My first bass resurrected (including back-story)

[daveman50]

We all need to 'tow-the-line' here at tb... trust me, I support your feelings but let's not get my thread shut-down shall we?

Toe the Line vs. Tow the Line

 

[MCF]

Ah yes; the Sears Christmas Wishbook and all that.

sears catalog guitars - Google Search

spiegel catalog guitars - Google Search

ward's catalog guitars - Google Search

Play the game yourselves. Just keep catalog and guitars in all your searches and change the name of the store (being sure to always be looking at the "images" page). Not represented here are Lafayette Electronics, Radio Shack, Heathkit, even Western Auto.

I still have my Sears Silvertone 1490! The stickers on the case patch the torn vinyl covering. It went through a lot when I was Kid.

 

[JIO]

Apologies. Certainly no harm intended and...honestly was a bit hesitant to post that comment. Mods, feel free to to delete.


I appreciate that. It's really just a mildly satirical comment on the "fire the drummer" meme that seems pretty common on these forums.

No worries - it's that you never can tell which way a seemingly harmless comment will spin-off to.

Not aware of that meme. I'm more the era of Spinal Tap exploding drummers!

 

[JIO]

I still have my Sears Silvertone 1490! The stickers on the case patch the torn vinyl covering. It went through a lot when I was Kid.
View attachment 5041185

Nice! Burns of London inspired that segmented pg - many '60s Japanese guitars & basses incorporated versions.

 

[JIO]

Toe the Line vs. Tow the Line

That's really interesting - thanks for posting! I'm now aware of what a malapropism (also called Dogberryism), a mondegreen, or an eggcorn is!

 

[BishopJP]

Cool project; gotta love quirky, old instruments. Can't wait to see what you do with this one!

Great origin story, too! What better reason to play bass than "it's bigger and only has 4 strings"?! Pretty sure my reasoning was similar...

 

[MCF]

Nice! Burns of London inspired that segmented pg - many '60s Japanese guitars & basses incorporated versions.

New bass coming out that is kind of retro with split PG:
New Gear: Rapier Saffire Bass
Said to be available in Fiesta Red, Arctic White and Daphne Blue!

 

[GretschWretch]

Cool project; gotta love quirky, old instruments. Can't wait to see what you do with this one!

Great origin story, too! What better reason to play bass than "it's bigger and only has 4 strings"?! Pretty sure my reasoning was similar...

As was John Entwhistle's. He thought that because the bass was the largest instrument it must be the most important. Boy, was he wrong, until he made it so. I'm not sure how many other bands besides the Who could have made that work.

 

[JIO]

New bass coming out that is kind of retro with split PG:
New Gear: Rapier Saffire Bass
Said to be available in Fiesta Red, Arctic White and Daphne Blue!
View attachment 5041395

Yes, I'm aware of this bass - pretty cool. Someone must have acquired rights to WEM/Watkins, the other UK based guitar/bass company similar to Burns. My '67 WEM/Watkins Rapier was morphed into the Wilson Sapphire in mid-'67, and looked more like this retro RI.

My '67 WEM Watkins Rapier ss 24 fret bass that I did a full restoration on.

This is a WEM (Watkins Electronic Music) Sapphire (British spelling) was most likely one of the early transitional models as it has many of the same features as my Rapier.

Replaced V knob and the pg section at the elbow-bout may have been added. The thick pg (scratch-plate in UK-speak) is made from engravers stock.

This is a later '60s Wilson Sapphire

And another transitional "Rapier decal - this is similar to the new RI version with added British red/whit/blue target icon.

Wilson

 

[JIO]

As was John Entwhistle's. He thought that because the bass was the largest instrument it must be the most important. Boy, was he wrong, until he made it so. I'm not sure how many other bands besides the Who could have made that work.

So I do have something in common with the Ox! (I also play a T-bird! )

 

[Wood and Wire]

Yes, I'm The thick pg (scratch-plate in UK-speak) is made from engravers stock.
View attachment 5041501

I'm assuming that's a thumb rest, but sure looks like it could also work perfectly as a toilet roll holder.

 

[JIO]

I'm assuming that's a thumb rest, but sure looks like it could also work perfectly as a toilet roll holder.

More a thumb-bar... it wouldn't offer much room for TP.

 

[GretschWretch]

That's really interesting - thanks for posting! I'm now aware of what a malapropism (also called Dogberryism), a mondegreen, or an eggcorn is!

Not to obfuscate the discussion, but also there is this

The Mystery of the Mountweazel

 

[JIO]

Not to obfuscate the discussion, but also there is this

The Mystery of the Mountweazel

I think that would be a great name for a bass; the Gildaxe Mountweazel...

 

[JIO]

Mailed the body & neck off to Pat. Turn-over varies - possibly I'll have it back in a month. Again - it will be shot in this finish -

I tried to subdue the red and push it to more of a brown to show how the darker brown (softer than black or tobacco) body halo, back of hs & neck-joint will be finished.

 

[GretschWretch]

I think that would be a great name for a bass; the Gildaxe Mountweazel...

Well, if we are going to go down that rabbit hole

25 Weird, Witty, and Wonderful Language-Related Terms

I would love to see some of these words on a bass headstock. No more playing fast and loose with the Fender logo.

 

[MCF]

Mailed the body & neck off to Pat. Turn-over varies - possibly I'll have it back in a month. Again - it will be shot in this finish -

View attachment 5041551
I tried to subdue the red and push it to more of a brown to show how the darker brown (softer than black or tobacco) body halo, back of hs & neck-joint will be finished.
View attachment 5041558

That was quick.

 

[JIO]

That was quick.

Luckily the wood was in pretty good condition, with only a few small dings to fill and the clear-coat was not very thick. I'll deal with the neck once it's back.

 

[GretschWretch]

Yes, I'm aware of this bass - pretty cool. Someone must have acquired rights to WEM/Watkins, the other UK based guitar/bass company similar to Burns. My '67 WEM/Watkins Rapier was morphed into the Wilson Sapphire in mid-'67, and looked more like this retro RI.

These WEM and Wilson headstocks strongly suggest the headstock on the Magnatone X-10 Hurricane.

 

[JIO]

These WEM and Wilson headstocks strongly suggest the headstock on the Magnatone X-10 Hurricane.

View attachment 5041647

yep, similar with the exaggerated 'scroll' shape.

I sorted the electronic harness. Original VIOLET pots (sprayed w/pot-cleaner - nice & smooth now) are 500k so I added a vintage .0022 cap. I kept the jack - just cleaned it up w/steel wool.