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Traben Club

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#961
Hello. I've managed to stumble upon one of traben bass guitars from an early series (Traben Special Array 5). The owner says it's made in US, with mahogany. Bass was made before May of 2007. Is it real information?
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/reviews/bass_guitars/traben/phoenix_custom_4/index.html
And there owner wrote it's made in US. Could you please help with any information about early series traben basses? Thank you.
 
#962
Very, very few trabens were made in the US. Traben was sold to Hanser in 2002-3 and the basses have been made in Korea and most recently in Vietnam. There may be some rare cases of basses made for endorsing artists being made in the US. The first 2 numbers of the serial number are year of build. Pre-hanser the basses were designed by Ben Chafin in FL and he did hand build a few in the early years but almost all were built overseas. I've also never seen or heard of a traben made from mahogany. Most were basswood, palounia, and a few other cheap Asian woods. This doesn't mean they sound bad, just reasonably priced.

Mike
 
#964
Thank you, Montanamike. But your information about year of build don't conciding with information from traben company. They says that bass was made before may 2007. Serial number: T02844. There are few pics of this bass:

x_8a8ccd18.jpg

x_6b882120.jpg

x_1388513a.jpg

x_12300a77.jpg


It really looks like mahogany, i think.
 
#965
That's a maple top and the cavity is painted with shielding paint so it is hard to tell. If I were looking at it for the first time I would say it is a 2002, probably basswood body since the shape and color are similar to the sun and that is what it is.

What kind of preamp is in it? My guess is M&K or some initials like that. It is korean.
Remember that I may be wrong on some of this, see last post.
 
#969
I will ask about preamp to owners.

This pic with "T" at 12 fret, modern array special has the same, but 5strings array specials are discounted.
x_70ab6223.jpg


I have MM stingray 5 and meditating on trade this bass to my and don't want change good US guitar to cheap korean. (Exuse me for my bad english, I hope, I speak understandably)
 
#970
Defenestrator said:
I have MM stingray 5 and meditating on trade this bass to my and don't want change good US guitar to cheap korean. (Exuse me for my bad english, I hope, I speak understandably)
Click to expand...

Don't even consider it unless they are offering you a bunch of cash also. The musicman and the Traben aren't even in the same league. The Stingray is 10 times the bass, sorry guys, no offense.
 
#971
Montanamike said:
Don't even consider it unless they are offering you a bunch of cash also. The musicman and the Traben aren't even in the same league. The Stingray is 10 times the bass, sorry guys, no offense.
Click to expand...

With extra payment, of course. Half of MM prise. But owner want for this bass more then it cost new (korean) becouse bass made in US from mahogany, as he said. So I need help to know truth.

P.S.: traben basses looks awesome. In sludge we trust.
 
#972
Defenestrator said:
With extra payment, of course. Half of MM prise. But owner want for this bass more then it cost new (korean) becouse bass made in US from mahogany, as he said. So I need help to know truth.

P.S.: traben basses looks awesome. In sludge we trust.
Click to expand...

You do what you want but I got over looks a long time ago, tone is everything. I would be very suspect of the made in america thing.

God speed
 
#975
Yup, mahogany dosen't mean a thing besides that it's made from mahogany.

Also the weight of wood is variable, it could just be a heavy piece of basswood, and looking at your pic, it's definatly not mahogany, mahogant dosen't have wide grain like your pic shows on the rear.
 
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