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Anyone else have a rare Des Lauriers bass?

T

Taylor Scott

Oct 23, 2003
9
0
Portland, Oregon
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#1
I just recently purchased a new bass from a small local shop. It is a use Des Lauriers bass guitar which cost me $115. It is small scale, red, and has one small humbucking pickup. The serial number is 4.

I have never heard of this bass brand before, and I was wondering if anyone else has a bass or a guitar of the same brand. Its a really cool bass with great warm tone.
 
#3
I've played on my red Des for 12 years now, It's amazing.
I had it used by two people before me, filled with battle scars but still sounded great. I had to change the frets about 1 year ago and sounds better than ever. All blood red, single hambucker, short neck, smooth and fast. I'm interested in buying another one 'cause if something happens to mine i don't know where to find another. Just one issue, i live in Uruguay (try to find it in the map, hint: south south america).
But if anyone has one for sale or any kind of info i'd really appreciate it.
I'm also interested in bass guitars, heard that they're as good as the guitars.
Thanks
 
#4
I make little search on this brand and I found that the first models (guitars for sure but they don't write about bass) was build at the famous Matsumoku factory in Japan. Go on that links to get the full info ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]) and maybe you could ask that dude (Link Removed), he got a white fretless one pictured.
 
#5
Thanks a lot, I knew I had seen that bass before.
The guy posted his mail so I'll ask him and see what comes out.
I'll also try to hunt some information about Matsumoku. Seems to be important brand, but nothing about the Des Lauriers.
Thanks again, really helpful
 
#6
Okay, I picked up a white des lauriers bass off craigslist and it is beat to hell. It's just like the one described in the original post, but white (sorta discolored) I'm totally new to bass guitars, more of a drummer/guitarist, grabbed this one because it was 30 bucks, and have 3 part question.

1. How much is it worth? Is 30 bucks for one of these (even if it is beat to hell)?

2. It has a small crack in the neck by the body. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to post pictures or not... I'd be happy to email them to anyone who could help. Also, the strings are awfully high up off the neck - is this normal for a bass guitar or is something seriously wrong? And if something is wrong, can I fix it with minimal effort and funds?

3. If I wanted to learn bass, what would be the best way? A friend recommended starting with the rudiments, another friend told me to just learn a few of my favorite songs.

I'm sorry if this is off topic - I'd just rather post all of this in one thread than make 3 different postings in different threads.
 
#7
dffdff said:
I've played on my red Des for 12 years now, It's amazing.
I had it used by two people before me, filled with battle scars but still sounded great. I had to change the frets about 1 year ago and sounds better than ever. All blood red, single hambucker, short neck, smooth and fast. I'm interested in buying another one 'cause if something happens to mine i don't know where to find another. Just one issue, i live in Uruguay (try to find it in the map, hint: south south america).
But if anyone has one for sale or any kind of info i'd really appreciate it.
I'm also interested in bass guitars, heard that they're as good as the guitars.
Thanks
Click to expand...
I have a Des Laurier bass, in pretty nice condition. Black. The only one with 2 pickups, that I have ever seen. I've kept it as a novelty, for about 20 years. It's too small for Me to play. I realize that this is 7 years later. But... if you want a crack at it, before I list it on REVERB, let me know, so that I can sign up, to sell, on here.
 
#8
Marc DLarosa said:
I have a Des Laurier bass, in pretty nice condition. Black. The only one with 2 pickups, that I have ever seen. I've kept it as a novelty, for about 20 years. It's too small for Me to play. I realize that this is 7 years later. But... if you want a crack at it, before I list it on REVERB, let me know, so that I can sign up, to sell, on here.
Click to expand...

Hi do you still have this bass?
 
#11
Crboldt91 said:
I have a blue des lauriers short bass, wondering if you know anything about it.
Click to expand...

Here are the verified facts regarding Des Lauriers instruments. More bs than facts online, especially the Matsumoku claims, which include a forum "rumor" around 2005. The commenter literally used the word "rumor".

Des Laurier originated as a brand name in 1976, registered by a Japanese distributor. There is no evidence they ever had electric guitars manufactured prior to the 1980's and all online examples of Des Laurier electric guitars and basses were made by Samick, Korea in the early to mid 1980's, including the DB-10 guitar and DB-20 bass. No Japanese made examples and if the DB series were Japanese they would obviously be Tiesco (based on the Tiesco tulip body and Tiesco build quality, most likely plywood bodies), definitely not Matsumoku, Fujigen, etc.
The name was bought by an American distributor in 1985 but they never used it, making 1984/1985 the last year for production of anything carrying this brand name. As well as the lowest price point at the time DB series guitar and bass there was an Aria Pro 3x3/2x2 headstock copy guitar and bass series and a copy of the 80's Samick Superstrat. The Aria Pro headstock copy series is probably where the Matsumoku bs originated. A lot of these still have the 'Made in Korea' sticker on the back of the headstock, which puts a pretty big hole in that 'theory'.
The DB -20 bass was at the lowest possible price point, even lower than the 1984 Korean/Mann Pbass I bought new for 99 dollars at the same time these were in stores.
 
#12
To add to my last comment, Matsumoku manufactured bolt on neck instruments are easily identifiable by their neck plates, Matsumoku neck plates being the most distinctive of any Asian manufacturer from the 1960's to 1987 when the company went out of business. Googling 'Matsumoku neck plate' gives ample examples.
 

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