{"product_id":"1970s-sakai-eb-short-scale-bass-made-in-japan-cherry","title":"1970s Sakai EB Short Scale Bass – Made in Japan – Cherry","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"item2__content__section\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"d-flex fx-dir-col mobile-fx-dir-col-reverse\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"item2-description\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"rc-accordion__description\" class=\"rc-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rc-accordion__content-wrapper\" id=\"rc-accordion__description-content\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"rc-accordion__content\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003eA wonderfully quirky piece of 1970s Japanese guitar history. This Sakai features the less commonly encountered dual-pickup configuration, three-position rotary selector, four-control layout and an exceptionally compact 29.1\" short scale. Supplied with a vintage fitted hard case.\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSakai Short Scale Bass\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMade in Japan · Circa 1970s\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome vintage instruments are desirable because everybody recognises them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOthers are desirable because almost nobody does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 1970s Japanese Sakai short-scale bass definitely belongs in the second category.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking obvious inspiration from the classic EB family of basses, Sakai created its own wonderfully Japanese interpretation: a compact SG-style body, transparent cherry finish, enormous chrome neck pickup, secondary bridge pickup and a rather fantastic three-position rotary selector.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis particular example is the dual-pickup version, making it substantially more interesting than the single-pickup Sakai EB-style basses more commonly encountered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd at approximately 29.1 inches \/ 740 mm scale, it really is short scale.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCompared with a standard 34-inch bass, the difference is immediately noticeable. The frets sit closer together, the reach is shorter and the entire instrument has the compact feel that makes vintage short-scale basses so enjoyable to play.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe controls are half the fun\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSitting beneath the black pickguard is a huge chrome mudbucker-style neck pickup, complemented by a smaller chrome bridge pickup.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe control arrangement consists of:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2 × Volume\u003cbr\u003e2 × Tone\u003cbr\u003e3-position rotary selector\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRather than the conventional toggle switch, Sakai fitted a large numbered rotary selector with a chicken-head-style pointer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is exactly the sort of eccentric detail that makes 1970s Japanese instruments so interesting today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eProper Japanese vintage character\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe headstock carries the gold SAKAI logo, while the six-bolt neck plate is stamped:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMADE IN JAPAN\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe transparent cherry finish allows the body grain to remain clearly visible and has aged beautifully.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt isn't pristine — and we wouldn't want it to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are small knocks and finish chips around the body edges, scratches and signs of use, together with age-related wear to the pickguard, screws and chrome hardware.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey are the marks of a bass that has existed for roughly half a century rather than artificial ageing applied last Tuesday.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"group TyagGW_tableContainer\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"TyagGW_tableWrapper flex flex-col-reverse w-fit\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"w-fit min-w-(--thread-content-width)\"\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"last:pe-10\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth class=\"last:pe-10\"\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBrand\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSakai\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eEra\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCirca 1970s\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCountry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJapan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eStyle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSG \/ EB-style short-scale bass\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScale Length\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApprox. 29.1\" \/ 740 mm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFinish\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTransparent Cherry\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeck Joint\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSix-bolt\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFingerboard\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDark fingerboard with dot markers\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePickups\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDual pickup\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNeck Pickup\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLarge chrome mudbucker-style pickup\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBridge Pickup\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChrome bridge pickup\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSelector\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3-position rotary\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eControls\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2 Volume \/ 2 Tone\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHardware\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChrome\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCase\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eVintage fitted black hard case with gold plush lining\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWorkshop prepared\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs with our other vintage instruments, the Sakai will be checked and set up through the Freo Guitars workshop prior to collection or dispatch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe will inspect the neck relief, action, intonation and electronics so that it leaves us as an instrument intended to be played — not simply displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eA note about originality\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eVintage Japanese instruments from this period rarely arrive with factory build sheets, receipts or complete histories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor that reason, we prefer not to claim that every screw, pot, pickup or component has remained untouched since the 1970s unless we can substantiate it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bass presents as a convincing and substantially period-correct Sakai, and we have provided extensive photographs so collectors can assess the instrument for themselves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe included fitted black hard case with gold plush interior likewise appears period-correct, but we cannot conclusively establish that it was originally supplied with this exact bass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy we like it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBecause it's weird.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the best possible way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe enormous neck pickup, little bridge pickup, rotary selector, chrome bridge cover, black pickguard, vivid cherry body and tiny scale combine into something with enormous personality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt isn't another Precision Bass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt isn't another Jazz Bass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd you're unlikely to walk into the next rehearsal room and discover somebody else holding one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the Japanese vintage collector, it's an interesting survivor.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the player, it's an exceptionally compact short-scale with a genuinely unusual control layout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd for somebody who already owns all the obvious basses, this might be exactly what they didn't know they needed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch6 class=\"_a9zs\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_aacl _aaco _aacu _aacx _aad7 _aade\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'San Francisco', 'Segoe UI', Roboto, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eFREO GUITARS 1 QUARRY ST \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch6 class=\"_a9zs\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_aacl _aaco _aacu _aacx _aad7 _aade\"\u003eFREMANTLE. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6 class=\"_a9zs\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_aacl _aaco _aacu _aacx _aad7 _aade\"\u003eWESTERN AUSTRALIA \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003ch6 class=\"_a9zs\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"_aacl _aaco _aacu _aacx _aad7 _aade\"\u003e0458 066 709\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eOPEN 10AM - 5PM TUESDAY TO FRIDAY\u003cbr\u003eOPEN 11AM - 4PM SATURDAY \u0026amp; SUNDAY\u003cimg\u003e\u003cimg\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e","brand":"freo guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48510940840157,"sku":null,"price":900.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0637\/4696\/5725\/files\/FrontMain_7da810f0-9943-4e3f-8d44-9b66a03484d9.jpg?v=1788678206","url":"https:\/\/www.freoguitars.com\/products\/1970s-sakai-eb-short-scale-bass-made-in-japan-cherry","provider":"Freo Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}