Anyone Remember the Memphis brand?

[frank0stein2000]

I used to borrow a friend's bass (don't remember the brand) for my early years, but the actual first bass that I ever bought and called my own was an all black precision style "Memphis" bass. I got it in a pawn shop and it actually sounded good and lasted a while. This was back around 1994. I also got a strat copy "Memphis" guitar back in the day ay the same shop.

Does anyone remember this brand? I've googled it and is was apparently a knock-off company that is now extinct but was alive and well during the 70s-80s. Of course they were lesser quality but like all musicians, I have a longing for any info on my first bass.

 

[heliotropic]

David Wm. Sims of The Jesus Lizard has played a Memphis 70s-style Jazz Bass throughout his career and has always sounded pretty good.

 

[jaywa]

They're pretty much a pawn shop staple in these parts.

 

[bass rocks]

i have a memphes guitar only one ding
what year did the company close

 

[Tmw2011]

I had a Memphis short scale bass that was basically one of their pointy guitars, with 4 strings. Actually, I think the neck was even shorter than a normal guitar's neck. It was a great source of amusement for myself and my friends. I forgot where I got it from but I think I ended up giving it to my friend Vin about 15-20 years ago... Good times, good times.

 

[frank0stein2000]

Not sure when they closed down, but I know they copied everything...from Fenders to Gibsons...nothing was sacred! Lol. Actually the first bass that I "borrowed" for a few years before buying the "Memphis" was another precision copy. This was a sunburst "Cymar" brand. That was an even rarer and cheaper bass I think.

 

[Starrchild]

My first bass was a sunburst Memphis P-Bass. I knew nothing about the bass guitar at the time, other than I wanted one and I didn't want the jazz bass that was sitting next to the one I bought because I didn't play jazz.

 

[KingRazor]

My step brother had a black memphis P/J bass. The thing was a piece of crap. We eventually tore it apart and he wants to rebuild it into something unique.

 

[Richard G]

i burrowed a Memphis from a friend one time in the eighties i kinda liked it not knowing anything about bass.

 

[Tom Howland]

One of my first basses was a Memphis sunburst-maple fingerboard-P-Bass.
Was a fender knock-off, sounded pretty good.

 

[DreadRaver]

Here's my $55 Craigslist special, a Memphis P bass:

There was a thumbrest above the E string that I removed. Finish is badly cracked and chipped at the corner of the neck pocket. Action is high, and the pickups are crappy sounding - a lot of dead notes, and a lot of really awful honking loud spots, too.

I have never changed strings or done anything about the neck or action.

I use it as my "office" bass; it sits in the corner, and at the end of the day I take my stress out on it for about 5 minutes - it serves its purpose.

 

[b_carville]

Memphis was one of those brands where one would be great and the next one would be crap.
I had two memphis P's. One was great.Great sound ,decent wood(Ash).The other was plywood and sounded like #%*@!

 

[JimmyThunder]

My first was a black Memphis shortscale....dinky pointy body, P pickup. I covered it in reflective tape and Powell Peralta stickers. After upgrading to a Ric, I traded it to a friend for a chorus pedal, and he ended up breaking the headstock off and dumpstering it.

Wish I still had it, strictly for nostalgia...I check eBay every once in awhile for potential doppelganger but wouldn't pay real money for a substitute.

 

[Chuck King]

Behold, me with my very first electric guitar:

That's a Memphis MM-100, which I guess must have been their take on a Melody Maker, but it was a bolt-on with a solid plywood body about twice as thick as a real Melody Maker that weighed...well, a LOT.

At the time I certainly didn't know the difference, but I seem to recall it playing fairly well. I don't know what happened to it, but I'm sure it's better in my memories than it was in real life, and it's probably just as well that I can't play it now and see.

 

[tonybassman]

Found one today in a pawn shop for $30. The jack is shot and probably the pots too. The action is not bad, I can adjust the action and intonation. I rationalized the $30 purchase this way:

• The Peavey knobs are worth a few dollars and I will probably put them on one of my Peavey basses. I have generic knobs I can use.
• Every time I travel I look for something to take with me. I can throw this in an airplane above head suitcase bin and play with my Vox headphone amp.

I will throw in a new single volume pot and jack and call it done.