New (vintage) bass day-

-and i’m loving it!
‘81 Veillette-Citron.
I had an 8-string VC back in the early 80s,and regretted selling it.
Always wanted to try a 4 string, but of course they’re rare, and because of that, overpriced.
I traded a nice Rick for it, but very happy with it!

 

As a matter of fact, it was a factory(if i can use that word) option.
It’s glued in to a slot in the body,so there’s no removing it.

 

As for tracking one down, this one sort of found me.
Sometimes Facebook can be useful!

 

The company was in business for about 6 years in the early ‘80s.
They seemed to have a great reputation, and made super high quality instruments, but only made around 300 instruments total. I’ve seen a few basses on Reverb and other sites very occasionally, and always priced in the stratosphere. They are not too dissimilar to Rickenbackers in construction. (But Better in some ways ). Maple bodies, 3 or more piece laminated neck-through-body construction.
Not sure if the pickups are SC or HB, but they sound great.
I am over the moon to own one again, after a near-40-year absence.
This bass had the original strap knobs removed and replaced with Schaller straplocks,which is fine with me,matches my Rickenbackers.

 

Thanks!
Yes, both the body shape, and the amoeba-like upper horn.

 

I’m not sure, but i think Alembic did both,too.
Veillette Citron was known as the “East Coast Alembic”,for their similarities and quality.

 

I love my Rickenbackers, and i always thought the VC basses were similar.(if you got the less fancy models). Those were very much like alembic/ken smiths with many more laminates and fancier woods.

 

Looky what i found on the interweb!

 

Personally, I don’t much care for the look of them, but I wasn’t about to quibble when this opportunity came up!
They did make these out of the same wood as the fretboards for some continuity, but matching the body color would have been brilliant. Also,I don’t anchor my thumb when i play fingerstyle, so I don’t really get any benefit from it being there.

 

I totally understand the feeling!
I mostly have newer instruments,but i do have a ‘74 Rick 4000, and a ‘79 Yamaha BB 1200.