Vox Clubman

I was looking for a cheap bass to learn on, and picked up this early 1960's Vox Clubman to fix up. Researching it, I found it was the first bass guitar Vox made in England. Its a shortscale, about the same size as a Strat, two pickups and three controls. The input socket was the original coax tv ariel type, the nut was a thin piece of wood, and the finish was bright red and cracked. The tuners were old, and all different! I sorted the bits that needed replacing, stripped it down and gave it a new black paint job. I also restyled the head to the more familiar shape, and added original VOX brass logo lettering.

As a guitar player, its size suits me. It is also very lightweight, and I find I cannot put it down. Playing through my Marshall amp it really is very grungy, and for punk/indie stuff its great! Not a tuneful bass, more flat and growly....but with a punch! The sound is both warm and dark...ideal for Nirvana, Joy Division Sisters of Mercy etc.

Its over 40 years old, has a straight neck, solid body and works perfectly, so I would say very dependable. Now I have given it a facelift, it should last just as long again!

I play a Hofner Congess, which was another project as I added electrics. Since getting the Vox though, it has sat unloved in the corner....so you could say I rate the Clubman bass very highly indeed! Its ideal to learn on, and has bags of character....and its a VOX!!! For the money, it was a real bargain, I have had a generic modern cheapo bass in the past but it was terrible! If stolen or lost I would search high and low to replace it.

I bought one of these in 1964 for #25 brand new and I'm still using it (it's 41, I'm, 57). With Roto's you can keep your Fenders and Ricks :)
Very playable, short scale, not a hint of a neck warp in all those years. 2 pickups, 3 pots (2 vol and 1 tone). It was the awful red colour until I painted it dark blue, made a new bridge, fitted new knobs, gold plated the pickups bridge and knobs, changed that co-ax to a jack, moved the upper strap to behind the neck screws.

Used for 'Doors' type stuff/soul. I tend to play more notes than are required, so being short scale it makes things easier (plus, I'm a shortarse). Now, I feed it into an Ashdown EVO 900 II with an 8x10", a 4x10" and a 15".
The sound is VERY deep but with a 'clicky' top (I try to keep to low strings). To be honest, its dangerous.

I had to 'pack' the neck backwards from new, it was WAY out. The neck visibly bent forwards. Pickups needed tweaking when new to get more output ;)
I was chuffed to bits with it (when I was 16) and still am.

This bass has been tossed around for 40 years, I think it will last a few more. The finish could do with an overhaul. Unless it got run over by a truck it will be fine for the next gig.

Customer support? Zilcho

Made pre-'64. 30inch scale, flat fretboard, 2 slab pickups, volume and treble cut controls. Not really a professional's bass but the Hollies did list it in their paperback 'How to Run a Beat Group' (pub 1964), priced #26.5s.0d.
Body shape a bit like a Fender Jaguar. Mine was bright red.
Neck was flat (!) with no arching at all. Fretting was excellent. NO, repeat NO trussrod, so low tension strings only please.
The bridge used 2 saddles and gave adequate adjustment for action and intonation. Chrome cover.
The case was a stiff cardboard with sewn edges: not really built for a hard life on the road.

As a very poor student it suited me fine. The sound was weak on the lower notes as one might expect. If I still had it now I would add a trussrod from the back of the neck, heavier strings and continue using it as a playable museum piece. It was light, easy to handle, solid, but just lacking the punch down low.

Action and intonation easily adjusted. Pickups were cheap, and sounded it: cheep. Together with the low tension strings it's not a serious machine but it was well-made.

Not really suited to the modern scene with so many good basses around, but back in the early 60's in Europe the US products cost a fortune if you could get one.

I've dealt with Vox only in later years - 1980 onwards - when the Clubman bass was no longer made. The company was helpful when I needed parts to fix an Escort Bass 50 amp.

Playing since '64. This bass was rapidly replaced by a Hofner Violin bass - just as light and far better sound. Wish I'd kept the Clubman, as a rarity. I have never seen another since then, though the guitar version appears on market occasionally.
It cannot compare with any professional bass. No way. But it was fun to learn on and good value, and solid.