• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass '68 Ormston Burns, rare vintage EUB

PaulKing

PaulKing

Apr 17, 2004
354
154
58
London, UK
www.myspace.com
#1
I have one, shame it was ruined by the previous owner, and further ruined by me, without knowing.

What's left is mostly original, but the body has been hacked down to stick shape, the aluminium bridge fittings cut and reshaped, tone and volume controls replaced. Original pickup and wiring .. though it doesn't sound very nice.

Even so, is this of any value to anyone, as a collector piece? Does it interest anyone?

I'm not looking to sell, as I use it as a silent practice bass ... but I'm interested in case I should be preserving and looking after what's left of it.
 
#3
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed] [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

These pics quite old now, I've added a brutal mod to the EUB to make it playable - a wooden upper bout for body support. It's just screwed to the back of the stick.

Francois, I think you've seen this and commented before maybe?
I was thinking of replacing the pick-up, even trying to mod it to take a piezo ... but maybe I should stop doing any more damage?! :hmm:

Cheers for your thoughts.
 
#5
Wow, thanks for that. Was it online, or did you scan that? I searched and searched and found practically nothing.

There was one for sale once here. Just recently it seems to have changed from 'Price on application' to 'sold'!
s_012_1_.jpg
 
#8
Been searching for a while now to ID my EUB.
This thread is as close as I have got to solving the mystery, check out the pic and please let me know your thoughts.

It was modified years ago to replace the original bridge along with relocation of the electrics.It was like this when I got it.

Is this EUBeast what I hope it is?
 

Attachments

  • 051c.jpg
    051c.jpg
    22 KB · Views: 250
#9
Without a doubt. Pegbox - check. Tuners - check. Scratch plate - check (mine was on ... I binned it!! agggghhhh). Vol/tone controls - check (binned again...). Body shape - check. (ooops.)

Finish and bridge not original. But on the whole yours is a damn sight more authentic than my abused carcass...
You can buy my bridge and pickup for $1million :D

I asked Vintage Guitars what they sold it for.
"wouldn't be fair to the buyer to comment. Let's just say it was a lot"
In the past I was told in original condition, easy starting price £1,000.

How exciting for you!!
 
#12
Yep, 'bass'd' in UK - SW London

Right on money Paul -
I asked daydreamguitars.com for the pre-sale price of the '68 and they came back with £1200.

Looking at that '94 Bass Buyers Guide (P. 17) - If it isn't a '68 it be one of the 'few' then:smug:
I e-mailed Burns Guitars with a pic of 'mine beast' and the ID question a few months ago - still waiting for a reply.:hmm:

:ninja:Next Mission - find a copy of the Burns book by Paul Day.

The neck on this 'stick' set me on the burns trail
http://www.shergold.co.uk/uprightbass.html
 
#14
OK - first of all, my pedigree as a double bass player - none.....I played the double bass in the school orchestra for our yearly concert. That was 35 years ago. However, my father for most of his working life was a part-time professional double bass player in Stoke-on-Trent, playing amongst others in a large jazz/dance band called the Reg Bassett Band (which later became the Peter Rai Band after Reg's death). He played at Trentham Gardens ballroom at Weekends. The Ballroom also doubled up quite often as a venue for pop concerts. One band that appeared there one Weekend was a Band by the name of The Who.

When The Who had packed up and disappeared after their concert, Dad's double bass, which always remained at the Ballroom was gone, but bits of it were recovered nearby...it had obviously had a terrible accident somehow! Dad's theory was that a certain Mr Townsend might have (allegedly) mistaken it for a big guitar!....

Anyway, no big deal, Dad got onto the insurers who did the usual due diligence and Dad was covered
 
#15
Toe Cooke said:
OK - first of all, my pedigree as a double bass player - none.....I played the double bass in the school orchestra for our yearly concert. That was 35 years ago. However, my father for most of his working life was a part-time professional double bass player in Stoke-on-Trent, playing amongst others in a large jazz/dance band called the Reg Bassett Band (which later became the Peter Rai Band after Reg's death). He played at Trentham Gardens ballroom at Weekends. The Ballroom also doubled up quite often as a venue for pop concerts. One band that appeared there one Weekend was a Band by the name of The Who.

When The Who had packed up and disappeared after their concert, Dad's double bass, which always remained at the Ballroom was gone, but bits of it were recovered nearby...it had obviously had a terrible accident somehow! Dad's theory was that a certain Mr Townsend might have (allegedly) mistaken it for a big guitar!....

Anyway, no big deal, Dad got onto the insurers who did the usual due diligence and Dad was covered. Rather than buying a replacement double bass, Dad bought this strange looking solid-bodied electric bass - an Ormston. Dad told me that it was one of a very small number made, and from looking at the threads, it does appear to be one of the few Ormston EUB's that still remain. Dad continued to use the bass for the rest of his playing career. I recall at the time that I was slightly disappointed as I used to borrow his double bass for our school concert (4 double bass players, 3 double basses...) - the Ormston could not be bowed as the bridge was too flat.

Anyway, my apologies to all for the rambling story...the reason for making contact with the Forum is to seek advice - the bass is a little tatty round the edges, with a lot of small paint chips in the cream/white enamel, but the bass is fundamentally sound, and plays well when I plug it into an active sub-woofer unit. However, now I have dustec the cobwebs off the bass, it could probably do with new strings and could definitely do with new keys - it appears to have an assortment of different radiator bleed keys to tune it with! Any good ideas where I can get strings and/or keys from? Many thanks for any help.
Click to expand...
 
#16
Toe Cooke said:
OK - first of all, my pedigree as a double bass player - none.....I played the double bass in the school orchestra for our yearly concert. That was 35 years ago. However, my father for most of his working life was a part-time professional double bass player in Stoke-on-Trent, playing amongst others in a large jazz/dance band called the Reg Bassett Band (which later became the Peter Rai Band after Reg's death). He played at Trentham Gardens ballroom at Weekends. The Ballroom also doubled up quite often as a venue for pop concerts. One band that appeared there one Weekend was a Band by the name of The Who.

When The Who had packed up and disappeared after their concert, Dad's double bass, which always remained at the Ballroom was gone, but bits of it were recovered nearby...it had obviously had a terrible accident somehow! Dad's theory was that a certain Mr Townsend might have (allegedly) mistaken it for a big guitar!....

Anyway, no big deal, Dad got onto the insurers who did the usual due diligence and Dad was covered
Click to expand...
and
 
#20
Hey I've got one of these Ormston basses too, I bought it this summer but I'm selling it on as I prefer playing my acoustic upright... I tried Ebay and it's on Gumtree right now... Anyone know of anyone who might be interested in buying it? Thanks...
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back