Unique Japanese basses of the 70’s and 80’s

[marqueemoon]

I’m not talking about obvious “lawsuit” models, but some of the more original designs of this era from Ibanez, Electra, Westone, Hondo, Greco, Aria, Burny, etc...

If you’ve got one post some pics here, or just just post pics of your favorites.

 

[msb]

Always wanted to pick up one of these ...

 

[marqueemoon]

View attachment 3587939 Always wanted to pick up one of these ...

Can’t believe I left out Yamaha!

 

[UNICORN BASS]

Check my avatar, speaks for itself.

 

[blacktocomm]

My 1974 Ibanez Artist

 

[ctmullins]

Wow, that Ibanez has quite the identity crisis!

 

[Bob_Ross]

Wow, that Ibanez has quite the identity crisis!

Right? It's like if a Hagstrom and a Rickenbacker kidnapped a Gibson and hid out in an Ovation's back yard to avoid detection by the cops.

 

[fermata]

I stumbled across this medium scale bass by accident at the local music shop just about two years ago; I'd never seen or heard of this model before then. When it was made in 1981, it was the bottom of the product line, and yet it's one of the nicest basses I've ever played, both in feel and tone. (The Thomastik-Infeld rounds also deserve some credit.) I like it so much, it's now my one and only!

 

[gtlover]

My 1977 Ibanez Artist, defretted.

I removed 25 years of collecting band-aids right after I took this pic, so back to looking clean.

 

[PJ Bassthumper]

I just bought this literally today.

 

[Bass V]

< my '80s Lotus 750 is the 'bolt on' sister to the L760 neck thru model of the same style
both models typically sell for dirt money yet can go toe to toe with virtually anything out there

 

[sunbeast]

My 1974 Ibanez Artist
View attachment 3588173 View attachment 3588174 View attachment 3588175 View attachment 3588176

Now that’s a bass I’ve never seen but immediately want! Is the Rickenbacker copy bridge original?

 

[rockdoc11]

View attachment 3588732


View attachment 3588733

I stumbled across this medium scale bass by accident at the local music shop just about two years ago; I'd never seen or heard of this model before then. When it was made in 1981, it was the bottom of the product line, and yet it's one of the nicest basses I've ever played, both in feel and tone. (The Thomastik-Infeld rounds also deserve some credit.) I like it so much, it's now my one and only!

This has a definite S. D. Curlee vibe to it.

 

[Beej]

Crap pics, but...

 

[blacktocomm]

Now that’s a bass I’ve never seen but immediately want! Is the Rickenbacker copy bridge original?

Yes. All 100% original.

 

[gtlover]

Just got a second Artist Bass (with consecutive serials!)

 

[Riff Ranger]

From top:
Westone Spectrum GT (stock; loudest bass ever)
Westone Rail (headless, bodiless, figured it might as well be fretless, too)
Westone Prestige 150 (Lace Dirty Hesher pickups; never had original bridge pickup)
Electra X700JB (all Gotoh hardware since this shot; Lace Aluma-P will be replaced with something brighter)

 

[J-Mags]

I want to revive this thread because this is an interest of mine (guitars from the same time and place as well).

I've got this beauty coming my way!

I used to own this one, but I sold it (and pulled up that raggedy old carpet too). I kind of regret getting rid of it. That half silver/half gold color is awful for a carpet but fantastic for a bass.

 

[KaraQ]

Not very common, apparently a one year only model?


1987 Roadstar RB800:

 

[GTHintz]

my favorites are the Yamaha bx headless and tune basses. Add Ibanez SR but those are very common even to this day.