Spot the Problems

[PzoLover]

U forgot to post yer ph #

I have an all original "1950's" Bongo4HH R Red Ltd for sale - any takers??????

ooooeeeee

If that's one of the truly genuine all originals with
reverse headstock, fretless maple board, and
120V / 7 bandslider / bridge mounted tube preamp ...
I'm waiting by the phaeon, call 555-5555 now,
that's phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev

 

[AnthonyD]

They just don't get it...

This Bass Is So not right but at any rate, People buy an Ernie Bass for Half the money 100 times better bass and give up on these Leo Basses, These are the only Basses he never got right. He had the right idea and Ernie Ball Ran with it and got it right.

This is so true...

Of course they don't make 'em like they used to... They make 'em BETTER now!

I can understand there are reasons to covet a vintage instrument where the love and care that goes into them is no longer there. When quality and production have suffered at the expense of profits and time to market. When a company is a shell of it's former self.

But that is not the case with pre-EB to present! EB has provided constant innovation and improvements to be made to the Stingray - the love and care is still there. I am convinced that folks just don't understand...

 

[bovinehost]

I am convinced that folks just don't understand...

You don't have to twist my arm. When it comes to "vintage", people don't listen with their ears, they do it with their reptile brain.

"It's old! It must be better because....older is better!"

I had a 64 Jazz bass that was a complete POS and yes, it was stock and in good shape. (It was only ten years old at the time. So much for vintage allure.)

Jack

 

[Musicman Nut]

You don't have to twist my arm. When it comes to "vintage", people don't listen with their ears, they do it with their reptile brain.

"It's old! It must be better because....older is better!"

I had a 64 Jazz bass that was a complete POS and yes, it was stock and in good shape. (It was only ten years old at the time. So much for vintage allure.)

Jack

Well as Far as Vintage Music Man basses goes, ErnieBall Kicks Any Old Music man Hands down. But Fender Now, to this day Fender Musical Instruments can not even come close to an old Fender bass. Jack you must have had a Bad one, I had over 200 old fender basses and the ones I had Killed.
I no Longer own them because I'm 100% an Ernie Ball Music man Guy now, for me at this time in my life this is what works very well for me.

 

[5Stringer]

Very interesting .. the Trans White finish is a finish we did in the early days, and with the body contour it could be thought that the body could be among the early EBMM's .. then you take into account the strings-through .. and you sort of say, WHAT?? - which, to the best of my knowledge we have not done, at least not in that color. The preamp and probably the jack are EBMM replacements as we don't use the epoxy on the replacement boards we make for the old boys. One certainly wonders about the fretless maple neck, which is certainly an aftermarket job, though it appears that whoever did it did a decent job. The neck is obviously pre-EB as there is no dot on the 21st fret.

Taking all that into account - my best guess? - It's some sort of Frankenstein!

Dan

 

[SLUGGO]

When it comes to "vintage", people don't listen with their ears, they do it with their reptile brain.

That is so true. I mean, damn, people buy new instruments made to look old and pay top dollar!!! Silliness IMHO!

In my limited exposure to EB and MM products I do tend to think the newer instruments are better. But there is a great vibe to the early EB's as well!

This is one thing I love about the 30th SR. A little bit of old school for the "cool factor"with plenty of new school to be absolutely bad**s!

 

[cdb]

I wonder what the tone is like, considering that the fretboard has a 3/4" coat of shiny new poly on it?

 

[oddjob]

ooooeeeee

If that's one of the truly genuine all originals with
reverse headstock, fretless maple board, and
120V / 7 bandslider / bridge mounted tube preamp ...
I'm waiting by the phaeon, call 555-5555 now,
that's phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev phiaev

Sorry only a 6 band slider

 

[sloshep]

Taking all that into account - my best guess? - It's some sort of Frankenstein!

Dan

I' take an EBMM bass any day over a vintage mod weirdo Pre EB bass

Can it be a true Frankenstein bass without the special bolts through the body bridge design?

 

[Caca de Kick]

I am convinced that folks just don't understand...

