Odd Ball bass roundup

[Feral Feline]

I don't own one, but I wish I did (and posting about it is a great way to subscribe to this thread)...

Gretsch TK300

Invalid Link Removed


Make mine faded autumn red, please.

 

[Feral Feline]

Just thought of another bass I'd like to get, even more than a TK300 posted above...


A S H T O N — A S R B - 2 8 2

Designed in Australia, made in Asia. After seeing Invalid Link Removed (Horrortones' bassist), I've never seen another like it. Click on Ben's name for more info about it and to see some more pics from whence I gleebed these 'ns.

 

[Maxdusty]

One of the weirdest ones I've seen lately are the Bender Collision basses. I have to laugh because the P-bass pickups are also out of whack and probably gives it a completely different kind of P-bass sound. Nothing about it says precision, looks like something out of "Who framed Roger Rabbit".

 

[Deleted member 264575]

My Zeta XB304 Crossover EUB, strung with TI Flats.

 

[spectorfreak]

That's the Riverhead Jupiter with the two of the tuners at a right angle from the other two. Also a great bass but probably the easiest to find of all the Riverhead basses here in the US.That being relative, of course. They're all hard to find.
My Riverhead has the body of the Spector NS-2 with the curved body front and back-more Spector-like curves than the Jupiter. I haven't seen another one here in the US- body- only other instance I've seen one is in a photo at a Japanese website. Here's a pic of it.
View attachment 519479

So these Riverheads are a new one on me. Where were these made, Japan? I mean they're blatant ripoffs of a Spector and the other thing is a knock off of one of the wooden bodied Steinbergers, the XP I believe the V shape one was called, there was an XM with a more traditional body he made as well. I'm guessing these guys got sued into the stone ages by Stu Spector and Ned Steinberger

 

[Jughead6]

and here's my favorite... makes my heart hurt just to look at it.
View attachment 519092

As someone who would love to collect some musical rarities, I came to this thread looking for inspiration. Instead I nearly died laughing. That's hysterical. Seriously, take that picture down before I have a hernia!

 

[Need2KnowBasses]

Check this thing out.

 

[anzoid]

Picked this up last week as an exchange on a Peavey Millenium 5-string that I didn't want:
It's a heavily modified Hohner B2ADB (Active/Passive) that, according to the person who I did the swap with, and who knows the original modder, was from the late 80s.
It's in good condition playability wise with nice low action. The finish is more than a bit dodgy and some of the "sculpting" is a bit off in places - it definitely has some issues.
Red ain't my favourite colour for a bass but this thing is so light and hangs just right that it's a pleasure to play. Came with a set of flat wounds that were... at least to me... a bit odd, they've been ditched in favour of a set of roundwounds.
Certainly a one off and I still don't quite know whether I love its looks or hate 'em - but it plays so nice...

 

[Maxdusty]

So these Riverheads are a new one on me. Where were these made, Japan? I mean they're blatant ripoffs of a Spector and the other thing is a knock off of one of the wooden bodied Steinbergers, the XP I believe the V shape one was called, there was an XM with a more traditional body he made as well. I'm guessing these guys got sued into the stone ages by Stu Spector and Ned Steinberger

Riverhead basses were high quality basses made in Japan- expensive even back then.
If you ever see one, grab it! They are fantastic.
Actually, there's some speculation from other people I've contacted about my particular bass that it was designed to look absolutely like a Spector because it was around the time that Spector was looking to manufacture basses in Japan and perhaps mine was a limited run prototype to see if they could get the contract. It wasn't really intended for the open market so no lawsuit. The bass was never sold in this country and only a few examples I know of in Japan - known as the Riverhead "Spector". It has the Badass bridge, brass nut - all quality electronics too.
Riverhead is no more after a fire destroyed the factories in the 90s but the parent company, Deviser/Headway decided to re-brand their guitars and basses under new brands. One of which was Bacchus for their electric guitars/basses and Momose for their acoustic guitars. Both these brands maintained the tradition of produce very high-end, highly collectable instruments, Riverhead basses are most definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
There's a group of us here on TB.
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/riverhead-jupiter-owners.347769/

 

[zontar]

For some reason I want to try one of these...

 

[cronker]

I had one of these... until the guts fell out of it on stage. Input jack disintegrated.

Daion Savage

I had one of these too. POS, but looked cool. Mine was white with a stainless steel guard.

 

[cronker]

View attachment 519324 Well.... gotta put my " Westone Rail " in here , complete with matching soft case :

View attachment 519246

I saw one of these years ago for about $200. Kicking myself I didn't grab it.

 

[Deleted member 264575]

 

[BROCK WOOD]

Lotsa cool axes going on here!!!!!!!!!
Will these fit in with this crowd?

 

[Malak the Mad]

I had an Axestar like 23 years ago, bought it used at a music store, had EMGs stuck in it, probably the weirdest bass I've had in 30 years of playing and collecting. Had it for a couple of months and somebody stole it

The Ibanez Axstar is on my list of "Oddball Basses" on my GAS-list too.

Others include the Status Streamline…

…a Retrovibe Zygote by ProBass (I seriously dig how that trans-black-over-mahogany creates that smoky red tone)…

…and a single-cut Brubaker Brute MJXSC-4.

Sadly, the Status and Brubaker necks have very flat fretboard radii, so I don't think I'd ever feel too comfortable playing them. @spectorfreak, do you remember how flat or curvy the Axstar's board is?

 

[PDGood]

Tonika from Russia. I don't own it, just saw the picture somewhere

and downloaded the pic.

 

[Jammin Johneboy]

I saw one of these years ago for about $200. Kicking myself I didn't grab it.

This was my first bass , lol. Couldn't resist buying it when I saw the ad . I paid $250 for it some years ago with the original case. I keep a face cloth wrapped around the headless end inside the case because the string ends like to tear up the inside of the case.

 

[spectorfreak]

The Ibanez Axstar is on my list of "Oddball Basses" on my GAS-list too.

View attachment 519978

Others include the Status Streamline…

View attachment 519991

…a Retrovibe Zygote by ProBass (I seriously dig how that trans-black-over-mahogany creates that smoky red tone)…

View attachment 519990

…and a single-cut Brubaker Brute MJXSC-4.

View attachment 519995

Sadly, the Status and Brubaker necks have very flat fretboard radii, so I don't think I'd ever feel too comfortable playing them. @spectorfreak, do you remember how flat or curvy the Axstar's board is?

I don't remember the radius of the Axestar off hand but I seem to recall typical Ibanez which is thin and large radius so yes very flat, I can find the old Ibanez catalouge in the archive and tell you for sure what the neck dims are, just give me a bit, I'm at a gig, just taking a break so on my phone, will look it up when I get home.

 

[Spectrum]

None of my basses is odd enough to post here. I'd love to get my hands on whatever this is that Chris Squire is playing:

 

[scourgeofgod]

None of my basses is odd enough to post here. I'd love to get my hands on whatever this is that Chris Squire is playing:

Mouradian