Aria Pro II ST-1504FL Super Twin guitar/fretless bass doubleneck from 1982

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Now this is my kind of doubleneck. From 1982, it's an Aria Pro II ST-1504FL Super Twin with 6-string guitar neck and a fretless bass neck. It's Japanese-made, of course, almost certainly from the now legendary Matsumoku factory - note the trademark through-neck stylings so typical of both the period AND Matsumoku, and in this case it's a double through neck!

It ticks all the boxes for me as a bassist who prefers playing fretless and also dabbles a little in guitar. Also it has the necks the correct way around with the bass neck at the bottom and the guitar neck up top. (Correct way? I explain more about this here, and in case you haven't been following I did indeed get that custom doubleneck built).

However, with a Buy It Now price of a whopping US $4,299.00 for this Ari Pro II doubleneck, I think that I'm going to have to give it a miss.

G L Wilson

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G&L Interceptor fretless bass from 1984

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These days I feel more at home playing bass than guitar, and thus find myself more drawn to basses when perusing the racks in guitar shops, browsing the web, etc. I'm especially drawn to fretless basses; my first ever bass was a fretless (a Westone Thunder I-A) and I've owned several others over the years, most recently I've been playing a Hohner B2A fretless conversion. But I'm always looking out for that special ONE, so regularly check the eBay listings.

Recently this 30-year old G&L Interceptor fretless bass caught my eye. It's not a model that I've been aware of previously, and I'd imagine that most guitar and bass enthusiasts would have to agree that it is one of Leo Fender's more obscure bass designs. The body shape, I guess, belies its 1980s origins. It's rather blocky-looking with sharp, straight edges. A little bit like a Status bass maybe, but without the bevelled edges. I really like the headstock shape too, which is unusual for a G&L but still manages to incorporate their trademark "sting" (for want of a better word).

The bass is equipped with narrow field full range humbucking pickups and active electronics; the eBay seller insists that it has "an amazing bass boost which takes your breath away with its dub-level bottom end ... It would make a killer reggae or dub/indie PIL type bass, or any kind of contemporary rock or jazz, PERFECT for knocking the wind out of any audience." Sure sounds good to me, but then I do love dub reggae bass.

Currently listed on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of GBP £895.

G L Wilson

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Hohner B2 / B2A fretless headless bass wanted

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Please forgive this rather cheeky post, but hey, as blogmaster of this guitar blog I don't think you can begrudge me the occasional perk.

To get to the point, I ended up playing a Steinberger-styled Hohner B2A headless fretless bass at a gig last night and I totally fell in love with it. I did ask the owner if it was sale, but unfortunately for me he wanted to keep hold of it. I really liked the size of the bass, nice and portable yet with a full-scale length, and also I found it hung really nicely on a strap. I also liked the neat flip-out knee rest to facilitate playing when seated. Most of all, I really dug the sound. We broke into a reggae/dub number that we'd been working on recently, and the bass really delivered that lovely dubby bass sound that I love so much.

And so onto the cheeky bit. I appreciate that it's a bit of a long shot but does anyone out there - preferably someone in the UK or Europe so as to keep shipping costs to a minimum - have one of these babies that they no longer require and might be willing to exchange for a electric 6-string guitar from my collection? (I have several in mind that I'd be willing to swap for the right bass). I'm not too bothered as to whether it's the B2 (passive) or the B2A (active) model, but I really do want the FRETLESS version of the bass (preferably unlined). I'm not worried about the colour of the finish, or about the general condition of the bass, so long as it's all in working order, the neck is straight, the action is good, etc. All the usual requirements, really.

Please contact me at gavinlloydwilson@yahoo.com if interested.

Thanks

G L Wilson

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1984 Roland G-700 Guitar Synth with LEFT-HANDED GR-707 Guitar Controller

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Here's something special for our left-handed guitar-slinging friends out there. It's a 1984 Roland G-700 Guitar Synth with GR-707 Guitar Controller which not only is in the cooler black finish (silver was standard, red was another option) but is also left-handed. I don't think I've seen a left-handed example of one of these before; unfortunately I am unable to tell you how many were made, but you can bet it wasn't very many.

