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Soviet Tonika Bass - Exploded (Pic Heavy)

#81
So very cool, so very incompetently constructed. You could call up the manufacturer and give them an ear full!

I was a bit sad when I was in Poland last year, and didn't see any old communist era instruments. A shop owner chuckled, and kindly explained that no one will play those old instruments of their own free will anymore.

Of course, now I REALLY want one. But maybe with lighter strings than the set that cracked yours. :D
 
#83
i hope that thing is more reliable than my mums old soviet car.

however i had a look at the video and it soulds really cool. if you can get that thing to work it will be great.

but what the hell is up with that pickup switch. its bloody nuts. its like the old 50's japanese electronics my local guitar shop showed me. one of the pots in it looked like a ufo
 
#85
spiltcoil said:
Just as the typical Canadian knee-jerk response would be to...oh wait, that would be the third ignorant statement undeserving of a response. Why don't we stop while we're ahead, eh?

EDIT: Sorry for the slap...posted a bit too quick before seeing the makeup kisses.
Click to expand...

No, go ahead. I wasn't making up because my opinion changed. I did it because I didn't want to derail the thread. And for the record, everything I said is factual, so it's not technically 'ignorant.' But If you want to debate it, we should take it to PM. This thread is too much fun to hijack.

But we're not going to change one another's minds, so maybe it's just better to let it go.
 
#86
s_mcsleazy said:
i hope that thing is more reliable than my mums old soviet car.

however i had a look at the video and it soulds really cool. if you can get that thing to work it will be great.

but what the hell is up with that pickup switch. its bloody nuts. its like the old 50's japanese electronics my local guitar shop showed me. one of the pots in it looked like a ufo
Click to expand...

All part of Soviet-era aesthetics, eh? There's kamp value there that just can't be beat.
 
#88
bassbenj said:
Actually that switch looks like a 5 position switch to me. Usually, there is some kind of little metal piece in there that acts as a stop. I'm thinking it is either broken or missing. According to the guy in the video it seems like the switch was meant to do neck/bridge/both/ off/ and some kind of extra mystery position which he describes as also some kind of neck/bridge combo.
Click to expand...

The switch on mine is actually labeled in English characters, 1-10. They were made over a period of years, and the 5 position switch probably pre-dated or post-dated the 10 position switch.
 
#89
orfeus_rocket_bass.jpg


What a lot of people didn't know was that the biggest hard rock band in Soviet Russia was Iron Curtain (their #1 hit being "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vidska") and the lead guitarist, Randy Rhodeskaya, played an Orfeus Rocket guitar which was to become his sig model and looked a lot like the bass except it was a 6 string and had rock dots (the heavier and more contemporary version of polka dots).


Bobby_B... I'm jealous. As a huge fan of oddities I've been wanting a Tonika or Roden for quite a while now. Sure they need some work to be playable and reliable but then that's to be said for many instruments made during the 60s and 70s. BTW, my 1970s Japanese Kingston has a surface mount "pickup" the design of which is similar to the ones on your Tonika... not the greatest but with modern amps it certainly sounds good enough.
 
#91
AHDBassist said:
Any updates?
Click to expand...

The Tonika isn't going to become playable without a LOT of work, especially because of the crack at the neck where attaches to the body and is only held by 2 bolts. I'm considering getting a body built that will be a new home for the pickguard, and maybe putting something else in the pup covers, etc. but haven't moved forward with that yet.

Meanwhile, received this yesterday:

:hyper::hyper::hyper:

5811030083_b2c5390182_o.jpg



It's a Soviet BAS-1 and has a straight neck. Needs a new nut and this one is active, but the battery gets really hot when plugged in, so I have a wiring issue to track down. Looked under the pickguard, and um... wow. Quite an engineering project under there. Pics to follow... This one is going to be playable for sure!
 
#93
I'd love to hear about this newer bass too.

I once tried to play a tonika while visiting russia. The D and G strings were pretty playable after the 9th fret. Definately a cool bass, just maybe not for playing.

I did end up buying a three string balalaika bass that was pretty well built and sounded nice, even if it was a bit of an acquired taste. I still hate the fact I sold it.
 
#97
UUuuu! Eeeee! Cool !!!

Today is the first time saw this topic.
In Russia there are clubs of fans of the Soviet guitars. I advise everyone to find a bass "Ural"!

As well advised to visit this site: Invalid Link Removed (It in Russian, but there all the pictures and clear!)
 

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