Author Topic: The Lost Hyak (Read 266 times)

afrobeat_fool · « **on:** February 16, 2010, 11:08:22 PM »

Sounds like a movie, Right? I have acquired an unfinished, unplayed, sat in the closet for 30+ yrs, Hyak. Here is the story. MY Hyak was taken a few yrs ago, by a guy who was supposed to do a refinish job on it. Never got it back. Attornies letters, and consistent e-mails have gotten me nowhere. So... I let it go. What else could I do, but hunt him down and stake him to an anthill. Then I see Dan posted a Hyak for sale in Seattle. I take a look, It's not mine and I call the guy. A few other club members call him, but I win the day. Probably due to proximity. So, as I am talking to the seller he tells me his Grandfather helped make the bass. He G-dad did the graphite work and installed a lot of the electronics. For those not familiar with Hyak's the black lines between the Laminates and under the fingerboard are thin graphite laminates to keep the neck from moving. There are no truss rods in these axes. This particular bass is one of the last ones made, and was never finished before Mr. Smith shut down the whole rodeo. I plan on finishing this bad boy. I will be getting parts as I go along and hope to get it up and running soon. Fortunately the electronics were installed and are looking brand new. Here are some pic's, enjoy!

headstock

back shots

electronics

Full body

(Message edited by davehouck on February 18, 2010)

elwoodblue · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2010, 11:43:55 PM »

Wow, Beautiful.
Shes going to be wonderful. It's good to see the electronics were completed.
Will an Alembic bridge fit with the sustain block?

edwin · « **Reply #2 on:** February 17, 2010, 01:24:26 AM »

Stunning! Hopefully you can find some appropriate pickups. It looks similar to a Series I, but I can't see any hum canceler.

dela217 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 17, 2010, 03:31:47 AM »

You're right Edwin, there is no hum cancelling circuit. It is more like Signature electronics with 2 separate pre-amps and filters. The pickups that go into this bass are unusual due to the fact that they are quite shallow depth-wise. Their dimensions are more like Series pickups from the earlier basses with the single screw per side. I think that Alembic finishing this bass is quite do-able. They can easily install one of their bridges as they mount the same. But to do it right they will have to mold some pickups based on the shape of the holes.

I will be watching the progress of this one for sure! Those electronics look great! The electronics in my Hyak no longer work. Hopefully I will be able to send mine to Alembic too someday.

Michael

artswork99 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 17, 2010, 05:26:40 AM »

Hey Nick,
Congratulations! That control cavity looks great and a carbon copy of my Hyak scroll. I too will be watching the progress. Wishing you great success with getting it into action!
Art

sonicus · « **Reply #5 on:** February 17, 2010, 08:35:18 AM »

An Excellent Acquisition ! Congratulations Nick!
Perhaps Alembic can make you the correct parts for a faithful completion of this instrument. I think it would be worthwhile to have these missing parts made custom to fit rather then modifying the instrument other then perhaps an Alembic adjustable string nut installation.I agree with Michael in his post #1023.

Sonic Regards ,
Wolf

afrobeat_fool · « **Reply #6 on:** February 17, 2010, 10:58:56 AM »

Any ideas on the wood type here fella's?

gtrguy · « **Reply #7 on:** February 17, 2010, 11:25:41 AM »

Maple core, like an Elan? Walnut, maple, ebony neck lams with the reddish main wood and neck lam being?

Cool looking bass!

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** February 17, 2010, 11:27:44 AM »

Maple core, like an Elan? Mahogany, maple, ebony neck lams with the reddish main wood and neck lam being?

Cool looking bass!

dela217 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 17, 2010, 11:43:02 AM »

Nick,

Just curious does this bass have a serial number. It is usually stamped on the inside of the cavity cover. I've also seen them stamped in the battery compartment, or both.

Michael

afrobeat_fool · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2010, 12:02:36 PM »

Hey, Dave! Yeah, your right. Maple core, Neck lams are walnut, maple, graphite. Back of headstock is walnut.Fingerboard is Ebony. What is the top and back? I can't play for a few weeks after an accident with a bread knife so I hope to be able to take it to the Mothership this month.

mike1762 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 19, 2010, 05:29:21 AM »

Cool... the bass is in much better shape than the Ebay pics indicated.

afrobeat_fool · « **Reply #12 on:** February 19, 2010, 10:25:18 AM »

Hi Michael, the serial # is 790468. I take it to mean April, 1979. 68th bass built. Still trying to figure what the face and back are? I will be taking my time with this as I won't be playing for a bit. Here is a reminder to be careful with knives!

keith_h · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2010, 10:30:04 AM »

I'm guessing mahogany for the top and back.

Keith

gtrguy · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2010, 10:59:19 AM »

SOB, that had to hurt. I was going to ride along in Dec. with the sig other to Calif. and take my fretless in for a refinish estimate, but the weather was too scary to drive for her.

That is a nice looking bass. The top wood is ringing a bell with me, but I can't put a finger on it. It's a lighter color for mahogany, but Gibson SG's came out kinda similar. Still, it looks like something else to me.

Dave

Author Topic: The Lost Hyak (Read 266 times)

afrobeat_fool

afrobeat_fool

afrobeat_fool

afrobeat_fool