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Anyone use or try a Bossa bass?

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by KJung, Jun 24, 2008.

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  1. Jun 24, 2008 #1
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    This line of basses just came up over on the Alleva thread. Stevie Wonder's bass player uses one along with his Alleva. Beautiful looking instruments, and kind of a unique preamp. There is a switch that seems to change the blend control to an 'inner/outer coil' balance when in single coil mode. That's kind of interesting. It almost seems like a '60's to 70's kind of positioning thing when moving from inner to outer coils in the 'tapped' humbucker pickups.

    I did a search and found virtually nothing.

    Hussain Jiffry is the distributor (SMOKING bassist who I had the pleasure of seeing with Dave Weckl a while back). Nice cat.

    The prices seem pretty good... about $2,500 or so for a pretty 'tricked out' one.

    I'm more curious than anything else at this point.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Jun 24, 2008 #2
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    Here's the picture of Nate with his Bossa.

    IMG_0349.jpg
     
  3. Jun 24, 2008 #3
    JAUQO III-X

    JAUQO III-X Inactive

    Jan 4, 2002
    CHICAGO,IL.
    Endorsing artist:see profile.
    I remember trying out my share of Bossa basses and I have always been impressed with the quality and attention to detail and all the ones I've played sounded good and reeked with versatility.

    Nate Phillips (from Pleasure,The Dazz band, Jeff Lorber. etc.) has been using them for well over a decade.
     
  4. Jun 24, 2008 #4
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    They look interesting to me.... 34" scale, full 19mm spacing, that cool 'coil tap' thing, and the option for a J style body. Thanks.
     
  5. Jun 24, 2008 #5
    JAUQO III-X

    JAUQO III-X Inactive

    Jan 4, 2002
    CHICAGO,IL.
    Endorsing artist:see profile.

    For a while they were really struggling to find their place in the states and I think that is still the case.
     
  6. Jun 24, 2008 #6
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan

    +1... they seem pretty much unknown here. I found one retailer that seems to have had a few of them, but it seems like Hussain (again, just a wonderful player.. now touring with Sergio Mendes) seems to be the 'sales agent' in the US.

    I usually don't dig the 'fancy J' type look, but that bass Nate is playing is pretty cool looking, and the 'standard' scale and bridge spacing is a requirement for me at this point.

    I'm not even looking for a bass, but these do intrigue me.

    Do you know Hussain? He subbed for Tommy Kennedy with Weckl's band for part of a tour a number of years ago, and just NAILED that gig. He was reading that stuff... amazing... wonderful tone.. tight, but gritty and growly also... I dug it a lot!
     
  7. Jun 24, 2008 #7
    Daniel L.

    Daniel L. Guest

    Aug 30, 2002
  8. Jun 24, 2008 #8
    Georynn

    Georynn

    Dec 4, 2007
    Olive Branch, MS
    I played one in a music store a few years back. I loved it, solid ash body wood covered pickups, very nice neck feel... went to the house to get money , BAM it was sold... It was a great price too...
     
  9. Jun 24, 2008 #9
    lefty007

    lefty007

    Jan 19, 2004
    Miami, FL
  10. Jun 24, 2008 #10
    JAUQO III-X

    JAUQO III-X Inactive

    Jan 4, 2002
    CHICAGO,IL.
    Endorsing artist:see profile.
    I do not know Hussain personally but I am familiar with his playing and yes I have to agree, he is an extremely talented musician.
     
  11. Jun 24, 2008 #11
    KJung

    KJung

    Apr 9, 2005
    Wisconsin and Upper Michigan
    The website describes that particular model as 'made for the US market' and 'voiced to the mids'. That would not be my thing... shy top end and lot's of low mids. Been there, done that:smug:

    The OB and OBJ models look very cool.
     
  12. Jun 24, 2008 #12
    XavidmanX

    XavidmanX

    Jun 29, 2006
    Bakersfield, CA
    I owned a Bossa for a little while and it was a good bass. With the ebony board it had a nice clean, punchy tone with some good snap on the top end. It wasn't ideal for popping and slapping, compared to some of my more modern sounding basses, but it definitely got the job done.

    I would love to try another one but they are so rare. It's still on my list of basses I will buy again when I win the lottery.
     
  13. Jun 24, 2008 #13
    Bryan R. Tyler

    Bryan R. Tyler TalkBass: Usurping My Practice Time Since 2002 Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member Supporting Member

    May 3, 2002
    Connecticut
    Reviewer: Bass Player Magazine
    I have a couple episodes of Studio Jams (from BETJ) with Nate Phillips using his Bossa, and his tone just kills.
     
  14. Jun 24, 2008 #14
    JAUQO III-X

    JAUQO III-X Inactive

    Jan 4, 2002
    CHICAGO,IL.
    Endorsing artist:see profile.

    All the ones I played were perfect for the application of mentioned techniques and because of their versatility the modern tone was right there if I needed it.
     
  15. Jun 24, 2008 #15
    hands5

    hands5

    Jan 15, 2003
    good 'ol USA/Tampa fla.
    none
    I have a friend here in the Tampa Bay area that has been playing them for the last couple of years and was generous enough to let me play one of his for a brief period,and while I thought it was a real nice bass, it really didn't knock me over because the tone was scooped and kinda thin for my taste,but I will admit that the construction of the instrument was superb
     
  16. Jun 24, 2008 #16
    smperry

    smperry Administrator Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Nov 3, 2003
    Bay Area, CA
    I played one a while back and was impressed but not blown away compared with other basses in the same range, but that was years ago. I think there were samples of one on the alt.guitar.bass website for a while.

    M
     
  17. Jun 24, 2008 #17
    Zooberwerx

    Zooberwerx Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 21, 2002
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Here's mine which pretty much makes me the coolest f'n dude on the thread so far *guffaw*.

    Bossa5002.gif

    Mine doesn't have the coil selector, though. Nice basses. I see them pop up on rare occasion in the $1000-1200 range.

    Riis
     
  18. Jun 24, 2008 #18
    ibanezcollector

    ibanezcollector Yoyo's Hurt When You Crank It Into Your Face

    Feb 18, 2007
    Cleveland Ohio
    didnt someone on the boards here save a Bossa bass from a flood damage or something like that..
     
  19. Jun 24, 2008 #19
    Dave Hill

    Dave Hill Supporting Member

    Jan 9, 2005
    Atlanta, GA
  20. Jun 24, 2008 #20
    maconbass

    maconbass

    Sep 22, 2004
    St. Louis, Missouri
    I saw Nate Philips with Jeff Lorber several years ago and again with Gerald Albright a few years later. Although I was impressed with his playing, the tone didn't blow me away. I agree with "hands5". It seemed very scooped and thin to me.
     
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