NBD NOS Quest Black Magic P Bass aka "I was noir when noir wasn't cool"...

I've been digging the new Fender Noir P bass, it reminds me of the 80's BBR Washburn line (black with red binding, inlays, etc...). I like the Fender and I may try to pick one up used some day.

So last weekend I was searching through the basses on Ebay (you think I'd learn...) and found a listing for a new old stock Quest Black Magic P bass; I'd never seen one before and it looked pretty cool in the pictures. The price was not too bad and they had a "make offer" listed... Even though I have been working not buying any more basses, what was I to do?

I did what any of you would do. I said screw it and made a cheap offer for the bass... and they took it!

It arrived today... In it's original case (with case candy and the key!)... I didn't even know it came with a case! It is truly NOS, it still has the factory check list hang tag. It is beyond mint.

Better yet, it weighs 6 pounds!

Pics:
"C'mon Dad, open the case!"









The neck is straight, the factory strings suck. I haven't even plugged it in, to be honest I kind of hate to mess with it... Note I said "hate to" not I won't.


Moonshine

 

Looks like Quest was an offshoot of Vantage basses (apparently Westone is another). Not a lot of information on these.


Moonshine

 

I found some information here...
The History of Quest - Vantage Guitars MIJ

Sounds like it is Matsumoko, possibly from 1985.

I just got done setting it up; the neck had a huge underbow (probably never properly set up) but it came out. I left the old strings on it for now, I think I will be putting round wounds on it but that may change. The neck is fairly big, fills my hand nicely. The satin finish feels great on the neck.

Structurally, the bass is close to perfect, it is an extremely well built bass. the shortcomings are typical of imported instruments from this era; the hardware is okay, I need to replace the tiny strap button screws, not that it is that big of a problem on a 6lb bass and I wish they had splurged and put black tuners on it (the buttons almost look like they were painted black). The other place where they cut cost is the electronics, typical cheap pots and wiring and the only real fault I can find with this bass, the pickup is very low output. I haven't taken it apart yet but it needs a pickup/controls swap.

It's a fun bass to play, it's the lightest P bass I have ever owned, with a little work it may find it's way into rotation.

And @bholder ...

Hard to argue with Bogart.



Moonshine

 

Summer NAMM is here, I've got instruments that need to be delivered but...

This bass is killing me, it has so much potential. Last. night I remembered that I had a Hwy 0ne pickup that I had stashed away, I really liked it and I was saving it for something special... Hmmm.


At first I was going to just replace the pickup but if you're going to mod something why not go all out?
Here's the stock pickup and the number that's stamped on the body under the pickup (no idea what it means...).

The original coils were fairly small (I didn't check the output), the Hwy one coils are considerably larger.

After removing all of the stock parts and bagging them and stashing them in the case...


I rewired the controls... don't laugh at the big ass capacitor; I was out of standard .047's and this amp cap (600 watts!!!) was all I had on hand. I made sure that it worked before I posted the picture... Don't judge me!


You got to love it when the replacement pickup fits in the same holes with the same screws...


And here we are...


I put on a set of D'Addario XL's and did a more thorough set up (cleaned up the frets, lowered the strings at the nut, etc...)

First impressions are; This bass ROCKS!

Man, talk about P bass growl... This bass has it in spades. I love roundwounds on this bass. My ears have been leaning towards flatwounds for awhile now, but this bass was made for roundwounds (okay, maybe not but after adding the Hwy one p/u it sings with round wound strings... Okay, Growls).

It is definitely in rotation. I can't wait to play out with it!

Color me Happy.



Moonshine

 

Call me crazy but I have a theory why this bass is so light...

I think the body is Balsa...

I have my reasons.



Moonshine