Members Ace Of Bass Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 If possible, can you tell me everything you can about these three basses?Westone RailIbanez AFROhio aluminum neck bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 Sure. I can try at least. Westone is a japanese brand. Nowadays they specialize in live audio but back in the 80s they were a huge middle market instrument manufacturer. The Rail was a headless bass, all made of maple with rosewood fingerboard. Bddy parts were linked by a metal rail that let you slide the electronics to modify tone. It was a great concept, very efficient and straight to the point. I modified mine with an EMG soapbar and it became a killer slapper/tapper bass. Eventually I lost interest and sold it, I somewhat regret it. The Ibanez AFR was a high end model from early 90s. It sported many novelties. As far as I know, the first bass to use monorail bridges (with Dtuner). It mixed piezo and magnetic pickup. The shape was very odd, Ibanez used it again 10 years later for the EDA. Walnut body, rock maple neck with ebony fretboard. Tone was very bright and focused, great to play busy funky jazz lines. I got it for very cheap, never really felt comfortable with it. The neck was very thin and flat and it missed oooomppph. Ohio was a cheap french brand from back in the 60s, started as manufactured series by luthier Jacobacci. Birch body, aluminum neck with rosewood fretboard. It sounded like {censored}, couldn't stay in tune and fretboard wanted to get rid of the neck. Still, it was very attaching. I got it for free and sold it a decent price for what it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Anesthesia Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 Originally posted by Jazz Ad Sure. I can try at least. Westone is a japanese brand. Nowadays they specialize in live audio but back in the 80s they were a huge middle market instrument manufacturer. The Rail was a headless bass, all made of maple with rosewood fingerboard. Bddy parts were linked by a metal rail that let you slide the electronics to modify tone. It was a great concept, very efficient and straight to the point. I modified mine with an EMG soapbar and it became a killer slapper/tapper bass. Eventually I lost interest and sold it, I somewhat regret it. Ye gods! where can I get my hands on one of those? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 They were a big success, cheap alternative to Steinies.They pop up pretty often on Ebay, usually in Europe or Australia.You should be able to catch one for 300-400. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Rippin' Robin Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 JA, you are a walking encyclopedia. Respect! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 Why, thank you very much sir. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ace Of Bass Posted September 17, 2006 Author Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 Thanks for taking the time to type that.I've always had a thing for those first two basses. I really liked the EDA's shape, but wasn't too impressed with the sound--certainly not a bad bass for the price, though.I've always loved the looks of the rails, though I've never known anyone who owned one or could tell much about it. So, the body is maple as well? I always figured it would be some metal as well as the rails. Did you really move the PU around often, or did you just set it in one place and pretty much always leave it there? Looks like it has a few knobs on it--I'm guessing one volume and two to lock the position?I'd never heard of an Ohio before. I own a Kramer aluminum neck, and absolutely love it--I was mostly curious if all Aluminum necked basses sounded that good. I guess not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members phatbassdood Posted September 17, 2006 Members Share Posted September 17, 2006 Originally posted by Jazz Ad :love: I have a new purpose in life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Philphine Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 hello, i dug this up looking for westone rail info. jazz ad, do you know the model # or any info on the emg you used in the rail? if it were a fretless, is there another pup you might choose instead? thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jazz Ad Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 There wasn't much choice available back then so I'm pretty sure it was a HB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Philphine Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 that was quick. thanks, but one more please. in that pic it looks like there's an extra knob where the jack was, with the jack on the opposite side of the volume knob. if i'm seeing it right, what did you add, and did you like the change? thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Onkel Bob Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 Originally posted by Jazz Ad Sure. I can try at least. Westone is a japanese brand. Nowadays they specialize in live audio but back in the 80s they were a huge middle market instrument manufacturer. The Rail was a headless bass, all made of maple with rosewood fingerboard. Bddy parts were linked by a metal rail that let you slide the electronics to modify tone. It was a great concept, very efficient and straight to the point. I modified mine with an EMG soapbar and it became a killer slapper/tapper bass. Eventually I lost interest and sold it, I somewhat regret it. That thing is interesting. There's some more info on it here: http://www.westone.info/reviews/reviewrailbass.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 Originally posted by Rippin' Robin JA, you are a walking encyclopedia. Respect! What he said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 I remember playing that Rail a number of times back in the day. Moving the pickup back and forth was like a tone & balance control x10. Just too weird looking for me, and I played a Kubicki! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 Originally posted by Jazz Ad Westone is a japanese brand. Nowadays they specialize in live audio but back in the 80s they were a huge middle market There was a Japanese manufacturer called Electra in the 70s that made some decent instruments including an OK Rick 4001 knock-off. They joined with Westone and, in the early 80s, were Electra/Westone and they made some pretty interesting guitars and basses--some with features that would be found on later instruments by bigger name manufacturers ( push/pull pots, etc). Electra-Westone and Westone basses are all very good instruments....................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members georgestrings Posted October 9, 2006 Members Share Posted October 9, 2006 Originally posted by Anesthesia Ye gods! where can I get my hands on one of those? Yeah, I think I like that as well - I wonder what it sounds like??? - georgestrings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Philphine Posted October 12, 2006 Members Share Posted October 12, 2006 one on ebay. sorry if the bidder is one of you and were hoping to keep it a secret... http://cgi.ebay.com/WESTONE-HEADLESS-BRASS-GUITAR-THE-RAIL-RARE_W0QQitemZ200035695172QQihZ010QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ToeJamFootball Posted October 12, 2006 Members Share Posted October 12, 2006 Originally posted by Anesthesia Ye gods! where can I get my hands on one of those? there was on on aussie ebay sometime ago Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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