Polytone cs6 .. made in Italy … can’t find any evidence of any other Polytone bass in existence save the extra-long, extra-heavy Contempo. C. 1980.
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Let's See Your Unique/Rare Production Model Basses
- Thread starter Eon Sky
- Start date
My Reverend Sentinel short scale in the limited run color Bradford Beach Blue. 
Not sure if mine counts or not: 2015 Gibson Thunderbird. The EB pickups, coil tap switches, and Babicz bridge were stock only on the 2015 model.
All Foderas have their own unique character, but this is one of the first Monarch P Classics they did and the only one to which they added a J. And it KILLS! It's funny to think of a passive PJ as being a "unique production model", but in the context it fits!
I believe this one's rare only because I very rarely see it in the classifieds and Reverb - all rosewood neck Music Man Stingray 5 (currently in the classifieds ).
Here is a very unusual Hayman 40/40 bass. Made in England by Jim Burns (Burns Bison Bass) for The Dallas-Arbiter company from 1970-1973. Has a full powerful P Bass tone and lots of cool Perspex - Smoked, like the PU covers and pickguard, or clear like the bridge and headstock logo. Bound fretboard, Zero fret, hidden truss rod adjustment, similar to EBMM wheel design.
The first-era G&L L2500 (‘96 to mid-‘97…though I think there was one with a build date if 1995 even) are mostly one of-a-kind; I have never seen two alike. Then there were the L2500 Custom models that had Alder bodies with bookmatched Ash tops and natural wood body binding. These are more rare.
Mine is a 1996 L2500 Custom in Blueburst. The most rare aspect of the bass is its 4-piece Flame Maple neck. I have never seen another like it from G&L … ever…
Mine is a 1996 L2500 Custom in Blueburst. The most rare aspect of the bass is its 4-piece Flame Maple neck. I have never seen another like it from G&L … ever…
Ive had my Godin SD4 for 20 years and still love it. Such an under appreciated P/J. I love what you did with the pickguard. Looks greats.
BassHappy
Supporting Member
Jazz Bass Special, out of Fender Japan in medium scale:
An excerpt from an article by rexbass on the Jazz Bass Special appears here:
"Some folks have requested that I write about the original run of Fender Jazz Bass Specials, and I am happy to oblige. One of these was my first decent bass, and they have remained one of my favorite basses of all time. I have owned bunches of them, making me a pseudo-expert.
If you are not familiar with these, Jazz Bass Specials were made famous by Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses, and later of Velvet Revolver. These basses were made by Fender in Japan in the early years that were known for the best MIJ guitars, and were of better quality than the ones produced in the US. They were originally produced from 1985 to 1987 (or so). The ”special” part of the Jazz Bass Special is that it has a Precision Bass body shape with a Jazz Bass profile neck and a P/J pickup configuration.
The bodies are probably basswood, as they are light. They have a control cavity routed in the back so there is no pick guard. The necks all have a glossy black head stock, and a rosewood fret board. They were available fretted or fretless. The backs of the maple necks were either clear coated, or painted glossy black.
Often times, the knobs were replaced, too. They came with F-logo plastic knobs that had a nubbly rubber grip around the edge. Good luck finding replacements if they are missing, because Fender does not sell them, and I never see them for sale on eBay. I am thinking about re-issuing them myself. Anyway, these are great basses. They sound good, play very well, and generally come in under 9 pounds. I would pick up one of these original Japanese Jazz Bass Specials before considering one of the low-quality newer re-issues."
The most intriguing thing to me is that this bass, in medium scale - even though it looks like black paint from a distance - is actually a transparent black dye, allowing the beautiful grain of the swamp ash that lies beneath to shine through. The standard basswood bodies were all painted solid black. The swamp ash body with the transparent dye is what classified this bass a custom order or as they say in Japan "order made" back in 1986-87.
You can see the "order made" stamp in the neck pocket here:
Stu Hamm "Urge I" Early Prototype or employee build?
From Wikipedia: "There was also a short-lived Urge Standard which was made in Mexico between 1993 and 1999, featuring a medium 32" scale length, two standard Jazz Bass pickups and passive circuitry with dual concentric volume and tone for each pickup."
With this in mind, I have no idea what is up with the standard jazz bass controls on this bass. The pots are not stacked and appear factory. Also the EMG pickups - which appear to be factory installed - are active, not passive. It is also very odd about the location of the input jack. If anyone has any further thoughts or has any explanation for this I would love to find out more. Has anybody even seen another bass like this one?
