My "new" 21 year old custom built

[VellaBass]

This is a very pretty bass. Sounds good too

It's a Manson, made in 1983.

 

[VellaBass]

1 more pic

 

[bassmonkeee]

1 more pic

Cool! Never seen one of those before. Looks interesting. Enjoy!

 

[Blackbird]

Sukop meets Ken Smith! Very nice.

 

[j-raj]

Is that the builder that John Paul Jones plays now?

 

[VellaBass]

j-raj - yes, that's correct. has been the case for many years I believe

 

[Frank Martin]

Nice!

Havent thought that it was not the tastes and shapes that changed this much, this would even now pass as a new custom, just that these got more popular. I mean these were around for so long, just so many were only talking about Fenders and Fender-clones, not the history of basses and custom basses. It would be nice if more threads like these surfaced nowadays... IMHO

 

[j-raj]

Sukop meets Ken Smith! Very nice.

Might I add to that now that I have had a good look at it:

Sukop meets Ken Smith meets Mørch meets Linc Luthier meets Ritter (headstock)...'

 

[bassmonkeee]

Might I add to that now that I have had a good look at it:

Sukop meets Ken Smith meets Mørch meets Linc Luthier meets Ritter (headstock)...'

I was thinking the headstock reminded me of a Vigier bass.

 

[VellaBass]

Haha - nice replies. You're blowing me away in the obscure bass designer naming stakes.

Biggest fans of this Manson after me are the other guys in the band - they won't let me play anything else. First gig with it is on Saturday.

 

[j-raj]

Haha - nice replies. You're blowing me away in the obscure bass designer naming stakes.

Biggest fans of this Manson after me are the other guys in the band - they won't let me play anything else. First gig with it is on Saturday.

please post a gig report!

 

[Frank Martin]

First gig with it is on Saturday.

Then Good Luck! I bet you veteran bass has been waiting for a gig for a log time!

 

[Stachio]

Might I add to that now that I have had a good look at it:

Sukop meets Ken Smith meets Mørch meets Linc Luthier meets Ritter (headstock)...'

I got a Wal vibe from the pickups

 

[VellaBass]

j-raj - yes (if it goes well!) - presumably I'd do that in the gig stories thread

mutant - dead right. I think it was on the bass shop wall for quite a long time

stachio - I think they're Armstrong pickups?

By the way I haven't got a clue what wood it's made from. I asked Hugh Manson but he says he can't remember. He also couldn't remember why every one of the five knobs has a push pull action; I guess two are single coil taps but the other three are very subtle and I haven't got a clue. Anysuggestions as to what they might be and how I can tell would be gratefully received. I took the backplate off, was confronted by a mile of spaghetti and immediately replaced it!!

 

[j-raj]

j-raj - yes (if it goes well!) - presumably I'd do that in the gig stories thread....

...He also couldn't remember why every one of the five knobs has a push pull action...

Oh really? All 5? That's different. I'm totally interested to hear what the guts are now.

I took the backplate off, was confronted by a mile of spaghetti and immediately replaced it!!

Freaked you out, didn't it?

 

[VellaBass]

Well j-raj asked for a gig report. It was great!! End of report. Here's a picture of the new axe in action. And our girls (lead singer Robbie, also my partner, in the middle, backing singer Sarah on the left).The strange face hidden in the background is the six string man.

Back to the gig - bass related issue to get back on topic - when you're playing an unlined fretess that you've only had for a week and then the lighting changes so you can't see the side markers...well, it makes you think