Any info on Mania basses.

[Maud]

Hi folks,

I've had ones of those last minute impulse buys on ebay. I was browsing basses on there and saw the bass listed below (Mania VTB-4BS), I thought 'it's a neck thru design and nice wood' and put in a last minute cheeky bid. Ended up buying it for £92.
Due to how I'm getting it delivered I won't see the bass for a week or two.
Does anyone own one of these and could let me know if I've got a bargain or just a piece of fancy looking firewood. For the price I can always just give it a good clean and shift it on, but I'm hoping I've bagged myself a bargain.

Just to let you know the sort of basses I'm used to, I can't afford top end stuff and try to pick up reasonably priced gear that punches above it's price tag. In my band I use a Yamaha RBX374, I also own a Yam BBG5S, Hohner Arbor Series fretless and I've just picked up an Aria STB Series P Bass (£42 ) which I'm gonna put flats on.
So bearing in mind my level of basses, will I be pleased with my new Mania?

eBay - The UK's Online Marketplace


BTW, sorry for the rambling .

 

[darkstorm]

Looks nice. Not familair with that brand, but might it be a more european and/or Uk brand? Theres plenty of fantastic brands in UK and Europe hardly known of in america. Hope it plays and sounds as nice as it looks. Congrats on new used bass find for yourself.

 

[JCooper]

Looks very nice.
So how was it? Still got?
I often wonder the same things about lesser known brands....
Also, how would you describe the BBG5S? I have seen some really good deals on those.
thx

 

[RonSound]

Copied from another post on Talkbass, circa 2011:

Ok Guys if my information is correct Mania Bass Guitars are Manufactured by Eikosha Music, Japan they have Factories in China/Malaysia and Vietnam where they make the Mania bass Guitars with strict Quality controls as laid down by the Japan Facility unfortunately I'm not sure if they are still being made, but there is The VTB-4BS which has the same spec as mine but with black hardware and without the Dragon inlay - at £365 from getmusical.co.uk

I have the Mania VTB-4B with Dragon Inlays to the Headstock and Fretboard and Birds Eye Patterned Body the spec is as follows -> Solid Bubinga body - Neck thru construction(5 ply neck Nato/Hard Maple) - Gold Machine Heads and hardware - Rosewood Fingerboard/24 frets - 2 Kramer Active Humbuckers - Controls > 1 x Vol + Active EQ(Balance,Treble, Bass)

That's a brief outline of the Mania Brand and the spec of mine so if you wonder what it sounds like simply - awesome - the bass is not that heavy and hangs on the shoulder neatly balanced, I would say that these would be very near the top of mid range Basses for quality that retail from £400 to £600 and would be suitable for professionals and recording and personally my overall rating would be an emphatic 10/10 for looks and playability

if anyone else has any further info on these Mania Basses please add it to this post as all would be welcome even if I have to be corrected on the info I have given many thanks for reading best regards Tony (Musicmutt_uk)

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/mania-vtb-4b-393366/

 

[RonSound]

Another post where the poster claims it's the same as a Peavey Grind but with active electronics.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f38/peavey-grind-440962/#post5827608

 

[musicmutt_uk]

I've Owned a Mania VTB-4B for years Mine has a dragon Inlay in the headstock and along the length of the fret Board, neck and string through construction active pups finished in natural wood .. excellent piece of kit in my humble opinion

 

[musicmutt_uk]

Here ya go just a couple of Pics of my Mania VTB-4B

 

[leonvdb]

Hi guys, I have one for sale if anyone’s interested?

 

[Fairfax Aikman]

I am now the owner of, what I believe was, Maud's fretless Mania - and it's a beauty!!

Plays like a dream with the light flatwound strings, the tonal palette is fantastic. Lovely neck (I've been playing fives for the past 18 months or so) and the spalted timber on the back (suggestions?) is just delicious.

I person I bought it from suggested that when I would start playing it I would have a broad smile on my face - he wasn't wrong.

Here for your viewing pleasure

...

 

[Lo-E]

That looks like a good time. Enjoy your new bass!

 

[NicDGray]

I have a mania bass with the same logo on the headstock. No model number or serial number. It’s a semi hollow burl top neck through with two pick ups and active circuit . Any body know anything about this?

 

[NicDGray]

These are some pics

 

[NicDGray]

Pics of the bass