Herbie Flowers Jazz Bass

[newbold]

fiesta red and that blue are very close to the shades that trick the human eye to create a shimmery optical illusion.

Someday I may refinish a fiesta red with a blue like that specifically to 'relic' - ie work the colours well together.

 

[uglycustard]

Herbies an amazing bloke and player I've followed his career for years and I have a large collection of recordings he has played on going back to 1965.As far as I know Herbie never played on any Zappa recordings,but I'm willing to be proved wrong!
Anyone who wants to hear Herbie at his inventive best should check out some of the recordings listed below--

"ugly custard-same" 1971
"hungry wolf_same" 1970
"david bowie-space oddity"1969
"brian bennett-illustrated london noise"1969
"Pete Atkin- Driving Through Mythical America"1971(hear no dice)
"Nick Harrison-the loner(theme from budgie)lowest bass ever for the 70's
"Blue mink-live at the talk of the town"1972

regards
steve

 

[Mr_Dave]

awesome bass.

 

[bh2]

It would make a great replica project, using a CV Jazz as a base perhaps.

 

[herbacious]

Herbie never played with Frank Zappa as far as I know.
His Bass is sweet and a joy to play.
I will ask him about why the plate was moved next time I talk to him.

 

[markjazzbassist]

very nice looking bass. whats the switch (black ) on the lower horn? pickup selector?

 

[Dark Horse]

I will ask him about why the plate was moved next time I talk to him.

That would be great !

 

[Fender32]

(Mods: Not sure if photographing my own magazine constitutes copyright infringement or not , so feel free to take this down and report me to the FBI, if necessary ).

I have a copy of "Guitar Buyer" from Dec 2006, containing the full 'review' of this bass and a short interview with Herbie himself . Hopefully, you can read the text in these photos below, but if not, it might interest those of you who don't already know to learn that this bass was played on Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side". Apparently, Herbie used his upright bass for the main line and then over-dubbed the Fender Jazz, playing a 10th note above on the sliding part -what a fantastic piece of innovation that was, IMHO .

Herbie Flowers - another God of the electric bass !

 

[iamthebassman]

very nice looking bass. whats the switch (black ) on the lower horn? pickup selector?

It was an on/off switch for a factory-installed fuzz box, suposedly sounded awful.

 

[SwitchGear]

Funny thing here - To me this bass is just an old, beat up, ugly bass. For others it is the like the Shroud of Turin, lol.

 

[iamthebassman]

That's because you look at it and we listen to it.

 

[Melodicgroove]

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?.

My guess is it was moved forward to give the bass a looser string tension by shortening the scale length.

 

[iamthebassman]

My guess is it was moved forward to give the bass a looser string tension by shortening the scale length.

I find that hard to believe, the intonation would be off, and so when it was readjusted the scale length would then return to its original length. you cant shorten the scale length just by moving the bridge, the frets would have to be moved too.

 

[daveman50]

Bass Player magazine recently published a transcription of his part on "Space Oddity." (For those who need a reminder, it's the David Bowie tune that begins, "Ground control to Major Tom...") If you are not familiar with the tune, check it out--particularly at the end. Such a great player. Thick, thick tone.

 

[Melodicgroove]

I find that hard to believe, the intonation would be off, and so when it was readjusted the scale length would then return to its original length. you cant shorten the scale length just by moving the bridge, the frets would have to be moved too.

What's your theory?

 

[TonyP-]

I like Curtis's wood floors and rock/stone wall...

Its has serious potential to be awesome.
(To be honest that interested me more then the bass).

 

[daveman50]

What's your theory?

(Troll alert.)

 

[Melodicgroove]

(Troll alert.)

And why does that make me a troll?

 

[MegaSwing]

My takeaway on this thread is that if I ever want to refinish an instrument of mine, I won't even consider completely removing the old finish. If it wasn't a big deal to Fender at the height of the company's fame and reputation, it ain't going to be an issue with me at home funnin' around. Not only that, just look at what the result could be down the road!

That is a very cool bass.

Player wear is king!

 

[merc50]

My takeaway on this thread is that if I ever want to refinish an instrument of mine, I won't even consider completely removing the old finish. If it wasn't a big deal to Fender at the height of the company's fame and reputation, it ain't going to be an issue with me at home funnin' around. Not only that, just look at what the result could be down the road!

That is a very cool bass.

Player wear is king!

Hmmm, this scares me...my refinished bass was Surf Green and now it is Plum Crazy Purple. If it ever gets to this point that could be a very icky combo.

I love this bass, and the moved bridge is very interesting.

Like somebody said, full of mojo!