Vox Mark IV/Dallas Arbiter Model 4535 Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1965/1968)
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Vox Mark IV/Dallas Arbiter Model 4535 Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1965/1968), made in Dartford, Kent, England, white polyester finish, African mahogany body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, period grey hard shell case.
The Vox teardrop-shaped Mark series remains one of the 1960s' most iconic instruments, at least in visual impact -- utterly distinctive then and now. Along with the equally striking trapezoidal Phantom these instruments were born at JMI in Dartford, Kent in the early '60s. The Phantom IV bass, introduced in 1962-3, is one of Vox's most imposing instruments with a full 34" scale neck and two pickups. The similarly appointed teardrop Mark IV followed in 1964-5 but very few were produced in the UK, the great bulk being of Italian manufacture. This Teardrop bass is a very rare UK-made example with an even more unique provenance, being one of a very few leftover instrument marketed by Dallas Arbiter after the demise of JMI as their "Model 435".
Nearly all production Vox guitars sold in the US were of Italian origin. JMI was primarily an amplifier company; instead of expanding their guitar-making facilities the bulk of instrument production was outsourced to EKO's facility in Recanati, Italy. Unlike the short-scale, thin-necked layout of most Vox basses, the Mark IV has a full 34" scale on a big wide neck based on the Fender Precision. The feel and sound are very Fender like overall, although the abbreviated body shape does change the ergonomics!
Two 4-pole single-coil pickups provide a wide range of tonal options; in design they are most similar to the original 1952 Precision units, though fitted with a more Strat-like white plastic cover. The fully adjustable bridge is also closely modeled on Fender, as are the Kluson-style tuners. Controls are a master volume and tone (which works in reverse) and a 3-way lever switch for pickup selection. The pickups are mounted into a chrome-plated integral pickguard/frame unit with an embossed VOX logo that was never used on Eko-made instruments.
This Mark VI features a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard made by UK furniture shop G-Plan, JMI's most consistent parts supplier. The neck is dated to 1965, but this instrument is actually one of a few assembled and sold by Dallas Arbiter in 1968-9, after JMI's guitar operation was shut down. These carry no serial number or Vox decal, although the pickguard still bears the engraved Vox logo. The neck has a very distinctive oddity; it was originally built as left handed, confirmed by the position dots now on the treble side. The headstock was cut, reversed and re-drilled to be right handed and sprayed white to match the body, conveniently (mostly) covering the work!
Cataloged in 1968 at just under 54 Pounds (The original JMI/Vox price had been around 100) this pro-grade was quite a bargain at the time! This is a very imposing instrument both visually and sonically, one of the small select group of 1960's European-made instruments to approximate the sound and feel of a Fender bass instead of the typical short-scale pattern. And it also just looks wicked cool even sitting on the stand, the ultimate in 1960's cool!
Overall length is 49 in. (124.5 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This very rare bass shows some noticeable wear but appears all original, or at least mostly so considering the specs of these "floor sweep" models are variable to begin with! The white poly finish on the body has chips, dings and dents overall with a couple of deep chips some touch ups around the base of the neck where spots have flaked off. The neck has a clear lacquer finish with numerous dings, scrapes and dents on the back and some worn away areas in then lower positions. The seam on the headstock where the reversed section was spliced has opened slightly but is fully stable. The small piece of rosewood fingerboard in front of the nut has been neatly removed, for no obvious reason.
The hardware appears mostly original including the pickups, electronics, pickguard assembly, knobs, bridge, neckplate, strap buttons and tuners. The jack plate is probably later, and the origin of the plastic cover over the electronics is anyone's guess. The hardware has some general wear but all works as intended. The bridge cover is long gone. There is a small crack to the wood around the rear knob but again it is not moving at all. The frets appear original and have some minor wear, and the neck is in good shape with a functional Fender-style truss rod. This is a good playing and great sounding bass, and visually at least is simply hard to beat! It is housed in an original period Vox case, festooned with stickers showing an active life in Europe, particularly Italy. Very Good + Condition.
