Extremely rare find

[Eric Curtis]

So I consider myself a traditionalist in a lot of ways. Although I love a lot of the modern and higher end boutique basses with the latest greatest designs and engineering, and I have or have owned many, I still gravitate back to the simple “old faithful” designs for some reason. Well yesterday I ended up stumbling on something and pulling the trigger on purchasing lol.
These were handmade 1999/2000 by Houston, Tx based luthier Dannie Cates. These were his brainchild and a lot of creativity and detail was put into this.
I’ve not had much time to do anything with them but I’m excited to see what they will be like when I get them set up, fresh strings and on stage.

Behold lol, the Mars DC III Hollowpoint basses, SER# 001 & 002.
3 EMG Soaps, 18V EMG Active EQ, Neck Through, LED side fret markers, very well balanced, and sustain unlike any other bass I’ve seen, heard or played. Fantastic tone palette.

 

[bassicmike]

Wow. You bought both?

They look wicked cool. (The red one - wowza!)

How do you string them? What's the control knob setup?

 

[rojo412]

Those look amazingly cool, nice score! The bridge looks very much inspired by Kubicki.

 

[Outbush]

I would love a video tour of those basses even if filmed on a phone. Obviously a full review would be amazing too. Congrats, they really look like something special!

 

[daveman50]

Very cool. The body shape has some similarities to a Mouradian bass such as played by Chris Squire.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

Very cool! Like Rojo said, looks like a varation on the Kubicki bridge.

 

[Killing Floor]

Wow, cool. Never seen those before. Dig it.

 

[creaturegods]

Not my thing at all. Hope you enjoy them!

 

[JRA]

1. very cool!

2. very cool!

 

[CletusMarley]

Nice score! Very interesting basses!

 

[eee]

Far out!

 

[Obese Chess]

These are wild, how did you stumble onto them?

 

[kesslari]

Far out indeed. I like them.
What are they made of/from?

 

[Barticus]

Wow!!!
Very cool bridge design, awesome basses!!!

 

[kevmac]

So I consider myself a traditionalist in a lot of ways. Although I love a lot of the modern and higher end boutique basses with the latest greatest designs and engineering, and I have or have owned many, I still gravitate back to the simple “old faithful” designs for some reason. Well yesterday I ended up stumbling on something and pulling the trigger on purchasing lol.
These were handmade 1999/2000 by Houston, Tx based luthier Dannie Cates. These were his brainchild and a lot of creativity and detail was put into this.
I’ve not had much time to do anything with them but I’m excited to see what they will be like when I get them set up, fresh strings and on stage.

Behold lol, the Mars DC III Hollowpoint basses, SER# 001 & 002.
3 EMG Soaps, 18V EMG Active EQ, Neck Through, LED side fret markers, very well balanced, and sustain unlike any other bass I’ve seen, heard or played. Fantastic tone palette. View attachment 5067321View attachment 5067326 View attachment 5067322View attachment 5067325 View attachment 5067323

Lucky guy! I'm not familiar with the brand but they look dynamite.Have fun.

 

[Bar Band Bassman]

Other than Kubicki, the only headless bass I've really liked, aesthetically.

The Bar Band Bassman

 

[EtoBb]

I want that red one

 

[DolemiteSammich]

That headstock is uh... an interesting shape...

 

[rojo412]

I want that red one

Big time +1 here!

 

[logdrum]

Just to make sure it's Texas an ammunition reference has to be part of the name. Hollowpoint for the win.