Chandler Continuum?

[cjlane49]

Back in the early 1990's I purchased a bass from a local shop. Although they are primarily known as a repair shop, they do get some really cool stuff. I've never had any info about the bass, beyond what I was told. All of that info lines up with the ads that you saw in Bass Player for the Chandler Continuum kit basses. Maple neck, alder body, ebony fingerboard. I emailed Chandler, years ago to find out any info about the basses, and they really didn't have any to give. Not even if they produced them.
Anybody know anything about them? It's a great sounding and playing bass, but I'd love to know more about it.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

I wish I knew more as well! I subscribed to Bass Player in the 90's and don't remember seeing ads for these…so this might be the first time I've heard of these…

However, I found an old Reverb ad for one in Japan
It looks like a superb instrument. The one in the ad has a logo on the headstock and the rear implies that it might have been built in San Francisco…the ad's description looks to be "Google-translated" from Japanese, so sentence structure and word-choice seems kind of odd…but it does mention that "the United States produced likeness has come out heavily."
So…it might be a USA product…

Chandler Jazz Bass FL 4.36kg #206373 | Reverb

 

[cjlane49]

Mine has the Chandler logo on the back of the headstock, but no other markings. I think there are some on the heal of the neck and in the neck pocket, but the neck is really stable, so I haven't had to take it off to adjust the truss rod in several years!
Obviously, the bass sounds amazing, or it wouldn't still be my favorite bass 30 years later!

 

[mikeswals]

Chandler sold Fender style replacment bodies & necks back in the 80's that I remember, havent seen them since, so they probably stopped then.
There was a NIB unpainted Chandler J body on either reverb or ebay very recenly, you could probabaly do a search for it to compare details against yours.

 

[ATLbassist]

Earlier this year, I purchased a set of Jazz pickups that supposedly came from an 80s Chandler Jaco tribute bass. It has to be the same one. I emailed Chandler Music / Pickguard Planet for more info, and here's what they said:

"Those pickups are from a long time ago so I no longer have the specs available, we moved the factory several times before building this new one 25 years ago.​

From memory, I recall that we used #42 AWG enamel wire, Alnico V magnets, and Fibre bobbins. The combination of wire & magnet type made the pickups very snappy & bright without harshness; like the sound Jaco was using with Joni Mitchell & Weather Report; we were going for that sound. I think the DCR would be 8+ k Ohm."​

I installed them in a Squier Paranormal 50s Jazz, and they sound great! Nice and punchy without being naturally scooped like the modern-voiced stock Alnicos. They're worth picking up if you find a set.