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My first bass resurrected (including back-story)
- Thread starter JIO
- Start date
Bass #7 in this ad clearly is a Gretsch knock-off. The type and arrangement of the controls is enough to confirm that. I finally received (after a process covering six months) a Reverb bass (ss) that is the four-string companion to this guitar. I hope to post an NBD on it soon, but I've got home infrastructure issues (faulty exterior door) I have to see to first.
My bass is like the one in this stock photo, only missing the pickguard. It does, however, have the control knob for the bottom cutaway horn.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Bass #7 in this ad clearly is a Gretsch knock-off. The type and arrangement of the controls is enough to confirm that. I finally received (after a process covering six months) a Reverb bass (ss) that is the four-string companion to this guitar. I hope to post an NBD on it soon, but I've got home infrastructure issues (faulty exterior door) I have to see to first.
My bass is like the one in this stock photo, only missing the pickguard. It does, however, have the control knob for the bottom cutaway horn.
pretty bass!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Bass #7 in this ad clearly is a Gretsch knock-off. The type and arrangement of the controls is enough to confirm that. I finally received (after a process covering six months) a Reverb bass (ss) that is the four-string companion to this guitar. I hope to post an NBD on it soon, but I've got home infrastructure issues (faulty exterior door) I have to see to first.
My bass is like the one in this stock photo, only missing the pickguard. It does, however, have the control knob for the bottom cutaway horn.
Vox made an identical knock-off Gretsch too : the V.G.4 (Vox.Gretsch.4 string, which due to a manufacturing screw-up, was actually labelled G.V.4 on the pick guard).
Prior to your post I had never heard of the G.V.4. However, after having looked at this link
VOX VG4 1968 - Sunburst Semiacustic Bass 2 Pickups | Reverb
I have to disagree with the item description. I would say the instrument has far more in common with the Gibson EB-2D or the Vox Cougar, especially in the matter of the cutaway horns and the arrangement of the controls. Nothing about this bass to me suggests Gretsch. This being said, I appreciate your post because until I read it I had no idea this bass ever existed.
No, that is a Cougar.
This is the G.V.4
The VOX Showroom - Vox V.G 4 Bass Guitar
c.1970 Vox VG4 Bass - Walnut | Reverb UK
By golly you're right! It is a Cougar! A Crucianelli Cougar with the block inlays. I just Googled Vox g v 4 bass and the image I posted was the first one that came up. Apologies tendered.
And the other bass you posted, the green one, clearly is the same as my bass in all aspects except color. Same Gretsch cutaway horns, same tuners, same zero fret, same fake f holes, same neck plate shape -- only mine says made in Japan -- same control arrangement. Same tailpiece, same bridge, same pickups, only on my bass all those things are gold, in keeping with the Gretsch motif.
I had no idea. I just wish I had the green bass as a reference because I have no idea what the switches and knobs on mine are supposed to do. In appearance they are the same as on a Gretsch, in function quite different. In fact, I find some of the settings so inexplicable it's not just a rabbit hole; it's a rabbit warren. Clearly something has been miswired, but unless it is something obvious like a loose wire or broken connection I have no idea where the problem could lie. No wiring diagrams for these babies on the internet, I am sure.
And the other bass you posted, the green one, clearly is the same as my bass in all aspects except color. Same Gretsch cutaway horns, same tuners, same zero fret, same fake f holes, same neck plate shape -- only mine says made in Japan -- same control arrangement. Same tailpiece, same bridge, same pickups, only on my bass all those things are gold, in keeping with the Gretsch motif.
I had no idea. I just wish I had the green bass as a reference because I have no idea what the switches and knobs on mine are supposed to do. In appearance they are the same as on a Gretsch, in function quite different. In fact, I find some of the settings so inexplicable it's not just a rabbit hole; it's a rabbit warren. Clearly something has been miswired, but unless it is something obvious like a loose wire or broken connection I have no idea where the problem could lie. No wiring diagrams for these babies on the internet, I am sure.
The V.G.4 was also made in Japan, so I'm assuming they're from the exact same production line as yours, badged for a different brand - in keeping with all these Japanese basses of this era (sorry @JIO I should be posting this in your Japanese bass appreciation thread).
I think I'm right in saying that the Gretsch 6072 switches on the upper bout are pickup selector, and tone selector. With a master volume knob on the lower bout, and the three-way kill switch next to the individual pickup volume controls.
The Vox V.G.4 is slightly different, in that both the switches on the upper bout are tone selectors (one for each pickup).
The knob on the lower bout is the three-way pickup selector (there's no master volume), and the kill switch is next to the individual pickup volume knobs (no idea if the kill switch is three-way, or just on / off).
Looking forward to your NBD review, as I've come across a Vox in pretty good condition, for a reasonable price - but I'm hesitant as it's a big enough chunk out of my 6070 reserve, and even though I found the Hofner Verythin to be a fun bass in a similar vein, it was kind of a toy, and I hate Gibson style wiring (everything should use the Rickenbacker 4001 scheme).
I think I'm right in saying that the Gretsch 6072 switches on the upper bout are pickup selector, and tone selector. With a master volume knob on the lower bout, and the three-way kill switch next to the individual pickup volume controls.
You are indeed correct about these things. Toggles are as you say, three position with the center position on the pickup selector being both pickups on and on the tone selector both capacitors off. With the tone selector centered the overall volume gets noticeably louder, which probably accounts for the master volume.
The Vox V.G.4 is slightly different, in that both the switches on the upper bout are tone selectors (one for each pickup). The knob on the lower bout is the three-way pickup selector (there's no master volume), and the kill switch is next to the individual pickup volume knobs (no idea if the kill switch is three-way, or just on / off).
Okay; this is where mine starts going off the rails. The kill switch is indeed on/off. In fact all three toggles are just two position. On my bass the switch further from the strap button does not work at all and appears to be broken since it will "hold" in only one position and has absolutely no effect on sound. The other tone selector works with all three pickup settings: 1, 2, and 1-2). My bass does not have "individual volume knobs." It has a volume and a tone knob. That tone control is just peculiar. Normally turning clockwise boosts mids and higher mids; this one boost lows, sometimes to the extent that one cannot believe both these sounds come from the same pickup. And sometimes turning it up actually decreases the overall volume almost to the point you have to strain to hear anything coming from the amp.
But this bass will produce two of the most pillow mellow tones I have ever heard; these tones alone are easily worth the cost and are among the reasons I am somewhat reluctant to mess with the wiring, wonky as it may be. But sometimes one of the settings produces the most horrifying high-decibel screech/howl I have ever heard. If the cover picture on King Crimson's first lp could be rendered as sound, this would be it. Ouch!
I won't try to influence your decision regarding the 6070. By one day I lost one that was within an hour's drive of my home. It scars a person. But I see no reason why you cannot try for both. Both basses have tone variations that are subtly nuanced. But these nuances are particular to each bass; there is no duplication or overlap between them
Thanks for your post.
You are indeed correct about these things. Toggles are as you say, three position with the center position on the pickup selector being both pickups on and on the tone selector both capacitors off. With the tone selector centered the overall volume gets noticeably louder, which probably accounts for the master volume.
The Vox V.G.4 is slightly different, in that both the switches on the upper bout are tone selectors (one for each pickup). The knob on the lower bout is the three-way pickup selector (there's no master volume), and the kill switch is next to the individual pickup volume knobs (no idea if the kill switch is three-way, or just on / off).
