[photoguy]

I am the original owner of this violin shaped hollow body bass. I can't find any information on the model number or the year it was built. My father bought it for me around 1969 or 1970. It has a full electronics package with bass/treble boost, distortion, onboard tuner and 2 pickups. The electronis still work fine although I don't play it anymore. I'm afraid to travel with it so I use a Fender for gigs around town.
More pics available if needed.

Any idea what it is?

[jules]

Hi,
yes, that is a late sixties Vox Astro

Bill Wyman used one on the Stones "rock and roll circus" concert and film.

nice basses actually. I have one, though missing a few parts.

[photoguy]

Thanks for the info on my bass. I've search every where for pictures but no luck. Today my August 2009 Bass Player magazine arrived and on page 12 I see a picture of Anthony "Skeet" Anderson playing the same Vox bass at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. It looks like mine except the pick guard is removed. His is also missing the cover to the bridge. I lost my bridge cover a year after got my bass.

Thanks again for the information.

[62Start]

Hoo Haw - vintage bridge covers are $200.00 from Rhodes Music.

Take your bass and play it.

[astroIV]

Beautiful bass you have there. I bought one on eBay just over a year ago and love it to bits. I don't actually play bass, I am a saxophonist, but love to play this one for fun. Just wondered if either of you know where I can get hold of a case for it. I have looked and looked but no luck yet.
I will try a post some pics sometime so you can see mine and the condition (not as good as yours).
Cheers
Astro IV

[VOXguy]

Although the bridges on most Italian VOX basses were the same, I believe they didn't start putting bridge covers on the basses until 1966. I bought a new Cougar in 1964 and it didn't come with a bridge cover. I also bought a '65 Cougar without a bridge cover. In '66 (the white pickup models) they started coming with a bridge cover.

However, the bridge covers were discarded as it wasn't possible to play with them as they would buzz. The telecaster bridge covers survived better because they were cool ash trays.