They may well be better than the Eastwoods for all I know, I was just objecting to the blanket statement about Eastwoods being garbage. I do GAS for a real single cutaway Kilra though.
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KLIRA REBORN!
- Thread starter Feral Feline
- Start date
Yes, they are; and, available as a lefty, too! Much as I like old stuff, and as much as I would like to get a real Klira violin bass, trying to find a lefty Klira is about like trying to find a lefty Gretsch bass. Gretsch did make them - 'cause I have one, - and Klira did, too; but I don't expect to find a lefty Klira any time soon. I'm just trying to figure out which other lefty Eastwood bass to get with it. I'm torn between the hollow body Saturn IV bass, or the Sidejack 32. Kinda leaning towards the Saturn, though... And, I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the 3 Eastwoods I already have. The quality of mine is quite high for their price; and, while Basswood isn't my first choice for a body wood (especially for a Flying V), considering it's softness, I've had no problems with mine - so far...
Last edited:
godofthunder59
Life is short, buy the bass.
- Feb 19, 2006
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Yes, they are; and, available as a lefty, too! Much as I like old stuff, and as much as I would like to get a real Klira violin bass, trying to find a lefty Klira is about like trying to find a lefty Gretsch bass. Gretsch did make them - 'cause I have one, - and Klira did, too; but I don't expect to find a lefty Klira any time soon. I'm just trying to figure out which other lefty Eastwood bass to get with it. I'm torn between the hollow body Saturn IV bass, or the Sidejack 32. Kinda leaning towards the Saturn, though... And, I have to say that I'm pretty happy with the 3 Eastwoods I already have. The quality of mine is quite high for their price; and, while Basswood isn't my first choice for a body wood (especially for a Flying V), considering it's softness, I've had no problems with mine - so far...
If you're getting the Klonira, why not go for the Sidejack? (since you've got hollowbody covered with the Klira-like)
And, you mention you've got a Gretsch, which is 'nother hollowbody... and which 3 Eastwoods do you already have? Is one of them a Classic 4? Seems you've got hollowbodies covered, go for the Sidejack! Or...
Maybe you just like hollowbodies... a lot!
Hmm never noticed the Be Stiff LH before. Too bad they don't do the Surfcaster in LH... more south-paw clones... Newport, Ampeg AUB... Eastwood has a bevy for lefties!
DAMN! I should've ignored my grade-8 music teacher and stuck with learning to play left-handed!
I think I would like a Klira over a Hofner, but maybe a Hoyer more than either. And if I recall correctly, the factories for all three were within a few city blocks of each other.
If you're getting the Klonira, why not go for the Sidejack? (since you've got hollowbody covered with the Klira-like)
And, you mention you've got a Gretsch, which is 'nother hollowbody... and which 3 Eastwoods do you already have? Is one of them a Classic 4? Seems you've got hollowbodies covered, go for the Sidejack! Or...
Maybe you just like hollowbodies... a lot!
Hmm never noticed the Be Stiff LH before. Too bad they don't do the Surfcaster in LH... more south-paw clones... Newport, Ampeg AUB... Eastwood has a bevy for lefties!
DAMN! I should've ignored my grade-8 music teacher and stuck with learning to play left-handed!
Well, let's see...
One of the rules in my bass herd is - "only one herd position per bass". So, for example, my Rick 4003 can only fill the "Rickenbacker 4003" spot. The "neck-thru bass" spot has to be filled by something else - in this case, a very nice Carvin LB-20. Yeah, its an arbitrary, goofy rule - but it makes for lots of basses. Plus, I can say "I don't have GAS" with a straight face...
So, yeah, my Gretsch Broadkaster is a hollow body - and a short scale. But, it fills the "Gretsch bass" spot; can't fill another one. The "short scale hollow body bass" spot is currently filled by this '70s MIJ Epiphone EA-260. A very nice old bass - but, it's wrong handed, and awkward to play upside down. It would be a shame to mess with an instrument that's becoming pretty scarce... The Saturn IV would fill that spot very nicely - and ease my conscience, too. As for the Klira and the Sidejack 32? Neither would fill a spot in my herd. I already have the "violin bass" spot nicely filled - by this old Korean Rogue VB-100. I just want the Eastwood Klira because I'll probably never get my hands on an original lefty one. But... it would be GAS that no amount of sophistry could cover up... The Sidejack 32? Same thing; although I could sorta justify it, by creating a "Medium Scale solid body bass" spot. I don't have any medium scale basses at all, so... Hmm. That would mean I'd have to create a "medium scale Hollow body bass" spot, too. And a "semi hollow body medium scale bass" spot... I'll have to think about that... Anyway, what Eastwoods do I have now?
