Basses

[elDave]

In the past month I managed to aquire a couple of white label basses.



On the left is a Vibra shortscale and on the right is a Sekova beatle bass. Not much info available on either brand.

Both need some cosmetic attention and new strings. The Vibra has a non stock bridge and is missing the bridge cover. The Sekova is missing the headstock logo and pickguard and has non original knobs and jack plate. Price was right though.

The Vibra looks to be a Teisco product and I think Sekovas came from Kawai, Teisco and other factories depending on the model. The pickups are the same on both basses

I turned up this page while searching Vibra guitars.

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... ?t=1414419

Interesting quote

The label says model 60(I think) and in small at the bottom says a product of B&J

Anyone we know ?

Another link.....

http://www.guitarsite.com/database/Make ... s/20.shtml


Dave

[charles]

B & J got around!

I have no idea how many white label brands they imported in N America in total. I guess I should look into that some day

Nice scores.

[Barry]

Indeed. Very interesting.
I've also come across the Vibra brand recently; an acoustic. What struck me at the time was the typeface used. It's called Vivaldi and was used by Matsumoku on their Vantage line of guitars in the 80's: http://www.matsumoku.org/models/vantage/catalogs/1982/pg1.html.
I don't know for certain if there's a connection but it is suspicious!

[Frenchy]

ElDave,

Just to point out that your vibra bass was sold with about a doozen name on the headstock... Yours would be model A100, I have 2 like yours... 1 under the Aria name and the 2nd ....(dont quite remember...)

Here is an Aria link to the Aria version... These are considered not being made by Matsumoku but from another supplier linked with Teisco since these were available in all related names to Teisco also...

http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/ca ... 1.jpg.html

P.

[Barry]

The bass man has spoken!
And believe me he has a house full of 'em!

Still, it's interesting that they'd use the same font style for Vibra as Vantage did...were they copying Matsumoku or just being "trendy"? The Vibra's I've seen have been very good quality builds.

[charles]

The manufacturers back then put out some lines of instruments that ended up with a myriad of white label brand names on them for the importers, but manufacturing wise we almost the same across the board (unless the importer ordered them with something different). The same practice goes on today with overseas manufacturers that sell to white-label importers.

It's tracing/guessing which manufacturer was responsible for your white-label branded product that is half the fun of owning them, sometimes.

[Frenchy]

ElDave,

I was looking over your Sekova bass and realized that it has the same TRC shape that my Pyramid Viola guitar has... Might be a coincidence but you never know. I was never able to find info on it... will research Sekova a little. Heres a link to my guitar:

http://www.matsumoku.org/ggboard/viewto ... it=pyramid

P.