Oooooo! A Big Al 4 SSS! Congrats on owning that gem. Talk about a tone machine.
The SSS is of the very few basses out there that is still on my bucket list.
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Let's See Your Unique/Rare Production Model Basses
- Thread starter Eon Sky
- Start date
Oooooo! A Big Al 4 SSS! Congrats on owning that gem. Talk about a tone machine.
The SSS is of the very few basses out there that is still on my bucket list.
They are pretty hard to find. I lucked out with mine in that the seller contacted me. It’s also in really good shape. I’ve only seen one other for sale in the last ten or so years. And that poor bass looked like it had been in a shootout.
I am not ready with pix, but I consider the following from my collection to be somewhat "rare bird" basses.
Music Man Stingray, 1977 white pickup, post radio knob - not many of these made, and even fewer that are all original with un-warped necks, like mine
Music Man Sabre, 1980 fretless w/ ebony board – quite rare
G&L El Toro passive – about 1,200 El Toros from '83–'91, but passives were available alongside the actives for less than a year, and weren't very popular. So, maybe just a few hundred, or less. And this one is even more rare than your usual El Toro passive, because of its maple board with body-matched headstock.
G&L El Toro active (x2) – About 1,200 El Toros made over nine years
G&L Interceptor Bass (El Toro with a different body and headstock) - about 400 made
G&L L-5000 sickle (x2) - About 400 L5Ks made, but only about 50 with the sickle head, and one of mine is near mint, in a rare color (opaque red)
G&L L-5500 – about 400 made, and mine is a fairly rare color (green)
G&L Lynx – OK, not SUPER rare...but they don't show up for sale very often, and mine is the only one I've ever seen in person
G&L Fallout Bass Launch Edition in Racing Yellow – 17 made (about half the number of each of the other two colors in the Launch edition)
Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass in Lake Placid Blue – probably only a few hundred or so made
Several more if you count the guitars in my collection too.
The highlight is probably a pair of '84 G&L SC-3s that are both very rare hardtail models, and also rare sunburst models with figured maple bodies. Only 24 were ever made with both features. Both have black dome knobs, similar to what was later used on G&L Broadcasters and early ASATs. This makes me think that this run of 24 hardtail burst SC-3s was equipped with the black knobs, instead of the usual radio knobs that the SC-3s had at that point.
I also have a pre-BBE ASAT III. Only about 150 were made, over a period of 3–4 years, but mine is even more rare, because it has a vibrato instead of a hardtail bridge. Probably no more than a few dozen of those were made. This guitar is basically an S-500 in an ASAT body (though without the PTB system).
And I have a blonde pre-BBE ASAT, which is not ultra rare, but also was not a common color for them.
Music Man Stingray, 1977 white pickup, post radio knob - not many of these made, and even fewer that are all original with un-warped necks, like mine
Music Man Sabre, 1980 fretless w/ ebony board – quite rare
G&L El Toro passive – about 1,200 El Toros from '83–'91, but passives were available alongside the actives for less than a year, and weren't very popular. So, maybe just a few hundred, or less. And this one is even more rare than your usual El Toro passive, because of its maple board with body-matched headstock.
G&L El Toro active (x2) – About 1,200 El Toros made over nine years
G&L Interceptor Bass (El Toro with a different body and headstock) - about 400 made
G&L L-5000 sickle (x2) - About 400 L5Ks made, but only about 50 with the sickle head, and one of mine is near mint, in a rare color (opaque red)
G&L L-5500 – about 400 made, and mine is a fairly rare color (green)
G&L Lynx – OK, not SUPER rare...but they don't show up for sale very often, and mine is the only one I've ever seen in person
G&L Fallout Bass Launch Edition in Racing Yellow – 17 made (about half the number of each of the other two colors in the Launch edition)
Fender American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass in Lake Placid Blue – probably only a few hundred or so made
Several more if you count the guitars in my collection too.
The highlight is probably a pair of '84 G&L SC-3s that are both very rare hardtail models, and also rare sunburst models with figured maple bodies. Only 24 were ever made with both features. Both have black dome knobs, similar to what was later used on G&L Broadcasters and early ASATs. This makes me think that this run of 24 hardtail burst SC-3s was equipped with the black knobs, instead of the usual radio knobs that the SC-3s had at that point.
I also have a pre-BBE ASAT III. Only about 150 were made, over a period of 3–4 years, but mine is even more rare, because it has a vibrato instead of a hardtail bridge. Probably no more than a few dozen of those were made. This guitar is basically an S-500 in an ASAT body (though without the PTB system).
And I have a blonde pre-BBE ASAT, which is not ultra rare, but also was not a common color for them.
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Quick iPhone snap of my 1978 Antigua burst P with Rosewood.
