Meazzi Hollywood (referenced) project

[Dynacord]

Being made of such thick material, it appears that it was a combined string-stop and cover. As in, once screwed down, strings would be hooked into the underside slots and the string break to the bridge would be enough to keep them in place. I've seen such using thinner material which probably wouldn't provide the needed 'mass' to sufficiently ground the strings to the body.

This is a 6-string version, but I've seen vintage 4 string ss versions like it. Thin bent tabs compared to the thick cast blocks on the underside of the Meazzi. Ok for a 6-string guitar I guess, but not good for a bass.

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That makes sense.

 

[JIO]

Hoping for this interface -

 

[Dynacord]

Imagined (probably creme coloured) out-lined clear lucite floating pg and Meazzi string-stop cover footprint over existing string-stop. My internally grounded string-stop is set in stone so the Meazzi will have to be modified to fit over it. My string stop may stick out a bit at the top & bottom but as the Meazzi is elevated and cast of thick (probably soft) 'pot' metal, grinding material away where needed should make a fit possible. Something old, something new...

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Some of the Jupiter guitars had a clear secondary guard as well. I liked those on the Vinnie Bell Coral guitars and basses, too.

BTW on the Heroes tangent, I was 5th row for this - stand out show. Could only find the link on Facebook via Pegi Young (there's a version from the night before on YouTube but the FB link was the one I was there for - great stripped down version, wonderful atmospherics from Reeves Gabrels and Gail Ann Dorsey is, well, Gail Ann Dorsey - and her backing vocals add a lot to the song IMO and I like how long she waits to add that layer, kicking it up for the end)

 

[JIO]

Some of the Jupiter guitars had a clear secondary guard as well. I liked those on the Vinnie Bell Coral guitars and basses, too.

BTW on the Heroes tangent, I was 5th row for this - stand out show. Could only find the link on Facebook via Pegi Young (there's a version from the night before on YouTube but the FB link was the one I was there for - great stripped down version, wonderful atmospherics from Reeves Gabrels and Gail Ann Dorsey is, well, Gail Ann Dorsey - and her backing vocals add a lot to the song IMO and I like how long she waits to add that layer, kicking it up for the end)

I can't get it to play (or share) - possibly share it to my The Sean Conneries fb page? Always down on hearing another version of Heroes! And yes - GAD is one of my favorite's.

 

[Dynacord]

I can't get it to play (or share) - possibly share it to my The Sean Conneries fb page? Always down on hearing another version of Heroes! And yes - GAD is one of my favorite's.

Maybe with the direct link? facebook.com/pegiyoung/videos/1128420060516557/

 

[Dynacord]

Alternatively, here it is on vimeo - though it's oddly stretched -quality is better on the FB link:

 

[Indiedog]

Cool beans! Thanks!
(Ms Dorsey is AMAZING, isn’t she? She is the Secret Sauce for everyone she plays for.)

 

[Dynacord]

Will be here July 5th! Thanks David! The missing piece of the puzzle has been found!

I'll need to do some modification since I already have a string-stop and hope the Meazzi will will fit over it.

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I like the double lucite lined pg on this model - I think I'll incorporate that into the mix!
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Just an aside, that same seller posted a few other Jupiter parts - including the one knob I was missing on mine (I have one that was with the bass when I got it). He's checking to see if he has one of the three bridge cover screws - he says he believes he does but needs to confirm. They are very specific and I'm missing one. So I'm very happy that I now - hopefully - have all the original parts for mine.

There's also a nice original Jupiter bass on Reverb. Fair price IMO (again, no affiliation and I don't know the seller....) Nice sort of middle hybrid of features (the center stripe 'binding', better IMO Fender type bridge, adjustable polepiece pickups) and has all the parts including the bridge and tuning machine covers - and the curved plastic control indicators which are very often missing or broken.
Meazzi Jupiter Vintage Bass Made in Italy 1964 Black | Reverb

 

[JIO]

Just an aside, that same seller posted a few other Jupiter parts - including the one knob I was missing on mine (I have one that was with the bass when I got it). He's checking to see if he has one of the three bridge cover screws - he says he believes he does but needs to confirm. They are very specific and I'm missing one. So I'm very happy that I now - hopefully - have all the original parts for mine.

