You definitely don’t see one of these come along every day, the 1968 Sidewinder bass from VOX.
Some may be put off by that large hunk of wood for the headstock complemented by the gigantic VOX logo there, but this is a bass that absolutely screams “I have the sound of the 1960s” to it, as you’ll hear in the video below.
The most interesting part about the Sidewinder bass is the electronics, because there’s a lot going on down there.
There is, I kid you not, a tone generator to tune your bass to (yes, it’s demonstrated in the video.) That means in 1968, VOX did put an on-board tuner in a bass guitar.
Other electronics features include a treble boost, and on-board overdrive. Yes, really.
The Sidewinder was absolutely loaded with electronics goodies. VOX had a lot of forward thinking back in those days. And while they still make great stuff today, you can see how far back their innovations went.
Check out the video below and let us know what you think of the old Sidewinder.
Had a chance to play this one on an album, and even used it live a few times. Great tone, and the neck was to die for.
Ya can’t really tell how this bass sounds w/out flatwounds. IMO. Distortion from bass or amp?
looks like it has a crazy heavy head stock
What you are playing is NOT a bass guitar. That is a common misnomer. People constantly make this mistake. A bass guitar is a six stringed instrument tuned an octave below a regular guitar. As far as I know the first ones made were from the DanElectric Co., originally carried & sold by Sears for around $80. Later they were made by Fender. Several guitarists that I worked with in the studios in L.A own these guitars and played them for certain effects, in particular, western TV shows & movies. What you are playing is an ELECTRIC BASS !!
The reason people constantly make that mistake is because everyone else on the planet calls that a bass guitar.
You have got to be joking. I got news for you, when a certain terminology is used for a length of time and generally accepted by the masses, it becomes an accepted part of our vernacular. So maybe originally this was not a bass guitar but it sure as hell is now.
Wrong on so many counts, Stupid Danelectro did niot make the first BASS GUITARS, LEO FENDER DID AND YOU SHOULD GET YOUR HISTORY DONE A LITTLE BETTER.
Preach it Brother! We have to turn back the tide!
Preach it Brother! We have to turn back the tide!
It’s funky cool! Love to see the rare old gear.
Owned one for over thirty years , biggest mistake I ever made was selling it . Looking to find another someday
I have the 68 Sidewinder in Cherry. It’s beautiful and sounds amazing after all these years.