Vester Catalina Precision?

[Supernaut]

Hey,

 

I have somehow landed a new bass. Was looking at an RBX but this came up locally and I snagged it for a great price. I have absolutely no idea if this bass is decent and know no history of the company. Has anyone played or owned one of these? Many thanks. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bassassin]

Off the top of my head, Vester was a 90s/00s Korean brand of nice quality midrange instruments, which attracted the ire of Fender for obvious reasons, when you look at their logo & the high incidence of Fender copies in their range!

 

Never owned one but always had massive GAS for their swoopy-looking Argus bass. There was one on here for £100 for ages, back when I didn't have £100...

 

 

 

[upside downer]

I have one exactly like yours which I bought about 25 years ago for around £30, I think. Had to tinker with it a little to lower the action slightly but I gigged it a few times and it never let me down. In fact, I'm having a noodle on it right now and it feels and sounds really good. Definitely made in Korea, mine has a sticker confirming the fact!

 

[Supernaut]

2 minutes ago, upside downer said:

I have one exactly like yours which I bought about 25 years ago for around £30, I think. Had to tinker with it a little to lower the action slightly but I gigged it a few times and it never let me down. In fact, I'm having a noodle on it right now and it feels and sounds really good. Definitely made in Korea, mine has a sticker confirming the fact!

 

Amazing, do you have any more pictures? 

[upside downer]

 

 

There you go. Exactly the same apart from I've removed the thumb rest.

 

 

Edited December 8, 2025 by upside downer

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

I don't know anything about their basses but I think when I was a Student in the early 80s, I used to eat their boil-in-th-bag curries.

[RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE]

I have a vester custom shop fretless copy of a Warwick thumb . Great bass ,apart from being a little on the heavy side . Great neck and action. 
A couple of basschatters saw it and were mightily impressed . Never heard any bad comments on bc about vesters .

[Supernaut]

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping it's a sleeper hit. Picking it up tomorrow so fingers crossed for a good 'un. 

[JottoSW1]

23 hours ago, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I don't know anything about their basses but I think when I was a Student in the early 80s, I used to eat their boil-in-th-bag curries.

Instant Korma's going to get ya ?😆

[Cato]

18 hours ago, RAY AGAINST THE MACHINE said:

I have a vester custom shop fretless copy of a Warwick thumb . Great bass ,apart from being a little on the heavy side . Great neck and action. 
A couple of basschatters saw it and were mightily impressed . Never heard any bad comments on bc about vesters .

 

I had a girlfriend who had one of the Vester Warwicks in a transluscent green colour, must have been around 2000.

 

I was really taken with it with it, probably one of the first really impressive budget instruments I ever played, before that kind of quality became the norm for cheaper basses.

[Supernaut]

On 09/12/2025 at 19:25, Supernaut said:

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping it's a sleeper hit. Picking it up tomorrow so fingers crossed for a good 'un. 

The results are in... 

 

Positives: Old skool 'D' shape neck, straight not warped, satin back, great fretwork, frets overall in good nick, nut not butchered (replacement?), tuners are solid, bridge seems solid too, new oversized strap pins, sounds like a P, tone knob does something (!), neck pocket decent also. 
 

Negatives: Bit weighty (9lbs ish), vol/tone knobs feel cheap, input jack crackly, pickup a little noisy, action like a ski slope. 
 

Overall, I'm very happy with this. Bass is all original from what I can tell, outside the oversized strap pins. The neck feels great, the fretwork as well is awesome. This feels like an old Precision that has been left to gathered dust. It feels like an old bass. But it sounds great and plays nicely. 
 

It will need some TLC but I'm going to get her gig ready. TIs on the way. 
 

Did I mention this cost me £50? 

[Lozz196]

Looks like bargain of the year, congrats

[NancyJohnson]

Vester were one of those brands that came in very low pricewise and were pretty well made.

 

Maybe 20 years back, I had a Vester Strat-thing, pointy headstock with dual humbuckers generic Kahler-style whammy.  It was a quite lovely thing.  More than capable.

 

Less interesting were the circumstances surrounding purchase.  I was looking at a pair of guitars at the time, the Vester was shiny and new, the other one - for not dissimilar money - was used, battered and tired, so I bought the Vester.  Of course I did.

 

I often wonder where the other one, a 1961 Les Paul Junior single cut, ended up.

 

 

[tauzero]

I had a Vester Clipper that had been defretted - the Warwick copy (not exactly a faithful reproduction).

 

 

 

 

[Supernaut]

TIs installed. What more can I say? Great bass, sounds wonderful. Debating modding it with new pups, pots, jack etc. but it sounds great as it is. Absolute steal at this price. 

[Supernaut]

Quick demo of the bass as I received it. Dead rounds with some foam at the bridge. Enjoy 😎 

 

 

 

[HeadlessBassist]

On 08/12/2025 at 21:39, Jean-Luc Pickguard said:

I don't know anything about their basses but I think when I was a Student in the early 80s, I used to eat their boil-in-th-bag curries.

 

The Vester Chow Mein was infinitely better, IMO.