This is something I have been using quite a bit, over the last few weeks - so
I thought it would be a good time to give it a mention.
This is the Made in the USA, earlier "line around head" version, with the
Peavey "P" control knobs.
It has the same Super Ferrite pick-ups that my Foundation Fretless has,
which is one of the main reasons I wanted a Fretted version.
See here:
Peavey Foundation Fretless
There have been various descriptions of these pick-ups but if you put
them all together, the message that comes through is "like a Jazz but
with more muscle"!
They really do have a tone of their own.
This guy does a really great demo.
It has a slender Jazz type neck, that is so easy to play.
Just a really nice bass - what more can I say.
As with a lot of other Peavey products, they are often overlooked for
the "more established" brands but trust me, if you ever get the chance
to have a go on one, I think you'll be hooked.
Next time I will do my old Aria CSB-450, set neck, medium scale - in
an AV - Antique Violin finish - I think that's what it's called??
It was out gigging with a friend, at the weekend, so I thought I would
strike while the iron is hot.
The 450 is one of the Medium/Short scale basses I bought, when I was
having some issues with my left hand, which thankfully is now all sorted.
Cheers. :)
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What has this image got to do with the one below it??
Well, during my recent "clear out", this box came to light and in
the box was another box - the one with the blue on it and you
can just about see that it has "Fender Pickups and pots, written
on the top.
This is what is inside the box - with me so far?????
This is a tale I have told many times, to many people but this
is the first time it's been documented.
So, here we go. . . . . .
I have been a fan of Ritchie Blackmore and Deep Purple for as
long as I can remember and this story goes back 36 years ago.
When I was in the shop, we used to get many regular customers.
Some would come in for a chat, buy a couple of picks and leave
and others would be buying things on a more serious level.
One of the regular "lads", who I got on with quite well, despite
his limited budget in the shop, had got tickets to see Rainbow.
As the days passed, he got more and more excited about the gig.
You have to remember that this is way before the internet and
you tube, so the only way you could see your guitar heroes, was
live - in the flesh, at a gig, or read about them in the musical press.
Ritchie was as well know for smashing up guitars, as Jimi Hendrix
and Pete Townshend. . . . .
. . . and on the night of Thursday the 17th November, 1977,
another Strat bit the dust!!!
This act was actually documented.
On the Saturday, in walked the lad who I mentioned above,
(I'm sorry, after all these years I have forgotten his name)
who was holding a bag with something in it - a black Fender
scratch plate, fully loaded!
"You'll never guess what this is", was his statement - "yes
I can, it's a Fender plate, complete" was my reply.
Well, not entirely complete - the extension over the lower
horn had obviously been "liberated" by another fan.
"Ah but there's more to it than that. . . ."
He then went on to explain that what he had pulled from the
bag was actually from Ritchie's guitar that had been "sacrificed"
at the gig, on Thursday!
Now I was interested!!
Apparently, bits flew left, right and centre and he was just lucky
enough to be in the right place at the right time.
He was short of money and I was interested, so a deal was done.
From a vague memory, I think I gave him about £35.00 for it,
which was quite a lot of money, about £185.00 in today's money!!
What happened to the plate??
Well, the plate was cut up (sacriledge) and used on a guitar that
I still know exists, as well as one of the pick-up covers - shown
here, being played by someone I have known for over 30 years.
Top slide player. . . . . Nice!! :)
The knobs weren't with it but the switch top was, along with the
pots - which I still have, the switch was used on a repair.
So, I still have the original 3 pick-ups. . . . . . I wonder what I will
do with them, after all these years??
There you go, the story of "Ritchie Blackmore's pick-ups!!
Back next time with a bass I have been using and enjoying over
the last few weeks.
Cheers. :)
Like the other recent posts, these images date back to the 1970's
Copy guitars that are available now, are so much better than some of the
ones that were available around 40 years ago.
Jedson was one of the more sought after makes and this is the actual guitar
that was mentioned in one of my earliest posts.
Ahh, those were the days!
Jedson, as a name/brand is taken from the name of the company involved,
J E Dallas & Son JED Son - Jedson!!