Isn't it crazy to think that this gear is now 30 years old and in the guitar world that seems to qualify as "vintage"? I remember when these first came out and we all thought "What the hell are Roland doing putting out such a crazy design?" But then, along came the SynthAxe and we thought the Roland controller was relatively normal. Today it has a retro-futuristic vintage charm, but it does feel very strange to be getting nostalgic about stuff like this.

Whilst the synth unit looks rather bulky by today's standards, I'll say this for it: at least it is labelled with LARGE numbers and has LARGE easy to read displays. I can't be dealing with the teeny tiny display screens on modern-day equipment. It's like, excuse me whilst I get a magnifying glass out so I can read this.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $1,999.

G L Wilson (with thanks to David from Barcelona who posted it first on Facebook)

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Shergold eight and four-string doublenecked bass from 1980

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Founded in 1967 by Jack Golder and Norman Houlder, both former Burns London employees, Shergold were arguably Britain's most forward-thinking guitar manufacturer of the 1970s and 1980s. Innovations included guitars with modular electronics that could be swapped out and changed depending on the sound desired. They were also champions of more unusual instruments such as their own take on the Bass VI and they had a particular affinity for double-necked instruments, the most famous of which was probably the 12 string + bass combination as used by Mike Rutherford of Genesis - a particularly clever design in that it was a modular instrument that could be configured as a doubleneck or else two separate single-necked instruments.

Here we see another Shergold doubleneck - a configuration that I haven't previously seen from this company - with 8 and 4-string bass necks. The eBay seller tells us that this is one of only three such instruments produced.

Currently on sale on eBay UK with a Buy It Now price of £985.

G L Wilson


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1980s Robin Octave Double Neck Mint With Case

guitarz.blogspot.com:

There's got to be a more convenient way to play a guitar duet than sharing the same doubleneck guitar. But if you and a buddy are really hellbent on re-creating Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan's party piece, then this 1980s Texas-made Robin doubleneck is for you!

It's a Strat-style guitar with one standard-scale neck and an octave neck, and is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $3,562.50.

G L Wilson

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Ibanez Roadstar ll Stanley Jordan signature model RG600TK Super Ultra Rare! NOS! 1986

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Im a little surprised that this Ibanez Roadstar sold for only $380 US on eBay. I've seen lesser Roadstars sell for more.

My first guitar was a Roadstar and I still have it. It was the beginning of a long love affair with 1980s Ibanez guitars. I must admit that until I saw this auction I had not even heard of the Stanley Jordan signature model. I like the understated colour, the slight nod to a Rickenbacker, and the hardtail bridge.

I hope it went to a good home

R.W. Haller




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Kay KE-20 Solid Body Electric Guitar from the 1980s

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For some reason part of my brain cannot believe that Kay made guitars after the 1960s. I know that they did and there is a lot of evidence to prove it.

Exhibit A: This gorgeous KE-20 from 1985. Simple and dare I say, elegant. Especially considering the usual pointyness of the era. I love the subtle nod to a Teisco Tulip as well.

Shame the seller only took 2 pictures to share

R.W. Haller




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Ibanez model ATDS10NT flat top acoustic guitar with tremolo

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Although uncommon, I have seen acoustic guitars equipped with tremolo arms before now, or should I say "vibratos" because as far as I can recall these have exclusively been arched-top acoustics equipped with Bigsby vibratos. This Japanese-made Ibanez model ATDS10NT circa 1983 is something else, as it has what appears to be a tremolo-arm mounted into an electric-style floating bridge, which is allegedly "fully functioning".

This item sold on eBay recently for US $599.

G L Wilson

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1980s Westone Rail Bass headless design with sliding pickup

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Hello!

I'm a casual bass player with a lifetime goal to eventually become a bit better than at the moment. I first heard about Westone's Rail Bass in your blog (http://guitarz.blogspot.fi/2009/04/westone-rail-bass.html), and now a couple of years later I finally bought one on eBay. Cost me a bit less than 500 euros (£380, $650). Even though red is the least cool color it was produced in, I love the way it looks. Attached are a couple of photos of the bass and its sliding pickup. You can use them in the blog or store them in the archives.

