass fettling.

[Woodinblack]

I saw that one, it looked great. Sure it will be after a bit of work. Uberhorns are great

[Mrbigstuff]

5 hours ago, tauzero said:

Unfortunately it has truss rod issues, and it's off to Jon to be reconstructed.

There was another one on here that had issues some years ago but I’m sure it was fixed by Jon in the end

[eude]

14 hours ago, tauzero said:

Unfortunately it has truss rod issues, and it's off to Jon to be reconstructed.

Interesting, but ultimately very frustrating
I believe that an Uberhorn 4 owner had to do similar, I remember reading about it on here somewhere, ah, here you go >> 

 

Really hope it can get sorted without too much pain, such a beautiful instrument!

 

Eude

[Bridgehouse]

Yeah the 4 string was mine - Jon did a stunning job but it took a while!

 

I still have it and it’s still my favourite most played bass

[eude]

23 minutes ago, Bridgehouse said:

Yeah the 4 string was mine - Jon did a stunning job but it took a while!

 

I still have it and it’s still my favourite most played bass

Absolutely delighted it came out so well, and no surprise Jon showed what a good lad he was too

[tauzero]

2 hours ago, Bridgehouse said:

Yeah the 4 string was mine - Jon did a stunning job but it took a while!

 

I still have it and it’s still my favourite most played bass

 

I remember you having severe doubts about keeping it - glad you managed to overcome them. Sadly your original thread has been Imgured.

 

The biggest issue is that the fingerboard runs the length of the bass - however, as Jon said, he knows how it went together. And that also means that he can change the scale length while he's at it, so there is an upside.

[tauzero]

More detail in