• 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.

A bass for a Who tribute?

#61
I made my own Fenderbirds ...

Picture%20447.jpg


5s%20027.jpg


5s%20042.jpg


5s%20014.jpg
 
#63
AuntieBeeb said:
Surely that's the neck that went on to be part of Frankenstein? He put it together from the parts of two or three smashed basses, so it's that maple neck and a pink ("salmon" body from an early '60s slab Precision. So she actually looked like this:
jae-frankensteinpbass1_th.jpg


The full story's here: http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/gear/bass/bass6768.html#frankenstein
Click to expand...

No. THAT'S really Frankenstein.
It was originally Sunburst and was refinished during the 70's.
Besides: The slab precisons were always white.

I think you didn't read the link you posted yourself:

"1965 sunburst (refinished in the mid-’70s to Fiesta Red/salmon pink) “Frankenstein” Fender Precision Bass with maple neck."

"JE: I put this together in San Francisco on a day off part way through a Who tour. It’s the remains of five smashed basses hence the name ‘Frankenstein’. In the mid 70’s it was retired from stage work so I had it refinished from sunburst into its present pink colour. I used this baby from 1967 onwards through ‘Tommy’ and all the tours up to ‘Quadrophenia’...The neck, pickups and circuitry are from a ‘dead’ slab bass, the tailpiece from a Jazz bass, the pickguard from a black P bass and the machine heads from 2 white P basses...Two hours with a Phillips screwdriver and a soldering iron and I was ranting around my hotel room screaming “It’s alive, it’s alive!”"

Here's John using Frankenstein on stage:
 
#64
I posted a bit earlier in this thread about the Eastwood Stormbird and I'll have to apologize! I owned a Gould Stormbird, completely different bass - again my apologies, I shouldn't post before having at least two complete cups of coffee in me.

Here's a shot of an RS Guitarworks Expibird that I used to own - they only made two.
IIRC Carlo plans to issue this sometime soon, certainly worth an email.

orangebass2.jpg
 
#67
FrednBass said:
No. THAT'S really Frankenstein.
It was originally Sunburst and was refinished during the 70's.
Besides: The slab precisons were always white.

I think you didn't read the link you posted yourself:

"1965 sunburst (refinished in the mid-’70s to Fiesta Red/salmon pink) “Frankenstein” Fender Precision Bass with maple neck."

"JE: I put this together in San Francisco on a day off part way through a Who tour. It’s the remains of five smashed basses hence the name ‘Frankenstein’. In the mid 70’s it was retired from stage work so I had it refinished from sunburst into its present pink colour. I used this baby from 1967 onwards through ‘Tommy’ and all the tours up to ‘Quadrophenia’...The neck, pickups and circuitry are from a ‘dead’ slab bass, the tailpiece from a Jazz bass, the pickguard from a black P bass and the machine heads from 2 white P basses...Two hours with a Phillips screwdriver and a soldering iron and I was ranting around my hotel room screaming “It’s alive, it’s alive!”"

Here's John using Frankenstein on stage:
Click to expand...


Ah! Right you are - it's actually while since I read that link, clearly I'd forgotten a lot of the finer details!

PS: Great videos by the way - I've never seen the London Coliseum footage before, Frankenstein does sound glorious!
 
#68
TBird1958 said:
I posted a bit earlier in this thread about the Eastwood Stormbird and I'll have to apologize! I owned a Gould Stormbird, completely different bass - again my apologies, I shouldn't post before having at least two complete cups of coffee in me.
Click to expand...

my girlfriend talked me out of buying a 2nd hand one from a pawnbrokers here. The neck pickup was AWOL, but the pickguard was replaced with a solid black one that blocked the route for the pickup....

A week later it was in another pawnbrokers over the other side of the city. :ninja:

Did I dodge a bullet? What was wrong with yours?
 
#69
Personally, I'd look at the Fender Classic 50s Precision, probably in Fiesta Red, that will get you pretty close to Frankenstein. As much as people say T-Bird get his sound, for me, his best stuff was always with the Precision basses, late 60s-early 70s. Actually, my favorite Who performance is probably them at the Fillmore East, 1967, where both Pete and John are running through valve Sunn rigs. Very similar to the Live at Leeds tone, but at least on the recording it comes through a lot crisper and more defined in the upper mids and treble. The closest I get to his tone is running a precision bass (in my case, a 62 AVRI) wide open (vol & tone all up) setup with Rotosound Nickel Swing 66s, into my Sunn 2000s. And with a seriously heavy attack, and often a pick. It's a really raunchy tone.
 
#73
The Dean Spider seems perfect. Scroll down the link to the natural version. Low impedance EMG's, three band eq, Aphex Aural Exciter with Big Bottom...who could ask for more?

Invalid Link Removed

In the early 80's, I built a headless Explorer bass. I still have it. It has had a few different necks on it. Headless or with a Fender neck, it was (and still is) unusually comfortable. It hangs great, balances great, and my arm rests comfortably on the top edge. I built a similar (but with a headstock) Thunderbird thinking the body shape was similar enough to afford similar comfort. It didn't and always felt awkward.
 
#74
As an eBay Associate, TalkBass may earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back