Norma Unknown Bass

I found this guitar on ebay and way overpaid for it. It's a Late 60's, early 70's Norma bass. It's very cool looking. Looks alot like a burns rip-off. There is very little about this brand online and it's the only bass of it's kind that I've seen around. It's got a short neck and it it super light. It feels cheap in construction. Here is all of the info that I could find online...


Normas were built in Japan between 1965 to 1970 by the Tombo Company and distributed in the U.S. by Strum'N Drum, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois. The company specialized in copying Italian guitars like EKO and Goya and sold them in the U.S.A as NORMA's. The most blatant EKO copy is the SDEG 490-4, a guitar that confused the heck out of me when I was shopping for an EKO. It is covered in a blue-green plastic sparkle laminate that I was pretty sure EKO had never used but guys will market the guitars as EKOs ($800 vs. $400 value). The Tombo Company is still in business, but these days they specialize in harmonica production.

In 1969 or 1970, Valco Guitars, Inc. went out of business. The assets of Valco/Kay were auctioned off, and the rights to the National trademark were bought by the Chicago, Illinois-based importers Strum'N Drum. Strum'N Drum, which had been importing Japanese guitars under the Norma trademark, were quick to introduce National on a line of Japanese produced guitars that were distributed in the U.S. market. Author/researcher Michael Wright points out that the National "Big Daddy" bolt-neck black LP copy was one of the first models that launched the Japanese "Copy Era" of the 1970s.

I'm in a punk band so it really doesnt matter if it sounds like crap or not. I just run it through distortion and jump around like my pants are on fire. But honestly the thing sounds pretty terrible. My previous bass was a Fender Hondo and that thing was meaty. I'm running this through a Peavey Mark VI Head and an ampeg cabinet. The sound of this is tinny and light no matter how hard you play, it doesnt really wallop unless you churn it out through TONS of distortion effects.

The action is not bad. The wood is definately cheap. The bass is light as a feather. The pickups are not very good.

So far, so good as far as reliability. I had it setup and tweaked a bit wehn I bought it so I'm hoping it'll last awhile. I definately woudlnt play a show without a backup though.

Norma is LONG outta business

It works for my purpose. Which is to play loud with pedals, and fast. I paid too much for it. My local guitar guy told me he's seen them for 75 bucks.