Tune Basses?....

[fivebass52]

I've been following the Tune bass thread on Talkbass for about a year now, and have always had an interest in them. They always get great reviews, and have a distinctive look to them as well. Left handers seem to be a rare item, so I was wondering if anyone here has ever played one, or owned one, and if so, what are your thoughts on them?

Here's an example of one, a beautiful 6-string... http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/e/sele ... -325933602

[fivebass52]

Here's a demo from an English chap on a Tune TWB5HY.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_JB7xGRqBs

[Sec-Def]

with a name like that they made it impossible to find information online.
to bad because that's one awesome looking bass right there.

[fivebass52]

Here's the website... http://www.tuneguitars.com/main.php .... and you're right about it not being the easiest webpage to find.... and, not the easiest website to to link around on...

Also, here's a link to the band Casiopea, who's bass player (Yoshihiro Naruse)has been using their basses for years... here's a live bass solo with an 8-string model, with whammy bar...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c51IvnUCTBA ... the tone reminds me a bit of John Entwhistle and the Buzzard Bass...

[glefty5]

Hi five, (no pun intended)

I actually have a 4 string Tune Bass Maniac that I bought used in Japan back in 1989/90. Black, with an ebonol synthetic board & I guess a maple or basswood body or whatever was period correct with Alembic Jazz pups. It was a great bass to play, light with a good neck, 40mm brass nut, nice active preamp but sounded a bit thin so I later had it defretted as the pups were thin sounding so I thought a fretless would serve its sound better. Around 2003 I couldn't part with it so I decided to have it made into a 5 so had a new neck made & fitted in the exact style of the BassManiac headstock, black painted maple with ebony board, 46mm nut & changed the bridge to a schaller roller type & pups to barts which made it a KILLER 5er, basically sex on a bridge! It's back home in Oz waiting for my return & will be staying in the family for some time I'm afraid but I would highly recommend one if you can ever find one. I don't recall ever playing another 4 in my time in Japan although I have seen a few in magazines & even an original 5 so they do exist but rare as hen's teeth I guess. If i spot one while I'm still here in Japan I'll let you know. Cheers, Glen

[fivebass52]

glefty5, would like to see pictures of your Tune bass when you get the time to post some... I took some time to peruse their website, but couldn't find anything about left hand options on their models... Most models seem to be around the $1500-$2000 price range. Ordering is supposed to be through dealers, but their are no listings for dealers in the US, and of the remaining twelve countries listed (including Iran and Bangladesh!), only Canada and Russia have dealers listed, although a web search brought up a Japanese dealer http://www.guitarsjapan.com/Bass_Guitar_Archive.html (Tunes are about 3/4 down the page...)

Not that I need another bass right now, but one day if one turns up on the used market....

[glefty5]

G13th.jpg (50.38 KiB) Viewed 8185 times

Fivebass,
these r the only 2 pics I've got where you can c it but here u go. There is a small Tune 'club' on basschat.uk so it may b worth a quick flick thru there 4 any resources or news. Cheers, G

[glefty5]

http://page18.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w78251530

This is what mine looked like as a 4

or this is even better

http://page4.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/d129201916

[fivebass52]

Thanks G... not the best pictures, but it at least it shows a lefty Tune exists! I joined the Tune Maniac page on Facebook -

https://www.facebook.com/TUNE.Guitar.Maniac

posted on the page for any lefties to post pictures of their left hand Tune basses... so far nothing posted, but got a reply from the administrator of the page, saying that lefties could be ordered, and be ready in three months. Maybe one day....

[Petethebassman]

I've seen and tried one lefty Tune bass in the late 1980's in a music store here in Helsinki, Finland. It was a 4-string fretless with pink finish. There can't be too many of those around.. anyway, didn't like it, so back on the shelf it went. I have no idea where it is now.