Aluminum Bass on eBay

[RED5]

I've heard stories that some of these basses were used in traveling navy bands where sea air, etc. might be rough on wood.:

Ditto to that, I 'd heard the navy used them shipboard on Capital ships, where the band played to dignitaries and for special events. Seems like a good idea, I live near the ocean and every season everything wood in the house needs attention.

[MonetBass]

My middle school music dept. had one, and luckily no one had to play it. They're on par with the box 'cellos, which unfortunately some people DID have to play (ugh). My college music dept. had one too, and when one of the other bassist was getting ready to graduate, we floated it out on the campus pond one night. The cops found it not five minutes later and it was returned to the music department, much to our dismay.

[william whalen]

Hi, I have had for many years an aluminium Alcoa , 7/8 upright . When I came across it it still had the faux wood paint ,as poor as the original finish was, when I aquired it ,it was so mouldering, disgusting looking ,I had it stripped and profesionally repainted matte black. Perhaps I should have just polished. it.Anyway, I am thinking of selling it.It is in excellent condition EXCEPEPT , the fingerboard is missing, and though I thought of making one in my machine shop, I am sure that like many things, it is not so hard to do, but very easy to do wrong resulting in an enourmous waste of time. It may be that the cost of a pro doing the work may be more than the piece is worth. I see many conflicting feelings towards these limited production units, they love them/ they hate them! One other question, where is the serial # Any reply would be greatly appeiciated. Thanx Willy

[BassFace55]

I also heard they were made for the traveling Armed Forces bands.Held up better than wood

[kcandme]

They were originally designed for durability with the student in mind.

[wdnewman]

I played bass in the U.S. Navy in the early sixties, and all of what we played on were of WWII vintage. There were no aluminum basses there at that time, and none of the "old timers" (WWII veterans) ever mentioned such items. I know there were none on the carriers or on shore bands, which used Kays and Epiphones. I stand to be corrected if someone else has more definitive information.