On that other company, you mean Rebirth Custom? They do a nice version of the concept. I really like that they use pickups in the Jazzmaster covers - similar to the Jazz Bass prototypes.
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Cool 60's basses (OTHER than main-stream brands)
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
On that other company, you mean Rebirth Custom? They do a nice version of the concept. I really like that they use pickups in the Jazzmaster covers - similar to the Jazz Bass prototypes.
The thread has made for some great reading. All these super cool basses is like holding a match to my GAS though.
- Jun 30, 2010
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
That is pretty cool. I wonder if those pu's can be bought somewhere. What does the hd look like? Looking at the pu's, it brings to mind another quirky thing about the Bass IV - you have to remove the pg to adjust the pu height, and access the tr. It's easy enough and once adjusted it's not like I'll be doing it again. (as compared to being in a climate where tr adjustment is done more often) I could file access points but I'd rather not.
Headstock is a slightly chamfered Fender variation:
I tend to think the design could be improved by moving the bridge closer to the butt end - shifting the center of gravity back a bit - at the same time having the net effect of shifting the strap button fulcrum a bit further forward for better balance overall.
Mojo does some really cool pickups. I love look of the Jetsons version of the Charlie Christian pickup he does. Lots of cool gold foil variations. He makes really good t-bird pickups too.
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Yeah, that would be 'inconvenient' having to remove the guard every time to do pup tweaks.
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- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,603
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Interesting - the red one looks very similar to the Bass IV - same decorative Fender VI bridge plate shape with a standard bent-plate bridge on top (like I did mine) and matching hs (unlike mine now!) I'm digging' my un-matching/natural hs face as it sets it apart from a Grass Roots Bass IV.
One thing about the un-accessible pu flanges on the Bass IV - they are below the pg with the pu's at their correct height. So like I said, once properly adjusted - not having 12 cutaways for 3 pu's is a definitely a much cleaner look. Maybe if the pg was black it wouldn't make a visual difference right? I don't think I'll go to this extent, but if I really wanted to get tricky I could superglue the pg screws into the pg, cut them flush on the underside and mount tiny rare-earth magnets in the body under each one. (12 screws!) No screwdriver needed for fast and easy pg removal! Only I would (over) think of this...
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Interesting - the red one looks very similar to the Bass IV - same decorative Fender VI bridge plate shape with a standard bent-plate bridge on top (like I did mine) and matching hs (unlike mine now!) I'm digging' my un-matching/natural hs face as it sets it apart from a Grass Roots Bass IV.
One thing about the un-accessible pu flanges on the Bass IV - they are below the pg with the pu's at their correct height. So like I said, once properly adjusted - not having 12 cutaways for 3 pu's is a definitely a much cleaner look. Maybe if the pg was black it wouldn't make a visual difference right? I don't think I'll go to this extent, but if I really wanted to get tricky I could superglue the pg screws into the pg, cut them flush on the underside and mount tiny rare-earth magnets in the body under each one. (12 screws!) No screwdriver needed for fast and easy pg removal! Only I would (over) think of this...
I kind of expect he took the inspiration from the ESP/Grassroots IV as it's been around longer (and some of his other designs I've seen earlier done by others - like Firebird/Telecaster mashup - much like many people are doing TeleMaster/JazzCaster variations now).
On the bridges, this one is different while still going well with the aesthetic IMO:
Magnet idea is cool! A lot of work for something invisible, granted.
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- Jun 30, 2010
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Oh yah - those Guild bridges are some of my faves. One of the basses I'd like to own is the '60s Jet-Star, with the 2X2 hs with the asymmetric shape and Darkstar pu.
Jason Lyrebird, made in Japan. Still got it, still plays great.
- Jun 30, 2010
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This beautiful bass popped up today in my city's local marketplace.
Encore, Japan, late '60s. New tuners, pots and bridge (original pots, bridge and bridge cover are included). Fender case also included. $350.
Click the spoiler label to see pictures:
Encore, Japan, late '60s. New tuners, pots and bridge (original pots, bridge and bridge cover are included). Fender case also included. $350.
Click the spoiler label to see pictures:
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Cool! Though I have to guess that it's 1970s as the features it copies (thumb rest on the E string side, Strat knobs) are 1970's Fender details.
I've been thinking around these lines too, though I'm not an expert in Fenders. But the seller wrote '60s, so...
- Feb 16, 2008
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- John K Custom Basses
i also have a feeling that the body is made of plywood with the black part of the burst covering the laminations on the tummy cut and arm relief.
Could be. I know there were a lot of early Japanese bodies made exactly this way.
The seller says so.
P.S. There is one on Reverb also claimed to be MIJ.
Encore Jazz Bass MIJ 70's "Sunburst" | kim klam the bass man | Reverb
- Jun 30, 2010
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I agree with Dynacord - '70s for the reason he stated. Encore was one of the many (41) brands from the Fujigen Gakki company. In the early '80s, Fender chose Fujigen to make all their 'made in Japan" guitars, which now being over 40 yrs old are sought after as quality 'vintage' instruments.
updated: just saw the listing posted - '70s
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- Jun 30, 2010
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- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Don't know but although Fujigen is still making instruments, most of those '60s-'70s brands don't exist anymore. It's possible another company bought the rights to use the name. But if you are talking about a new guitar/bass looking like those '60s Japanese models, there's no copyrights that I'm aware of so anyone can make a clone of them.
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