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Any Vaccaro owners?

pjmuck

pjmuck

Feb 8, 2006
1,183
68
New Joisey
www.naughtyhumphrey.com
#1
I just received my Vaccaro V2 X-Ray bass that I won on ebay, and I have few questions. I can find virtually no information about Vaccaro online, so I'm hoping there are some owners out there that can help:

- The nut on mine is smaller than the neck width at the nut. I'm wondering if this is how these were constructed or if it sounds like someone replaced the nut.

- I can't figure out how to adjust the truss rod. Access to the truss is typically at the heel of the neck, but it doesn't look like it takes a standard allen wrench (the tool hole is not hex shaped) and it didn't come with any truss rod tool.

- Is there any serial number info to be found? My serial # is V200554. I'm guessing that places it as manufactured in 2000, since they went under in 2002?

Thanks
 
#4
Just a guess but could the trussrod adjustment be a Torx head?

It would look something like this:

torx_1.jpg
 
#7
Paul Unkert, an incredible repairman/builder (not to mention located in Jersey) worked for Vaccaro for a spell as a consultant - I actually visited him at the Vaccaro factory in Asbury Park many moons ago.

He should most likely be able to answer most if not all of your questions for you. If you want, PM me for his info.

BTW - I had a chance to purchase an early Vaccaro (single digit serial number) a few years back and I passed on it - what a mistake. Played & sounded amazing!
 
#8
Hey Buskman! Haven't seen you in a while.


PJMUCK,

I know the Vaccaros and Paul Unkert. I currenlty own an Asbury Park made Hartke XL-4. Paul recently gave a Korean made Hartke XK-5 I just sold a once over for me and answered my questions. Here is the answer to your questions:

The V2 line was made in Korea. The quality was not good, and on many of the models from the last production run the materials, especially the nuts, were not really matched. Your bass came stock like that. Sorry.

The Korean models have a universal truss rod receptor, not a torx. The truss rod accepts a standard 1/4 inch allen wrench or a metric one of similar size. Actually its quite ingenious. One caveat, a standard allen wrench is too long for the cavity, so Paul U has taken several 1/4 inch allen wrenches and cut them shorter so they work and fit. I did the same. If you must adjust and don't have a cut one, I recommend removing the neck and adjusting it. I had to do that with my XL-4 recently.

You won't find any real format to the serial numbering. What you can see about yours is that it is a V2 and it is the 554th V2 made. No year, but you can figure out the approximate by reading the press releases on when the V2 line was launched.

Hope that helps.
 
#9
Style of Music: Funk,Rock,Blues,R & B,Jazz

Comments: Off the rack these basses are overall mediocre . The finish, bridge and tuners are good . The tone is very muddy and the action/fretwork is poor.
If you have one and get pro neck and fret work ( to get nice action with no buzzes) and install new pickups and electronics (EMG'S sound great with it) the instrument can be outstanding . I have 2 Vaccaro Basses and after extensive custom work they are my primary live basses. I like them better than my Ken Smith basses , but it takes a lot of custom work to get them to a pro instrument level .
 

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