Obscure Musical Backwaters - The Great SGC Nanyo Thread

[BassBunny]

[quote name='pete.young' post='730434' date='Jan 31 2010, 11:59 AM']Sounds like the way to go. Can you recommend a supplier, and what did you do about knobs for the concentric pots?[/quote]
Hi Pete,

I got mine from Axes R Us. Tis on this page. Artec SE3-A. It comes with the concentric pot knobs, but you need to order 2 matching knobs for Vol and Blend
[url="http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs.htm"]http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs.htm[/url]

There are some cheaper alternatives, but for £36 posted I reckon it is a good buy. I have used the 2 band version before and it was really good.
One thing to try first is to meter the pick-ups in case that is where the problem lies. If you have access to a multimeter, the harness that goes into the blend control is a plug in harness. Just remove it and meter each pick-up and check they are the same reistance. mine were spot on and it was at that point i decided on replacing the electronics.

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='BassBunny' post='730474' date='Jan 31 2010, 12:33 PM']Hi Pete,

I got mine from Axes R Us. Tis on this page. Artec SE3-A. It comes with the concentric pot knobs, but you need to order 2 matching knobs for Vol and Blend
[url="http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs.htm"]http://www.axesrus.com/axeknobs.htm[/url]

There are some cheaper alternatives, but for £36 posted I reckon it is a good buy. I have used the 2 band version before and it was really good.
One thing to try first is to meter the pick-ups in case that is where the problem lies. If you have access to a multimeter, the harness that goes into the blend control is a plug in harness. Just remove it and meter each pick-up and check they are the same reistance. mine were spot on and it was at that point i decided on replacing the electronics.[/quote]

Is my SB330 the only one of these to have an adjustable pot on the pre-amp circuitboard? I just had to twiddle that all the way in one direction with a screwdriver and the bridge pickup volume issue was solved. I keep mentioning it but haven't noticed any replies about it!

[BassBunny]

[quote name='LawrenceH' post='730506' date='Jan 31 2010, 12:55 PM']Is my SB330 the only one of these to have an adjustable pot on the pre-amp circuitboard? I just had to twiddle that all the way in one direction with a screwdriver and the bridge pickup volume issue was solved. I keep mentioning it but haven't noticed any replies about it![/quote]

Hi L, I did reply on Page 8. I could not find a pot on mine at all only a DIP switch that seems to be some sort of pre-set gain control. The pre-amp seems to be split into 4 distinct parts, each attached to the controls. They all come together on the Blend Control with a clip on wiring harness going to the battery, pick-ups and jack socket.
I'll try and take a picture later.

[pete.young]

[quote name='BassBunny' post='730474' date='Jan 31 2010, 12:33 PM']One thing to try first is to meter the pick-ups in case that is where the problem lies.[/quote]

Thanks for that, good suggestion. Neck is 7.20 KOhms, bridge is 7.25 so I reckon that's close enough.

I have 3 Bass Collections: the 460 is 1995, the SB310 is also 1995 and the fretless (SB321?) is 1991. All three have completely different electronics and none of them have the trim pot that Laurence has on his 330 . Only the 460 has the gain switch, same as Bassbunny's. The 310 has all the electronics on a single board, with 3 normal pots, rather than having it distributed over a number of circuits on each pot like the other two.

Clearly it's all quality hand-made guitar circuitry, none of your production-line stuff here. Some of the soldering on the 460 isn't great either - it looks like I did it. They don't call me 'blobby nobby' for nothing you know!

[pete.young]

[quote name='dave.c' post='730503' date='Jan 31 2010, 12:52 PM']Hi Pete

I have an EMG 2band active circuit you can have if you want it.

Dave[/quote]
Hi Dave,

That's a very sporting offer, but I rather like the idea of having a mid-range control - the Dean has one and it's quite useful.

Hope you're all well - it's about time we got together for a beer. Got any gigs coming up?

[BassBunny]

[quote name='pete.young' post='730627' date='Jan 31 2010, 02:37 PM']Thanks for that, good suggestion. Neck is 7.20 KOhms, bridge is 7.25 so I reckon that's close enough.
Some of the soldering on the 460 isn't great either - it looks like I did it. They don't call me 'blobby nobby' for nothing you know![/quote]

I think mine were 6.8 and 6,85K, so same sort of ball park. If the soldering on the blue connector is as bad as mine, (sounds like it), my assumption that it had been tampered with seems wrong. They must have has some cack-handed solderers in the factory.

