Norton Merlin Vinatge Fretless Bass, Aluminum tube frame with sliding pickups!

[sobemtv]

I have just got a Norton Merlin Bass 2 weeks ago, I think this is a vintage, I have told it bass may be a prototype made in 1981, no idea. I have emailed to Norton Guitars to get more date and detail about this bass. It made by aluminum frame, adjustable, tilt-able wood wings, slides up and down pickups. Those nowadays Norton Bass only got 2 sliding pickups, and mine got 4 pickups: 1) soapbar at Neck, Hum at middle with coil tap 3 ways toggle switch beside, jazz at the bridge, and a acoustic piezo pickup with a separate input jack below the bridge that make it like a upright sound. It has a master volume and tone knob, and 3 way pickup switch as well, very lovely look. Anyone got more information about this bass. please tell me, Steve

Norton Merlin Bass 01

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless merlin norton vintage

norton merlin bass 02 back with metal frame

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• frame fretless merlin metal norton vintage

Norton Merlin Vintage Fretless Bass 03

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• frame fretless merlin metal norton vintage

This Norton Merlin bass, a Vintage Fretless, metal tube frame, fully adjustable, 4 pickups...

Norton Merlin Bass 04

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• frame fretless merlin norton pickups tune vintage

4 pickups configuration
soapbar on neck
Hum in middle with coil tap
jazz at bridge
piezo under...

norton merlin fretless vintage bass 05

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless merlin norton vintage

Norton Merlin Vintage Fretless Bass 06

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• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless merlin neck norton vintage

neck join on the back, Aluminum metal frame

Norton Merlin Vintage Fretless bass 07

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• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless merlin norton pickups piezo vintage

Piezo pickup from the back

Norton Merlin Vintage Fretless Bass Guitar 08

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• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless head headstock merlin norton stock vintage

head stock

Norton Merlin vintage fretless bass guitar 09

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• fretless merlin norton pickups vintage

the coil tap switch of the Humbucker pickup in the mid

Norton Merlin Bass Guitar

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• knobs merlin norton

The Master Volume, Master Tone, input jack and 3 way toggle switch

Norton Merlin Vintage Fretless bass

• sobemtv
• Oct 31, 2015
• bridge merlin norton vintage

the bridge

 

[sobemtv]

the website of the Norton Guitars Norton Guitars and Basses - EVOLVE

 

[bassbully]

Very cool. How does it sound?

 

[40Hz]

Very cool. How does it sound?

This.

It does seem like a very complicated way to do things when an all wood build would get the job done with one tenth the engineering and expense - unless this approach yielded some superior results.

It does look interesting though. But the proof is in the pudding.

Sound clips or video?

 

[stacker]

Never heard of them. My first impression was that it came from Soviet Russia! I do know that that 'bucker is a DiMarzio Model 1; it's coil-split switch can be seen at the underside of the mounting.

Is it heavy?

 

[murphy]

The Rail

 

[jaybones]

Reminds me of a Proto-pipe. Ultra technological answer to a question already solved with more traditional designs. Back when I puffed...

And I've never been a fan of sliding pickups, although I've only ever played a very used Grabber. The plastic (I'd guess) slider was worn and if you had the pickup all het way forward in the neck position it would slowly creep back to the bridge before the ssong was over. Much rather have multiple pickups and a switching blending system.

Piezo under bridge is pretty cool though. Have a Graph Tech Ghost system in a partscaster, really dig it, and thinking about incorporating the bass model into my latest build. Might have to hold off, as the more expensive stuff (Warmoth flamed maple neck with binding and block inlays is going to cost me a chunk of change, Omega bridge might not be compatible. Might have to go back to a Wilkinson or Fender style. And the pickups I haven't decided on yet, which are going to have on board electronics are going to cost me at least a hundred plus).

And +1 on how does it sound??

 

[Iridescentone]

I love it. I don't care if it sounds like ass and weighs a ton. I'm a sucker for over-built, over-engineered things. Love the machined metal parts (presumably from aluminum billet).

Someone put a lot of work into that thing, the execution looks first rate. It also looks........expensive.

Cool score, even if it just hangs on a wall.

 

[stacker]

The RailView attachment 720077

I remember this one! And the Hondo Flash!

 

[Eilif]

I checked so-so but it's already growing on me. I really hate the gold bridge and knobs though. Shouldn't be that hard to find a nicely worn replacement in black, nickel or chrome and it would go a long way to improving the look..

 

[Spectrum]

I love it. I don't care if it sounds like ass and weighs a ton. I'm a sucker for over-built, over-engineered things. Love the machined metal parts (presumably from aluminum billet).

Someone put a lot of work into that thing, the execution looks first rate. It also looks........expensive.

Cool score, even if it just hangs on a wall.

I agree, that thing is awesome. Has a sort of almost steampunk vibe to it, or like an 80s Blade Runner future tech thing going on.

It does remind a little of the Westone Rail, which I have always been on edge of hunting down. I think these kind of overengineered gizmo basses would be cool to experiment with MIDI electronics and stuff.

 

[pfschim]

Very cool. How does it sound?

this ...
formula is: sounds good = is good
as far as looks, it's a bit tech looking for my personal taste. Appearance is just aesthetics, and one mans cool look, is another's meh.... and then I would refer back to the formula above.

 

[Handyman]

That thing looks totally awesome. Just be sure to never play it naked - some serious injuries may result with all the exposed machinery on the back side.

Where did you find this crazy thing? I'm jealous.

 

[eee]

If you ever want to sell this, PM me

 

[P A U L]

The RailView attachment 720077

I have thought about doing this general design (on a smaller scale) w/ my '93 Strat Deluxe Plus. It has the swimming pool route & I had thought it would be great to have my favorite pickup in there & be able to use it at any (& every) point from bridge to neck & have it adjustable w/o having to detune the guitar...

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Would this be the best bass for metal?

 

[jjmuckluckjr]

Total steam punk. Who cares how it sounds, some hipsters are already breaking up the band they formed around it when this post started yesterday. Tomorrow, they will be nostalgic for this dream machine from a bygone era. Ah the memories. I wouldn't be surprised if it played/ sounded alright.

 

[CGremlin]

Would this be the best bass for metal?

And "is this the best metal for bass?"

 

[sobemtv]

I checked so-so but it's already growing on me. I really hate the gold bridge and knobs though. Shouldn't be that hard to find a nicely worn replacement in black, nickel or chrome and it would go a long way to improving the look..

You are right, didn't notice those gold hardware doesn't match the rest of the color and design. if the knobs and bridge are gold, the tuner pegs should be gold too. I have no idea the screws dimension of the bridge are standard or what? it is mounting on the metal not wood, don't think I can change that bridge as easy as Fender stuff

 

[Joe Kyle]

I WANTS IT.

Its like something from a vision......