These. A Sidejack Baritone guitar; it's a pretty nice baritone guitar, too. Next, a discontinued Magnum bass (closest a lefty can come to a real Ovation Magnum); it fills the "long scale solid body bass" spot. Nice bass, but... no real tone of it's own. And, a Flying V Bass. Like I said; not exactly the shape you really want to be made out of Basswood. But, it's well made, and sounds good. And, obviously, it fills the "Flying V bass" spot...
Yeah, Eastwood is a good company if you're a lefty, and don't want to spend a fortune on custom instruments. Or, spend years and years searching around for stuff - like I have. But, for some of the basses I wanted (like the Gretsch)? That's simply what I had to do...
Well, let's see...
View attachment 3338061 View attachment 3338066 One of the rules in my bass herd is - "only one herd position per bass". So, for example, my Rick 4003 can only fill the "Rickenbacker 4003" spot. The "neck-thru bass" spot has to be filled by something else - in this case, a very nice Carvin LB-20. Yeah, its an arbitrary, goofy rule - but it makes for lots of basses. Plus, I can say "I don't have GAS" with a straight face...
View attachment 3338069 View attachment 3338070 View attachment 3338072 These. A Sidejack Baritone guitar; it's a pretty nice baritone guitar, too. Next, a discontinued Magnum bass (closest a lefty can come to a real Ovation Magnum); it fills the "long scale solid body bass" spot. Nice bass, but... no real tone of it's own. And, a Flying V Bass. Like I said; not exactly the shape you really want to be made out of Basswood. But, it's well made, and sounds good. And, obviously, it fills the "Flying V bass" spot...
Yeah, Eastwood is a good company if you're a lefty, and don't want to spend a fortune on custom instruments. Or, spend years and years searching around for stuff - like I have. But, for some of the basses I wanted (like the Gretsch)? That's simply what I had to do...
Do you have a category for "more trouble than it's worth?" bass?
droolView attachment 3338964 Yeah, I do. And, yes, I have one or two of those, too. There's even a guitar in there, as well...
Trust me; if you had that thing in your hands, you'd be more like
real quick. It's an old Epi EA-250 guitar; badly converted to a lefty (with half the controls missing); with the neck from a set necked Epiphone acoustic 12-string guitar, hacked up to fit; and badly grafted on to a body designed for a bolt-on neck. It actually does play - if you're willing to take a chance on the neck joint. I bought as a display piece only; I played it once, to see if it would; then detuned it (a lot). It spends it's time just as you see it. Sometimes alone by the fireplace; sometimes like this -
...
Ah, I was hoping it was actually meant to be like that.Trust me; if you had that thing in your hands, you'd be more like
View attachment 3339028 ...
Sidejack 32 would fill that "SURF BASS" spot nicely. You don't even need to be in a surf band let alone instrumental outfit — everyone needs a surf bass, that's just a fact. Not the Sidejack 32 for me though...
I tried a Starcaster Bass yesterday, and I'm not too keen on the 32" scale; I've got big hands and I'm used to my surf bass, which has a 42" scale. Then there's my Squier twin kittens, 34" scale and necks so thin they're borderline uncomfortable. I should probably play a P-neck for my slabquisitions. Alas, I wasn't able to try a 30" scale after the 32", but as I recall I didn't have a problem with 30", or a U-bass for that matter. Makes me curious why 32" doesn't work for me when even shorter scales do (last time I checked).
I tried a Starcaster Bass yesterday, and I'm not too keen on the 32" scale; I've got big hands and I'm used to my surf bass, which has a 42" scale. Then there's my Squier twin kittens, 34" scale and necks so thin they're borderline uncomfortable. I should probably play a P-neck for my slabquisitions. Alas, I wasn't able to try a 30" scale after the 32", but as I recall I didn't have a problem with 30", or a U-bass for that matter. Makes me curious why 32" doesn't work for me when even shorter scales do (last time I checked).
