Project Vista Sonic (rut row, JIO's at it again!)

[JIO]

The tour video cracks me up 'scientifically tuned like it were a real musical instrument'

Yah, he was very cheeky - a stuffy condescending 'adult' describing the product that 'those noisy kids' are infatuated with.

 

[JIO]

Here is another ‘60’s oddly shaped Basses. A Maton Big Ben. I kinda like it

View attachment 3815854

That is pretty cool. And the pu is in a more modern position - not hugging the neck. What I like about that era was their creativity/inventiveness in design to make something unique. It's obviously based on a hollowbody violin shape - but then takes off into uncharted territory, especially the hs shape. It's hard to tell if it has a zero fret - if so it's up against the string-guide/nut. Also wonder what the bar is under the neck-butt. It appears to have 4 poles(?) but is too thin to be a pu. I also like the V knob-curved bar-T knob setup.

 

[TheIndieKid]

They're very, very rare. I remember reading that the main track on Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino is a Burns Vista Sonic that was meticulously sought.

Alex Turner listened to Serve Gainsbourg a fair bit. I love L' hôtel particulier.

 

[JIO]

They're very, very rare. I remember reading that the main track on Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino is a Burns Vista Sonic that was meticulously sought.

Alex Turner listened to Serve Gainsbourg a fair bit. I love L' hôtel particulier.

I love it! From soft romantic (but still rockin') Serge Gainsbourg to psycho-guitar on (live) Massacre (Killing Time) with Fred Frith! The bass tone on both songs posted is exquisite - it's the tone I strive for.

 

[RedVee]

That is pretty cool. And the pu is in a more modern position - not hugging the neck. What I like about that era was their creativity/inventiveness in design to make something unique. It's obviously based on a hollowbody violin shape - but then takes off into uncharted territory, especially the hs shape. It's hard to tell if it has a zero fret - if so it's up against the string-guide/nut. Also wonder what the bar is under the neck-butt. It appears to have 4 poles(?) but is too thin to be a pu. I also like the V knob-curved bar-T knob setup.

the 2 pup model has the neck pup hugging the neck, and the bridge pup hugging the bridge.

 

[JIO]

the 2 pup model has the neck pup hugging the neck, and the bridge pup hugging the bridge.

That was more common then. It's testament to their good judgement that the 1 pu model split the difference - aka; to the commonly accepted 'sweet-spot'.

And here's a similar design hybrid on an upright bass -

 

[flatwound62p]

the 2 pup model has the neck pup hugging the neck, and the bridge pup hugging the bridge.

A trussrod access cover, weird way to do it when the pickguard could have covered it like a Fender ??

Here’s more pics of the bass
Maton Big Ben BB Bass  electric bass guitar 1959-60

 

[JIO]

A trussrod access cover, weird way to do it when the pickguard could have covered it like a Fender ??

View attachment 3817165

Here’s more pics of the bass
Maton Big Ben BB Bass electric bass guitar 1959-60

Wonder why it looks like 4 'poles' as there seems to be only 2 holes?

 

[JIO]

Liz Frazer (Cocteau Twins/Massive Attack) definitely was influenced by Jane Birkin -

 

[flatwound62p]

Wonder why it looks like 4 'poles' as there seems to be only 2 holes?

Just two screws, it has Maton engraved on it which is probably what you’re seeing.

BTW the colour scheme on your new/old bass is beautiful. Much like !

 

[Dynacord]

A trussrod access cover, weird way to do it when the pickguard could have covered it like a Fender ??

View attachment 3817165

Here’s more pics of the bass
Maton Big Ben BB Bass electric bass guitar 1959-60

Check out the El Toro from the same page:

Maton El Toro Guitar and bass Vintage collectables 1968-1970

Still, the one I really like is the Ibis - particularly in this JIO like color:

Love how the bridge cover slants with the rest of the design (made from the same material as the pickguard). BTW the Ibis bass had a 35" scale. Earliest I've ever heard of that. Some of the guitar version look really amazing as they are more blinged out.

 

[RedVee]

Check out the El Toro from the same page:

View attachment 3817196


Maton El Toro Guitar and bass Vintage collectables 1968-1970

Still, the one I really like is the Ibis - particularly in this JIO like color:

View attachment 3817197

View attachment 3817198

Love how the bridge cover slants with the rest of the design (made from the same material as the pickguard). BTW the Ibis bass had a 35" scale. Earliest I've ever heard of that. Some of the guitar version look really amazing as they are more blinged out.

pretty cool. Some of their guitars like the Wildcat (?) had an optional “Sharkbite” feature. A curved piece on the top right corner or just in front of that.

 

[RedVee]

Maton’s
stolen Wildcat

 

[Dynacord]

pretty cool. Some of their guitars like the Wildcat (?) had an optional “Sharkbite” feature. A curved piece on the top right corner or just in front of that.

The Fyrbyrd is particularly nuts:

 

[RedVee]

The Fyrbyrd is particularly nuts:

View attachment 3817208

yes, another sharkbite but further up.

here is another one, in red. They did edit: didn’t : do a bass version of these. I’ll stop railroading Geo’s thread now.

there was definitely something in the water through the 60’s all over the world.
@JIO

 

[JIO]

All of those basses/guitars are really cool. I've always liked the Dano longhorn design and the El Toro is especially nice. The Ibis being 35" scale is wild. It too has the sweet-spot single pu location and it looks like the same curves bar moved to the E-side. The vacu-formed bridge cover is one not to go missing!

 

[Dynacord]

All of those basses/guitars are really cool. I've always liked the Dano longhorn design and the El Toro is especially nice. The Ibis being 35" scale is wild. It too has the sweet-spot single pu location and it looks like the same curves bar moved to the E-side. The vacu-formed bridge cover is one not to go missing!

What's really wild on the Ibis is it also has slanted polepieces on the pickup - which I had never seen before Carey Nordstrand's (and Bartolini later).

 

[JIO]

yes, another sharkbite but further up.

here is another one, in red. They did edit: didn’t : do a bass version of these. I’ll stop railroading Geo’s thread now.

there was definitely something in the water through the 60’s all over the world.
@JIO

View attachment 3817209

Oh please railroad ahead - the tracks are always clear for such! I love seeing all the oddball '60s basses (and some guitars) you can find! COOL-MIDWAY-HI FI --- love it! My friend Cork was in bands throughout the 60's in SF (the last being "The 50' Hose") and has some really cool pedals from that time. One is a sort of wha pedal with one setting called Bow-Wow.

 

[JIO]

What's really wild on the Ibis is it also has slanted polepieces on the pickup - which I had never seen before Carey Nordstrand's (and Bartolini later).

Didn't notice that - is staggering them something that improves the sound? Compensating for the string moving left & right?

 

[Dynacord]

Didn't notice that - is staggering them something that improves the sound? Compensating for the string moving left & right?

I don't really know the theory behind it. Had just seen it as a 'modern' thing akin to multiscale, etc. I did just send a photo to Carey though. I'm sure it's entirely by chance.