Looks like the letters (initials?) AT or IV depending on perspective scratched in.
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Mystery bass advice sought!
- Thread starter rmcfee
- Start date
Agreed. At first glance, the word that crossed my mind was “melty”.
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The fingerboard is lacquered like a Rick and that symbol has been lightly etched into that finish. Looks like the previous owner did it.
- Jun 30, 2010
- 49,611
- 222,110
- Disclosures
- musician/artist/owner - Gildaxe
I was going to say the same thing - whatever it is it's super-cool. Neck/fb is very much a '60s Teisco-esk with binding and dots positioned at the edge. Also the boxed tuners. And the bridge cover isn't a cut-down J ashtray - it's a unique version unlike anything I've ever seen. I'll take a number please.
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It's going to go on Reverb soon but I have no idea what to ask. It's a ghost bass apparently!
Yeah, it's almost certainly a Matsumoku-made bass. I have one of their '70s hollow-body guitars, and I had the hollow-body companion bass to it for a while. I like them a lot; not exactly world -class instruments, but when they were new (50+ years ago, now) they were a lot of bass/guitar for the money. The only thing "wrong" with them, is that by now, they almost always need the neck shimmed, and the tuners might need replacing. Otherwise? If I didn't have all the short scale bass spots in my herd filled already - and that one was a lefty? I'd be looking at that one - hard...
As for the scale? 31" is a little unusual - but not a big deal. 30" is purely nominal for a shorty; I have several that are 30.5"; one that's 29.5"; and one - a headless Kramer "Duke" that's 31" scale. And, of course, some that actually are 30" scale. So... 31" scale's not common, but it's not all that rare, either...
As for the scale? 31" is a little unusual - but not a big deal. 30" is purely nominal for a shorty; I have several that are 30.5"; one that's 29.5"; and one - a headless Kramer "Duke" that's 31" scale. And, of course, some that actually are 30" scale. So... 31" scale's not common, but it's not all that rare, either...
The neck is from an early TSB-350 or another bolt-on Thor Sound model w/a slightly modified headstock (see body)
The fretboard is from the Univox/Aria Diamond (etc) violin basses of the era.
So is one of the tuners.
The other 3 tuners are from an Epiphone et280, but were probably also used on other Univox basses.
The body is a Univox Hi-Flier, heavily sanded down to remove the German carve.
The neck plate is pre-1971.
As far as I can tell, the pickups, bridge and bridge cover are custom fabricated by a very talented, passionate and driven individual.
Mysteries are fun. I have my theories.
The fretboard is from the Univox/Aria Diamond (etc) violin basses of the era.
So is one of the tuners.
The other 3 tuners are from an Epiphone et280, but were probably also used on other Univox basses.
The body is a Univox Hi-Flier, heavily sanded down to remove the German carve.
The neck plate is pre-1971.
As far as I can tell, the pickups, bridge and bridge cover are custom fabricated by a very talented, passionate and driven individual.
Mysteries are fun. I have my theories.
Attachments
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ELK BS-450 BASS w/OHSC 1970s JAPAN *RARE* | Reverb Canada
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reverb.com
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