Boosey and Hawkes Golden Strad

vin*tone · #1 07-05-2010, 12:41 AM

Hey folks. I'm considering picking up a Hungarian 60's Boosey and Hawkes Golden Strad and am wondering if anyone had any info on them. It seems that most are ply student models with a rosewood FB but apparently this one has an ebony fingerboard and solid top...... unusual.

I'm going to go and check it out in person - on paper it seems like a great deal but it's a looooong way away and I'm going to have to make a road trip to get it. So it'd be great to get as much info and buying advice as possible before I make the trip.

I'm a DB noob BTW but have been playing EB (and fretless) for over 20 years.... and am wanting to get something that I won't grow out of in 10 minutes.

Cheers, Vin

swingingoodtime · #2 07-06-2010, 10:55 PM

Hi Vin,

Sorry, can't advise on the Golden Strad (I searched out of interest when it first came up, but no luck, as I'm sure you've also discovered), but there's a Dolfin DB on flea-Bay that looks like it's close to you:

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/3-4-Double-Ba...item335ea5863c

When I was researching my first (& only!) purchase, this brand came up as a reasonable starting point; by no means the be all & end all, but by account, reliable & solid (ie, not a CCB; I understand they're Korean, which my personal experience is more than acceptable).

If you're looking at the $2-2.5K mark, your options are pretty good for finding a good starter bass; just be patient as they appear with reasonable regularity. Regardless of which bass you check out, though, try to take either an experienced player or even a luthier with you to spot any particularities/potential issues. Doing so saved me from making a dud purchase at least once.

Good luck!

MIKMAN · #3 07-07-2010, 12:01 AM

As far as i know Boosey and Hawkes distributed basses made in former Czechoslovakia, in Luby. The ply models are decently constructed , albeit their pizz sound is a bit "pingy". They can be improved considerally, so if you are planning to buy it please PM me for details.
Mike

swingingoodtime · #4 07-07-2010, 02:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MIKMAN

As far as i know Boosey and Hawkes distributed basses made in former Czechoslovakia, in Luby. The ply models are decently constructed , albeit their pizz sound is a bit "pingy". They can be improved considerally, so if you are planning to buy it please PM me for details.
Mike

Hi Mike, Nice to hear from you; how's life? Hope you're holding up well given the economical climate.
Cheers, Paul

vin*tone · #5 07-07-2010, 02:16 AM

Thanks Paul. I can't find any info on Dolfins. I can go check it out.

I emailed a Luthier about both the B&H asking for a rough estimate on the setup. -
(Here's the B&H folks....http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....3#ht_500wt_896)
"...I have to say though, it really doesn't look like a very good purchase. Even if you don't change the strings and the bridge (which would cost $600+) The endpin, tailwire and fingerboard all look like they need work. These sorts of cheap basses are never worth spending too much on unless you have heard them and they sound really special."

It seems like a very negative assessment based on a couple of photos - what do you guys think?

I also asked about the Dolfin:
" It looks fine and might sound good. we do not stock Dolfin instruments as i found them to be inconsistent in their construction. We had many instances of them coming apart and giving us grief. It may be worth you checking it out."

He's a VERY respectable Luthier but he's also wanting me to buy one of his basses. I don't even know if a pinch of salt is required here. -confused-

swingingoodtime · #6 07-07-2010, 02:21 AM

Btw, Vin, I forgot to add; unless you find a well maintained & set up instrument (which may likely cost more to begin with), make sure you factor in the costs of a decent set up and maybe for new strings (or even a good 2nd hand set from the TB Classies). I spent about $400 on a good fundamental set-up & picked up a set of Spiro Weichs for $140 (w/ postage). Absolutely worth every cent, no question; my bass became more playable (& enjoyable) by magnitudes. I think persisting with it in stock form would have been quite discouraging.

swingingoodtime · #7 07-07-2010, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vin*tone

Thanks Paul. I can't find any info on Dolfins. I can go check it out.

I emailed a Luthier about both the B&H asking for a rough estimate on the setup. -
(Here's the B&H folks....http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....3#ht_500wt_896)
"...I have to say though, it really doesn't look like a very good purchase. Even if you don't change the strings and the bridge (which would cost $600+) The endpin, tailwire and fingerboard all look like they need work. These sorts of cheap basses are never worth spending too much on unless you have heard them and they sound really special."

It seems like a very negative assessment based on a couple of photos - what do you guys think?

I also asked about the Dolfin:
" It looks fine and might sound good. we do not stock Dolfin instruments as i found them to be inconsistent in their construction. We had many instances of them coming apart and giving us grief. It may be worth you checking it out."