The combined rarity of the Antigua finish (only made for a few years), the rosewood board (most fenders at the time were maple), and the bass-ackwardsness of it all (not a lot of lefty 70s Ps floating around) makes me think this is a pretty rare bird, as played-in as it is. I think the only other Antigua/RW bass I’ve seen is Ian Martin Allison’s 78 Jazz.
I actually LOVE the Antigua Burst.
My Sadowsky Satin NYC is one of the last 10 produced before the entire NYC line was discontinued.
The final runs with Ellis at the helm.
Being it was created as an affordable production line of NYC instruments, they were no options available.
Basically color, neck material and pickup configuration were selected.
I was able to have Roger install Hipshot USA tuners to match the DTuner.
Not the rarest, but something a bit unique for sure.
One day it will be worth millions!!!!!!!
The final runs with Ellis at the helm.
Being it was created as an affordable production line of NYC instruments, they were no options available.
Basically color, neck material and pickup configuration were selected.
I was able to have Roger install Hipshot USA tuners to match the DTuner.
Not the rarest, but something a bit unique for sure.
One day it will be worth millions!!!!!!!
Id say 66 ampeg aub1 and my 86 4003 silver ric
A V63 fretless 500/1 with tortoise pickguard and control plate. I have never seen another like it.
1996 L2500 Custom
What’s so special?
The 1996 to mid-1997 L2500’s were the first to be produced. They had a large 4+1 headstock and large body, similar to the L2000 of the same era. These came in Regular and Custom. Custom models had a flat front with sharp edge with wood body binding (unpainted edge), Alder back with bookmatched Ash top, no forearm contour and only a belly contour.
Of the ‘96-‘97 L2500’s, I have maybe seen 7 or 8 others that have ever been put up for sale over the last 15 years or so. Two of them are owned by TB members. I don’t know now many were made in that run, maybe 50? Less? Either Regular or Custom, I have not seen any two that were painted the same.
What makes mine even more special, I think, is that it has a 4-piece Flame Maple neck. I have never seen another G&L neck like it, perhaps the only one of its kind ever made.
Yeah, so this one never leaves the house….
What’s so special?
The 1996 to mid-1997 L2500’s were the first to be produced. They had a large 4+1 headstock and large body, similar to the L2000 of the same era. These came in Regular and Custom. Custom models had a flat front with sharp edge with wood body binding (unpainted edge), Alder back with bookmatched Ash top, no forearm contour and only a belly contour.
Of the ‘96-‘97 L2500’s, I have maybe seen 7 or 8 others that have ever been put up for sale over the last 15 years or so. Two of them are owned by TB members. I don’t know now many were made in that run, maybe 50? Less? Either Regular or Custom, I have not seen any two that were painted the same.
What makes mine even more special, I think, is that it has a 4-piece Flame Maple neck. I have never seen another G&L neck like it, perhaps the only one of its kind ever made.
Yeah, so this one never leaves the house….
Most rare?
First gen Dargie Delight Bongo. 4Hp, one of one ever made in this configuration.
Rare? First year Big Al SSS and a later year 4h.
First gen Dargie Delight Bongo. 4Hp, one of one ever made in this configuration.
Rare? First year Big Al SSS and a later year 4h.
Man, I love that old "big-body" style. I wish they'd bring it back- it's so much more appealing than the narrow-waisted one they currently use.
One of 60 made from 2011-2014...Fender Custom Shop Limited Edition Adam Clayton P-Bass...
Well, I don’t know if these count as production basses…
1st up is my Ken Smith ‘97 BMT Elite 7x7 7 piece neck & body. Not many BMTs were made and because of the various wood combos you will never see any that are identical.
Note the figured maple stringers on the neck
Next is my Ken Smith ‘87 BT note the Snowflake or gear inlays on the fretboard. It’s rare to see these with snowflake inlays I’ve also seen diamond inlays.
Last but not least is my Modulus Pre-TBX TBX Fretless neckthrough. Note the BK inlay on the neck. This bass was made for the one and only Bakithi Kumalo. According to Geoff Gould this bass was a prototype and thus has no serial number. Not very many TBXs were made so these are pretty rare too.
1st up is my Ken Smith ‘97 BMT Elite 7x7 7 piece neck & body. Not many BMTs were made and because of the various wood combos you will never see any that are identical.
Next is my Ken Smith ‘87 BT note the Snowflake or gear inlays on the fretboard. It’s rare to see these with snowflake inlays I’ve also seen diamond inlays.
Last but not least is my Modulus Pre-TBX TBX Fretless neckthrough. Note the BK inlay on the neck. This bass was made for the one and only Bakithi Kumalo. According to Geoff Gould this bass was a prototype and thus has no serial number. Not very many TBXs were made so these are pretty rare too.
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