Back to the main page Back to category Gibson EB2 Elect
musical instrument details
1950s Roger Wenzel Rossmeisl pre Rickenbacker vintage bass guitar Gibson EB2 PU
Estimated price for orientation: 600 $
Category: Gibson EB2 Elect
Class:
Description
Up for a no reserve auction, is probably the rarest production bass available in the world!! I am not going to sugar coat this but it is a super cool bass. As far as I can tell this is a late 1950s Roger fretless bass. Roger instruments were built in Germany by Wenzel and Roger Rossmeisl, the later emigrated to the USA and designed instruments for Rickenbacker, Gibson and Fender.I searched the internet long and hard to find info on this as I have never seen or heard of another, picture or otherwise. I found 2 pics of natural fretted versions ( I will include a pic so you can see the shape of the original pickguard if you want to restore it), and thats it. This bass originally had 2 surface mounted pickups mounted directly to a floating pickguard that also housed the controls in an oval metal pod that sat on top of the body under the guard. This stuff was removed (both pickups and the metal control hosing are included, but one pickup needs a rewind) and the body was crudely routed to hold a late 60s Gibson EB-2 humbucker and the original pickguard was cut into an oval where the controls were/are, and that was flush mounted to the body where the body was also crudely cut open there to house the pots and jack. The bass is VERY well made and plays and sounds awesome, probably better than original with the Gibson pickup!!! It has a great acoustic bass tone!!! Anyway, the bass is solid, but condition wise it shows its age. The body is constructed like a flat top Gibson ES or EB style instrument except it is all solid woods!! A solid spruce top with solid bookmatched maple back and sides with a solid wood block running through the center of the body. The binding is all in great condition on the body, but the neck heel cap was deteriorated and falling apart, so I made a new one with real 50s vintage nitro plastic. The neck is made of Maple and walnut (or rosewood) pieces glued up to make a very strong and stable and attractive neck. It is very straight and plays awesome. The rosewood fingerboard is nice, but shows wear under the G string up near the nut. The original tuners are super smooth and very high quality, though the buttons are starting to deteriorate. The original "R" tailpiece is still in good shape as is the original bridge. This bass even though very playable as it sits is being sold as is as a project. I did a deep cleaning and made sure everything was in good order but I did not want to go to far as I am not sure what the new owner will want to do with it. To make it gig worthy as it sits, I would put new strings on it (these are old as hell!!) replace the tuner buttons, and make a new pickguard that was stylish, and in fender fashion, surrounded the pickup and held the pots. Or it could be restored to original by filling the routs and hole for the controls which an original shaped pickguard would actually cover all the damage, and get the one pickup re-wound. It will be the new owners call to do an accurate restoration or do a resto-mod. It comes in the crappy modified case shown in the pics, and with the 2 original pickups and metal control pod. Please look at all the pics and ask any questions you may have. If you need to see more pics, let me know of what. Shipping will always be combined when possible! Shipping will be MUCH less than posted the closer you live to NY. International bidders MUST contact me first prior to bidding, or I will cancel or not entertain any offers. Please call if you want to discuss this in person OR GET THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICE ON IT!!!, thanks, Rob 315 298 6797. Please check out my other auctions for more vintage guitars, banjos and parts.CHECK OUT THE OTHER COOL AND RARE GUITARS I ALSO HAVE LISTED ON EBAY!!!!INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS MUST CONTACT ME FIRST PRIOR TO BIDDING!!!! BIDDERS WITH LESS THAN 10 POSITIVE FEEDBACKS MUST CONTACT ME PRIOR TO LEAVING A BID, OTHERWISE I WILL CANCEL YOUR BID. Please do not bid if you are not going to pay for the item. All non paying bidders will be reported to ebay and the appropriate feedback left. All items are accurately described, therefore no returns are excepted. Payment to be made within 3 days. Shipments will be made within 3 days of monies clearing via USPS. Buyer to pay all shipping costs. No zero or bidders w/ less than a 98% rating will be considered w/out contacting me first. Should any damage happen during shipping, buyer agrees to provide photographs of all packaging and damage. Insurance claims will be handled as quickly as possible via USPS.