[robzooso]

Thanks a lot for this info on bass collection guitars - like you I have just rebought (sort of) one of these.

I had one of the copies - a fretless white passive 4 string Maison bass, made in Korea I think, but still a really good guitar. I replaced it with a 2004 fender jazz fretless which has a much superior sound (better even than my 1977 fretted jazz).

But - still missed the bass collection type so after some hunting just bought a 1991 5 string fretted active sgc nanyo bass collection. After some setting up it plays and sounds great.

A couple of questions though if you have time?

If its a 5 string does that mean its an SB325?

Also - the controls work differently from my old one - a strange mixture of volume and tone. The top one seems to be an overall volume, the bottom three have a notch around mid-throw - one on the right also volume, the others tone. Any more to add to this?

Cheers rob

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='robzooso' post='732983' date='Feb 2 2010, 02:30 PM']Thanks a lot for this info on bass collection guitars - like you I have just rebought (sort of) one of these.

I had one of the copies - a fretless white passive 4 string Maison bass, made in Korea I think, but still a really good guitar. I replaced it with a 2004 fender jazz fretless which has a much superior sound (better even than my 1977 fretted jazz).

But - still missed the bass collection type so after some hunting just bought a 1991 5 string fretted active sgc nanyo bass collection. After some setting up it plays and sounds great.

A couple of questions though if you have time?

If its a 5 string does that mean its an SB325?

Also - the controls work differently from my old one - a strange mixture of volume and tone. The top one seems to be an overall volume, the bottom three have a notch around mid-throw - one on the right also volume, the others tone. Any more to add to this?

Cheers rob[/quote]

If the hardware is gold then the likelihood seems to be that it's a 325, especially if it has a translucent finish. Knobs are normally overall volume, then pickup blend (with centre detent) then treble and bass.

[pete.young]

And the sergeant came along and said:

Ooooh! Snap!!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SGC-Nanyo-Bass-Collection_W0QQitemZ260575178215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3cab7dade7"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SGC-Nanyo-Bass-Colle...=item3cab7dade7[/url]

[BassBunny]

[quote name='robzooso' post='732983' date='Feb 2 2010, 02:30 PM']If its a 5 string does that mean its an SB325?[/quote]

Mine had been "diagnosed" as an SB325, but when I took the neck off to shim it, there is a stamp saying it is an SB 405.
I guess the answer is to get the screwdriver out.......

Edited March 27, 2010 by BassBunny

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='pete.young' post='787760' date='Mar 27 2010, 12:10 PM']And the sergeant came along and said:

Ooooh! Snap!!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SGC-Nanyo-Bass-Collection_W0QQitemZ260575178215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3cab7dade7"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SGC-Nanyo-Bass-Colle...=item3cab7dade7[/url][/quote]

That's bloody gorgeous wood - 3pc neck too as far as I can tell. Missing the truss rod cover. Looks like a 320, but a damn nice one. If I had a spare 300 squid I'd bite...but that might be because I'm pining for my 330, which is in storage

[Delberthot]

[quote name='pete.young' post='730125' date='Jan 30 2010, 10:27 PM']I've just picked my 460 up from Paul Glazebrook who as usual has done an excellent job of sorting the action, polishing the frets and generally setting it up nicely. I'm overjoyed - so playable and just a nice object to have around. The neck pickup makes a rich powerful dark sound with a decent amount of punch, but the signal from the bridge pickup seems weak in comparison. Not sure why this might be, any suggestions welcomed.

Here's a shot inside the control cavity, the blend pot is top centre. Is this any help?



Here are a couple of pictures, not very good quality but you get the general idea.





Mods, if you're reading this please can we have this thread re-stickied? Besides being as Jack said one of the major sources of information on the net for SGC Nanyo basses, it attracts a steady stream of new recruits to the site and has more than 14,500 viewings![/quote]

Thats a 465 exactly like the one I used have with the ebony fretboard and paduak top - lovely bass

[Dogame]

People, I have seen this thread and seems quite interesting. Anyone knows what model could be this one? A Bass Collection from the 90s. It is made in Japan.










Thank you

[kingofthestuntmen]

SB-301..? Can't quite make out the detail on the control cavity back plate, but that's where the model no is on mine.

