Suntech Basses?

[zackthompson]

Does anyone else in talkbass land own a suntech bass? I haven’t found much information on them.

While browsing the internet and GASSING for a Japanese lawsuit-era bass of some sort, I stumbled across this bass that was branded “Suntech.” I was instantly drawn to it from it being a brand I had never heard of before, and when I tried to do research on it, almost nothing showed up.

Anyways, the ad for the bass said “made in Japan, replaced pickups, cool player’s piece.” I put the bass on layaway and decided to do more digging.

I stumbled across websites that explained the origins of the company. One was an ad for a Suntech electric guitar and the other for a J.S. KANSAS GUITAR WORKS acoustic guitar. I have attached both websites as references for archival purposes.

Essentially, Suntech and J.S. Kansas guitars were subsidiaries of JSPR Inc.: a company that imported and distributed Japenese instruments in the USA. At the time, importers would slightly modify their “cheap” instruments in order to make them “made in America” in order to appeal more to the American market.

Fast forward to me receiving the bass today. After further investigation, the evidence is clear that making the import guitars more “American” was exactly what Suntech was trying to do to this P bass. After comparing my bass with the very few photos out there, I figured out their “signature cocktail” for their basses and guitars. Replace the nut with a brass nut, add American made DiMarzio pickups, and add a series/parallel switch to the electronics. Here are the photos of my Suntech P with the evidence.

Brass nut

“Made in U.S.A” sticker that is permanently stuck to the guard.

I love these “patent applied for” DiMarzio pickups.

Interesting soldering job...

Neck and pocket

The only things I haven’t figured out are the date it was made and what factory from Japan it was made in.

I am absolutely fascinated with the story of these things. If you have anything to add or if you own a suntech, please post about it! I would love to hear from other owners out there.

Btw, the bass sounds and plays fantastic! Incredible craftsmanship for such a “cheap” instrument.

 

[Bass V]

never heard of'm til now but am v glad to, that's a fine looker and another Japan vintage to watch for. congrats!

 

[40Hz]

Suntech basses were made by Matsumoku AFAIK. Yours is interesting because all the Suntechs I’ve ever seen (maybe three all told) were neck-thru designs. I didn’t know they had bolt-on models as well.

Remember seeing a few in a shop in Cambridge MA back in the mid 70s or thereabouts when I was still living in Boston. They seemed to be very well made. That’s about all I know about them. Haven’t seen any since. So cool find!

 

[wheresmyric]

I bought a Suntech P Bass new in about 1979, 1980. Friend still has it and I play it when I visit. Buddy bought a Suntech Strat which was amazing so I followed suit.

They also built neck through "super" strats and p basses. Darryl Stuermer played a Suntech neck through strat back in the day. Here's a pic of the Strat. The P Bass was similar. Never seen one since.

 

[zackthompson]

I bought a Suntech P Bass new in about 1979, 1980. Friend still has it and I play it when I visit. Buddy bought a Suntech Strat which was amazing so I followed suit.

They also built neck through "super" strats and p basses. Darryl Stuermer played a Suntech neck through strat back in the day. Here's a pic of the Strat. The P Bass was similar. Never seen one since.

Was your/your friend’s Suntech P like this one or like mine?

 

[two fingers]

I know nothing about those basses. But I'll say this.

First off, yours looks fantastic @zackthompson !!!

And I have one of those PAF era DiMarzio P bass pickups in a parts P bass I put together a couple of years ago. It's like the cool crazy cousin of a stock P bass pickup. It sounds like a P bass.... with a little more aggression. Not a ton. But enough that I'm glad I have both kinds in my stable.

 

[zackthompson]

Also, this is the only bass I could find on the internet that is remotely close to mine. It’s a jazz bass, but it’s a direct Fender copy.

If I had to guess, these must have been apart of the origins of the company. And if I had to guess again, things changed when the talks of lawsuits were in the air in the 70’s. Thoughts?

 

[zackthompson]

I know nothing about those basses. But I'll say this.

First off, yours looks fantastic @zackthompson !!!

And I have one of those PAF era DiMarzio P bass pickups in a parts P bass I put together a couple of years ago. It's like the cool crazy cousin of a stock P bass pickup. It sounds like a P bass.... with a little more aggression. Not a ton. But enough that I'm glad I have both kinds in my stable.

Thanks! I’ve been wanting a white/tort/maple p bass for a while now. This totally nails it.

Have you ever wired the pickup to switch between series and parallel? Talk about extra aggression! When you flip it to series, the volume boosts slightly and everything gets super thick and gritty. Add a Darkglass VMT on top of it and you’ve got some super dirty tones.

 

[two fingers]

Thanks! I’ve been wanting a white/tort/maple p bass for a while now. This totally nails it.

Have you ever wired the pickup to switch between series and parallel? Talk about extra aggression! When you flip it to series, the volume boosts slightly and everything gets super thick and gritty. Add a Darkglass VMT on top of it and you’ve got some super dirty tones.

No I haven't but now I will have to try it.

Here's mine. The body is a little more blue than the pic. This thing turned out to be just over SEVEN pounds.

Thanks for the tip on the pickup.

 

[wheresmyric]

Was your/your friend’s Suntech P like this one or like mine?

View attachment 3041127

Standard P like yours. Transparent Amber with ash body, tort guard, maple neck, brass nut, Dimarzio pickup, tuners with the little tightening wrench.

 

[zackthompson]

Day 2 of owning the bass. It seems as if the truss rod has never been adjusted before. It will tighten and loosen freely. But, when tightening it pretty snug, the wood doesn’t budge. Might have to get my luthier to take a look at it.

 

[40Hz]

Day 2 of owning the bass. It seems as if the truss rod has never been adjusted before. It will tighten and loosen freely. But, when tightening it pretty snug, the wood doesn’t budge. Might have to get my luthier to take a look at it.

Wise decision. Sounds like you’ll need your pro to see if the heat and clamp thing might help. If it’s sat for 30+ years with no tension on the truss rod, it may have developed a permanent bow. Unless you know what you’re doing and have the right tools, you’re much better off leaving it to the people who do these things for a living. Let your luthier do an evaluation to see if it’s possible to repair. That’s money well spent.

Luck!

 

[zackthompson]

Update: got it back from the luthier and everything works great now! He said he just added some spacers to it because the truss nut was short.

I’m actually going to end up selling it. Some unexpected bills have come up and I’m gonna have to get rid of it. It’s a great bass and an excellent example of Japanese craftsmanship in the 70’s. I’ll be putting up the ad soon. Cheers everyone.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

I am absolutely fascinated with the story of these things. If you have anything to add or if you own a suntech, please post about it! I would love to hear from other owners out there.

I have the walnut neck thru. Bought it second hand in the early 80's. It's in it's second life now as I've re-fretted it in the 90's and recently stripped the finish and oiled it. I'm getting a J pick up added. All black hardware, black anodized pg. I'm having trouble deciding how to wire this thing up. VVT, VBT, VT. Might even get a tone styler for it with a just a 3 way selector switch. This ones the keeper. I'll hang it on the mantle when the time comes.