#1777404 - 07/05/07 10:59 PM
Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
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Rosa Floydian
Senior Member
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Lemont, Illinois
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Well, you guys are the pros so I would like to leave the research up to you. How about a review of the Polytone Contempo Bass Guitar.
Why this guitar? Because There are two in existence that I know of - one my friend owns (converted fretless) and one I recently purchased and am awaiting arrival on Ebay.
So what? I have scoured the interenet for countless hours and have turned up nothing on the bass itself and minimal on the actual company's guitar building and history. There is absolutely bare minimum information available on this instrument and to the public there is next to nothing. I work at a guitar repair shop part time with guys who have done nothing but their whole lives for +40 years. They have never heard of the company and really want to see the instrument when I get it.
Here is all the information I have: The one that I am receiving was made in either 1976 or 1977 nobody knows, It is Made in Japan probably by the Matsmoku company. That's it.
So what do you think? In a future issue would Bass Player try and tackle this mysterious "Polytone Contempo" bass guitar. It is elegant in its look - similar to an Alembic and has an awfully mean growl - vintage appeal and definitely "Retro."
It would make my day to see this instrument taken under professional review and perhaps brought to the public through Bass Player. Thanks for your time whoever took it to read this and I encourage all others who have a bass or know of a bass for which there is very little known information on it to post suggestions here.
What do you say Bass Player?
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Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E Sometimes you just need to let go and jam Peace, Corey http://www.myspace.com/onemanpomegranate
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#1778925 - 07/09/07 05:00 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: Rosa Floydian]
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Greg Olwell
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Registered: 10/09/02
Posts: 84
Loc: San Bruno, CA
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Hi Corey, I've never heard of Polytone basses, but I have heard of Polytone bass amps. They're been around for some time. You might want to contact them to see if they ever produced instruments.
I'm curious about your bass as well, so please post some pix of it, too. You might want to try the Low Down Lowdown forum. There are many thoughtful, knowledgeable people there who might know something about your bass.
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Best Wishes,
Greg Olwell
Managing Editor
Bass Player magazine
1111 Bayhill Dr., Suite 125
San Bruno, CA 94066
650-238-0279
650-238-0261 Fax
golwell@musicplayer.com
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#1780979 - 07/12/07 11:45 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: Greg Olwell]
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Rosa Floydian
Senior Member
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Lemont, Illinois
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Well it arrived on Wednesday and in great condition. As for the pictures I will put them up shortly. Polytone did indeed have a line of guitars and one bass for a very limited amount of time in the 70s. I have no clue what happened to them. I own one and am a pretty proud owner at that. As for the company itself, I have heard of Polytone amps (same company) and have contacted them requesting info but no one has gotten back to me (it has been over a week). To be honest I don't even think they know anything about them! It is truly a stunning one of a kind instrument and deserves to be honored in the "Retro-Rama" Way. But that's just my biased opinion  ! I will put the pictures up as soon as I can! I tried posting a thread on the Low Down (See "What Does Anybody Know About The Polytone Contempo Basses?") but nobody was able to offer any help on the instrument itself. I will post pictures there as well.
Until I get my own up here, this is a link to the auction pictures: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...bayphotohosting
Edited by Rosa Floydian (07/12/07 11:58 PM)
Edit Reason: Insert of Ebay Photos
_________________________
Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E Sometimes you just need to let go and jam Peace, Corey http://www.myspace.com/onemanpomegranate
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#1781213 - 07/13/07 02:16 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: Rosa Floydian]
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Rosa Floydian
Senior Member
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Lemont, Illinois
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Here are my own pictures of the Polytone. The scale length is a monstrous 35 10/16" from brass bridge to brass nut.
Polytone Pictures
_________________________
Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E Sometimes you just need to let go and jam Peace, Corey http://www.myspace.com/onemanpomegranate
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#1844318 - 11/20/07 02:02 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: Rosa Floydian]
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faivy
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Registered: 11/20/07
Posts: 8
Loc: Montreal Canada
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What about the Ovation Magnum!
Jah Wobble, Bill Laswell, Jeff Ament!
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#1844491 - 11/20/07 08:54 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: faivy]
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rizzo9247
Platinum Member
Registered: 04/12/07
Posts: 1007
Loc: NYC
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Is that Super Nintendo?!?! What game is in there?
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#1926073 - 04/12/08 06:12 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: rizzo9247]
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Rosa Floydian
Senior Member
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Lemont, Illinois
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Haha that IS a super nintendo and it still works and from time to time I still play it. The game is Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 it is a good one! Hey bassplayer looks like you have 2 basses that want reviewing! (No time like the present    )
_________________________
Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E Sometimes you just need to let go and jam Peace, Corey http://www.myspace.com/onemanpomegranate
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#1926075 - 04/12/08 06:17 PM
Re: Retro-Rama Bass Suggestions
[Re: Rosa Floydian]
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Rosa Floydian
Senior Member
Registered: 03/04/07
Posts: 108
Loc: Lemont, Illinois
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Ah I forgot to mention I discovered another. So make that 3 Polytone Contempo B Solid Body Basses in the world (that I'm aware of). The 3rd one was also a post production converted fretless. So that only makes 1 original Polytone that I know of - how about that...
_________________________
Jackson C20 Concert Bass / Polytone Contempo B Solid Body / Peavey MAX 750 Watt Head / Ampeg 810E Sometimes you just need to let go and jam Peace, Corey http://www.myspace.com/onemanpomegranate
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