He's a VERY respectable Luthier but he's also wanting me to buy one of his basses. I don't even know if a pinch of salt is required here. -confused-

Hmm. Well, I'm certainly no luthier, so his opinion is certainly worth taking into account over mine.

Re the condition of the Strad from the photos maybe he can see things our eyes can't, or maybe he's speaking from experience more than what he can see? Of course he'll prefer you buy one from him than just pay for a set up, but he may not be incorrect either (just leaning one way more than the other!); I guess that's really the point of getting an experienced eye to see the bass in person first, then a definitive assessment can be made. He may also be assuming immediate replacement of parts for 'ultimate set up', but as a newbie, you may not need that much for now. I'm still using my stock bridge; had it shaped a little by my luthier but, other than that, it's more than fine to learn on. Will I change it eventually? Yes, but not until I feel it's necessary. Having said that, the long term costs will always add up regardless. I was lucky with my endpin; it's a good solid one that I don't need to replace (it's more the cost of fitting a new one than the item itself; the pin housing usually requires reaming out of the block housing). My tailwire replacement was included in the cost of set up & my f/b is a tad buzzy, but not a prob for someone not gigging (but maybe I was just lucky). Re strings, see my last post.

Re the Dolfins, I tracked down an owner in WA as well as spoke with Bassworks in SA as they were (are?) selling a repaired one (pinned neck following a break). They both said as per above; good bass to learn on, seemed solid enough. Maybe they were both 2 good examples (I don't think BW ever carried them regularly, so maybe they never got to see enough to form a different opinion). The one on eBay was apparently maintained by Puglisi in Melb; why not give them a call about it (unless they were who you spoke with!).

Hope that all helps!

vin*tone · #8 07-07-2010, 03:02 AM

Some great points there. Thanks. Puglisi doesn't specifically remember it.

Where did you get your setup done?

vin*tone · #9 07-07-2010, 03:06 AM

Ooooooh! I see it. The tailpin looks like it's popping out in pic 4.

swingingoodtime · #10 07-07-2010, 10:04 PM

I had mine set up by Neville Whitehead in Sydney; lives & breathes basses, knows his stuff inside out.

Re the endpin, from what I've seen it's not unusual to have a bit of tilt; there's a huge amount of tension pulling thru that cable. But whether this one is well fitted to begin with is another question; it looks like it's out a little further than it should be, possibly because the cable is set further out from the body (closer would produce less leverage).

Also, with old basses, don't forget to check for cracks, open seams & whether the bass bar is still soundly attached along it's length inside the belly; a small mirror on the end of a coathanger & a torch is great for this.

PaulKing · #11 07-08-2010, 09:51 AM

I've actually owned a Golden Strad, along with a dozen other bbasses over the years. I know a few people who've had Golden Strads too.

A few facts:
- Yes they're Hungarian, although B+H mainly imported from Luby in Czech republic.
- Yes thay have solid tops - prone to splitting.
- They have a relatively fat neck.
- They have a relatively short, squat body for a 3/4.
As a tall guy (6'1") I found I needed the spike way out to play at a comfortable height.
- For a cheap, student bass they make an AWESOME noise, really full and warm, and they've had 40-50 years to blossom.
- Whatever you buy, it'll prbably need bridge / strings and maybe board attention, unless personalised set up is included in price of a new bass.

A few opinions:
- The end-pin does look nasty. It may be as simple as it needs straightening up ... it may be as bad as the end-block is damaged. That's a major wood-work rebuild. Most likely it needs a new pin, properly fitted. That's not a big job, but will cost you a bit.
- As said by others, you'd need to check seams are all intact (though gluing them isn't a problem), no splits in the front (or properly repaired with internal patches), no neck breaks or warped / displaced neck (mine was out of line).
- These are GOOD student basses.
- It looks a bit tatty, but that's all good character.
- It's going to cost you a couple hundred AUD to get set up.

Price - hmmm... too high. In the UK I'd want to pay about 1200 AUD max for that bass. But they're probably rarer over there. I sold mine a few years ago for 700AUD - good sound but pretty tatty, even though I refinished it.

Make a decision based on the condition of the bass, and the price you can get it for.
The bass itself is a good 'un.

vin*tone · #12 07-08-2010, 03:17 PM

Thanks Paul. That's exactly the info I was after. and I really like the look of your B&H.

Yeah it looks like I'll have to pass on it. The luthier I quoted above said that it wasn't worth the money fixing it up unless it was a particularly special bass. Also - it's not possible to see it in person before buying - the thing is nearly 2000km away.

It sounds like things in Australia cost roughly double what they do in the US or UK. $2000 here buys you a relatively decent starter bass. $1000 buys you firewood.

Thanks for your comments lads.