Author Topic: Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested  (Read 7138 times)

Quasar1

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Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested
« on: October 18, 2025, 01:57:36 PM »
Hey Gents

Andy Webber of Whalehazard Guitars is asking for input

"I received a message from a fellow luthier about a pretty unique instrument. This bass was apparently built by Bruce Becvar, formerly of Alembic, maybe in the late 70’s…but that’s about all I know. If anyone has any connections or knows more about this, please get in touch! It has clearly seen better days, and my client was hoping to restore it for one of their customers. I was asked if I could replace the X-Wing inlay on the body with a different spaceship, specifically Dr. Zarkov’s rocket from Flash Gordon. Always up for a challenge and the opportunity to work on a cool piece of Luthiery history, I said sure"!

links

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP4QW87j40q/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.whalehazard.com/

Contact Andy at

andy@whalehazard.com
« Last Edit: October 18, 2025, 02:08:06 PM by Quasar1 »

dela217

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Re: Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2025, 02:11:54 PM »
I remember seeing this bass a long time ago.    The owner called it his X-Wing bass.    Hopefully this one will get restored to it's former glory.    As I recall, it was the only BecVar fitted with Hyak electronics.

Quasar1

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Re: Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2025, 03:01:01 PM »
I remember seeing this bass a long time ago.    The owner called it his X-Wing bass.    Hopefully this one will get restored to it's former glory.    As I recall, it was the only BecVar fitted with Hyak electronics.

Many thanks Michael! I hope perhaps Dave, Ed, Peter, Jimmy, and maybe Mothership could drop Andy a line with info to help them out!

lbpesq

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Re: Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2025, 12:33:27 AM »
IIRC, I saw this one at the World Guitar Show in San Rafael, maybe fifteen or twenty years ago.   It looked pretty together at the time.

Bill, tgo

edwardofhuncote

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Re: Bec-Var in bad shape/help requested
« Reply #4 on: October 19, 2025, 05:00:51 AM »
Old pictures of "X-wing" in a blog post here-


https://larryharwin.wordpress.com/2009/01/16/the-becvar-bass-bruce-becvar/


Offhand I would guess the wires going up the neck were for LED's. My Hyak had them too, but they were closer to the E string side.


Nice to see X-wing again... I guess we call him ex-X-wing now?