Description
Up for a no reserve auction, is probably the rarest production bass available in the world!! I am not going to sugar coat this but it is a super cool bass. As far as I can tell this is a late 1950s Roger fretless bass. Roger instruments were built in Germany by Wenzel and Roger Rossmeisl, the later emigrated to the USA and designed instruments for Rickenbacker, Gibson and Fender.I searched the internet long and hard to find info on this as I have never seen or heard of another, picture or otherwise. I found 2 pics of natural fretted versions ( I will include a pic so you can see the shape of the original pickguard if you want to restore it), and thats it. This bass originally had 2 surface mounted pickups mounted directly to a floating pickguard that also housed the controls in an oval metal pod that sat on top of the body under the guard. This stuff was removed (both pickups and the metal control hosing are included, but one pickup needs a rewind) and the body was crudely routed to hold a late 60s Gibson EB-2 humbucker and the original pickguard was cut into an oval where the controls were/are, and that was flush mounted to the body where the body was also crudely cut open there to house the pots and jack. The bass is VERY well made and plays and sounds awesome, probably better than original with the Gibson pickup!!! It has a great acoustic bass tone!!! Anyway, the bass is solid, but condition wise it shows its age. The body is constructed like a flat top Gibson ES or EB style instrument except it is all solid woods!! A solid spruce top with solid bookmatched maple back and sides with a solid wood block running through the center of the body. The binding is all in great condition on the body, but the neck heel cap was deteriorated and falling apart, so I made a new one with real 50s vintage nitro plastic. The neck is made of Maple and walnut (or rosewood) pieces glued up to make a very strong and stable and attractive neck. It is very straight and plays awesome. The rosewood fingerboard is nice, but shows wear under the G string up near the nut. The original tuners are super smooth and very high quality, though the buttons are starting to deteriorate. The original "R" tailpiece is still in good shape as is the original bridge. This bass even though very playable as it sits is being sold as is as a project. I did a deep cleaning and made sure everything was in good order but I did not want to go to far as I am not sure what the new owner will want to do with it. To make it gig worthy as it sits, I would put new strings on it (these are old as hell!!) replace the tuner buttons, and make a new pickguard that was stylish, and in fender fashion, surrounded the pickup and held the pots. Or it could be restored to original by filling the routs and hole for the controls which an original shaped pickguard would actually cover all the damage, and get the one pickup re-wound. It will be the new owners call to do an accurate restoration or do a resto-mod. It comes in the crappy modified case shown in the pics, and with the 2 original pickups and metal control pod. Please look at all the pics and ask any questions you may have. If you need to see more pics, let me know of what. Shipping will always be combined when possible! Shipping will be MUCH less than posted the closer you live to NY. International bidders MUST contact me first prior to bidding, or I will cancel or not entertain any offers. Please call if you want to discuss this in person OR GET THE ABSOLUTE LOWEST PRICE ON IT!!!, thanks, Rob 315 298 6797. Please check out my other auctions for more vintage guitars, banjos and parts.CHECK OUT THE OTHER COOL AND RARE GUITARS I ALSO HAVE LISTED ON EBAY!!!!INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS MUST CONTACT ME FIRST PRIOR TO BIDDING!!!! BIDDERS WITH LESS THAN 10 POSITIVE FEEDBACKS MUST CONTACT ME PRIOR TO LEAVING A BID, OTHERWISE I WILL CANCEL YOUR BID. Please do not bid if you are not going to pay for the item. All non paying bidders will be reported to ebay and the appropriate feedback left. All items are accurately described, therefore no returns are excepted. Payment to be made within 3 days. Shipments will be made within 3 days of monies clearing via USPS. Buyer to pay all shipping costs. No zero or bidders w/ less than a 98% rating will be considered w/out contacting me first. Should any damage happen during shipping, buyer agrees to provide photographs of all packaging and damage. Insurance claims will be handled as quickly as possible via USPS.