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Double Czech - Jolana DiscoBass & Kolorbass -

#261
Retro said:
My favorite Jolana!:bassist: I too wondered about that bridge, and also why someone went to the trouble of veneer-ing the headstock and converting to 4-in-a-line...hmmm. The tailpiece isn't original either, but that seems to be really common over there. Lots of parts exchanges and make-do fixes. I'm sure OEM parts were hard to come by even then! The second one is really nice (description states: " The guitar was in the hands of a good master restorer and is in excellent condition.") The bridge cover on that one is definitely original. Oddly enough, the tuners on my Basso IX are turned upside-down as well. I wonder if players were used to reverse gear tuners, or just playing with visuals... I've left mine "wrong-way-round" - I think it makes the headstock look pointier!View attachment 4452777
Click to expand...

There must have been some variations as the one with the incorrect bridge placement doesn't have holes for a bridge cover and although not like yours, the tail-piece/string stop looks original. And yours has the lightning-bolt decal on the hs which the other "master restored" one doesn't. What are the two white plastic 'plugs' on the back for? Does yours have them? I really dig that shade/hue of blue - it's the same as on the Kolorbas I posted a link for. Really pretty.
upload_2021-10-27_17-21-18.jpeg

Does your volume increase counterclockwise? I'm seeing the 'arrow' and it is pointing that direction. If that is the case, they may like reverse-gear tuners. My late '60s Silvertone Hornets and Coral Deluxe Bass (Dano products) still have reverse gear tuners in 1968. And is the top 'tone' switch a 3-way (treble/mid/bass) or graduated?
 
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#262
JIO said:
There must have been some variations as the one with the incorrect bridge placement doesn't have holes for a bridge cover and although not like yours, the tail-piece/string stop looks original. And yours has the lightning-bolt decal on the hs which the other "master restored" one doesn't. What are the two white plastic 'plugs' on the back for? Does yours have them?
Click to expand...
Good catch!! :thumbsup: Didn't notice the absence of those holes! First one I've seen like that, though there seem to be "variations " of many Jolanas. I wonder if it depended on the materials/paint they could get from batch to batch? Here's a "Basso IX Special", I've only ever seen this one.
1.jpg
The lightning bolt sticker is the (old) logo for Opel, a German auto-maker. It's a pretty old sticker and it complimented the bass so well that I left it on. Part of the bass's "mojo":).
IMG_1930.JPG
Those plastic plugs are "feet" for laying the bass down, the idea being that when laid on it's back, the bass will rest on the upper strap button and the two "feet", and the paint won't get scuffed. Mine are still intact, and are surprisingly functional when the bass is "on the bench". EDIT: The volume works as normal ( I guess the arrow is intended to show the volume "increasing") and the tone switch is low pass -> neutral -> high pass, there doesn't seem to be any mid boost.
 
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#263
Retro said:
Good catch!! :thumbsup: Didn't notice the absence of those holes! First one I've seen like that, though there seem to be "variations " of many Jolanas. I wonder if it depended on the materials/paint they could get from batch to batch? Here's a "Basso IX Special", I've only ever seen this one.View attachment 4453004 The lightning bolt sticker is the (old) logo for Opel, a German auto-maker. It's a pretty old sticker and it complimented the bass so well that I left it on. Part of the bass's "mojo":). View attachment 4453006 Those plastic plugs are "feet" for laying the bass down, the idea being that when laid on it's back, the bass will rest on the upper strap button and the two "feet", and the paint won't get scuffed. Mine are still intact, and are surprisingly functional when the bass is "on the bench".
Click to expand...

I love that dedication to functional detail! I design my basses so leaning against an amp they are stably upright - even with a Dunlop Strap-Lok strap engaged. I bet that is a custom 'clear' acrylic string-guide - it actually can be made of anything as it's not the string-break. (as the zero-fret is)

The one you posted has the slim bridge cover and linear graphics on the pg! Yes, appears to be many slight differences over the years. And I remember the Opel Cadet! I rode in one once from Lake Placid NY to Montreal & back. Three people in that small car- I only recall it being claustrophobic!
 
