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. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
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. ;)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
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! :)
:)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
More "Forty" stuff!
I was put onto these by a fellow "Forty" owner and someone who
now has one of my Sunburst Blades.
Very informative, well thought out and very well demonstrated.
The demo is on one of the early "Toaster" models.
Enjoy!
Cheers. :)
Ibanez RB-650, in White!
I have two of these - a red one and this one.
These basses, like the Blazer, punch way about their weight - ask
anyone who has played a Blazer or a 650!
I gigged the red one quite a bit, a couple of years ago and it went
out with another Ibanez, as a matched pair, for the night.
Lots of punch, plenty of bottom and enough brightness to cut
through the mix, without sounding too brittle.
Perfect!
This one has done 3 gigs, in the last 8 weeks - rotating it, with
another favourite of mine.
The last gig was a week ago, during this spell of hot weather we
are currently having - in a 4000 square foot marquee, with two
small entrances and a rear access point, the size of a normal door.
HOT! You bet!
I don't think I have ever drunk so much water, in such a short
space of time!
Anyway, the RB performed faultlessly - as you would expect.
Something a bit unusual on these, and it must be on all of them,
as the other one is the same - the blend between the two pick-ups,
is very gradual, not like many other 2 pick-up basses.
You can take the blend down to around 7 on one of the pots and
hear a subtle difference, all the way to that point.
A neck that is just about right, for almost anyone - a little bit
slimmer than an average Precision - great balance and weight,
all add up to something that is really nice to play.
Here it is, in it's starring role - not the best of pictures but good
enough to show that it is "at work".
On the way back home, slightly cooler at 1.00am, I popped
a CD into the player - Davy Knowles "Sessions" - turned it
up loud, rolled down the windows and "Headed out on the
Highway!
Brilliant!
Cheers, :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
Antoria twelve string acoustic guitar.
As I am on a run, with some of the guitars - I thought now would
be a good time to feature this one.
This is the only acoustic guitar that I have and I have had this
old fella for a very long time - since the 70's!
This was the only the second twelve that I had played - the first
go was on one that a friend of the family had and I fell in love
with the sound of it.
In the old days. . . . . pre internet/mobile phone/tablet. . . . .
the only way you could put things up for sale, was a card in the
local shops or in the local newspapers.
I used to read the musical column, every night - drums for sale,
violins, trumpets and. . . . the odd guitar.
After looking for a 12 string for only a few weeks, this one came up
and it was in the village that I lived in - bonus!
Tried it, liked it, bought it!
I think it was either £24 or £34 - it was a very long time ago.
The short journey home was full of excitement and when I got
there, that was it for the night.
Woke up in the morning with VERY sore fingers - I can still
remember it, as I couldn't play it again, for a couple of days. :(
So, what is it like to play?
Since I bought it, I have played loads of 12 strings but to date,
I have never found one as sweet.
The action is so low and up until around ten years ago, no fret
buzz - there is just a little fret wear, now but you can hardly
notice it at all.
From what I understand, from when I bought it, I think is was
made in 1973 or 1974, just at the time when Japanese instruments
started to be be taken seriously - some, very seriously!
The top, around the bridge, has bowed very slightly, as a lot of
acoustics do, as they get older and as legend has it, this improves
the tone.
I can't say that it sounds any different to me but I don't suppose
it would, as it would be a very gradual process.
It also has a beautiful Rosewood Fingerboard, that looks very
nice, indeed.
There you have it - Antoria Model 628 - 12.
Next time, another bass - in fact another Ibanez, that I have gigged
a couple of times in the last few weeks.
Cheers. :)
If you have landed on this page and you want to go to the
latest post, go here:
Latest post.
