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

[farace]

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!

My favorite longhorn will always be the Ampeg Devil Bass. Same exact electronics as my AUB-1 but much cooler (not that the regular scroll bass isn't way cool).

 

[Dynacord]

My favorite longhorn will always be the Ampeg Devil Bass. Same exact electronics as my AUB-1 but much cooler (not that the regular scroll bass isn't way cool).

Yet another of those basses I never should have sold...

 

[farace]

Yet another of those basses I never should have sold...

View attachment 3817865

Oh, that's excellent. Here's my AUB-1:

Which I didn't know for the first twenty years I had it, was the model photographed for the '67 Ampeg catalog.

 

[Dynacord]

Oh, that's excellent. Here's my AUB-1:

View attachment 3817879

Which I didn't know for the first twenty years I had it, was the model photographed for the '67 Ampeg catalog.

View attachment 3817880

Very cool that you have the 'centerfold' Fretless, too! Can spot the same grain n the fingerboard in your pic and the one in the catalog.

Those early ones with the mystery pickup are really cool and their own thing. A lot of people seem to have a bias against them. Granted, they don't sound like P-basses and not the right tool for every genre but they are very usable for what they do - particularly with more contemporary amplification. As I'm sure you know, the same pickup as in the Baby Bass that's been so popular in Latin music.
That one I had was super clean - still had the original strings on it when I got it. Was very hard to sell when I did (about 15 years ago before moving to Europe) - had it on consignment in a vintage shop for probably 9 months to a year.

 

[farace]

Very cool that you have the 'centerfold' Fretless, too! Can spot the same grain n the fingerboard in your pic and the one in the catalog.

Those early ones with the mystery pickup are really cool and their own thing. A lot of people seem to have a bias against them. Granted, they don't sound like P-basses and not the right tool for every genre but they are very usable for what they do - particularly with more contemporary amplification. As I'm sure you know, the same pickup as in the Baby Bass that's been so popular in Latin music.
That one I had was super clean - still had the original strings on it when I got it. Was very hard to sell when I did (about 15 years ago before moving to Europe) - had it on consignment in a vintage shop for probably 9 months to a year.

Bruce Johnson has an easily reversible mod for the mystery pickup models, the simple addition of a small capacitor that removes all the nasal honk that I was trying to EQ out. It makes the entire range of the tone control useable.

I also have a Baby Bass (and other Ampeg instruments). I've had a thing for Ampeg. Quirky and loveable.

 

[Dynacord]

Bruce Johnson has an easily reversible mod for the mystery pickup models, the simple addition of a small capacitor that removes all the nasal honk that I was trying to EQ out. It makes the entire range of the tone control useable.

I also have a Baby Bass (and other Ampeg instruments). I've had a thing for Ampeg. Quirky and loveable.

Interesting. I knew Bruce back then. Was pretty much the only source of strings at the time as well as just being a wealth of knowledge. Wish I knew about the mod - I might have kept it then!

Agree on the charm of old Ampeg.

 

[JIO]

My favorite longhorn will always be the Ampeg Devil Bass. Same exact electronics as my AUB-1 but much cooler (not that the regular scroll bass isn't way cool).

Oh yah - the Devil Bass is in a league of its own.

 

[JIO]

Yet another of those basses I never should have sold...

View attachment 3817865

I have a drawing and all pertinent measurements to make a Devil Bass body - Bruce Johnson helped. What I had an idea for was that body and a Kubicki Ex-Factor neck. Maybe my next project?

 

[JIO]

Oh, that's excellent. Here's my AUB-1:

View attachment 3817879

Which I didn't know for the first twenty years I had it, was the model photographed for the '67 Ampeg catalog.

View attachment 3817880

That's cool!

 

[JIO]

Very cool that you have the 'centerfold' Fretless, too! Can spot the same grain n the fingerboard in your pic and the one in the catalog.

Those early ones with the mystery pickup are really cool and their own thing. A lot of people seem to have a bias against them. Granted, they don't sound like P-basses and not the right tool for every genre but they are very usable for what they do - particularly with more contemporary amplification. As I'm sure you know, the same pickup as in the Baby Bass that's been so popular in Latin music.
That one I had was super clean - still had the original strings on it when I got it. Was very hard to sell when I did (about 15 years ago before moving to Europe) - had it on consignment in a vintage shop for probably 9 months to a year.

