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Vox Symphonic bass

Vox Symphonic bass
« on: September 06, 2009, 04:43:23 PM »
Hello there,

 A few  years ago I got an old Vox-bass, there´s a couple mark in a headstock like, "symphonic bass", and "JMI Dartford Ke"
 Must say it really is in a very good condition and sounds and plays well, so I´ve used it on my gigs sometimes.
 I already know something about the history of this fine instrument but would like to know more, like how rare it really is and what about a real value of this bass?

jules

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Re: Symphonic bass
« Reply #1 on: September 06, 2009, 08:25:35 PM »
Hi,

Thanks for posting
Can you attach some pictures? This was Vox's Fender bass copy of the early sixties.. at least body shape wise. Very few come up compared to the other early sixties Vox basses - the bassmaster and clubman bass.

You may well find a date stamp on the neck where it meets the body (you'll have to take the neck off)

"JMI Dartford Ke" would actually have been "JMI Dartford Kent"

Value wise- that is hard. I can't recall seeing one up for sale. It isn't really a players bass, but if it is in good complete condition a Vox collector may be willing to pay well. I'd estimate anywhere between £xx for a beater up to mid £xxx for something approaching a mint bass.

Re: Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2009, 06:07:54 PM »
Hi Jules,

Sure I´ll arrange some pics possibly soon.

vox symphonic
« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2009, 09:36:29 PM »
Quote from: mibass;11268
Hello there,

 A few  years ago I got an old Vox-bass, there´s a couple mark in a headstock like, "symphonic bass", and "JMI Dartford Ke"
 Must say it really is in a very good condition and sounds and plays well, so I´ve used it on my gigs sometimes.
 I already know something about the history of this fine instrument but would like to know more, like how rare it really is and what about a real value of this bass?

Hi
Interested to read your article about vox symphonic bass. I bought a 1965 left hand model  in 1969 for £30 from a s/h shop in London in mint condition it was sunburst and I have used it ever since in rock bands,showbands and jazz bands . However I have sadly customised it by burning off all the laquer (it was about 16th of an inch thick in laquer) and I re-shaped the head to resemble a precision bass (I have also owned a precision bass incidentally) so that  it would fit in a guitar case to take it on tour. I have  put wire wound rota sound strings as well as pyramid gold flat wound strings on this guitar and the sound is incredible . I have used it with fender amps wah wah and fuzz boxes and a sterio splitter using two amps one each side of the stage. I believe that only a handful of left handed models were produced and I doubt if this one has any real value now but I find that using it in a swing band or big band produces and almost string bass like sound and it just sings. I have dismantled this guitar to pack it in a suitcase many times and indeed it is dated stamped on the inside kneck as 1965 .I am now 62 but this bass had been in use for 45 years. It was one alloy control knob missing but still holds its tuning well.

Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2011, 09:59:03 PM »
hi everyone there. I´m from spain and i also have a vox symphonic bass made 02/11/1965 and its serial number is 69583. I´ll try to post some photos. used to be sunburst.

mrbass

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symphonic bass pictures
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2011, 10:07:19 PM »
Yes, please do post pics. Can't say i've seen one in sunburst
 
Ricky

Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #6 on: August 12, 2011, 06:15:08 PM »
Hi There         I too have a Vox Symphonic bass which I bought for £20 in a boot fair in the mid 1990's!!!!   I love this bass although I am more of a 6 string player. It's pure F Precision style but with the Vox headstock.  The body is a beautiful orangey red ( vermillion ? ) lacquer with a black pickguard. The pickups are 2 x full width and have black covers and are adjustable. The bridge cover is chromed with a stylized ' V '. There are a few dings on the body but nothing serious. The neck appears to be varnished maple with a rosewood fingerboard and there is a truss rod.  I've read that Symphonics don't have a truss rod but it's definitely there !! The machines are traditional Fenders. All the electrics are good. The headstock transfer is all there - VOX Syphonic bass - JMI Dartford Kent.  The serial number is pretty much unreadable but I think it might be 43100.   Being a guitar lover I knew this was a bit special when I saw it. I couldnt believe the price - snapped it up straight away !!!   I took my Symphonic to a guitar dealer / repairer a few years ago to get it set up and to get the action down , only to be told that its a ' bitzer ' - No Way   Any idea of the date guys ?   I've always thought around 1962 from the info on the web. !!!!

jules

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Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #7 on: August 12, 2011, 06:29:15 PM »
Quote from: whiteowl;16247
Hi There I too have a Vox Symphonic bass

Can you post pictures at all. Would certainly love to see it!

Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #8 on: August 16, 2011, 12:30:40 PM »
Yup   I'll take some pics and see if I can post them on the thread. Cheers

Vox Symphonic Bass
« Reply #9 on: October 11, 2011, 09:22:55 PM »
Hi, I am new to this forum. I have a Vox Symphonic bass that has a strange story to it. Back in the mid to late 60's when Vox were having some problems a local timber type warehouse had thousands of Vox bodies and necks that were sold for 5 shilling each, thats 25 pence in new money. I went to look and came away with quite a few which I then made up into complete guitars. Some of the bodies were finished and some just bare wood. I also found a shop in Bristol (UK) that had supplies of most of the other bits, all Vox. Again I got quite a few bits, pickups, machine heads, bridges, Bigsby style tremelos etc.
I still have the symphonic bass that I assembled, Body, neck ( Feb 1966 printed on the back of it and a "C" ), Pickup, machine heads, and controls all original old Vox. I had to make a scratchplate myself and also a tailpiece, bridge and topnut.
Body was unfinished so had a purple semi clear varnish applied. 30 years later, and after 10 years gigging with it it has been refinished in red. I would be really interested in seeing a picture of the headstock logo that was on these basses if anyone has one.
Also I have a Teardrop that has the same story and a Vox V251 Guitar organ but I couldn't get a neck for. I made one from a dark hardwood but no trussrod. Ok with light strings and all works fine.

jules

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Vox basses
« Reply #10 on: October 11, 2011, 11:55:24 PM »
Wow great story. I'd love to have had that opportunity. Do you have any pictures of these guitars you made up?

MGEEK

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Vox Symphonic bass
« Reply #11 on: October 14, 2011, 10:40:10 PM »
Interesting story- I've got a weird Vox Shadow sort of guitar that is made from original parts, but has a reject looking 'super ace' type trem...always wondered what the story was, because it feels like a halfway house between 'vox product' and home made job.

If parts were being knocked out on the cheap back in the day, it'd certainly go some way to explaining it!

Vox Symphonic Bass
« Reply #12 on: October 16, 2011, 05:57:38 PM »
Have tried to upload image but not sure if ok. If not will try again. Please bear with me.
I made the tailpiece / bridge and pickup cover out of stainless steel and gigged with the bass for about 6 years until I got a ricky 4001.

In response to MGEEK, I am certain the "Vox" parts were genuine and just sold cheaply as bankrupt stock. There were literally many thousands of bodies and necks just in a massive pile on the floor of a warehouse.
If image ok I will put a couple more pictures of the other guitars
« Last Edit: October 16, 2011, 08:31:37 PM by 60ishPaul »

vox symphonic
« Reply #13 on: January 22, 2015, 03:25:59 PM »
[QUOTE=60ishPaul;16449]Hi, I am new to this forum. I have a Vox Symphonic bass that has a strange story to it. Back in the mid to late 60's when Vox were having some problems a local timber type warehouse had thousands of Vox bodies and necks that were sold for 5 shilling each, thats 25 pence in new money. I went to look and came away with quite a few which I then made up into complete guitars. Some of the bodies were finished and some just bare wood. I also found a shop in Bristol (UK) that had supplies of most of the other bits, all Vox. Again I got quite a few bits, pickups, machine heads, bridges, Bigsby style tremelos etc.
I still have the symphonic bass that I assembled, Body, neck ( Feb 1966 printed on the back of it and a "C" ), Pickup, machine heads, and controls all original old Vox. I had to make a scratchplate myself and also a tailpiece, bridge and topnut.
Body was unfinished so had a purple semi clear varnish applied. 30 years later, and after 10 years gigging with it it has been refinished in red. I would be really interested in seeing a picture of the headstock logo that was on these basses if anyone has one.
and all works fine.[/QUOTE]


Hi, Do you still have the Vox Symphonic?

Symphonic Bass
« Reply #14 on: February 07, 2015, 06:07:39 PM »
Quote from: 60ishPaul;16449
Hi, I am new to this forum. I have a Vox Symphonic bass that has a strange story to it. Back in the mid to late 60's when Vox were having some problems a local timber type warehouse had thousands of Vox bodies and necks that were sold for 5 shilling each, thats 25 pence in new money. I went to look and came away with quite a few which I then made up into complete guitars. Some of the bodies were finished and some just bare wood. I also found a shop in Bristol (UK) that had supplies of most of the other bits, all Vox. Again I got quite a few bits, pickups, machine heads, bridges, Bigsby style tremelos etc.
I still have the symphonic bass that I assembled, Body, neck ( Feb 1966 printed on the back of it and a "C" ), Pickup, machine heads, and controls all original old Vox. I had to make a scratchplate myself and also a tailpiece, bridge and topnut.
Body was unfinished so had a purple semi clear varnish applied. 30 years later, and after 10 years gigging with it it has been refinished in red. I would be really interested in seeing a picture of the headstock logo that was on these basses if anyone has one.
Also I have a Teardrop that has the same story and a Vox V251 Guitar organ but I couldn't get a neck for. I made one from a dark hardwood but no trussrod. Ok with light strings and all works fine.


Yes I still have the 3 Vox guitars and still play it occasionally.

 

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