Memories...
SheaNC
exactly like my very first bass. These pictures aren't of my bass, but
the bass shown is just like my old one. I bought mine in 1979 when I
knew absolutely nothing about the bass guitar (obviously). I got it
for $80 used in a music store in Flagstaff Az (overpriced even at
that).
I loved that thing. When you played certain notes, the truss rod would
rattle inside the neck. I took it to a shop to be set up and the guy
there looked at me like I was crazy. He did it for free, out of
sympathy, I guess.
The rest is history. I learned how to play on that monster.
Interestingly, it was a long-scale, which old-timers will recall was
rare with basses of this caliber. So it was actually a great learning
bass; my hands were already used to the feel of a long scale neck. The
sound was about what you would expect, not too bad, really. My friend
who inspired me to buy a bass gave me his old Sears solid-state bass
amp, which had its own buzzy noises that really complimented the
rattling truss rod. Talk about musical purity, ay?
Ultimately, I traded up for a much better instrument. But I wish I
could have kept this thing to hang on the wall.
Well the pictures of the bass are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/musicdragon7/ORPHEUSBASS?fgl=true&pli=1#
The guy is selling it here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260236290979&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
It's ridculously overpriced. I mean, it's still a $50 bass, but I hope
it brings some kid as much happiness as it brought me :)
MegaSwing
>
> It's ridculously overpriced. I mean, it's still a $50 bass, but I hope
> it brings some kid as much happiness as it brought me :)
For $399 it's good that the average kid these days will likely want
something else. Ugh! That there is a wall hanging, an industrial
artifact.
Edward G.
Baltimore, MD
Tim
>
> It's ridiculously overpriced. I mean, it's still a $50 bass, but I hope
> it brings some kid as much happiness as it brought me :)
That looks like a "Lyle" solid body
compare the head stock pic:
http://csp.cupofnoodles.com/lyle2.jpg
Also on TB there was a thread about a model of the Lyle
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466496
these were produced in the 60's by believe it or not, the same folk
that made some electric guitars for Aria and Yamaha (Matsumoku)
http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/bass/fbs/1820-1830_2x2.jpg
That same square neck heel was a dead give away also for Epiphone
Kingston, Tiesco,Delray, Univox, some Mosrite and a bunch of other
glue-on brands sold through mail order houses like Sears, Montgomery
Wards, Spencer Gifts etc.
Interesting that I have a mid 90's Epiphone neck though "Expert-6"
or also knows as a "Prototype- 6" bass that I believe was made by
Samick in Korea, but still retains the Lyle type headstock as what is
listed in the first pic:
http://s5.largeimagehost.com/img/untilted/UsXUrcr/DSCF2226.jpg.html
SheaNC
like this one. Now I know they sold two of 'em, at least :)
Tim
> I have seen the same bass under different names, but mine was an Orpheus,
> like this one. Now I know they sold two of 'em, at least :)
Yeah. Here's a Kingston on Ebay now. It looks like it came from the
same bakery.