Musky

[quote name='99ster' post='41214' date='Aug 4 2007, 10:23 AM']I have to agree - this one just smells bad. The 'feedback' is just bizarre! Scammer? For sure.[/quote] Typical scammer trick - buy loads of low value items to bump up your feedback rating and hope bidders don't actually bother to check the feedback. Interesting approach using almost exclusively private auctions though. Must watch out for that in future.

Blimey! That's a beauty. How much was it, if you don't mind me asking?

I'll take a stab at this and say it's a JB 355 - it should have the code in the neck pocket, and maybe on the end of the neck itself. If you take off the 'guard I bet you'll find a screw hole just above the centre of the front pick up and a couple of holes for a pickup cover too. If you do take off the neck you'll probably find a date as well. It was a budget model at the time (335 referring to the price in yen), but they're fairly well regarded basses. They were 60's reissues (hence the grounding strip and strap button on the neck, and lack of skunk strip) but nowhere near as accurate as the slightly earlier JVs. The body is probably alder, as I'd expect basswood to be far more dented, given the battering yours has taken. The logo is a bit odd though - I'd usually expect to see Squier there. It may be that someone has changed the logo, but it's more likely it was produced for the Japanese domestic market, as the serial isn't on the headstock either. As for value, not that much I'm afraid - maybe £250 for a tidy example.

Just a thought - what are the fonts used in our banner?

I can vouch for the Aria Cardinal series as well. I tried one of these in the 80's when I couldn't get my own bass to a rehearsal. I must have been an hour in before I had to ask if it was a short scale bass - it took a lot longer for me to admit to myself that it was actually a better instrument than my precision (US). In the intervening years I bought myself a CSB300, and I'm using it more than any of my others. So it's not really a great leap from a 34" to a 32" scale, though obviously the differences are there in both sound and reach.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='32172' date='Jul 15 2007, 07:24 PM']I think Bottomfeed's student's bass probably has a neck from something else. The bridge looks different, too - possibly repositioned to accommodate a longer scale. J.[/quote] I think his bass is actually stock. If you go to the [url="http://www.watkinsguitars.co.uk/othersolids.htm"]Other Guitars page[/url] and scroll halfway down, there's a 12 string Emerald there with the same styling, headstock and all. Then if you go to the bottom of the page there are pictures of some guitars badged 'Espana', which they think [i]may[/i] be rebadged WEM. There's a bass there that is identical to bottomfeed's, bar the logo and a bridge cover.

[quote name='PauBass' post='33576' date='Jul 18 2007, 01:27 PM'] Both Items are no longer available, they have been removed. A bit weird, don't you think?[/quote] Not really - I reported him a few hours ago, as all his instrument listings were copied off gumtree. I'm just a little surprised that ebay were so quick in removing him. [url="http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/peter_mcdavies/"]http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/peter_mcdavies/[/url]

Many of these basses have been advertised on London Gumtree for a while now, all from someone in Finchley. The seller has his phone number there, as well as the fact that they can be viewed at a guitar shop. The Precision - [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/44/8115444.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/44/8115444.html[/url] The 75 Strat he's 'selling' is from someone else though, also on Gumtree - [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/52/9703252.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/52/9703252.html[/url] . Different phone number. And the Modulus is being sold by someone in Ruislip - [url="http://www.gumtree.com/london/14/8046614.html"]http://www.gumtree.com/london/14/8046614.html[/url] Steer well clear.

Personally, I wouldn't touch this guy's auctions with a barge pole. While he might genuinely believe the telebass is a Fender, there's no way he's had this guitar since 1974. The guy is an outright liar. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-1970S-STRATOCASTER_W0QQitemZ200127989926QQihZ010QQcategoryZ33039QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZQQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-1970S-STRATOC...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

Met up with Jim on Friday afternoon to pickup the Epiphone, and have to say what a lovely chap he is. Thoroughly painless transaction, and the bass is exactly as he described. Good on you Sir!

It's not OTT for a JV, but the mods he's made seriously devalue the bass - despite his claims, the jazz pickup isn't stock. JV's were very period correct replicas and the quality of them was very high, probably better than the US counterparts of the time. Shark finger posted about this bass [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2713"]here.[/url]

[quote name='Bald Eagle' post='31943' date='Jul 14 2007, 11:41 PM']I've got one no bull, it's in a bad way was given to me with a p bass, it's been hand painted blue it's in the loft and it's well crusty, is it worth a mint then [/quote] Seriously? It's like buses - none turn up for ages, then a couple turn up at once! Got a picture?