If that was Real Guitars I probably played it. I remember playing one there at one point - was the 1st one I saw in person.

 

[RedVee]

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!

They have some cool about them. I think the Ibis is my favourite but the Big Ben would be cool as a build project. TBH I’m not sure how good these are stock, and they are pretty expensive as “vintage”. I know the electric guitars of the period have their share of knockers, yet have been used on some famous and big selling tracks. But if I won lotto I’d have a look!

agree about the pickup selector
They still use something similar in their Mastersound electric guitar range, MS500 etc.

I saw that someone built a Fyrbird bass for themselves.

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).

never noticed that before. Thanks for pointing it out.

 

[JIO]

I talked with Pat Wilkins on the phone today discussing the neck finish - he said he'll have all his employees back next week. It's been a difficult period for guys like him, and if you are considering a guitar finish - give Pat a call. He's the nicest most hard working guy - one of the top finishers in the country. Just a straight-forward honest plug for the guy -

 

[Dynacord]

If that was Real Guitars I probably played it. I remember playing one there at one point - was the 1st one I saw in person.

That was it. Also had a really nice and all original (and unbroken) Epiphone Embassy Deluxe in there at the same time. Bought that Devil bass and a blonde '59 P-bass from the same guy years earlier. He had good - and unusual - taste! Bruce Johnson said that was likely one of the best condition Devil basses still around (others may have surfaced since). Another bass I sold in Real that would have been up your alley was an original black Coral Wasp complete with the raised clear second pickguard (over the swirled pearl one) with "Vinnie Bell" signature. Was not a long scale though. The Silvertone 1443 was a much better bass but the Wasp easily beat it in the looks department. A lot of those 'fringe' basses took a really long time to sell back then.
I'd really love to get a Maton Ibis at some point. I actually know of one I could buy but not at the $2,000+ that the guy is starting out at wanting. I doubt I could recoup anything near that if trying to move it on later. Would kind of prefer a project like your Burns at a more reasonable price.

 

[JIO]

That was it. Also had a really nice and all original (and unbroken) Epiphone Embassy Deluxe in there at the same time. Bought that Devil bass and a blonde '59 P-bass from the same guy years earlier. He had good - and unusual - taste! Bruce Johnson said that was likely one of the best condition Devil basses still around (others may have surfaced since). Another bass I sold in Real that would have been up your alley was an original black Coral Wasp complete with the raised clear second pickguard (over the swirled pearl one) with "Vinnie Bell" signature. Was not a long scale though. The Silvertone 1443 was a much better bass but the Wasp easily beat it in the looks department. A lot of those 'fringe' basses took a really long time to sell back then.
I'd really love to get a Maton Ibis at some point. I actually know of one I could buy but not at the $2,000+ that the guy is starting out at wanting. I doubt I could recoup anything near that if trying to move it on later. Would kind of prefer a project like your Burns at a more reasonable price.

Yah, as much as I love a number of these left-of-center iconic basses - I honestly can't justify spending that kind of bread on them. There was a black Teisco Firebird hollow-body bass for sale - but the price... So I look for the mangled DIY'rs at reasonable prices and revive them. Doing so serves a lot of needs for me and the results have been positive so far.

That was a nice Devil bass! If I recall it was heavy. I didn't plug it in - mostly checked it out. I always check to see what's new there.

 

[Dynacord]

Yah, as much as I love a number of these left-of-center iconic basses - I honestly can't justify spending that kind of bread on them. There was a black Teisco Firebird hollow-body bass for sale - but the price... So I look for the mangled DIY'rs at reasonable prices and revive them. Doing so serves a lot of needs for me and the results have been positive so far.

That was a nice Devil bass! If I recall it was heavy. I didn't plug it in - mostly checked it out. I always check to see what's new here.

It's true the Devil basses are very big and thus heavy. Pity you didn't plug it in! The pickup is totally different than anything else.

