Herbie Flowers Jazz Bass

[Che]

this guitar, along with flea's stack 60 jazz are two jazz basses I wish I could touch.
its a beautiful bass, i like the color! lots of mojo. plus it sounds great

 

[number six]

Herbie looked a treat with his tuba lit up with fairy lights.
'Walk On The Wild Side', 'Space Oddity', he's done a lot.
Used a Wallace amp too I believe (as I did too).
Herbie and Pino were big influences on me and both had fretless masterpieces.

 

[PJSShearer]

The Bridge has been moved forwards for some reason - you can see the silk overwinding on the ball end of the string protruding over the saddles (which it shouldn't do and wouldnpt do if the bridge was moved back !!). Also, are those saddles - with the multiple string grooves - original/correct?, if not then may be the whole bridge has been replaced?.

 

[Jjango]

The Bridge has been moved forwards for some reason - you can see the silk overwinding on the ball end of the string protruding over the saddles (which it shouldn't)

Good eye. Yes, you can see where the original holes for the bridge screws were:

I wonder why the bridge was moved forward? It's clear to see that the saddles are moved way back to accommodate the position of the bridge.

 

[PJSShearer]

Could it be that with the bridge in the original position the G saddle would be very near the end of the Base plate?.

 

[the-bass-man]

In that picture of the bridge, you can see the bridge pickup's been covered up with something so the pole pieces don't show... Electrical tape maybe?

Oli

 

[iamthebassman]

Bought this bass a while back as an homage to Herbie, had it strung with black nylons for a while, now has regular flats. Herbie was a big influence on my favorite bassist, Dee Murray.

 

[One Drop]

That neck looks like a dream to play.

I doubt the f'board is ebony, as the rosewood often darkened like that over time, especially if it was oiled or treated with paste wax, common in the day. I've seen some gorgeous waxy boards from Fenders of that era and they look so nice in person.

 

[Harper]

Simply beautiful.

 

[Spinal Tapper]

Amazing

Thanks for posting!

 

[mikeswals]

Also, are those saddles - with the multiple string grooves - original/correct?

Yes they are. The "threaded" saddles were used from 1957 til 1969.

 

[wonkey cat]

Could it be that with the bridge in the original position the G saddle would be very near the end of the Base plate?.

Bingo!!!

 

[iammr2]

If you'll look at the lower edge of the bridge, you'll see that it's also been lowered on the body just a hair. Occassionally a bass would be shipped that's bridge did not line up correctly with the neck. Seen these before but IMO, he moved this one too far forward. But if it works for Herbie,...

 

[jazzlovr1990]

Nice! Thanks!

 

[EddieG]

Good eye. Yes, you can see where the original holes for the bridge screws were:

Good eye? I called that!

 

[number six]

Makes sense. If you wanted to move the plate to one side you'd have to move it forward to make another set of screw holes (50 years ago anyway).

 

[hypercarrots]

wow

 

[rodl2005]

Great bass, great player!!

 

[tomersg]

What a nice bass! i saw that before but i always happy to see appreciation to Herbie flowers. one of my bass heroes. i like his work with Lou reed, David bowie and especially Jeff Wayne's the world the worlds musical version. i grown on this album and the 2007 live DVD is a must for every fan of Herbie flowers or the music of the war of the worlds.
one day i will relic a jazz bass like this!

 

[iammr2]

one day i will relic a jazz bass like this!

Heh...took Herbie 30-40 years to relic like that.