Flat Eric's Bass & Guitar Collection

Jolana Basso. . . . . .

2012-03-09T04:19:00.003-08:00

Yes, I know I said I would do another Jazz but I have struggled
to find any pics of it the one that has all the covers on and the
other Japan '62, I now remember, I have done before - this one!
http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2010/10/fender-jazz-62-and-boys-at-work.html

So, having come across some old pics, the other day, I thought
I would throw this into the ring!!

Jolana Basso.
I bought this yonks ago to use on Bowie type stuff, Ziggy, etc
but to be honest, I never got round to it, so it found a new home.
Not sure what happened to it!

Built for a Budget, is perhaps the best way of describing it.
Having said that, it had quite a nice deep sound.

Jolana made all sorts of guitars, including a Peavey T-40
"Tribute" and an attempt at a Gibson RD.
There is a great site for "Eastern Block" guitars here:
http://cheesyguitars.com/guitars_jolana.html

Well worth a look and very informative.

Gigged my Peter Cook Axis at the weekend - boy that thing
has got some punch. Loved playing it.

Anyway, things to do - I will try and come back to you with
something else interesting.

Cheers. :)

Fender Jazz 62 Reissue Pink. . . .

2012-03-01T04:38:00.004-08:00

A Fender!

Yep, I do have a few but they are slowly diminishing, as I work
my way through some of the collection I have enjoyed.

This one was part of the trilogy - two Precisions and a Jazz.
The two precisions have now found new homes and I was
going to hang onto this one but. . . . . .

I lent this to a friend, about 5 years ago, on rather a long loan.
I had it back and although loving it, I nearly parted with it to
another friends bass player but couldn't go through with it.
Anyway, it's a long story but it has now ended up with the the
friend who had it in the first place! With me so far?? :)

Just a joy to play - it just feels so right, I think it has something
to do with the colour.
Lovely rosewood board, period bridge - close your eyes a little
and you get a feeling that this bass is 50 years old.
I know where it is, so it's not like we have parted company,
just changed owners. :)

So, it's bye bye to the Pink Jazz.

Next time, I'll do another '62 - a Sunburst one, very nice!
Two Fender basses in two posts. . . whatever next!

Cheers. :)

Peter Cook Axis, Gibson RD Artist and Peavey T-40 . . . . . . .

2012-02-24T05:38:00.009-08:00

A quick visit to past posts today - sort of a playing update.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have been playing my
Peter Cook Axis quite a lot and it has reminded me
just how good it is and as it gets what I now call TGSOP,
The Guitarists Seal of Approval, I think I shall be using
it for a while.

There are so many sounds that you can get out of this and it kicks
like a mule - we'll have no timid bass playing here!! :)
More Here:
http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2011/01/peter-cook-axis-bass-and-guitar.html

As well as the Axis, I have been playing my RD Artist and have
come across another sound, which I have left it set at and it
sounds very nice - this also gets TGSOP. :)
More Here:
http://flatericbassandguitar.blogspot.com/2010/08/gibson-rd-artist-bass.html

The new sound is achieved by making sure that when the
function switch is pushed towards the bridge - Bright, is should go
from 7 and 8 connected to 7 and 9 but by preventing it making
contact with 9, after it has left 7.
I did this by inserting a small piece of card, which kept the
contacts away from each other.
Anyone else ever done this??

contactflateric@gmail.com

And finally. . . . I have been playing one of my Blade T-40's,
it had an outing last night, which on this occasion, had the
drummer's seal of approval.
It's not this one but it is almost identical.

I have to say, I don't always get that lucky, I sometimes take
something new along and it gets the Oh No, No, No - not our
sound, at all!
Hey, you can't win 'em all! :)

Any questions, any info, ping me a message here:

contactflateric@gmail.com

Cheers. :)

A picture tells a thousand words. . . .

2012-02-10T08:17:00.000-08:00

Time for a bit of a cheat, today!

Left my memory stick somewhere safe, with some more of the
collection, so not to hand at the moment - no pics!!

In the meantime, the link I put up a few posts ago, comes up
with these results, which I thought would brighten an otherwise
blank page.

Any questions about anything you see, always pleased to hear
from you.

contactflateric@gmail.com

How about that then??
A whole heap of stuff - Aria, CMI, Status, Ovation, Ibanez, Peavey,
Yamaha, Peter Cook, Reeve, Jaydee, Gordy, Fender, Gibson, Guild
and a battered up Old Ned!!