 

[JIO]

It's true the Devil basses are very big and thus heavy. Pity you didn't plug it in! The pickup is totally different than anything else.

I bet - usually depends on how much time I have to kill when visiting. Also, as much as there are heavy basses that I appreciate (Ibanez Black Eagle, Ampeg EB, Ovation Magnum to name a few) - the weight gives me a quick reason to not consider buying it. In fact, when I bought my '66 P there, I was first drawn to it visually and each step (weight, fret-wear, neck-check, close inspection, plug-in and playing) checked off the boxes one by one which lead to the inevitable scheming of how I could justify buying it! I even let sit there for a week but couldn't stop thinking about it. Luckily it was still there when I returned and the owner accepted my offer. It's become one of a few basses I own that I will never sell.

​

 

[Dynacord]

I bet - usually depends on how much time I have to kill when visiting. Also, as much as there are heavy basses that I appreciate (Ibanez Black Eagle, Ampeg EB, Ovation Magnum to name a few) - the weight gives me a quick reason to not consider buying it. In fact, when I bought my '66 P there, I was first drawn to it visually and each step (weight, fret-wear, neck-check, close inspection, plug-in and playing) checked off the boxes one by one which lead to the inevitable scheming of how I could justify buying it! I even let sit there for a week but couldn't stop thinking about it. Luckily it was still there when I returned and the owner accepted my offer. It's become one of a few basses I own that I will never sell.

View attachment 3818777

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I can see why - that's a beauty!

Some amazing basses have passed through that store.

 

[JIO]

I can see why - that's a beauty!

Some amazing basses have passed through that store.

I sold a National Reso-glas short-scale there in the mid-'90s. A cool little odd-sounding bass that I kinda' wish I still had, but I try not to regret such as I have an embarrassment of cool basses. Only other bass I nearly bought there was a '77 J in nice condition. It was marked just out of reach and wasn't special enough to justify buying it.

 

[Dynacord]

I sold a National Reso-glas short-scale there in the mid-'90s. A cool little odd-sounding bass that I kinda' wish I still had, but I try not to regret such as I have an embarrassment of cool basses. Only other bass I nearly bought there was a '77 J in nice condition. It was marked just out of reach and wasn't special enough to justify buying it.

I went through a lot working there (occupational hazard - alcoholic working as a bartender...) And they were a lot cheaper then - and things like Corals, Silvertones, Kays, etc could be had for $400-$700 tops. Almost bought the 1959 Jazz Bass prototype but was just too much money for a refin. There was a beat but incredible early '63 blonde J (so yellowed up with nicotine that it looked like an early 50s black guard tele blonde - and was very light) that is the one I most regret not getting. That and a '68 Pink Paisley Tele Bass (I only found out much later that there were only 25 of those made - along with 75 of the guitars). I had first option on a time machine '57 blonde, gold guard P (with hard V neck - the only one I've seen) - really looked brand new - that one went to Albert Molinaro and is in his Fender Bass book (which is excellent). Like you, I really can't complain - and for the oddballs, the Meazzi is my unicorn...

 

[JIO]

I went through a lot working there (occupational hazard - alcoholic working as a bartender...) And they were a lot cheaper then - and things like Corals, Silvertones, Kays, etc could be had for $400-$700 tops. Almost bought the 1959 Jazz Bass prototype but was just too much money for a refin. There was a beat but incredible early '63 blonde J (so yellowed up with nicotine that it looked like an early 50s black guard tele blonde - and was very light) that is the one I most regret not getting. That and a '68 Pink Paisley Tele Bass (I only found out much later that there were only 25 of those made - along with 75 of the guitars). I had first option on a time machine '57 blonde, gold guard P (with hard V neck - the only one I've seen) - really looked brand new - that one went to Albert Molinaro and is in his Fender Bass book (which is excellent). Like you, I really can't complain - and for the oddballs, the Meazzi is my unicorn...

Sounds familiar. When I was doing hard-core road-cycling/racing I worked at the top bike shop in NorCal (Wheelsmiths-Palo Alto) Also had a real job to pay the rent, more or less broke even with cycling "needs" working at the shop a few days a week.