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Vintage Fender Bass V

#21
:crying::crying:
moonshinegtrs said:
I have one of these:
12019968_995586147160075_2659232553905365484_n_zps3zl09krq.jpg


This one has a truss rod issue (needs to be repaired), but seeing how it was given to me, I can't complain... Other than said T-rod, everything else is mint.

Cool bass, good sound too. As mentioned previously, the bass was designed to be played in the "Money spot" yet still have the range of going up the neck.

It's an interesting bass.



Moonshine :bassist:
Click to expand...
Ah my gosh I would love to have that bass. I have a handicap on my neck hand... the 5 string and short scale elements would be perfect for me to play.... :crying:
 
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#22
Even though Leo had left Fender by the time of production, it was his concept and design.

And as others have pointed out, it was to allow one to play across the neck, rather than up the neck for higher notes.

As someone else mentioned, JPJ stopped using his live round about mid 73 tour. Photogtpraphic evidence suggests to me he also did not use it prior to the 73 tour. Interesting to note that in a 1977 interview where he talks about his gear, it's never mentioned.

I have seen TONS of Zep vids on YouTube and have yet to see that bass in action. It might be on some early 73 boots. I have one from Jan that year, and it could well be that bass, but I'm not sure.
 
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#24
Sorry to be going on about this, but I got a bit obsessed with finding some footage of the fiver. Took a while but found this video of Zeppelin, 3/26/73 in France. You can clearly see the Bass V in it. You'll also note he's playing his SCPB for black dog. Too bad the audio is crap, no real way to know what the Bass V sounds like in this setting.




Here is a longer vid from the same show, vid seems a touch clearer as well. Audio still blows though. Bass V being used throughout, except as note in for Black Dog (and when JPJ is on keys).

 
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#25
Ok, I think I found audio. May third, 1973 Zep sound check. About 9 minutes in, they play The Rover (two years before its release on Physical Graffiti). Even on my iPad speaker, I can tell that isn't his jazz or his SCPB. The timing is right, just a few days after the France show where you can see him using it. I mean, I would not be my left nut that is the Bass V, but I'd bet a sizable amount of money.



It sounds a bit hollow and honky to me, and as someone pointed out, pickup placement was not optimal and as such, they didn't sound great. This seems to back that.

They play Night Flight too, also from PG. Cool.

So, yeah, bass V is a cool oddball. Would love to have one and string it like a modern 5.
 
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#27
moonshinegtrs said:
I have one of these:
12019968_995586147160075_2659232553905365484_n_zps3zl09krq.jpg


This one has a truss rod issue (needs to be repaired), but seeing how it was given to me, I can't complain... Other than said T-rod, everything else is mint.

Cool bass, good sound too. As mentioned previously, the bass was designed to be played in the "Money spot" yet still have the range of going up the neck.

It's an interesting bass.



Moonshine :bassist:
Click to expand...
Moonshine what is the neck radius on that bass? from the first picture posted looks like it has some serious curve to it thanks RTS
 
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#28
JMacBass65 said:
Ok, I think I found audio. May third, 1973 Zep sound check. About 9 minutes in, they play The Rover (two years before its release on Physical Graffiti). Even on my iPad speaker, I can tell that isn't his jazz or his SCPB. The timing is right, just a few days after the France show where you can see him using it. I mean, I would not be my left nut that is the Bass V, but I'd bet a sizable amount of money.



It sounds a bit hollow and honky to me, and as someone pointed out, pickup placement was not optimal and as such, they didn't sound great. This seems to back that.

They play Night Flight too, also from PG. Cool.

So, yeah, bass V is a cool oddball. Would love to have one and string it like a modern 5.
Click to expand...


I would think you are right. Sounds cool.

What strikes me as interesting about this bass is if you've ever played over the fingerboard on a P bass to get that warm thump. This bass allows right hand technique that isn't really available on other instruments, being able to get a good solid pull on the string way closer to the nut. Not sure if it would sound good or usable but I'd love to try. And let's be honest there are many cases where the missing upper end of the fretboard would not be missed when strung B-G....

4k for a not very marketable bass to try is a bit steep...
 
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#29
I've seen online reports of five string double basses going back to the 17th century and they are fairly well known in the 18th and 19th centuries. Arguments rage as to whether the double bass was or was not a development of the bass member of the viola de gamba family and I think it likely that it was at least inspired by the relative success of that instrument which had six strings and dates to the 16th century. So no one on TB has spoken with the inventor of the five string double bass but while they have been used in Europe for centuries they have been rare in the US and still are somewhat rare so as someone else has said an old man from the US who lived before the internet could be forgiven for believing he was its inventor.
 
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#30
FranF said:
Jonesy had one, as did Jamerson. Hard to tell what songs they're heard on, but there's a lot of footage of Jonesy using it live, and good photographic evidence that Jamerson used his alot, based on the buildup uf fingerboard grime in the pics.
Click to expand...
In Standing in the Shadows of Motown, don't they tell a story about Jamerson throwing his across the room and telling the other guys to "not let him play that piece of sh*t again"?
I could be wrong as it's been a while since I watched the documentary, but I think they were talking about the Bass V.
 
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#31
Eric_Allard said:
In Standing in the Shadows of Motown, don't they tell a story about Jamerson throwing his across the room and telling the other guys to "not let him play that piece of sh*t again"?
I could be wrong as it's been a while since I watched the documentary, but I think they were talking about the Bass V.
Click to expand...

That's a great DVD, need to watch it again, for this story and just to watch it.
 
#32
I would buy a modern version of this bass if it ever made it to production. My experience with current 5 stringers ( B-G ), has left me pretty cold. I just imagine popping that high C string !
 
#40
jnewmark said:
I would buy a modern version of this bass if it ever made it to production. My experience with current 5 stringers ( B-G ), has left me pretty cold. I just imagine popping that high C string !
Click to expand...
JMacBass65 said:
I thought I saw a post here on TB about a Squire version in Japan or something. Might have been a year or so ago.
Click to expand...
You may be thinking of the Squier Gary Jarman Signature Bass, which has (uh, will have?) a Bass V -type body:
New Squier signature bass: Gary Jarman
10707928_800.jpg

If it makes it into actual production, and if one doesn't mind either narrow string spacing or neck-swapping/adapting, it could be converted into a five-stringer. I've fantasising about doing so myself.
 

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