samkeen Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 (edited) This beastie is a Curbow 'M' seven string bass from the workshop of the late great Greg Curbow. I love this bass, it's incredibly easy to play and the build quality's superb. It just doesn't get used enough to justify hanging onto it, especially when I'm on the lookout for a Zon Sonus 5 string fretless (trade anyone?) The neck is made from Curbow's famous rockwood (a birch ply soaked in phenolic resin, laminated and baked under high pressure and temperature). This thing just doesn't go out of tune, it's the most stable instrument I've ever come across. Beautiful, thick quilted maple top, Bartolini pickup and preamp, 3 band EQ with 3 way mid frequency selector switch, ABM bridge, Sperzel tuners. Bought from the Luthiers Access Group, see [url="http://luthiersaccessgroup.com/iscurbow1.html"]http://luthiersaccessgroup.com/iscurbow1.html[/url] It was built in 95 and is in excellent condition. A few tiny dings (happy to provide more photos if requested) and button scratch marks on the rear finish, but generally looks top notch. The clarity, punch and sustain of this bass is something to behold. Serious quality for this price. <s>Price: £1250 o.n.o. + P&P<s> NOW TRADED [attachment=33639:DSCN4788__Large_.JPG] [attachment=33640:DSCN4790__Large_.JPG] [attachment=33641:DSCN4803__Large_.JPG] Edited October 14, 2009 by samkeen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecowboy Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 drooooooooool... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 [quote name='spacecowboy' post='610900' date='Sep 28 2009, 03:08 PM']drooooooooool...[/quote] it is pretty drool inducing..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumour6 Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Hi there, downsizing (string count wise) at the moment but just had to say I think you bass is absolutely stunning and seems a very fair price for apiece of history.... good luck with the sale Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d4dve Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 That's an awesome, "unique" bass at a bargain price (original Greg Curbow's are going for $3,000+ in the US). Unfortunately, it's two strings too many for me! Good luck with the sale. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted September 28, 2009 Author Share Posted September 28, 2009 Thanks for your comment! Yes, it is a good price, but it would be nice to shift it quickly (Michael Manring is teaching me next year and I really need to build up my fretless skills!), and to the correct buyer this bass is worth an absolute fortune, easily the price you mention, but I expect there aren't too many of those at the moment! It would certainly make a good investment to someone who's willing to hold onto it for a couple of years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 [quote name='samkeen' post='611258' date='Sep 28 2009, 09:00 PM']I really need to build up my fretless skills![/quote] Why not get it defretted!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franzbassist Posted September 28, 2009 Share Posted September 28, 2009 Nice bass btw, the original Curbows are incredible instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted September 29, 2009 Author Share Posted September 29, 2009 [quote name='walbassist' post='611345' date='Sep 28 2009, 10:15 PM']Why not get it defretted!? [/quote] Cheers for the comments. Two reasons; one: this is a rare and collectible instrument, Greg Curbow passed away a couple of years ago so this bass is an important example of his work (there weren't too many 7 strings around 14 years ago) so I really don't want to to anything that would alter it. Two: I think my musical voice lies within a smaller range than the Curbow produces and my playing style has developed away from playing chords. I'm planning to get a 5 string tuned E to C. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 bump! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
francisbooth Posted October 1, 2009 Share Posted October 1, 2009 I know you're not looking to trade, but you did say you were looking for a 5-string? I'm going the oppsite way to you on number of strings, from 5 to 7, and I have on sale at the Bass Gallery a stunning and unique Nathan Sheppard fretted 5 string, in the same league as your Curbow in looks and sound; and also a Sandberg fretless thinline 5 - not in the same league but beautiful to play and very acoustic sounding. Just a thought.... [url="http://www.thebassgallery.com/newarrivals.html"]http://www.thebassgallery.com/newarrivals.html[/url] cheers Francis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted October 1, 2009 Author Share Posted October 1, 2009 pmed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samkeen Posted October 5, 2009 Author Share Posted October 5, 2009 I've had a few questions about the model so thought I'd update. Whilst this bass has the 'M' shape, it is not of the 'M' series (a fairly recent series of basses created for a cheaper market than the IEP model). This bass predates that series by some years (a couple of guitar shops told me the M series started in 2002, but this bass was built in 95). So do not be put off, this is a very high calibre beastie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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