If you look on the guitar page you'll find an Emerald 12 string - they note that they don't know if 6 strings or basses were ever produced. Looks like you'll be able to clue them in. It might well be worth a few bob to collector.

I don't see that it's any kind of scam really. The guy's clearly describing what it is, and not suggesting that it's got any age - in fact he says he bought it for his band and only used it once, which if anything is saying it's virtually new. And a starting price of about 30% off Thomann's price is quite reasonable. There's no accounting for what people will pay though - that's entirely down to them to do their own homework.

16again's bass looks like one of those Wesley Europas to me.

"this pedal is cosmetically very good... the top on this is nearly perfect, while the back has only a few small chips." LOL! What is this guy on! I wouldn't like to see something he doesn't think is in good condition.

Hmmm... See what you mean about the Cardinal. Why on earth the guy replaced the bridge is beyond me. The stock bridge is actually a heavier build than a badass, so it's not an improvement at all. And the polepieces on the pickup seem to have disappeared in the rewind as well. He's being extremely optimistic asking for £250, methinks.

They were known as 'tic tac' basses in the sixties, which pretty much clues you in what kind of sound to expect. I think Entwhistle used early on in The Who. I've never played one, but always had a bit of a hankering to try - I'm just not prepared to shell out for the kind of money they usually change hands for on a bit of a whim. I remember Bassist did give the DC favourable review though, saying the distinctive tones might make it worth having as a second bass. But then I don't think Bassist actually gave anything a bad review!

There's already a thread on this in the Ebay forum. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=2807&st=0&#entry30110"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...amp;#entry30110[/url]

Myspace is fantastic for finding gig promoters, including ones that only put on irregular gigs, as they all seem to have a myspace now. Try looking at listings for gigs in the area you want, and then look up the venues myspace. The promoters are usually listed in the top friends. Check the comments as well - promoters will often plug their events there, as will other local promoters at other venues. Then repeat the process on every promising promoter and venue you find. Be sure to check their music policy before hassling them - there's no point wasting everyone's time if they aren't likely to put on the type of music you do. To kick you off try taking a look at [url="http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupProfile&groupID=103829548&Mytoken=7ED6F78D-9D28-45D7-8A537F148A6849D14778330"]http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...8A6849D14778330[/url] The Drowned in Sound music board is quite good (if very indie-centric), as its populated with quite a few promoters and bands. A recent thread by the guy who started the myspace West Midlands Gigs group. [url="http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2153721"]http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/2153721[/url] Oh yeah, you do really need to get a demo sorted before contacting promoters. You'll find some won't give you the time of day if you don't.

Yeah, there was a real rash of Bass Worlders buying the Beatbass at the end of last year and raving about how great they were.

[quote name='BassManKev' post='28524' date='Jul 8 2007, 10:33 AM']josh klinghoffer (cant spell) friend of johns and the band, him and john write music together outside the chili peppers and thers no way flea could use them both at the same time, it would be far too distorted[/quote] Well there are bassists that use 2 (or more!) distortions at the same time, but they're usually after a more industrial, almost synthy sound. Which doesn't sound like Flea's usual tone.

[quote name='Buzz' post='28544' date='Jul 8 2007, 11:39 AM']*Edit: Also, I'll hasten to add, you knew the pedal was broken, yet you've got no idea of the basics for at least checking it and fault finding? What possessed you apart from maybe grabbing a bargin?*[/quote] Sometimes you never know. I bought an old EH Dr. Q from a shop very cheaply, on the basis that it didn't work properly. I got it home, changed the battery and voila! Working pedal.

That does indeed help. I'd agree with Paul about an active bass being a good choice, and add the MusicMan SUB to the list. It's basically the cheaper version of what Flea uses and is a great bass in it's own right. It has recently been discontinued (and probably slightly above your price limit anyway), but should be easy to pick one up used. These were also available passive, so check what you're getting before shelling out.

If anyone wants a detailed look at management, recording, publishing and producer contracts that goes into typical rates and clauses I suggest they take a look at [url="http://www.leeandthompson.com/documents.php"]this online guide.[/url] It goes into the sort of detail you'd probably only need if you were about to sign, but at least you'd know what the lawyers were talking about. Edited to update link.