pslewis

I don't know what the hec it is!!

Can anyone help??

Its made in the GDR - East Germany for those too young top remember .... no make on it as far as I can see??

Anyway, photos here:-

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/08...Picture470.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/08...Picture471.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/08...Picture472.jpg

It sounds really good and looks smart, its heavy and I guess dates from the 1970's?? I guess??

I also bought a Sound City Amplifier with it - again probably from the 1970's, a very early solid state ..................

Any info?

Cheers

Pete

Oh, yes, whats the black plastic thing above the strings for????

fitzscoob

Plug it in, pluck the strings, enjoy the noise

Jaydee5

One question?? WHY?

pslewis

WHY??????????

Well, it came up for sale, was a giveaway price, sounds good and I can't lose

Pete

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

i hate noise dont you JD

turboman786

If you don't know the make, how can you be sure that it is a good buy?.....surely for something like a guitar the make and model are essential in guaging its worth.....

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

we are talking pslewis here

Jaydee5

[QUOTE=pslewis]WHY??????????

Well, it came up for sale, was a giveaway price, sounds good and I can't lose


It's an instrument...in the right hands it's capable of making *music* (although some folk think a band doesn't need a bass guitar)

If you don't know what it is and you can't play it...you shouldn't own it

Jaydee5

You wouldn't be saying that metal is *noise* would you, Sara?

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

ooooooooo yessssssssssssss do you like gitars JD

dpb

lol..Pete..!....whatever next....

IPKIS

The Black plastic thing is a thumb rest for when you play by plucking the bass strings or using it as a slap bass.



Now i've bored the ladies to death i'll get my coat

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

dont gooooooooooooo, i think JD likes guitars

IPKIS

That music if you call it that you listen to is noise

remind me never to get in your car again and turn on the Stereo

sarasquares

iTrader: (1)

ive got a sub now and an extra amp

David Lock

More Trabant than Jack Bruce

Trabocaster?

IPKIS

Oh i better bring my Ac/Dc collection round to try

douglasb

No idea what the make is, but it's a copy of a Fender Precision.

pslewis

Excuse me???

Funny, I thought we were in a free country here??

The price for the Guitar and Amp was just so unbelievable that I couldn't let it pass by ................ I always act upon sight of a bargain

The AMP is in bits at the moment and I'm fixing it .......

The Guitar is pretty good - needs a clean and a new/cleaned up jack socket.

I know the set is worth more than I paid and thats the kind of maths I like - BUT, it's not for profit .... it's for my daughter.

Would just like to know what it is ......... thanks to douglasb for that tip-off

Pete

David Lock

Needs some gold paint.........

Hanslow

Have you tried taking the pick plate off and/or taking the back plate off (assuming there is one for allowing easier access for changing the strings)? There might be a serial number or some more distinguishing features. Assuming the pickups are also original it might help distinguish what make it might be from the pickup types.

douglasb

Just re-read your original post. The original Precision was introduced around 1952. The Precision the same shape as yours was introduced around 1957. However, Precisions of that shape are still in production so your copy could date from pretty much any time in the last 50 years!

If there aren't any screwholes near the pickup or the endplate then there probably weren't covers fitted over these. Seventies Fenders had these covers, which suggests that you are looking at something a bit newer.

It is possible to buy a new Chinese built Precision copy for (I think) around £130 these days.

If you're going to replace the jack socket you'll need to take the scratchplate off. There may be maker's stickers or similar behind the scratchplate.

Try Googling along the lines of East Germany, Precision, Bass, Maple neck, (it looks like it has a maple fingerboard if not the whole neck) and see what comes up.

[edit] Hanslow posted while I was composing my reply! It won't have a backplate as the strings will attach to notches in the bridge/endplate.
[/edit]

Hanslow

I was just guessing about the backplate. I come from the world of proper guitars with 6 strings where they are more common

My missus plays bass but neither of us know much about the history of them. You sound much more capable and knowledgable in that area

douglasb

Played bass on and off for 30 years....

Anyway, I've had a look at Pete's original photos, downloaded them and enlarged them. There is evidence of screwholes beside the pickup which takes us back to the Seventies. Many bass players then removed the covers, but for anyone who is still interested, here's a pic of a 1975 Precision complete with covers and thumbrest. (not mine)......

GaryCat

The black thing is a thumb rest, you put your thumb on there and pluck it with your fingers.

The plain neck suggests it my have been bought seperately and screwed on, perhaps the original neck was damaged.

Hanslow

...and we all know Pete should just be playing the damn thing

doug, I assume that's not yours because the settee throw isn't bright enough

pslewis

Excellent replies ...... thanks all!!

It indeed has holes either side of the pick-ups .... for that chrome cover I guess??

I have cleaned up the jack socket, by lifting half of the plate up - didn't see any markings.

What it has got is a full Maple neck and a kind of adjuster at the base of the neck?? A leaflet in the old case shows 'Torque Adjustment Specifications' by GOTOH GUT Go LTD. GUMMA Japan ................ whatever that means???

Pete

Bubba po

As douglasb says, it's a copy of the Fender precision bass. Does every note sound at every fret without appreciable rattle? If they don't, the neck may be warped. The weakest link with cheap geetars is usually the pickups - something you will not be able to judge until you play it through a decent amplifier. The plastic bar above the frets is a thumb rest for those bassplayers that play a fingerstyle, but that feature is usually only seen on the Fender Jazz bass nowadays. But, if it cost nowt, then you won't be worried about any of this.

Bubba po

Bladdy hell, a lot got posted while I was writing that!