And I see the E & G string pull has caught someone else out...

Edited June 12, 2010 by kingofthestuntmen

[TheRev]

Looks like a late 90s SB301 or 401
The black plastic nut suggests a 301 or 401 - if the bass is active it's a 401.
The SGC logo on the pickups was on the top edge in the original models but was moved to the bottom edge in the late 90s, just before the model range was overhauled.

Dave

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='TheRev' post='865041' date='Jun 12 2010, 11:36 AM']Looks like a late 90s SB301 or 401
The black plastic nut suggests a 301 or 401 - if the bass is active it's a 401.
The SGC logo on the pickups was on the top edge in the original models but was moved to the bottom edge in the late 90s, just before the model range was overhauled.

Dave[/quote]

The SGC range is very confusing. I thought a lot of the entry-level active basses (that looked like this) were 310s, and passives 301s?

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='LawrenceH' post='865149' date='Jun 12 2010, 01:06 PM']The SGC range is very confusing. I thought a lot of the entry-level active basses (that looked like this) were 310s, and passives 301s?[/quote]

So did I, when I started this topic!

At that time, I'd never heard of all the Peugeot-labelled basses. I used to drive a 309 and my Dad had the 605.

[pete.young]

I think it's a 310. I have one which is identical. What's the serial number? The first two digits will give the year of manufacture, at least for the Japanese ones.

[TheRev]

[quote name='pete.young' post='865646' date='Jun 13 2010, 12:22 AM']I think it's a 310. I have one which is identical. What's the serial number? The first two digits will give the year of manufacture, at least for the Japanese ones.[/quote]

Ah, but the 301 & 401 look exactly the same as the 310. IIRC, the 301/401/501 etc model range was overhauled in the late 90s and renamed 310/315 etc. They added some different colours and made the whole range with active EQ, but on the surface they were identical.

[pete.young]

Well, if Dogame can be bothered to take the backplate off and have a look for a battery that will tell us straight away.
The 'overhaul' was probably due to SGC Nanyo going bust and production being restarted by SX, probably in Korea.

Edited June 13, 2010 by pete.young

[Happy Jack]

At last, some entirely new information about the Bass Collection line!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Collection-Active-Bass-Guitar-Used-Muse-Bassist-/300488519434?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item45f682ef0a"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Collection-Acti...=item45f682ef0a[/url]

[i]"This SB330 Japenese Model is the exact model that Muse's Chris Wolstenholme used on the early Muse albums, it's not to be mistaken for the cheaper bass collections that we're manufactured in other parts of the middle East in the Late 90s..."[/i]

Those bloody Syrians!

[LawrenceH]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1021316' date='Nov 12 2010, 12:50 PM']Those bloody Syrians![/quote]


Nice to see a fretted SB330 though, don't often see them. I have the fretless version, it's a great bass. The soapbar pickups are decent, but I'd be interested to know of any drop-in replacements.

[kingofthestuntmen]

As of 10am today, Crack Converters in Hamilton had a black SX BC copy. £80 and in OK-ish nick. One of the pots spun and spun, but it may just have needed tightening. Very little fretwear and a couple of dings.

Didn't play it amped so can't comment accordingly but felt OK, though it'd benefit from a setup.

Edited November 13, 2010 by kingofthestuntmen

[6ER]

Hey Guys,though i'd add some pics of my bc!never seen another one with an zebrano top on!


[url="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283921&l=95550efa6e&id=1174758395"]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283...p;id=1174758395[/url]

[url="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283920&l=ff642235b0&id=1174758395"]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283...p;id=1174758395[/url]

[url="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283919&l=7827d85869&id=1174758395"]http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1283...p;id=1174758395[/url]

[chromakey77]

Hi all,

i'm from hungary. I found this topic today, and it's fantastic to read about the origin of Bass Collection SBXXX. Actually i have one, especially the model SB301, i play on this (this is my only one bass:) ).
on the body there's no label referring to SGC or Nanyo, but Marina. On the front it reads: Bass Collection by Marina. i think this is from the same series you're talking about for 3 years:)
mine has original Gotoh tuners, but i've built DiMarzio model P and ultraJazz bridge PUs in it.
here's the One:


if anyone has comments on this one guitar, of know that Marina is another factory thread in Bass Collection's history, pls reply

Edited December 22, 2010 by chromakey77