Cheers,
Jorma Kim
Finland

Very nice. Thanks for the photos! - GLW

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Johnny Pro solidbody electric guitar from 1980s Japan

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Just when I thought I had quite a good handle on the world of guitars, along comes something else that is totally unknown to me. Had you shown me the above picture, suggested that it was Japanese in origin and asked me to identify this guitar, I'd have probably have said it was something from Daion's range of guitars, mainly because of the rear cutaway.

However, this guitar is apparently a Johnny Pro. That's a brandname I freely admit that I have never heard of before. It's of 1980s vintage and Japanese-made. Maybe they weren't marketed in the UK. This particular example is being sold in Germany. I really like the simple understated design of this mahogany bodied beauty. The bridge pickup is worthy of note seeing as it has a coil tap switch in the centre of the casing. I guess there's no chance of hitting it by accident there, but it should be easy enough to engage/disengage using a guitar pick.

If anyone out there has any more information about Johnny Pro guitars, please do share it with us!

Currently listed on eBay in Germany with a Buy It Now price of €549.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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Clarke Spellbinder long-scale bass as personally owned by Stanley Clarke

guitarz.blogspot.com:

From the eBay listing:

The ONLY right handed long scale made..truly one of a kind !!!

Available is the coveted serial #4 long scale Clarke Spellbinder (a personal bass of Stanley Clarke ) only RH LS in existence!!!!

The 70's was a busy decade for Lieber Instruments. In 1979, Stanley Clarke became the proud owner of a custom Spider Grinder acoustic bass. At that time, Stanley was also playing Rick Turner's first graphite neck, through body, Alembic electric bass. Stanley loved the graphite neck, and felt that an all composite bass was the way to go. He commissioned Tom to design such a bass.

Stanley approved the design and Tom built a prototype guitar which required four patents to handle the innovations. Stanley loved the bass, and in a joint venture, Tom and Stanley formed the Spellbinder Corporation in 1980. Spellbinder produced a limited edition run of fifty spellbinder basses. One additional custom left-handed version was built at Stanley's request, as a personal gift from Stanley to Paul McCartney. The run was a success and, as planned, the Spellbinder molds were destroyed to insure the instrument's value.

 (sic throughout)

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $9,112.50.

Also listed on Reverb.com.

G L Wilson

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1985 Gibson SG400X - the SG that wanted to be a Superstrat

guitarz.blogspot.com:

You just know that this Custom Shop Gibson SG400X has to be a 1980s guitar when Gibson start messing with the tried and tested formula and produce a guitar that appears to be the offspring of an unholy alliance between an SG and a Superstrat. Check out the locking trem (I think it's a Kahler), the SSH pickup configuration and the droopy headstock that was de rigeur in the later 1980s (thankfully it's Gibson's own Explorer-style design and not a nasty pointy effort a la Jackson and Charvel).

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $1,450.

G L Wilson

© 2014, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - the blog that goes all the way to 11!
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1980s-era Arbor Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

The Arbor brandname is one which I am familiar with, but I know virtually nothing about them. This Arbor bass currently listed on eBay looks to be a solid enough well-built instrument and looking at it I'd guess it was 1980s Japanese judging by the build style, the brass hardware (check out that chunky bridge), and the use of DiMarzio (or possibly DiMarzio designed or just clone) pickups.

I tried scratching around on the net for more information, but there is not a lot to be had. Ask Jeeves tells us that:

Arbor guitars came in both electric and acoustic and were first available on the market in 1983. An issue of the Vintage Guitar Price Guide says they are budget grade and that they carried bass guitars with a solid wood body. Arbor guitars were imported to the United States from China by Music Corp. (MTB), though no current information appears to be available online. Their company website was not working at the time of this writing.

... which doesn't completely ring true to me. I'd have said they were Japanese, maybe even Korean, in origin. I did find the following on a forum to support this hypothesis:

Arbor guitars were founded in 1984 in Osaka, Japan by an ex-Ibanez president and an ex-Yamaha manager. A factory was purchased in Hamamatsu, Japan where guitars were produced from 1984-1986. They were forced to sell the company in the 3rd year of production due to lawsuits that were immediately filed by both Fender and Gibson, jointly. Production was moved to Korea by the new owners.