Okay; this is where mine starts going off the rails. The kill switch is indeed on/off. In fact all three toggles are just two position. On my bass the switch further from the strap button does not work at all and appears to be broken since it will "hold" in only one position and has absolutely no effect on sound. The other tone selector works with all three pickup settings: 1, 2, and 1-2). My bass does not have "individual volume knobs." It has a volume and a tone knob. That tone control is just peculiar. Normally turning clockwise boosts mids and higher mids; this one boost lows, sometimes to the extent that one cannot believe both these sounds come from the same pickup. And sometimes turning it up actually decreases the overall volume almost to the point you have to strain to hear anything coming from the amp.
But this bass will produce two of the most pillow mellow tones I have ever heard; these tones alone are easily worth the cost and are among the reasons I am somewhat reluctant to mess with the wiring, wonky as it may be. But sometimes one of the settings produces the most horrifying high-decibel screech/howl I have ever heard. If the cover picture on King Crimson's first lp could be rendered as sound, this would be it. Ouch!
I won't try to influence your decision regarding the 6070. By one day I lost one that was within an hour's drive of my home. It scars a person. But I see no reason why you cannot try for both. Both basses have tone variations that are subtly nuanced. But these nuances are particular to each bass; there is no duplication or overlap between them
Thanks for your post.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
No worries! In fact, you reminded me to post a link there for this thread!
Cool info - I had a VOX Cougar bass but never knew of the G.V.4.Ah!
Right, actually now that I think about it, my statement that each pickup had its own volume control, was my own rationalisation - and I really ought to know better than to jump to conclusions.
I just looked at one that claims to be all original, and the two knobs are indeed labelled "V" & "T".
So, does that mean that the tone selector switches are meant to influence each pickup individually (effectively in parallel), or is it a global combinator / matrix (effectively in series)?
From everything I've read (some of it I believe to be official Vox literature, of the period) they are a tone selector dedicated to each individual pickup.
Given that at least one of your switches isn't working, I can imagine there are other potential failures that are combining to cause this strange behaviour - particularly if the tone selector switches are intended to offer a variety of voices, governed by the master tone knob (much like the Epiphone Jack Casady).
Cheers, yes I'm definitely intrigued by these, but I'm absolutely ruthless about not collecting basses / flipping basses / owning basses I won't rely on (I've only ever bought two bass in 33 years of playing, and they're both my main basses to this day), which is why I'm prioritising the 6070.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
Yeah, I think I may have shot myself in the foot, by shining a spotlight on these under the radar instruments...
Well, VOX anything would attract attention!
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
My second bass was a used ('66?) VOX Cougar I bought in '67. They are out there today selling for "vintage" prices. I have a similar late '60s Conrad which I got years ago for far less than what a Cougar is selling for - it scratched my itch for a ss Cougar.
It sports the Gibson "Barney Kessel signature" pointy horns from 1961.Someone replaced the original pu with a generic single-coil. Regardless, it sounds really good! I added the mock Soviet Russia scratch-plate for fun - it was missing the original small G-side sp. I have the original knobs but replaced them with the splined ivory ones. It's a true hollow-body, with real (bound) F-holes. It's a fun little thumper.
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My second bass was a used ('66?) VOX Cougar I bought in '67. They are out there today selling for "vintage" prices. I have a similar late '60s Conrad which I got years ago for far less than what a Cougar is selling for - it scratched my itch for a ss Cougar.
View attachment 5044024
Someone replaced the original pu with a generic single-coil. Regardless, it sounds really good! I added the mock Soviet Russia scratch-plate for fun - it was missing the original small G-side sp. I have the original knobs but replaced them with the splined ivory ones. It's a true hollow-body, with real (bound) F-holes. It's a fun little thumper.
View attachment 5044025
Cougar for real
I forgot to ask in my previous reply : seeing as your bass has painted on f-holes (just like a Gretsch 6072), but unlike the Gretsch does not have an access panel on the back; how the hell do you get inside to execute an repairs / replacements?
Just like this Univox hollowbody I repaired. Everything fishes out (and in) through one of the pickup routes. There’s a few tricks that can help get things back together if you do them as you’re pulling the electronics but reassembly is always “entertaining.”
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,623
- 222,168
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
