Let's See Your Unique/Rare Production Model Basses

[user362432]

MIJ Midnight P and Black Widow

 

[40Hz]

I had a maple Ripper for a while but it didn't work out for me. I tried a few of the Victory bass and liked them and the sound but they was just too darn heavy for me. A lighter Victory would be nice.

Yeah. The weight of the Victory in particular was problematic.

I’ve got an ‘83 maple and ‘74 alder bodied Ripper. Both sound like a Ripper and sustain identically. But the weight differential is like night and day. And the Victory is even heavier than a Ripper. Which begs the question: why a maple body?

 

[Lowbrow]

Fender PB-62B bound-body semi-slab. CIJ

 

[Relsom]

#1 - Its common knowledge among Spector folks that these early SSD NS-2s were labeled as NS-4s due to legal rights, but this one managed to leave the workshop wearing a set of Fodera tuners. I bought it brand new at Veneman's Music in Rockville, MD back when PJ Rubal worked in the Bass Dept there.

#2 - My Y2K Fender American Series Jazz. 60 of these were produced as AIMM Special Editions, and were unique in that they were finished in Crimson Red Transparent over ash, normally reserved for the American Deluxe, vintage tinted neck, and '60s logo. They bear the DZ serial number, though they are standard passive Jazzes.

 

[Bodeeni]

my Charvel 425 in seafoam. The only other one I have seen is in the ad. Upgraded the guts and it rock when I need a surf busking bass.

 

[mongo2]

Yeah. The weight of the Victory in particular was problematic.

I’ve got an ‘83 maple and ‘74 alder bodied Ripper. Both sound like a Ripper and sustain identically. But the weight differential is like night and day. And the Victory is even heavier than a Ripper. Which begs the question: why a maple body?

I have an 80's Guild Pilot with a solid flame maple body and a maple/rosewood neck. It's not nearly as heavy as the Victory basses I tried or my Ripper. I had another Pilot with a solid quilt maple body...same thing. Maple doesn't have to be real heavy.

I'm now a fan of Paulownia/Empress for solid bodies.

Edit:

I forgot to mention my '85 Fender Performer bass. I don't have a picture but it looks like this one I found on the web...

I reminds me of the Victory in general shape but it's lighter.

 

[kiripunk]

"The Magnificent 7" PJ: 500 pieces worldwide

 

[Mike neph]

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Here's a rare joint venture between Ibanez and Modulus from the mid 80's. I'm breaking the rules a bit because I don't think this was ever a production model, but more of a prototype. I know that Ibanez ordered 200 total necks from Modulus, but that number included both guitar and bass necks. Not sure how many of which. Also, not all the necks found their way onto instruments. Ibanez scrapped this idea quickly because the necks were too much of a cost hit.

Sorry the first photo is a bit blurry. That's just what happens when you photograph unicorns, sasquatches, ufos and other rare things.

No waaayy! I didnt even know this was a thing, super cool!

 

[blacktocomm]

Was the one with the built in fuzz similar?

The EB-OF was released in ‘62 and had the standard mudbucker pickup. I would love to find one.

Not an expensive bass, but it was nevertheless a limited run. Squier VM Precision Bass TB.
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I have one of these and it’s an awesome bass. That mudbucker roars.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

(only one registered on G&L registry and as a later build likely only one made in this color)

I totally forgot about the G&L Registry…

I don’t know now many were made in that run, maybe 50?

Checking the Registry, there look to be about 49 of the first run ‘96-‘97 L2500’s registered; 42 Regular and 7 Custom. Most registered basses do not list neck and body date, and can only be reference by Serial Number. When headstock and body shape changed in min-‘97, the B00xxxx serial numbers stopped, so that’s one way.
I know of another ‘96 that is actually in Poland right now, which makes 50 that can be counted.

 

[TTA]

I've got a real interest in limited run production model instruments, limited run colors, small batch production models, stuff like that. They're fun to look at. Here are a couple of my more "rare" ones:

Spector Euro Rebop in Zebrawood:
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Warwick "Streamette"
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Let's see yours!

Looking back… all my rics have some cool things about them…

72 was a feature transition year. Not a lot with that combo. Bass on the left

96 was made in the final months before ric went cnc. The wide horn fireglo

2020 was limited run monty brown checkerboard binding with a unique truss rod cover, single truss rod, toaster, and flamed maple.

2021 is just a standard jetglo… but turns out it is now another feature transition year like my 72. Has all the new features, but still dual truss rods, and no walnut stripe (not that it could be seen).

i have a 4005xc that should arrive this spring (i hope!).

 

[LowEndLobster]

One of these rare birds recently sold in the TB classifieds. Only 29 or 30 were built. I emailed Bill Conklin about mine long ago, he said production stopped because Bartolini couldn't continue supplying the custom spec'd pickups and preamp, which are unique to the bass. He mentioned they were kinda expensive to have built (Korea), which probably played a part in its demise. Pretty sure all 29 were done in this Orange-Cherry burst finish.

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You beat me to it! Was gonna post mine. Beautiful example!

 

[egroeg]

It's brand new but "Limited Edition" . Dark Night American Professional ii Jazz bass with rosewood fretboard. Guitar Center exclusive.

 

[chadds]

Wow! What a Thread!

 

[subtlestew]

You don't see too many white Steinbergers... it was a $100 option when I bought this XL2 new in 1988:

 

[InhumanResource]

View attachment 4532530
View attachment 4532531

Here's a rare joint venture between Ibanez and Modulus from the mid 80's. I'm breaking the rules a bit because I don't think this was ever a production model, but more of a prototype. I know that Ibanez ordered 200 total necks from Modulus, but that number included both guitar and bass necks. Not sure how many of which. Also, not all the necks found their way onto instruments. Ibanez scrapped this idea quickly because the necks were too much of a cost hit.

Sorry the first photo is a bit blurry. That's just what happens when you photograph unicorns, sasquatches, ufos and other rare things.

Oh good, now I have something new to obsessively search for.

 

[N4860]

I have a few that are from limited runs. Rarest would be the Cutlass which is the only 1 with a maple fretboard in this finish called Seafoam Sparkle. They did 1 other in this finish but with a rosewood fretboard:

Next rarest would be my colour shifting Stingray which they called the finish plumpkin. It is 1 of 5 made:

The other 3 here are not as rare but were still limited runs of around ~100 each (BFR's):

 

[Ric Vice]

This is my early 1959 Fender Precision, since it has a Maple Fretboard rather than a Rosewood Fingerboard, it’s a bit unusual for the period. It’s likely that they had Maple necks already fretted from late 1958 that had to be used before they transitioned to the new rosewood boards.

 

[Nev375]

Oh good, now I have something new to obsessively search for.

Before you get overly GASsy for one of these you should know there's one major drawback. These necks do not have truss rods. The only way to adjust them is to use the appropriate gauge string that provides the tension that results in the desired relief.

That being said, the necks are extremely stable and go many weeks if not months between needing their tuning adjusted. (like most graphite necks) The tone is amazing in my opinion. The passive pickups are wonderful and the knobs have push pull pots that do some kind of mysterious switching. (If I ever knew what they did, I've forgotten.) But they give a lot of different good options for sounds.

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

1983 Ibanez RB924CS, only produced this model for 1 year as far as I'm aware.