Bassassin Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Got instant GAS for the neck-through Lace. Wonder if these will be at Music Live? Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 Actually I've found that tbis thread has been good for my GAS, in that I've been able to think about what I really like about these instruments and what I really want from any new one that I buy. Of course if the opportunity arose to buy any of the basses here at a really good price I don't think I'd hesitate, but posting these has enabled to organise my priorities. From what I can remember playing the Lace Helix I actually found the bold-on version slightly more comfortable, although the two at the LGS were prototypes rather than true production models so that may all change once I get my hands on the real thing. No sign yet of them in the exhibitors live for this years Music Live but there's still some time to go yet. Fitting the jack socket to the back of the bass is something that quite a few luthiers are doing; Gus, Ritter and Spalt spring immediately to mind - useful to be able to do as it keeps the front of the instrument clean when the sides are too highly contoured to fit a socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 20, 2007 Author Share Posted September 20, 2007 Here's todays selection. More Germans, this time [url="http://www.lefay.de/"]LeFay[/url] This is the Remington Steele And a Piccolo Bass Although the fretless steel fingerboard on the Remington Steele seems to be referencing Vigier, overall to me these basses have a lot in common with Basslab, almost as though they are the more conventional wooden versions. It's the sculpted body shapes and pickup and electronic choices that makes me think that way. My German isn't good enough to get all the info, so if anyone knows any more let me know. However there seem to be too many design features in common for it to be simply co-incidence. Still a nice range of eclectic designs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted September 20, 2007 Share Posted September 20, 2007 Remington Steele.... Was this before or after the show of the same name. (I thought I'd say it before anyone else did!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 Remingotn Steele Isn't that a razor? Sry. I am quite taken with the picolo and I don't usually like headless - What's happening to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 21, 2007 Author Share Posted September 21, 2007 [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_Steele"]Remington Steele[/url] As you can see the TV series came first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnwhy Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 i like the heele on the steele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7string Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 [quote name='gilmour' post='63521' date='Sep 21 2007, 12:18 PM']Remington Steele Isn't that a razor? Sry. I am quite taken with the picolo and I don't usually like headless - What's happening to me?[/quote] Maybe someone liked the basses so much that they bought the company....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hit&Run Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 [quote name='7string' post='63598' date='Sep 21 2007, 01:51 PM']Maybe someone liked the basses so much that they bought the company.......[/quote] Groan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 There are some great sound clips on the Lefay website - listen to this badboy for example: [url="http://www.lefay.de/index.php?id=56"]http://www.lefay.de/index.php?id=56[/url] and this is basically a whole song: [url="http://www.lefay.de/index.php?id=54"]http://www.lefay.de/index.php?id=54[/url] Cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gilmour Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 [quote name='7string' post='63598' date='Sep 21 2007, 01:51 PM']Maybe someone liked the basses so much that they bought the company.......[/quote] Hi I'm Victor Kiam...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 21, 2007 Author Share Posted September 21, 2007 (edited) Moving swiftly on the next basses come from Japan, this time [url="http://www.geocities.jp/jerseygirlhg/home.htm"]Jersey Girl[/url] From left to right: Goose Walny, Gosee Paradi and Rainmaker Olcoa Jersey Girl mainly build guitars with vaguely retro shapes using wonderful pieces of wood and amazing inlay work. However the basses although more subdued are equally wonderful. Mostly single cut shapes like the Goose Walny but with the occasional more traditional shape. They also have a complete range a double necks like the Rainmaker Olcoa with standard and piccolo fretless bass necks. There's some brilliant photos of the instruments being made especially the details of the pickup covers and inlay work. Craftsmanship at its best. Edited September 21, 2007 by BigRedX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghosts Over Japan Posted September 21, 2007 Share Posted September 21, 2007 [quote name='Rich' post='62645' date='Sep 19 2007, 12:56 PM']Ah, but the thread title is 'Weird and [i]Wonderful[/i] Basses'. If 'twas 'Weird and Totally Sh*t Basses made by a Sad Old Hippy' then they'd be in there at #1 with a musket-ball, yarr.[/quote] hahaha i saw that an spat noodles all over the screen! that was class :] well said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotnwhy Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 those are my favorite yet! truly beautiful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul, the Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 My favorite so far also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gazm Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 This thread is brill, keep up the good work! Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 Thanks for all the comments - hopefully there's enough unusual quality basses out there for another few weeks worth of daily posts... Which brings me to todays bass from [url="http://www.fret-king.com/HTML/home.htm"]Fret-King[/url] Here's two Europa basses: So far I've tried to make sure that all the basses I've posted are being produced by luthiers/manufacturers that are on-going concerns so that if anyone likes what they see, it would be possible to get in touch with and buy one or commision a build. However with Fret-King I'm not so sure anymore. Emails to the address on the site have gone unanswered, and now that Trevor Wilkinson seems more interested designing instruments for Italia and Vintage, it may be that Fret-King are no more, who knows? (Anyone who does know what's going with Fret-King please get in touch). The Europa is the bass version of the Esprit guitar (I own a UK-built custom version of the Esprit V which is a wonderfully well made instrument with the right mix of vintage and modern vibes) and these 2 examples were conceived and built when production was still being done in Birmingham. I've played the black stereo bass on a couple of occasions, and it's a complete monster both in size and in sound. The P-style pickups are split for output and individually swichable, to give a wide variety of tonal options (not all usable but an interesting concept never the less). Not sure about the oversized headstock but from what I remember neck-dive didn't seem to be an issue. I've never seen the standard version other than this picture from the website, but on the whole this one looks more interesting with the Gibson style pickups and the strat switching arrangement. I have a feeling that there may only be one of each in existence... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 Those look great. GAS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 22, 2007 Author Share Posted September 22, 2007 If you actually buy one that is... I know the stereo model exists because I've played it on the Fret-King stand at LGS/Music Live. However having had a closer look at the photo of the standard model I'm not entirely convinced that it hasn't been Photoshopped into existance. Hopefully someone on BassChat will have some current information about the status of Fret-King... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 22, 2007 Share Posted September 22, 2007 The best kind of GAS is the type where the item is completely unavailable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 Well not completely unavailable... A bit of Googling and I've found a Standard in Black from [url="http://www.brinksmusik.com/Fyndhörnan.htm"]this Swedish Music Store[/url] - you need to scroll down the page. Slightly different to the model on the Fret-King web site, this one has 4 controls plus the pickup selector and has a discounted price which works out at just over £900. Half tempted to fire them off an email and see if they'll export... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted September 23, 2007 Author Share Posted September 23, 2007 Well it's been twoo weeks already since I posted the first bass. And here is number 15 from [url="http://borntorock.com/"]Born To Rock[/url] Born to Rock only make two instruments, The F4c Guitar and the F4b Bass. I'm a big fan of guitars and basses that use metal as a major constructional compenent, and you can't get much more metal in a bass than this! Aluminium frame construction with an aluminimum figerboard on a wooden neck. They have a unique deign the supposedly eliminates the need for a truss rod by taking up the string tension through the frame and not through the neck, which is on a pivoting joint. There's descriptions on the site of how the system works, although I have a feeling that it would be a lot more obvious with the instrument in your hands. Bassist Tetsu from J-Rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel has one and there's more pictures [url="http://laruku.com/instruments/tetsu/borntorock/borntorock.html"]here[/url] of his extra customised version of this bass. Current price for an F4b is $3800 including a hard case and shipping to the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 23, 2007 Share Posted September 23, 2007 [quote name='BigRedX' post='64502' date='Sep 23 2007, 09:41 PM']Well not completely unavailable... A bit of Googling and I've found a Standard in Black from [url="http://www.brinksmusik.com/Fyndhörnan.htm"]this Swedish Music Store[/url] - you need to scroll down the page. Slightly different to the model on the Fret-King web site, this one has 4 controls plus the pickup selector and has a discounted price which works out at just over £900. Half tempted to fire them off an email and see if they'll export...[/quote] Go on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 If Born to Rock did a J/J or a J/MM or a J/JJ versions, preferably active, I'd own one by now. That said, with the Dollar crumbling, you might scrape through at about £2k to get one here... I am tempted, but I'd have to play one first!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted September 24, 2007 Share Posted September 24, 2007 Hmm it sounds pretty lackluster in the clips on the website though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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