There's also a nice original Jupiter bass on Reverb. Fair price IMO (again, no affiliation and I don't know the seller....) Nice sort of middle hybrid of features (the center stripe 'binding', better IMO Fender type bridge, adjustable polepiece pickups) and has all the parts including the bridge and tuning machine covers - and the curved plastic control indicators which are very often missing or broken.
Meazzi Jupiter Vintage Bass Made in Italy 1964 Black | Reverb

It appears that the bridge & cover are sitting on a black (plastic?) base-plate. Most likely because the neck sits so high off the body, same with the thick black pu risers. Looks like the original owner/player spent all of his time playing at the neck-heal.

 

[JIO]

Cool beans! Thanks!
(Ms Dorsey is AMAZING, isn’t she? She is the Secret Sauce for everyone she plays for.)

 

[Dynacord]

It appears that the bridge & cover are sitting on a black (plastic?) base-plate. Most likely because the neck sits so high off the body, same with the thick black pu risers. Looks like the original owner/player spent all of his time playing at the neck-heal.

Yep. All the ones with the Fender type bridge have the black plastic baseplates.

 

[Dynacord]

It appears that the bridge & cover are sitting on a black (plastic?) base-plate. Most likely because the neck sits so high off the body, same with the thick black pu risers. Looks like the original owner/player spent all of his time playing at the neck-heal.

Related, I think I've told you in the past that I had the '64 reverse Thunderbird that Tiran Porter played in The Doobie Brothers. It was original sunburst (and no headstock break) but had two mods done by their guitar tech, Mark Brown: hotter later 60's non-reverse pickups and a regular Fender 60's bent steel bridge - but on a black plastic spacer just like this - and larger than the bridge itself so as to cover the stud and tailpiece holes.

 

[JIO]

Related, I think I've told you in the past that I had the '64 reverse Thunderbird that Tiran Porter played in The Doobie Brothers. It was original sunburst (and no headstock break) but had two mods done by their guitar tech, Mark Brown: hotter later 60's non-reverse pickups and a regular Fender 60's bent steel bridge - but on a black plastic spacer just like this - and larger than the bridge itself so as to cover the stud and tailpiece holes.

So does your Jupiter have that bridge riser?

 

[Dynacord]

So does your Jupiter have that bridge riser?

Yes, it's quite thick. Same shape as the bridge cover. It has threaded inserts for the cover screws which, as mentioned, are pretty specific. It's also worth mentioning that there are black plastic spacers - not as thick - also under the plated control plates (not under the anodized aluminum guard though). These spacers make sense as they have cut outs to allow travel on the control levers.

 

[JIO]

Thanks for the detail shots David. It's interesting needing spacers/risers... I mean, they worked it into the design effectively but it begs the question of why did they need spacers/risers? I think all stems from the neck sitting so high in the neck pocket right? What if the neck was lower, like a Fender - no need for bridge/pu spacers/risers. Is it possible JB was thinking about an upright bass where the string are far away from the body? I can't imagine it being a club-footed engineering/design issue, especially because Fender already set a successful standard for such.

My '63 Burns of London Vista Sonic has small knurled cap machine screws into insets. I got them (vintage NOS) from a source in the UK through the Burns fb page. The bridge base is the opposite of the Meazzi - it's sunk into the body!

One of the saddles was missing when I got it so I made one of brass for it - 4 holes above the bridge are for a mute. (missing) I'd like to find one someday. Someone added a mini-toggle kill-switch, which is a decent mod - otherwise it's mostly original. Pat Wilkins did the awesome, slightly translucent red finish based on one of Jim Burns' finishes. It's all about little details.

Bridge cover is new but exactly like a vintage one - again, got it from the same UK source.

 

[God's Favorite Bass]

Thanks for the detail shots David. It's interesting needing spacers/risers... I mean, they worked it into the design effectively but it begs the question of why did they need spacers/risers? I think all stems from the neck sitting so high in the neck pocket right? What if the neck was lower, like a Fender - no need for bridge/pu spacers/risers. Is it possible JB was thinking about an upright bass where the string are far away from the body? I can't imagine it being a club-footed engineering/design issue, especially because Fender already set a successful standard for such.