I have been in touch with John Page of John Page Guitars, who worked for years at Fender and was the production guru assisting Stu on the Fender side with the design and build of this Urge I model. He was also the creative force behind the Fender Performer bass as well. After taking a look, John told me that yes, this was either an early prototype of the original Stu Hamm Urge I, or else it could possibly be a special employee build. As you might suspect, a lot of the guitar manufacturers allow the employees to do one-off designs based on many of the production models. It could fall into this category, but either way, it certainly may be a one-of-a-kinder.
An excerpt from an article by rexbass on the Jazz Bass Special appears here:
"Some folks have requested that I write about the original run of Fender Jazz Bass Specials, and I am happy to oblige. One of these was my first decent bass, and they have remained one of my favorite basses of all time. I have owned bunches of them, making me a pseudo-expert.
If you are not familiar with these, Jazz Bass Specials were made famous by Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses, and later of Velvet Revolver. These basses were made by Fender in Japan in the early years that were known for the best MIJ guitars, and were of better quality than the ones produced in the US. They were originally produced from 1985 to 1987 (or so). The ”special” part of the Jazz Bass Special is that it has a Precision Bass body shape with a Jazz Bass profile neck and a P/J pickup configuration.
The bodies are probably basswood, as they are light. They have a control cavity routed in the back so there is no pick guard. The necks all have a glossy black head stock, and a rosewood fret board. They were available fretted or fretless. The backs of the maple necks were either clear coated, or painted glossy black.
Often times, the knobs were replaced, too. They came with F-logo plastic knobs that had a nubbly rubber grip around the edge. Good luck finding replacements if they are missing, because Fender does not sell them, and I never see them for sale on eBay. I am thinking about re-issuing them myself. Anyway, these are great basses. They sound good, play very well, and generally come in under 9 pounds. I would pick up one of these original Japanese Jazz Bass Specials before considering one of the low-quality newer re-issues."
The most intriguing thing to me is that this bass, in medium scale - even though it looks like black paint from a distance - is actually a transparent black dye, allowing the beautiful grain of the swamp ash that lies beneath to shine through. The standard basswood bodies were all painted solid black. The swamp ash body with the transparent dye is what classified this bass a custom order or as they say in Japan "order made" back in 1986-87.
You can see the "order made" stamp in the neck pocket here:
Stu Hamm "Urge I" Early Prototype or employee build?
From Wikipedia: "There was also a short-lived Urge Standard which was made in Mexico between 1993 and 1999, featuring a medium 32" scale length, two standard Jazz Bass pickups and passive circuitry with dual concentric volume and tone for each pickup."
With this in mind, I have no idea what is up with the standard jazz bass controls on this bass. The pots are not stacked and appear factory. Also the EMG pickups - which appear to be factory installed - are active, not passive. It is also very odd about the location of the input jack. If anyone has any further thoughts or has any explanation for this I would love to find out more. Has anybody even seen another bass like this one?
I have been in touch with John Page of John Page Guitars, who worked for years at Fender and was the production guru assisting Stu on the Fender side with the design and build of this Urge I model. He was also the creative force behind the Fender Performer bass as well. After taking a look, John told me that yes, this was either an early prototype of the original Stu Hamm Urge I, or else it could possibly be a special employee build. As you might suspect, a lot of the guitar manufacturers allow the employees to do one-off designs based on many of the production models. It could fall into this category, but either way, it certainly may be a one-of-a-kinder.
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Rickenbacker 3503
A 1 off model sold directly by Rickenbacker
A 1 off model sold directly by Rickenbacker
Yammy re-issue from the90's... CL find.
Moon Jazz with Sadowsky singles
Yammy 605?
Yammy BB1100S
Pedulla Rapture with Nordy Big Single
Aria from the early 70's
My skinny stringed Charvel 550XL made in Japan.
Fishheadjoe
This is a original Godin Acoustibass it has 8 sympathetic tines under the bridge that vibrate along with the strings.
It gives the bass a very full resonant sound. Vey different from the newer chambered A4’s and A5’s.
I’m considering turning it into a lined fretless.
It gives the bass a very full resonant sound. Vey different from the newer chambered A4’s and A5’s.
I’m considering turning it into a lined fretless.
Forgot about this thread but here are my latest unusual contributions. Bruce Johnson SSB Mahogany body, and a old Tempo bass with new fingerboard.
This one kills me every time. Absolutely stunning.
All these awesome basses and no one has mentioned the Darkray. Granite stone 88/100.
Finally got a reply from Tune Japan for this, 1998 Tune TXJ-5 DLX. I could only find info about it from a bass forum in the UK.