Simples!!! :)
It's worth having a look on here - there is loads of info.
Jedson Solid Body Guitars
Jedson
Also in the shot is my old Simms-Watts Ike Isaacs Combo - mine had the
optional reverb on it.
Below is another shot, with a friend's guitar.
Check out the curly lead!!!!!!!!!! Priceless!
It is so long ago, now but I recall it had a pretty good sound and was plenty
loud enough for what I wanted it for.
I sold it it the early 80's - it was time to move on but I would love to have
a go with one, all these years later! :)
Simms-Watts was a well respected brand, with many bands in the 70's using
them at some point.
Have a look here for more info on the Simms Watts Combo.
Simms-Watts Ike Isaacs Combo
Next time. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ritchie Blackmore's pick-ups!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cheers. :)
This is the one!!!!!
Yes. . . . THE ONE!!!!!
Again, this is for anyone who has followed this blog from the beginning and this
guitar is the very same one that I described in my blog entry of April, 2010.
Sumbro Les Paul
This was my first "proper" guitar, that was mine. . . . . all mine.
Sumbro was sold through Charles Summerfield Ltd, who also had a brand
called CSL.
If you have a read of the April entry, it will tell you all about getting the guitar.
During rehearsals, this little beauty would be playing stuff from the Stones,
Climax Blues Band, Ace, Bad Co. Lizzy. etc, etc.
I just loved the thing and a bit like the bit in The summer of 69. . . . I played
it almost - "til my fingers bled"
Happy days.
I think this shot would date from around 1976 ish???
I am so glad I have found these long lost pictures. :)
Next time, my very first guitar, ever and my old Simms Watts combo.
Cheers. :)
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For readers who have followed this blog from the beginning or have found it
and managed to read the whole thing, you will be familiar with the legend
of a guitar. . . . . . The Falcon Hypercaster!
This is the actual guitar!!!
See here: Falcon Hypercaster
I knew that I had at least one shot of it and I have also found many more
very early pictures of the birth of my collection - The Sumbro Les Paul,
the Jedson Telecaster and my old Simms Watts Combo!!
Brilliant.
I will do them next time.
Cheers. :)
For those of you who read the blog on a fairly regular basis, you may have
seen "Mr Lee" featured and a Rickenbacker "Tribute", made by Greco.
Well. Mr Lee had a recent outing but guess who forgot the camera.
Yep, me! This is a very dodgy phone pic, which I have tried to brighten up
but is still a long way from "David Bailey"
Sorry, Mr Lee!
Anyway, I thought whilst I was on the subject, I show another one that hasn't
been done yet but I will get around to.
This image was taken 2 or 3 years ago and I have never managed to organise
some more pics of this one.
There seems to be a bit of an issue with Rickenbacker, over the various "Tributes"
that are out there - which are still in great numbers.
I can sort of see why they would be upset at current manufacture, of which there
are several out there but some of the "Ric copies" as we all refer to them, were
made almost 40 years ago and they're not just going to disappear.
Some, I have played over the years - play, feel and sound as good/better than the
originals but because of recent events, many of these "Tributes" have sort of gone
underground.
So, if you have a Ric Copy and you love it - whip it out and show that you are
proud of your instrument.
The most prominent brands were Ibanez, Hondo, Aria, Greco, El maya, Kasuga
and probably several more I may have missed out.
If you know of any others, drop me a line in "comments" and I will edit the post.
And finally, here is another one, that I used to have but now lives in Prague.
This one is a "bolt neck" - the other Aria I've shown, is a neck thru.
For more on this one, go here: Aria Rickenfaker
Back next time with something different.
Cheers. :)
Back in the 70's, in Vancouver, Canada, a man called Atilla Balogh,
along with his colleagues, started making Odyssey Basses and Guitars.
I am really glad he did!!
This is one of mine.
I think it's time to come clean and confess, that these basses are perhaps one
of my favourite instruments - certainly the most gigged - last Saturday, in fact!!
The other basses have their character, feel, sound and a handful come close
to the Odyssey's but nothing is quite like it - for me, anyway.
If you go back to the beginnings of this blog, you will see that this was one of
the first of the collection that was featured.