My '63 Burns of London Vista Sonic has small knurled cap machine screws into insets. I got them (vintage NOS) from a source in the UK through the Burns fb page. The bridge base is the opposite of the Meazzi - it's sunk into the body!

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One of the saddles was missing when I got it so I made one of brass for it - 4 holes above the bridge are for a mute. (missing) I'd like to find one someday. Someone added a mini-toggle kill-switch, which is a decent mod - otherwise it's mostly original. Pat Wilkins did the awesome, slightly translucent red finish based on one of Jim Burns' finishes. It's all about little details.
View attachment 4727657
Bridge cover is new but exactly like a vintage one - again, got it from the same UK source.
View attachment 4727658

That's an interesting bridge. Sort of pre-Schaller. I like it's functionality.

 

[JIO]

That's an interesting bridge. Sort of pre-Schaller. I like it's functionality.

Yes, exactly - very pre-Schaller 3D bridge. In the '60s, there were floating bridges with a long threaded-shaft and individual adjustable side-to-side roller saddles, but Jim Burns was the first (as far as I know) to do a bent-plate design like this. Hard to see in the pic, but I fabricated the roller part on mine from a brass nut - worked like a charm!

 

[Stugilliam]

I was first made aware of the Meazzi Hollywood 34" scale '60s vintage Italian bass by @Dynacord 's tb post covering his recent acquisition of one. NBD! vintage Italian retro-futurist content So cool - it shot right to the top of my list of awesome vintage designs. They are pretty rare also. A guitar version was also made. (2nd pic)

Soooo.., my next project is going to be creating my own version of one. Not an authentic clone but a lovingly referenced version with the aim of maintaining the basses unique vibe/character with some contemporary improvements. The original bass is on the heavy side, so making a light-weight version is top priority. The original is semi-hollow-body in which the joint is hidden with a binding strip. (as seen in pic below) It has sophisticated electronics for being early '60s - reminiscent of Burns of London from the same period both introducing/pioneering active electronics. Read all about it on David's thread. To what extent I reference in this area is to-be-determined. I'm thinking of a twin P-bass pu set-up as I've always wondered how that would sound and David said it sounds more-or-less like a P-bass. Also thinking about mahogany and splitting the 1-1/4" thick (thinner than original) body in two for internal chambering/lightening. I did this on my Glam-P/J (alder/maple mix) and it gave the bass a unique subtly acoustic tone. The original has the jack on the rear but I will instead locate it on the front or side. I've tried a rear mounted jack once and it kept interfacing my body/leg in an uncomfortable manor. Sometimes what seems like a good idea never caught-on for a good reason.

David was nice enough to do tracings of the body, pg, control plates and body/hs badges - just got them yesterday. So now I need to start hunting/gathering what I'll need to start - starting with a nice 1 piece slab of wood for the body.

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It's only me, but I like it!! I'm anxious to see your take on it!

 

[JIO]

It's only me, but I like it!! I'm anxious to see your take on it!

Thanks! The Jupiter has a few awesome details I chose not to replicate - it's more as you say, my take on it. I figure another couple weeks before Pat gets to it and I'm expecting, as always - he will knock it out of the park.

 

[JIO]

The vintage Meazzi bridge cover/string-stop arrived from Italy yesterday. To my delight it covers my string-stop completely! And because mine is counter-sunk into a body rout - there's plenty of space/clearance of the two so I won't have to remove the upper chucks, leaving it as-is. As it is over 50 yrs old and very rare - I'm glad to not alter it. I will do some serious polishing as the surface is pretty rough. It's going to be the cherry on top of the Juniper! Thanks again to David @Dynacord for discovering it and making me aware of its availability.

You can see my string-stop from these 45 degree angles but...

from straight over - it completely covers it...

as is clearly illustrated in this pic. Sometimes you get lucky!

Aligned to show the mis-matched string spacing. The Meazzi has narrower spacing.