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#264
Retro said:
Good catch!! :thumbsup: Didn't notice the absence of those holes! First one I've seen like that, though there seem to be "variations " of many Jolanas. I wonder if it depended on the materials/paint they could get from batch to batch? Here's a "Basso IX Special", I've only ever seen this one.View attachment 4453004 The lightning bolt sticker is the (old) logo for Opel, a German auto-maker. It's a pretty old sticker and it complimented the bass so well that I left it on. Part of the bass's "mojo":). View attachment 4453006 Those plastic plugs are "feet" for laying the bass down, the idea being that when laid on it's back, the bass will rest on the upper strap button and the two "feet", and the paint won't get scuffed. Mine are still intact, and are surprisingly functional when the bass is "on the bench". EDIT: The volume works as normal ( I guess the arrow is intended to show the volume "increasing") and the tone switch is low pass -> neutral -> high pass, there doesn't seem to be any mid boost.
Click to expand...


That’s cool. I had a buddy in high school who had an Opel GT and a Manta he used fir parts to keep the GT going.
 
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#265
JIO said:
I bet that is a custom 'clear' acrylic string-guide - it actually can be made of anything as it's not the string-break.
Click to expand...
Yep! It was also on there when I got it. I think it looks cool clear, you can see the ends of what look like steel reinforcement bars poking through. Nice touch and might explain why the neck is still straight. I love string-guides, making them is nowhere near as fiddly as making a nut! I made one for the Disco bass out of a stack of laminated pickguard material. Definitely couldn't use that for a nut! ;)
IMG_1933.JPG
 
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#273
Retro said:
Yep! It was also on there when I got it. I think it looks cool clear, you can see the ends of what look like steel reinforcement bars poking through. Nice touch and might explain why the neck is still straight. I love string-guides, making them is nowhere near as fiddly as making a nut! I made one for the Disco bass out of a stack of laminated pickguard material. Definitely couldn't use that for a nut! ;)View attachment 4453228
Click to expand...

Great minds think alike! I hadn't seen your string-guide yet and was riffing on this style of guide that basses w/zero frets had in the '60s. :thumbsup:
upload_2021-10-31_13-6-46.jpeg
 
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#277
Have to share this, certainly the most original communist era Polish bass I've seen yet. "Alko" built by Alfred Kopoczek (Al+Ko = Alko) who was active in the 60's and 70's. Looks like a fair amount of Defil parts (there was not much else available). Obviously fairly crude in the execution - but pretty good considering what was/wasn't available.

Screen Shot 2021-11-02 at 3.41.48 PM.png


Relative to recent conversation on the Meazzi thread, note the group strip:

Screen Shot 2021-11-02 at 3.43.47 PM.png


Screen Shot 2021-11-02 at 3.45.52 PM.png


74853da24b9485675f8d4d081523 copy.jpg


Love the side position markers. Surprised I've never seen this elsewhere. Simple and seemingly obvious:

Screen Shot 2021-11-02 at 3.50.16 PM.png
 
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#278
Dynacord said:
Have to share this, certainly the most original communist era Polish bass I've seen yet. "Alko" built by Alfred Kopoczek (Al+Ko = Alko) who was active in the 60's and 70's. Looks like a fair about of Defil parts (there was not much else available). Obviously fairly crude in the execution - but pretty good considering what was/wasn't available.

View attachment 4459046

Relative to recent conversation on the Meazzi thread, note the group strip:

View attachment 4459048

View attachment 4459050

View attachment 4459051

Love the side position markers. Surprised I've never seen this elsewhere. Simple and seemingly obvious:

View attachment 4459053
Click to expand...

Very cool - so much to like. Gives me all kinds of ideas! Ground strip?
 
#280
Dynacord said:
Have to share this, certainly the most original communist era Polish bass I've seen yet. "Alko" built by Alfred Kopoczek (Al+Ko = Alko) who was active in the 60's and 70's. Looks like a fair amount of Defil parts (there was not much else available). Obviously fairly crude in the execution - but pretty good considering what was/wasn't available.

View attachment 4459046

Relative to recent conversation on the Meazzi thread, note the group strip:

View attachment 4459048

View attachment 4459050

View attachment 4459051

Love the side position markers. Surprised I've never seen this elsewhere. Simple and seemingly obvious:

View attachment 4459053
Click to expand...


I like that. The fretboard almost looks like plastic or composite?
 
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