Soviet Tonika Bass - Exploded (Pic Heavy)

[AHDBassist]

Not too far off the mark. Check this out....

Here's a really BIG closeup

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/5813497489_2f007fe343_o.jpg

Lol that's completely unnecessary. Looks like a wiring nightmare haha. What do all those controls do?

 

[SpitfireCWII]

By a couple of years.
And they beat Canada into space by how long?

The only war the US ever lost was against Canada.

 

[AltGrendel]

The only war the US ever lost was against Canada.

I won't sweat it, at least you're considered the nice ones on the North American Continent.

 

[sharkwagon]

Not too far off the mark. Check this out....

Here's a really BIG closeup

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3434/5813497489_2f007fe343_o.jpg

They say there is an easy way and a hard way to accomplish any given task. That my friend, is the escape from Alcatraz model for pickup wiring!

 

[FraKo]

Yeeaaahhh, these basses were not mentioned for playing. They just produced these to keep the factory's 5-year plan fulfilled (try to find the backgraound information in Wiki or anywhere in internet). The necks were very bulky and sometimes they even didn't have truss rods or these rods didn't work at all. All the necks were warped and frets were unevenè... Poor crap from the start to end.

Guys,

I have to disagree.... I have a late 80's Musima P-bass clone that had horrible frets, but a VERY good neck and the most resonant body out there. I'm currently changing the cheap electronics, and I had defretted the neck so many years ago. And the hardware, WOW: a great bridge, and fantastic 24:1 tuners made by Gotoh. I seldom play fretless, but believe me: that DDR beast is a sweet sounding one.

 

[Silver9692]

I saw the words "exploded" and "Bass" in the description so I had to click.

 

[carlos840]

What happened to those two basses?

 

[crazydave911]

What happened to those two basses?

A very good, (but not timely in my case) question

 

[Tonegasm]

Bass of the year.

 

[ShiftyShift]

I'm debating on whether or not to get one of these Soviet, ahem, "instruments". They're just so freaking COOL.

 

[shrimpflea]

The only war the US ever lost was against Canada.

C'mon guys....let's not bicker and argue about who killed who....this is supposed to be a happy occasion.

 

[purfektstranger]

Exactly....now I want to see more funky Russian basses.

 

[Ben Noblit]

The only war the US ever lost was against Canada.

American revisionist history is pervasive, I see. Remember Vietnam?

 

[Dr Greenthumb]

American revisionist history is pervasive, I see. Remember Vietnam?

This!

Also, this bass is, or should I say was, absolutely awesome. The incredible amount of fail contained in the bass is so great it makes it instantly great. The translation of the neckplate(..necksticker?) alone makes this bass freakin sweet. The sum of all the wrongs is just too funny!























I want one...

 

[pnut166]

Guys, please. Stop with the across-the-border mud slinging. Canadians and Americans standing over a crap USSR bass, slinging pot shots at each other, is absurd. Don`t get the thread locked.

 

[pnut166]

Think Allparts has a rewiring kit ?

 

[purfektstranger]

Imagine the poor comrade whose job or was to solder that mess....bass after bass...after bass.

 

[Dave W]

Note to self. Locate and purchase a Soviet bass. These things are awesome! Especially that Tonika.

 

[Taverner]

I have a Formanta Solo from the 70s, and despite being the heaviest guitar I've ever played, it gives one of the clearest tones I've ever heard. The sustain on that guitar is amazing too! The tuners were horrible, but what do you expect? They're from the 70's! I replaced them, lowered the action a little and popped on some Cobalt strings and now it's one of my favorite guitars. Never goes out of tune, the fretboard is nicely put together. The onboard "Fuzz" doesn't really work, but I own a Fuzz pedal if that's what I want to do.

 

[Taverner]

Exactly....now I want to see more funky Russian basses.

Check out http://cheesyguitars.com/guitars_ussr.html