This week I have been playing my Ibanez SB70, Aria SB Special II,
Ibanez Studio 8 String and my Status Shark!
A busy week!

Back next time, hopefully with the pics and more to say.

Cheers. :)

Aria Rickenfaker - RB550??. . . . . . .

2012-02-02T07:45:00.001-08:00

Aria RB550, I think!

Anyone would like to correct me, no worries - Jon??

Anyway, that's what I think it is.
I have another Aria "Ricalike", neck thru and I think that
is a 750?
They made RE and RB Rickenbacker copies, so it's one of them. :)

It is a really nice one, with a great range of tones.
I think I said this on my post about my Greco Faker - when both
pick-ups are on, there is a lot of range on the pot - at least a quarter
turn, with subtle differences - not like almost all other basses - a
Jazz is on a knife edge.

My Greco is Mono, don't know why they didn't add the stereo but
both the Aria's have Ric-O-Sound and using the lead that I have
for my Magnum, a lot of fun can be had, using two amps an two cabs.
Dry and then add individual effects to bridge and neck - interesting!

This one has found a new home in The Czech Republic - tones of
Chris Squire, Geddy or Macca, will be ringing around Prague!

I have to say, that the few genuine Ric's I have played over the years
have never quite hit the spot with me - don't know why.
Copies, from this era, are very usable - Aria, Ibanez, Greco, Kasuga
and many more.

Gigged my Aria SB404 on Saturday - been a long while since it had an
outing but it reminded me what a great bass it is.
Certainly not the most powerful in terms of output but ease the gain up
one notch on the amp and feed in some of the tones on the bass, Nice!
Lovely feel to it - oiled finish. Mmm.

Cheers. :)

Peavey Fury Bass. . . . . .

2012-01-27T08:04:00.000-08:00

Peavey Fury Bass - Nice!

These are great basses - Full Stop! - For USA, read Period! :)

I played one, "Yonks ago" and thought then how nice it was,
a great combination of features.
A familiar body shape, that is nice and light, familiar looking
pick-ups, that can well hold their own against most and a great
neck, that feels just like another "American Bass, with two single
coil pick-ups" - you know the one!! :)

These are from the earlier period of Peavey instruments, line
around the head, which followed the same pattern as the T-15 to
the T-60 and the T-20 to the T-45.

Nice punchy sound, well balanced, just a joy to play.

The pics are from some time ago and a lucky guy, who wanted
to get back into playing, now has the top one and I'm sure is still
enjoying it today!

Back with more, next time.

Cheers. :)

Just a bit of fun. . . . .

2012-01-18T04:34:00.000-08:00

As I strive to learn more about the workings of
t'internet, I came up with a whacky idea of how to
list all my posts so far, on one page.

Still not worked that out yet but here's something I
was playing around with, sort of does the job but not
quite the "Index" type of thing I was looking for.

Flat Eric's Image Directory

Edit: When you scroll down to the bottom, click "show more
results" - there are a lot more images.
Hover over them - if it says FlatEric, you can click on them and
it will take you to the feature. :)

Bingo, just tested it and it works!!!!!!!!!!!

There are just over 400 images - at a quick count, there
are 44 images that are nothing to do with me but that still
leaves around 360 that are and the bonus is that when you
click on the image, it takes you to the feature - well almost
every time!

That was what I was trying to achieve, perhaps a deeper
understanding of HTML and links is what I need.
Hey Ho.

Bass News:

Recently I have been mainly playing: Status Shark, Fender
Jazz MIJ, Ovation Magnum, Tune and Ibanez Artist.

More of the collection next time.

Cheers. :)

Hi to a 1000 visitors a week. . . . . .

2012-01-16T23:29:00.000-08:00

Hi to all out there. :)

Ten thousand visitors in ten weeks - 1000 a week!!!
I never thought when I started this, that it would be seen by so
many people, from all over the world.
So, thank you for dropping in, hope to see you again soon.

I have had quite a few e.mails recently, including content about
an Ovation Magnum restoration in Italy, news on a Ned Callen,
info required on a Peavey Foundation and T-40, Ibanez Blazer,
the Jaydee Twin Neck, Greco Rickenfaker and several more, so
if you drop in here, would be great to hear from you.
contactflateric@gmail.com

Back next time with lots more Guitar and Bass content.

Cheers. :)