Where to start with this one...What I have here is a rather unique bass with a story. If you're uninterested in the story,skip to the bold print and pics,for the rest of us,here it is..
I took this in on a trade deal from a close friend who was the original owner. Although there are no identifying markings anywhere other that the embossing on its HSC,it's a Heritage. A 4 string version of Chuck Jacob's Heritage signature model to be precise,and as far as I know,the only one. For my buddy's 16th B-Day/Christmas present,his Dad(a local legend guitarist)told him to order the bass and rig of his dreams. He got his rig,but couldn't find the bass he was looking for because he wanted the same one that "the big dude with the beard was tearin' it up with" at an event his dad sat in on. The "bearded dude" was Chuck Jacobs and he was playing his just released signature Heritage,which only came in 5 string. Turns out my friend's dad was ol' buds with one of the luthiers at Heritage Customs,and his dad's buddy agreed to make him what he wanted with the understanding that it wouldn't be branded due to the 'under-the-table' nature of the deal..The bass was delivered 'in the white',routed and drilled,but with all the guts/hardware in a separate package,and completed as a father/son project. My buddy played the snot out of it for 20+yrs and about four years ago he put it away after re-discovering that vintage P-bass thump,and it sat in his closet until we worked our deal about a month ago.
Unfortunately,during its closet-imprisonment the battery leaked and corroded the electronics beyond repair or salvage. Since I've had it,I wired it up with MIJ Geddy Lee p'ups/pots and gigged it once right after gutting the old electronics to get a feel on it again. It sounded and played beautifully,very low buzz-free action up and down both octaves,spot on intonation,light,bright,and resonant..But since my passive needs are covered,and before it grows on me too much,I've decided a little cash would be more useful right now than yet another project.
PICS~http://s1217.beta.photobucket.com/us...kJackobsCustom --SPECS-- 34" scale 1 5/8" nut 24 fret rosewood 'board w/pearl dots and white binding two piece maple thru-body neck w/bound and laminated headstock solid highly flamed Maple body wings Schaller fully adjustable bridge and tuners curved body,like a Spector !weighs 6.6lbs! w/o p'ups and pots
Due to the nature of its history and pedigree,I have no idea what its monetary value would be..On one hand,Heritage basses are as rare as hens teeth to start with,let alone an 'off-the-books' custom such as this..On the other hand,I can't
"prove" that it's a Heritage,all I can offer is my first-hand account of a bass I've known for 24yrs and my word that all I've said is true..
Regardless,the fact remains that it's a beautiful custom build worthy of someones TLC. I've pictured the wear and tear,the worst being above the neck p'up where your thumb rests and the contour above that are through the clear. The 'board has some minor roundwound rash,nothing serious enough to be noticeable without looking for it. Also,IMO,it wasn't properly buffed after final coat(that alone would raise the bar three pegs!)Frets are good,hardware works,all it needs to be gig-able are pickups,pots,and strings. Throw in a clean-and-polish and watch the jaws drop
$550 as is,Con US