I was starting to think that I had the only ones of this model, which I believe
was made in 1977 but can't be entirely sure.
I have now seen images of another one, the same as mine and one that would
have been like mine but has been modified.
Look at this little beauty!!
It looks like there has been one new switch fitted and coloured caps have
been added to the others but apart from that, like mine - it looks the same
as it did when it left Granville Island in the 1970's.
From what I understand, the current owner has had it over 17 years.
I am currently trying to get in touch with him and will report back, if I do.
Now to the other one.
At a guess, I would say the original finish was the same as mine.
The head face has been blacked out and the Double A Logo is not there.
The truss rod cover is also different and the tuners are not Grover.
The most obvious addition is what is described as Reynolds Active Electronics.
The bass is fretless, with teak inlays, in place of frets.
Certainly a bit different from the two basses I have and the other one I have
now found.
The owner says it is from 1984 but I am not sure, I think the company may have
folded by them.
Anyway, my opinion of an Odyssey Bass - Made in Vancouver - I can now
bring myself to declare that they are. . . . . . Stunning!
I would love to find some more of this model, so if there is anyone else out
there, with one of these incredible basses. . . . . Step Forward Now!
Cheers. :)
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Hi to all my visitors! :)
I have been so busy, over the last five or six weeks!!!!
So, focus on the blog has drifted a little, as I need to get some good shots
of the next part of the collection and up to now, have not been able to find
the time to do any.
It's Sunday morning, the sun is out but today I have gardening to do, so no
pics today.
I could have done some yesterday but I went to a beer festival, instead.
Mmmm, difficult choice - enhance my photo skills or sit and drink beer
with friends - one of them being a bass player!
Beer wins!
I will be back on course as soon as I can - there are still a lot more to
go on with and I am also in the process of selecting 40 odd of them, to
do a feature on, which I will tel you more about, nearer the time.
There, that's got you wondering!!
I'll leave you with a funny shot from t'interent!
No, that's not me. . . . . . . ours are made of Oak!!! LOL! :)
Cheers. :)
Another Aria Bass!!
This is an Aria RSB Deluxe, in Pearl White.
This, I think, is a more rare colour - I have only ever seen a
handful of others in this colour.
There are a lot of different sounds from this bass.
I used this last Thursday, at rehearsal and set up a sound
that just came easily to hand and during the first number, I
thought to myself, sounds very Ric!
In fact, playing around with the stack controls and selectors,
all sorts of sounds and tones can be had.
This one has been out with me before.
Here:
Aria RSB Deluxe
Aria RSB Deluxe Bass
I also have an RSB Special, which is pretty much the same as this
but with two MB III pick-ups, this one has one MB III and one
MB-J1, tapped coil pick-up.
On this Deluxe there are stacked pots, Vol & Tone, a selector and
"Dual Sound" and Coil Tap switches.
These were very High End basses and 30 odd years ago, would have
cost a lot of money.
Aria Basses of this era, have Endurance!
They are just as relevant, as they were all those years ago.
Very well built and thought out, great to play, great sounds - what
more could you want - So many Pro Players, used them.
The decal on the headstock, details "Smooth Joint", which if you
look at it, sort of describes the way it is.
Graphite nut, smooth and accurate tuners, good solid bridge, not
heavy, nice balance. . . . . need I go on.
Aria RSB Deluxe - A Great Bass!
Cheers. ;)
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Ibanez Studio ST-824 and Ibanez RS 900.
I took these shots for a couple of people who have a great interest
in Ibanez instruments and have several of their own, so I thought
I would share them with you.
Those who follow the blog on a regular basis, are now probably
thinking "I've seen that one before!"
No, this is the other one! This one is not the one in the shots
with the 8 String, it's a different one. :)
I was put onto this one a couple of years ago and just couldn't
help myself!
This is the RS 900 that has been featured a few times - took
it out to rehearsal last week and the memories of gigging it
came flooding back - what a great bass!
I think the green of the lawn makes a great background - I think
I'll do a few more, before the winter sets in!!
Back with more, next time.
Cheers. :)
Skal. :)
Santé! :)
:)
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