The Vox teardrop-shaped Mark series remains one of the 1960s' most iconic instruments, at least in visual impact -- utterly distinctive then and now. Along with the equally striking trapezoidal Phantom these instruments were born at JMI in Dartford, Kent in the early '60s. The Phantom IV bass, introduced in 1962-3, is one of Vox's most imposing instruments with a full 34" scale neck and two pickups. The similarly appointed teardrop Mark IV followed in 1964-5 but very few were produced in the UK, the great bulk being of Italian manufacture. This Teardrop bass is a very rare UK-made example with an even more unique provenance, being one of a very few leftover instrument marketed by Dallas Arbiter after the demise of JMI as their "Model 435".
Nearly all production Vox guitars sold in the US were of Italian origin. JMI was primarily an amplifier company; instead of expanding their guitar-making facilities the bulk of instrument production was outsourced to EKO's facility in Recanati, Italy. Unlike the short-scale, thin-necked layout of most Vox basses, the Mark IV has a full 34" scale on a big wide neck based on the Fender Precision. The feel and sound are very Fender like overall, although the abbreviated body shape does change the ergonomics!
Two 4-pole single-coil pickups provide a wide range of tonal options; in design they are most similar to the original 1952 Precision units, though fitted with a more Strat-like white plastic cover. The fully adjustable bridge is also closely modeled on Fender, as are the Kluson-style tuners. Controls are a master volume and tone (which works in reverse) and a 3-way lever switch for pickup selection. The pickups are mounted into a chrome-plated integral pickguard/frame unit with an embossed VOX logo that was never used on Eko-made instruments.
This Mark VI features a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard made by UK furniture shop G-Plan, JMI's most consistent parts supplier. The neck is dated to 1965, but this instrument is actually one of a few assembled and sold by Dallas Arbiter in 1968-9, after JMI's guitar operation was shut down. These carry no serial number or Vox decal, although the pickguard still bears the engraved Vox logo. The neck has a very distinctive oddity; it was originally built as left handed, confirmed by the position dots now on the treble side. The headstock was cut, reversed and re-drilled to be right handed and sprayed white to match the body, conveniently (mostly) covering the work!
Cataloged in 1968 at just under 54 Pounds (The original JMI/Vox price had been around 100) this pro-grade was quite a bargain at the time! This is a very imposing instrument both visually and sonically, one of the small select group of 1960's European-made instruments to approximate the sound and feel of a Fender bass instead of the typical short-scale pattern. And it also just looks wicked cool even sitting on the stand, the ultimate in 1960's cool!
Overall length is 49 in. (124.5 cm.), 13 in. (33 cm.) across at the widest point, and 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This very rare bass shows some noticeable wear but appears all original, or at least mostly so considering the specs of these "floor sweep" models are variable to begin with! The white poly finish on the body has chips, dings and dents overall with a couple of deep chips some touch ups around the base of the neck where spots have flaked off. The neck has a clear lacquer finish with numerous dings, scrapes and dents on the back and some worn away areas in then lower positions. The seam on the headstock where the reversed section was spliced has opened slightly but is fully stable. The small piece of rosewood fingerboard in front of the nut has been neatly removed, for no obvious reason.
The hardware appears mostly original including the pickups, electronics, pickguard assembly, knobs, bridge, neckplate, strap buttons and tuners. The jack plate is probably later, and the origin of the plastic cover over the electronics is anyone's guess. The hardware has some general wear but all works as intended. The bridge cover is long gone. There is a small crack to the wood around the rear knob but again it is not moving at all. The frets appear original and have some minor wear, and the neck is in good shape with a functional Fender-style truss rod. This is a good playing and great sounding bass, and visually at least is simply hard to beat! It is housed in an original period Vox case, festooned with stickers showing an active life in Europe, particularly Italy. Very Good + Condition.