I had a 64 Jazz bass that was a complete POS

Ah yes, here come the blanket comments that from one bad bass experience then all old ones must be bad. Yeah right!
It's funny then because I have absolutely no problems whatsoever with my vintage Musicman basses. Something is wrong, I musta gotten the only 3 good MM's ever made. (shhh...I better not mention my '69 Jazz either)

On topic: The ebay bass is a misrepresented POS, and the seller is a complete liar and the type of asshat that makes us vintage lovers look bad. I don't know why all preEB's get slayed just because someone shows a link to a badly hacked up bass.

 

[Aussie Mark]

It's funny then because I have absolutely no problems whatsoever with my vintage Musicman basses. Something is wrong, I musta gotten the only 3 good MM's ever made.

There were 4 good ones made, including my fretless.

 

[bovinehost]

Ah yes, here come the blanket comments that from one bad bass experience then all old ones must be bad. Yeah right!

No, wrong. My point is not that all pre-CBS or pre-EB basses are bad, but that sometimes - often, in fact - these basses are romanticized way beyond the reality of what they really are.

Which is production instruments, built from parts and made of wood and metal. The 64 Jazz I had just happened to not be very resonant and had some pronounced neck problems, but it was all original and even with those problems, what would it sell for now?

The price would be entirely out of line with the quality of the instrument. That was my point, not that all old basses are bad.

It's funny then because I have absolutely no problems whatsoever with my vintage Musicman basses. Something is wrong, I musta gotten the only 3 good MM's ever made.

I've had a number of vintage MM basses, too, and two of them were remarkable instruments.

Jack

 

[Big Poppa]

Caca

Pre Eb ones were very good at the time. For awhile....before Leo sold 2,500 with straight truss rods...after he learned not to goop polyester all over the fretboard...if you got a pickup that coils were matched and within spec...if the wieght was ok...if Grover made them they were cool...they were all over the road That is one of the reasons why they went out of business after about 8 years of making basses and we are backordered after 21 years.....

What we did was apply some controls and specs as far as weight finish, electronics and started refining these basses slowly and surely. Leos were made by ban saws and hand jigs... THats how they were done then. We incorporated cnc precision milling, robotic buffing, state of the are coil winding to insure that each coil was the same and therefore matched. We pefeected jigs to make sure that the all important hand work could be done consistantlyand within monitored specs

The best I could say is that we have made a more consistant product but I believe that Leo made some really fine stuff too but fairly inconsistant.

A perfect example of what Jack was saying is the big headed 70's strats that are now really collectable...There may be a few good ones but generally they are the darkest of darkest of Fender quality and people are paying through the nose for them now.....

 

[Caca de Kick]

...not that all old basses are bad.

Right, see it wasn't hard for someone to point that out. But the first two pages of this thread was blatant that old basses were bad...all being judged from a link to one very hacked bass. You and I have lots of playing time behind all era's of MM's and know that isn't true. Oh yeah, there is definite romanticizing going on with quite a few sellers.


BP, no arguments there, you make a great product. I grew up on the central coast near the factory, and have played all era's of MM products over the last 19yrs now.

 

[Big Poppa]

Caca, One who is very strong in his opinions should allow others the same right....

 

[prickly_pete]

I gotta agree with almost everyone here that the EBMM basses are by and large better basses than the pre EB stuff. Remember the pet peeve thread? One of mine was "my '75 whatever' bass is the best 'whatever' bass I've ever seen/heard/played! No its not, its just like nearly every other 75 whatever out there Remember that Penn and Teller Bullsh&t episode with the people in the fancy restaurant eating microwave dinners? Most of them thought it was the best food they ever ate too. Reptile brains LOL! And I agree with Jack, sorry Dave, I'll take my chances with a modern AV or CS other brand bass any day of the week over any of the overpriced/overhyped "vintage" models. I've owned quite a few older basses and played plenty. I'm glad you made money on them, though. Perhaps Penn and Teller should do a show about vintage guitars... it would be interesting...