Name That Bass

[Pdaddy1978]

I saw Suzi play that Gibson bass live, and I swear that bass was a big as her.

Anyone know what Suzi's side gig was back all those years ago?

When I saw Suzi open for Alice Cooper in the 70s she was rockin a Gibson Eb2.
It looked like a garage door against her tiny frame.
But apparently, She never met a bass she didn't like, because I swear I've seen her playing at least one of every design ever.
She was however wearing that silver cat suit....not that I noticed or anything.

 

[Aberdumbie]

Suzi had cameo appearances on Happy Days.

Bingo!

 

[Aberdumbie]

She was however wearing that silver cat suit....not that I noticed or anythin

I saw her open for Uriah Heep. She played Your Momma Won't Like Me and every fellow in that hall wanted to make their momma mad.

 

[GretschWretch]

Dang, I got them all (including the Vox Symphonic) but already answered...

Pity they didn't do the original Embassy headstock on the reissues (admittedly, it would add cost and neck dive but looks so cool...) Also the necks are way slimmer on the originals. I still have one:

View attachment 7478955

I envy you your one, but the batwing was not the original headstock. The earliest Newports and Embassy Deluxes both had 2+2 headstocks.

 

[Dynacord]

I envy you your one, but the batwing was not the original headstock. The earliest Newports and Embassy Deluxes both had 2+2 headstocks.

That's interesting. I've seen a number of 2+2 Newports but never an Embassy. I've seen maybe half a dozen 60s Embassy basses in the past (including one that was original "Sunset Yellow") and owned another previously but, of course, that doesn't mean they don't exist. I'd sure be interested to see one. This is an early one as well, all nickle hardware. I had a '66 that was all chrome other than the tuning machines.

 

[GretschWretch]

That's interesting. I've seen a number of 2+2 Newports but never an Embassy. I've seen maybe half a dozen 60s Embassy basses in the past (including one that was original "Sunset Yellow") and owned another previously but, of course, that doesn't mean they don't exist. I'd sure be interested to see one. This is an early one as well, all nickle hardware. I had a '66 that was all chrome other than the tuning machines.

 

[Dynacord]

View attachment 7479087

Very cool. Thanks! First time for everything. Pity about the changed pickups. Same badge as on the Newports. I've probably seen more Newports with 2+2 than with "batwing"/"E" headstock but this is the only Embassy I've seen like this. Saving the pic for sure!

 

[GretschWretch]

Very cool. Thanks! First time for everything. Pity about the changed pickups. Same badge as on the Newports. I've probably seen more Newports with 2+2 than with "batwing"/"E" headstock but this is the only Embassy I've seen like this. Saving the pic for sure!

All the electronics are aftermarket. The pickups, coincidentally are Epiphone as well. I got it a couple of decades ago from a touring derummer in Wisconsin, who clearly did not know what he had. IIRC the nut was missing (I had a perfect drop-in replacement) and maybe the tuners as well, for which I also had replacements. The bridge was a challenge. The bridge that came with the bass was from a Japanese Guild knock-off (harp-shaped), and finding a suitable replacement (although this one is not factory-spec) was a merry chase indeed. The replacement had to be nickel-plated, not chrome.

 

[Dynacord]

All the electronics are aftermarket. The pickups, coincidentally are Epiphone as well. I got it a couple of decades ago from a touring derummer in Wisconsin, who clearly did not know what he had. IIRC the nut was missing (I had a perfect drop-in replacement) and maybe the tuners as well, for which I also had replacements. The bridge was a challenge. The bridge that came with the bass was from a Japanese Guild knock-off (harp-shaped), and finding a suitable replacement (although this one is not factory-spec) was a merry chase indeed. The replacement had to be nickel-plated, not chrome.

Very nice. Re: Wisconsin, did you know Ryland Fitchett? I haven't spoken with him in ages, he had (but it was sold on, we sort of tried to track it down well after the fact) an Embassy in original Inverness Green. I doubt there were more than a handful of those made.

 

[GretschWretch]

Very nice. Re: Wisconsin, did you know Ryland Fitchett? I haven't spoken with him in ages, he had (but it was sold on, we sort of tried to track it down well after the fact) an Embassy in original Inverness Green. I doubt there were more than a handful of those made.

I was never in Wisconsin. Mine was an eBay purchase.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Dang, I got them all (including the Vox Symphonic) but already answered...

Pity they didn't do the original Embassy headstock on the reissues (admittedly, it would add cost and neck dive but looks so cool...) Also the necks are way slimmer on the originals. I still have one:

View attachment 7478955

 

[JIO]

OK, you guys nailed all but the precision look alike.
It is a VOX Symphonic bass made in England. Like this one I bought some time ago. The bass player in the Dave Clark 5, Rick Huxley, used one for a time. It was a Fender copy since Fenders could not be imported into England in the early 60's. I was surprised to find that photo of one being actually used. For a short while it was named The Sting Ray in the VOX catalog before changing the name to the Symphonic bass.

View attachment 7478836

Scott Walker / Walker Brothers -

 

[JIO]

Can you ID these?

View attachment 7478969

View attachment 7478970


Also worth noting that bass #4 in the OP is a Thunderbird II rather than a IV.

Maton guitar (stage right - stage left guitar an Eko?) & bass and Meazzi Jupiter Hollywood guitars & bass -

 

[ac100X]

Maton guitar (stage right - stage left guitar an Eko?) & bass and Meazzi Jupiter Hollywood guitars & bass -

Thanks, I'm not up on those but I could tell they were Italian made.

 

[Dabndug]

Thanks, I'm not up on those but I could tell they were Italian made.

Matons are made in Australia, more famous for their acoustic guitars, Thanks to Tommy Emmanuel. Their '60s electric designs were pretty wild

 

[Dynacord]

Maton guitar (stage right - stage left guitar an Eko?) & bass and Meazzi Jupiter Hollywood guitars & bass -

Yep. Of course, I recall you making your version of a Jupiter. Maton guitar and bass are both the Ibis model. Maton did things their own way. Certainly not just Fender knock offs. The bass has a 35" scale. re: the earlier talk of headstock variations, the Ibis guitar had several, the one in the pic being one of the strangest guitar headstocks I've seen:

I still have Ibis and Jupiter basses. Both are quite good: