Show your vintage European basses!

[birdman14]

It seems like among vintage instruments, the euro market gets the least love. I've never understood it, as I've always found them among the most aesthetically pleasing. I'm currently trying to find a Meazzi of some sort, but it doesn't seem like any exist in the US.

Anyway, we'll start off with some of my favorite Italian basses:

Meazzi Jupiter Bass VI

Vox Cougar

Panarama 1202R

Crucianelli Spazial

Finally, the epitome of early 60s italian design, the Wandre Spazial (interesting that it shares a name with the Crucianelli above)

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Wow cool stuff, got more? Bring it on I'm Diggin' em'!

 

[lukatch]

70's Orfeus Hebros (Bulgaria), '64 Höfner Senator, '60 Höfner 500/3.

 

[lukatch]

I've always found them among the most aesthetically pleasing

You know CheesyGuitars, right?

 

[birdman14]

You know CheesyGuitars, right?

Oh no, i wasn't familiar! Most of what I find is with the assistance of Welcome - Fetishguitars.com

 

[birdman14]

Wow cool stuff, got more? Bring it on I'm Diggin' em'!

70's Orfeus Hebros (Bulgaria), '64 Höfner Senator, '60 Höfner 500/3.

Great photos lukatch! And nice segue into the next feature, German basses. Compared to italy, german companies took a more conventional approach to their bass building, often basing it off of their experience in upright/acoustic guitar construction. As a result, a majority of (west) german basses are large and (semi) hollow.

Starting off in West Germany, the two biggest players were Hofner and Framus, though other smaller, quirky brands like Klira and Hopf were also at the table. In fact, Nels Cline has a Hopf which he uses to this day on the road.

Klira Twen Star (Shout out to @Thornton Davis for his excellent collection!)

The well known Hopf Saturn

Framus Strato Bass

Finally, the Hofner Verithin (I hope you weren't expecting a violin bass!)

 

[kodiakblair]

Nothing as exciting as the previous posts. This is my Wilson Sapphire from 68.

Wilson was the guitar side of WEM amplifiers fame.

Watkins Guitar World - Guitars - Basses

 

[JIO]

Meazzi Jupiter Bass VI

I've seen this before - one of the all-time coolest designs ever. But I think judging from the badge it's a Meazzi Hollywood (perfect name for this beauty) and as "Spazial" is Special.., not so coincidental as may products end with that superlative.

 

[birdman14]

I've seen this before - one of the all-time coolest designs ever. But I think judging from the badge it's a Meazzi Hollywood (perfect name for this beauty) and as "Spazial" is Special.., not so coincidental as may products end with that superlative.

I was under the impression that all Meazzi's were actually branded Meazzi Hollywood. It may also be a catalog thing, per this '65 ad.

 

[JIO]

I was under the impression that all Meazzi's were actually branded Meazzi Hollywood. It may also be a catalog thing, per this '65 ad.

OMG! yes, it looks to be true - just wow

 

[cdef]

...and as "Spazial" is Special... not so coincidental as may products end with that superlative.

I think the Italian "spaziale" corresponds to "spatial", or (in this context) "spacey", in the sense of "far out". It may be a quibble, of course.

 

[deste]

I think the Italian "spaziale" corresponds to "spatial", or (in this context) "spacey", in the sense of "far out". It may be a quibble, of course.

Correct: "spazio" in italian is "space".

When I started playing in early 80's all the shops were extremely glad to get rid of that old 60's crap. There were no factories active anymore, except Eko which made bankruptcy soon after (now the brand is used for very very very cheap chinese stuff), and the market was dominated by the new japanese products (I started dreaming on the Ibanez Musician 924 fretless...). But my first guitar was a Les Paul copy by Gherson: very good neck, a well built and sturdy beginners instrument. I still own it, btw.

Now they're pretty expensive, being collectors' items. As I explained just he other day in PM to a fellow TB'er from USA, here in Italy the good ones (they exist, it wasn't just cheap copies - check Wandré, just to name a sort of forgotten genius) are often highly sought after, and therefore expensive in their market niche. The site birdman14 mentioned, fetishguitars.com, run by a well-known collector, is a bible for this kind of guitars and basses.

 

[markjazzbassist]

Great thread. I've always wondered about European manufacturers. Burns is English they made the bison bass and I know hofner but sadly that's about it.

Thanks to this thread I now know more

 

[salcott]

Too cool-I saw several there I'd love to check out, especially given my newish quest for a great short scale instrument.

 

[farace]

Mine will seem downright pedestrian after some of those Italian basses, but here is my Ampeg by Burns of London Vista Sonic Bass (accompanied by its sister Jazz Split Sound guitar, both featuring "Wild Dog" tone knob setting):

Ampeg by Burns of London--1963 Vista Sonic Bass, 1964 Jazz Split Sound guitar.

• farace
• Jul 9, 2016

and my Hagstrom H-8 eight-string bass (escorted by Hagstom twelve-string guitar):

Hagstrom 12-string guitar and 8-string bass

• farace
• Jul 9, 2016
• 2

 

[JIO]

I think the Italian "spaziale" corresponds to "spatial", or (in this context) "spacey", in the sense of "far out". It may be a quibble, of course.

Correct: "spazio" in italian is "space".

 

[leehutch]

Where do people find these basses?

 

[birdman14]

Where do people find these basses?

In pawn shops (props to whoever guesses where this is from).

The bass on the left is a bass Crucianelli sold and rebranded for Vox as the Escort

 

[lukatch]

There's a great little shop in Amsterdam, De Plug, they have many of these guitars and matching whacky little amps.

 

[deste]

In pawn shops (props to whoever guesses where this is from).

- Who's Zed?
- Zed is dead, baby, Zed is dead.

(I omit the wonderful dialogue between Butch and Marsellus because there's a bunch of profanity inside, but please imagine it, or google it...)