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 Post subject: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 7:02 am 
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Location: Huntsville, AL
Can anyone tell me what they think of these basses (specifically mid 60s)? Quality, playability etc. Thanks!

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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 9:10 am 
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Location: West Orange, NJ
For starters, to the best of my knowledge no TRUE lefties were ever made. I've seen a few converted righties, but no actual lefties. Phantom Guitarworks makes Vox-design reissues, and IMO they are better made and better sounding overall. Or at least a bit more versatile.

I've tried a few Vox righties. First off, they get the highest marks aesthetically. Nothing cooler looking than those Teardrop (Mark IV) and Phantom basses, IMO, even if you can't really play one sitting down. :lol: The necks are pencil thin and cramped though. Thinnest neck I've ever encountered on a bass. They made a variety of solid body and hollow body basses. The hollow body Teardrop (Billl Wyman bass) is probably the most known, and they have a very tubby, hollow sound. Somewhat muddy, but unique, and different than, say, a Hofner Violin. You pretty much have to play them with a pick to get any attack and clarity, but cool nonetheless. Some well-known users include Bill Wyman, Benjamin Orr, and David Steele (English Beat).

Many of those classic English Beat tracks feature the Vox Teardrop sound prominently, especially "Twist and Crawl":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cbUW2EY4KE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bch9DuV0Y8o


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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 9:11 am 
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pjmuck wrote:
For starters, to the best of my knowledge no TRUE lefties were ever made. I've seen a few converted righties, but no actual lefties. Phantom Guitarworks makes Vox-design reissues, and IMO they are better made and better sounding overall. (I own a lefty Teardrop). Or at least a bit more versatile.

I've tried a few Vox righties. First off, they get the highest marks aesthetically. Nothing cooler looking than those Teardrop (Mark IV) and Phantom basses, IMO, even if you can't really play one sitting down. :lol: The necks are pencil thin and cramped though. Thinnest neck I've ever encountered on a bass. They made a variety of solid body and hollow body basses. The hollow body Teardrop (Billl Wyman bass) is probably the most known, and they have a very tubby, hollow sound. Somewhat muddy, but unique, and different than, say, a Hofner Violin. You pretty much have to play them with a pick to get any attack and clarity, but cool nonetheless. Some well-known users include Bill Wyman, Benjamin Orr, and David Steele (English Beat).

Many of those classic English Beat tracks feature the Vox Teardrop sound prominently, especially "Twist and Crawl":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cbUW2EY4KE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bch9DuV0Y8o


Check out the Vox Showroom for a complete history of their 60's basses:

http://www.voxshowroom.com/us/guitar/ba ... index.html


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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 10:40 am 
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There's a lefty on eBay. Strung righty but appears to be true lefty

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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 3:01 pm 
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pjmuck wrote:
For starters, to the best of my knowledge no TRUE lefties were ever made. I've seen a few converted righties, but no actual lefties.

Does this count?
Image

Voxmobile Tune Up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M59UmOib ... re=related

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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 21st, 2012, 9:52 pm 
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Matt R. wrote:
There's a lefty on eBay. Strung righty but appears to be true lefty


I saw that one too. I don't think it's the real deal. First off, it's not a Phantom as the seller indicated, it's a Teardrop design, so it can only be a Mark IV, Constellation, Wyman, or Stinger. Since it's also a solid body model and not hollow that rules out all but the Mark IV. But the knob configuration, pickguard, pickup placement, finish, and especially back body control routing matches no known Vox bass designs. So it's either a one off (doubtful) or a copy (likely) using various Vox or copy parts.


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 Post subject: Re: VOX BASSES
PostPosted: July 22nd, 2012, 2:18 am 
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Yeah, I'm glad I passed on it. I don't think the seller is fully aware of what that bass is.

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