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NBD! Vintage Klira

So, my awesome sister-in-law gave me this for my birthday - the bass version of the then-popular Klira Triumphator (I don't know if the bass had a different name, couldn't find anything on the web).

Objectively, this is low end, even for german instruments from the 60's.

Action is pretty high for today's standards, but it makes up for it with medium scale, a tiny neck and very narrow string spacing. I have cleaned the electronics so far, adjusted the neck, and moved the bridge for (almost) correct intonation. I think I will try a neck shim, it looks like it can go lower than my Hofner 185.

It even sounds better than my Hofner. Just solid 60ies beat thumpiness, but surprisingly bright. Strings are medium scale flats, and I'm almost certain they're more than 40 years old. No need to change, they're perfectly fine.

I will definitely gig this one.

That looks like a real man cave.

My first (of sooo many :) ) basses - paid $77.50 (no case - all I had less bus fare :))

This model of Klira was their 562(I) Arkansas. They're were 2 versions of of the 562. Yours was the first made in 1965. The second version was introduced in 1966. It had a tulip styled body.

Enjoy.

TD

That looks really cool

Very cool bass! When you shim the neck and lower the action, that should fix the intonation too. I have a Framus with the same pick-up.I think it's a Schaller.

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith christian (Post 13500559)

I have a Framus with the same pick-up.I think it's a Schaller.

Hoyer, Klira, Framus and Hofner all used Schaller pickups back in the 60's on their electric instruments.

TD

Quote:

Originally Posted by tastybasslines (Post 13499759)

That looks like a real man cave.

It is! :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by ExaltBass (Post 13499793)

My first (of sooo many :) ) basses - paid $77.50 (no case - all I had less bus fare :))

Wow, nice!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thornton Davis (Post 13499796)

This model of Klira was their 562(I) Arkansas. They're were 2 versions of of the 562. Yours was the first made in 1965. The second version was introduced in 1966. It had a tulip styled body.

Thanks for the info, that means a lot to me! So it's almost certainly a '65? I've been able to date my Hofner to late '63 - turns 50 next year, and this one isn't far away...

Is there a place on the web with info on these basses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by keith christian (Post 13500559)

Very cool bass! When you shim the neck and lower the action, that should fix the intonation too. I have a Framus with the same pick-up.I think it's a Schaller.

Oh, the intonation is fixed - as in, the bridge was fixed before, and I've fixed it now :D I've drilled out the rivets (?) holding the bridge, and made it a floating one. I've moved it a bit to the back, E side slightly further away than the G side, and got pretty good intonation on all four strings on the first try.

Here's a pic of the Hofner I'm comparing the Klira to: