Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

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paulo
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Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by paulo »

Picked this up recently and it came in the original hard case. Both bass and case very well preserved for it's age and even rarer being a lefty.
These are the pics before the fresh set of strings, clean up and setup.
Have anyone here ever heard about these or even owned one in the past?
From what I gathered online Murph been in business for only 2 years (65 and 66) but was forced to close due to a Fender lawsuit claiming one of their guitars looked like a Jazzmaster/Jaguar.
Here's some info on it:
https://uniqueguitar.blogspot.com/2016/ ... itars.html
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Matt R.
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by Matt R. »

Oh man, that’s pure sex
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pjmuck
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by pjmuck »

That's a really interesting looking bass. I see traces of a Rick, P bass, and maybe 2 or 3 other basses I can't place right now. :lol:

Never heard of Murph. I don't think I've ever seen a split P PUP arranged that way. Are they in essence P pickups with the same pole piece spacing just split to be two single coils now?

Anyway, cool score!
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Jeroen
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by Jeroen »

Nuh-uh, they look twice the size of P pickups :P
Looks very cool! I'm really curious how it sounds, with those two pickups so close to the neck. Interesting bridge too!
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fivebass52
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by fivebass52 »

Very unusual styling, interesting bridge... and the wood on the neck is gorgeous! Looking forward to what you think if the sound coming from the pickups. Is that switch for soloing the pickups?
R&B Stretch Bass, Walter Woods 1000w Green-Light Stereo Amp, AccuGroove El Whappo and TR112, assorted axes, amps, cabs...
http://www.myspace.com/thestrangershawaii
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paulo
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by paulo »

Thanks!
The pickups are single coil and are on the weaker sider so I've raised them closer to the strings.
I don't have enough play time with it yet but the pickups sound surprisingly good with rounds and the switch is a two way weirdly wired as both pickups or bridge only.
33 3/4" scale and 2 truss rods just like a Rickenbacker. I've had to chisel out around the nuts to gain access to them in order to tighten the truss rod a little because they where tight up against the wood but worked out great.
Looking at the body it's really small shaped like a non reverse Thunderbird and the headstock reminds me of a Ric but it has a terrible neck dive when strapped up but playing sitting down I have no issues at all.
I also had to widen up the space on the bridge where the E and A string sit because the strings wouldn't go in, since the bridge was made as a righty the wider sides where on the D and G string side. After some work it turned all great!
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fivebass52
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Re: Murph Squire Bass 1965 Left Handed

Post by fivebass52 »

Heck, you could chisel that truss opening halfway up the headstock, and with that cover, no one would ever know! :)
R&B Stretch Bass, Walter Woods 1000w Green-Light Stereo Amp, AccuGroove El Whappo and TR112, assorted axes, amps, cabs...
http://www.myspace.com/thestrangershawaii
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