Aluminum Upright Basses

[Johnny Atomic]

Originally Posted by james condino

Looks like somebody close to that bass is going to get a nice Christmas present!

j.
www.condino.com

+1

that's way cheaper than what i have in mine.

[MollyKay]

Originally Posted by james condino

Looks like somebody close to that bass is going to get a nice Christmas present!

James...I wanted a Epiphone B-3 for Christmas

[Jake deVilliers]

Originally Posted by MollyKay

James...I wanted a Epiphone B-3 for Christmas

Good luck Wendy!

[swinginfish]

Been on the prowl for an aluminum unit for awhile and came upon the following on Craigslist early this month. Transaction on 12/3 and arrival via Greyhound just yesterday. Condino provided a great deal of info that enabled quick stripping of instrument for assessment and intended repair. No visible serial numbers and some seriously degraded paint, but aside from that, thing's in great shape. Expect I'll have a number of questions for the forum as I get into the restore/refinish process, and for now welcome recommendations for strings on this kind of unit.

Thanks,

RAE

[Woolfey]

When I first got mine I had a Daughter just older than yours appears.. She has a 7 year old now and I'm just getting round to putting the old Refined Bauxite gal back together.. Your neck has the same primer stuff mine had in it..
Nice score!!!!
My end-pin is a one piece unit similar to the ones that the early Kays had.. I did have a similar tailpiece on mine but it had the "E" Keyhole broken out.. (Someone had strung it with 4/4 strings and bent it and did some other damage)
Your bridge looks a lot taller than mine is, so I suspect Mine has some subtle damage I don't see, But I'm leaving it as is.. Aluminum is funny stuff. I've worked with it all during the machinist portion of my life and I"m still amazed at some properties it has. A couple of the guys I used to work on Bonneville cars with were trying to convince me to try to just anneal it and crank the neck back, I'm now glad I didn't because over the time I left it alone it returned to what I believed is close to its original shape..
Mine has a dusting of White latex house paint on it, over what appears to be a fairly complete original finish, But I have yet to figure out how to remove it without destroying the original.. I think I'm just going to get to playing mine..
Soon as my finger heals..

[Allen Legget]

Can Anyone Identify this base?
http://www.cannongenesis.com/ab/index.html

Thanks for your help!

Allen

[davidprice]

Originally Posted by Allen Legget

Can Anyone Identify this base?
http://www.cannongenesis.com/ab/index.html

Thanks for your help!

Allen

Alcoa!

[swinginfish]

Alcoa (No visible rivets or screws) in relatively great shape.

Avery Ellisman

[Johnny Atomic]

There was what appeared to be an Alcoa on TV last night. It was on Austin City Limits on PBS. A band called Arcade Fire had what appeared to be an alumi onstage the whole show but never played it. They also apparently carry a friggin PIPE ORGAN with them, that would make toting a B3 seem like a walk in the park.

[Johnny Atomic]

Originally Posted by davidprice

Alcoa!

+1
alumi neck = alcoa

wood neck = pfretz

the screws and rivits are only visble on a pfretz when the finish is striped

[james condino]

Looks like a telecaster to me....

The big brown thing is an AlCoA with some rough fittings and some tuners in serious need of derusting. Is the rest of the setup the same???

j.

[alohajoy123]

pfretz have wooden necks, but is the head at the top made out of metal? You know, the scroll and where the tuning machines are?

Between the two, which has better tone?

[Johnny Atomic]

Originally Posted by alohajoy123

pfretz have wooden necks, but is the head at the top made out of metal? You know, the scroll and where the tuning machines are?

Between the two, which has better tone?

No, they have a wooden scroll. As for which sounds better