Butchery

1bassleft · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:13 am Post subject: Butchery

No, not a thread on studded leathers and peaked caps. This is for those nice guitars, maybe even classics, that some numbskull has seen fit to customize or "hack" as the technical term goes. Here's one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/60s-Hofner-Left-Hand-Beetle-Bass-With-Case_W0QQitemZ7356200761QQcategoryZ22669QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

An original, 60s Hofner Beatle bass that some hack converted from its original lefty to a righty, then back again, but the righty hole and control plating remains. On behalf of us lefties, will you normals please stop doing this? Are you having trouble finding RH instruments out there?

Here, for example, is my own (not RI) Mustang bass carcass. A previous has turned it righty and hacked the upper horn back. Better still, he whopped out a rout for (of all things) a MightyMite 6-string bass pup near the bridge. The rout is so deep that the screw holes dimple the rear of the (refinished, pearl white) paint job. Some people.

Incidentally, an "optimistic" Fleeber is listing a Mustang bridge and saddles for $250 BIN. My whole cadaver cost £32, incl the neck, tuners and, yes, the bridge:

lee_UK · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:51 am Post subject:

Ive got my 9yr old daughter interested in Bass guitar, ive tried her on a yamaha bg model (on loan from my old bass player) but the neck seems a bit too fat for her hands, any suggestions for a small short scale CHEAP bass? do mustang do a chinese reissue thats cheaper than Special fried rice, prawn balls and curry sauce?
any advice?

1bassleft · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 4:37 pm Post subject:

Lee, for the nth time, there is a difference between the Fender Mustang and the Sunn (by FMIC) Mustang. Ignoring the Sunn Strat-copy for a moment, the Mustang (both guitar and bass) are great for kids except they are darned expensive. A good, original US Mustang clears $1000 easily (especially with the Shelby "competition" stripes) but the 24" scale guitar and 30" scale bass make good student models (their original intention).

The Japanese reissues are good instruments for around $550, but I don't see them very often in Blighty for anything like the comparable £ rate. For that age range, I'd look at the 30" scale basses. Apart from the Mustang bass, there are the Epiphone EB basses, made in Korea. The EB0 sounds nothing like the Gibson, but it's a start (and sounds better with flats, IMO - roundwounds burn the poor kid's pads). The cheapest option is the Encore 30" Precision stylee. These are perfectly OK starter basses and just as easy to set up decently as yer average P.

With under-10s, I have no shame whatsoever in buying something cheap but serviceable. Apart from the Sunn Mustang £45 guitar, my sprog has decided to take up trumpet. Did I buy a Bach Stradivarius, or even a Yamaha? No chance - a Chinese made Stagg for £59. We'll see if he keeps it going for more than six months.

Anyhoo, back to the thread. Anyone seen a hack job while looking for a nice axe? I remember that "Mitten in Deutschland" seller has a few horrors; including a semi-Steinbuggered Gibson.

1bassleft · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 6:39 pm Post subject:

Oh yeah, here's one of his that's been circulating for months at his price. Frankly, I wouldn't even stump up the p+p money for this 'modified' Gibson Ripper bass:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GIBSON-RIPPER-BASS-1976-left-over_W0QQitemZ7355004618QQcategoryZ4713QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

lee_UK · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:02 am Post subject:

EBO's look cool, you know how i feel about my SG, i dont care what it sounds like, just something cheap for her to plod along to.

1bassleft · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 12:15 am Post subject:

Better still, those Gibson EBO HBs do come up on the FleebUS fairly often and don't cost a bomb. Stick one of those in and it'll be "Cream Live" in the bedroom. Just beware of some Dimarzio Model Ones and even the Epi HB masquerading as the genuine. Otherwise, a Gibby pup for under £50 is not a difficult find.

I agree, the Epi EBO looks a lot classier than the Encore 30" and not a lot more money either.

EDIT: There is a Fender Musicmaster bass on FleebUK attracting no bids at £200. I'm not too surprised though. Similar to the Mustang, but not as popular because
a) It uses a 2-saddle bridge
b) A single, Telecaster p'up is used (weird, lightweight bass tone).

If you look at the Musicmaster closely enough, you can count the six polepieces:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-FENDER-MUSICMASTER-BASS_W0QQitemZ7355324811QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
There is another one that, apparently, Big Country's roadies nailed to an amp Shocked

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Fender-MUSICMASTER-Bass-ex-Big-Country_W0QQitemZ7356731619QQcategoryZ33039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Note that this one has had an aftermarket 4-saddle fitted.

Girlies do like the Musicmaster/Mustang. The small body shape etc makes it very comfortable. I'd consider either fitting a field-type Telepup (eg EMG) or getting the Dremel out and fitting a '51P type or, indeed, anything that takes the fancy. There's not much 'value' to ruin but these are US Fenders, every bit as well made as their bigger sisters.

glw · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:19 pm Post subject:

This one's pretty hideous:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80s-PIRANHA-V-BASS_W0QQitemZ7341855202QQcategoryZ4713QQcmdZViewItem

glw · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 1:33 pm Post subject:

British blues legend John Mayall has been known to butcher, I mean customise, his guitars, such as the famous holey Strat (below right).

lee_UK · Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:16 pm Post subject:

he was never a great blues player, and i agree his butchering efforts are a bit absurd, but he did start a lot of great blues players careers, so i suppose we can forgive him, ive never seen a cool photo of him playing a guitar, has anybody?

glw · Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:30 pm Post subject:

Here's another piece of butchery...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7356704664&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

It's not apparent at first sight, but what has happened is that someone has taken a non-trem Strat and routed it for a tremolo (possibly one of those horrible Kahler things). Why spoil a perfectly good hardtail Strat? Hardtail Strats are hard enough to come by without some plonker converting them to a tremolo instrument. This angers me in the same way that Bass dislikes people converting left-handed guitars to right-hand play. (see above, somewhere).

It seems that the guitar was converted back to hardtail again, but there are still signs of the damage. It's a pity about the shoddy scratchplate cutting in the bridge area too. However, it could be a nice guitar with some TLC.

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