I'm guessing that they also made guitars for Hohner, who marketed the Hohner Arbor series sometime in the late 1980s/90s.

The above-pictured Arbor bass is currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $249.99.

G L Wilson

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Dean ML Bass - Vintage 1981 Made in USA

guitarz.blogspot.com:

The Dean ML design is a hybrid between Gibson's Explorer and Flying V models. I've never been too struck by the shape of it until I saw this original American-made Dean ML bass from 1981. I guess some designs work better on a bass than on a guitar (and vice versa). Note the ubiquitous (for the period) DiMarzio pickups. This is a bass that makes quite a statement; I wish I was rock'n'roll enough to be able to carry off something like this!

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $1,349. (Note, headstock has been repaired).

G L Wilson

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Gibson V2 - a redesigned Flying V from the late 1970s / early 1980s

guitarz.blogspot.com:

1980 Gibson V2 in Goldburst, Buy It Now US $5,940

1980 Gibson V2 in Bahama Blue Sparkle, Buy It Now US $6,190

1980 Gibson V2 in Maple, Buy It Now US $3,290

1980 Gibson V2 in Black, Buy It Now US $4,190

1981 Gibson V2 in White, Buy It Now $US $4,390

In 1978 Gibson decided to bring back the Flying V in a new re-designed version, dubbed the V2. it was actually intended to be the companion model to the E2, the then latest incarnation of the Explorer, and was designed by Tim Shaw. The sculptured body contours were originally intended to show off the maple and walnut layers making up the body, but obviously this only had visual impact on natural-finished examples. Additionally it has a Strat-style "tummy tuck" contour on the rear. The boomerang-shaped pickups were designed to sound like single coils but without the associated noise issues; visually along with the boomerang tailpiece they echo the V-shape of the body. In 1982 the pickups on the V2 model were swapped for more conventional looking "Dirty Finger" humbuckers.

Initially the V2 was available in Walnut top and Maple top finises, but the Maple top sold poorly and so, circa 1980-81, Gibson refinished their Maple top inventory in a variety of colours (some seen above), including: Pearl white, Blue sparkle, Blue sparkle metallic, Candy apple Red, Sunburst, Goldburst, Silverburst, Black, and Black Sparkle.

Olivia's Vintage currently have a bunch of these V2s for sale on eBay (see photo captions for links and Buy It Now prices). You'll notice that the prices vary significantly depending on the finish. I guess it's a "collector thing".

G L Wilson
 
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Aria Pro II ZZ Deluxe 1980s Explorer-type Matsumoku-made guitar

guitarz.blogspot.com:

I readily admit that I have a soft spot for 1980s Japanese-made Aria Pro II guitars - even pointy ones like this Aria Pro II ZZ Deluxe. Although quite obviously based on Gibson's Explorer the designers have made this version their own with a slimmer more contoured body shape. The quality of Aria guitars from this period is down to their origination in Japan's famed Matsumoku factory. This particular guitar is a rare left-handed example and features the addition of an aftermarket Kahler tremolo. If you're left-handed and the design of this guitar appeals (which probably means that your band plays metal) then you could do a lot worse than give this guitar a whirl.

Currently listed on eBay with a Buy It Now price of US $599.99.

G L Wilson

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1980s Ned Steinberger-designed Gibson 20/20 Bass

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Ned Steinberger's later guitars and basses whilst still being full of innovation never quite had the same impact as his now legendary minimalist headless L-series bass guitars, originally produced in 1979 in Brooklyn, New York. Here is one of his later 1980s' bass designs for Gibson, a model that has sunk almost without trace into obscurity. I remember a more youthful version of me seeing some of these instruments at a Music Show in Kensington, London, back in the day and am ashamed to say that I said rather loudly something along the lines of, "Oh look, Steinberger have invented the headstock!" I also remember all too well the dirty look I received from the guy on the booth. He'd probably heard the same thing 100 times already that day.

Currently being auctioned on eBay, with bidding at $510 at the time of writing. (Item located in Waterloo, Illinois).

G L Wilson

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