lemmywinks

The one they have is the previous style with the scratchplate, regular headstock and a less attractive (IMO) body shape, probably more appealing to Gibson bass fans due to being more traditional. The ones sold off cheap were more like a Gibson Victory without the scratchplate, only Gibson know why they chose to call them an EB when that's already been used for three different Gibson bass shapes.

I can remember them bringing out the new EB series of basses as well which actually looked alright, then GAK had to sell them off at £400 after they'd already been reduced significantly by Andertons to clear stock. There's no point in them coming up with new designs because that's already catered for elsewhere, people buy Gibsons for Gibson-y type stuff. Shudder to think how much money they wasted buying (and subsequently ruining) Tobias.

That's not a challenge, do sub £50!

A cheap digital Casio watch from Argos will be better at telling the time than any Rolex as will a half decent quartz watch. That's why watches with movements were rebranded as fashion/status accessories after quartz became a thing.

It's the same bass, I think those are actually your pictures. There's still some construction photos on the old Zoot site showing the original fretboard if you ever want to relive a nightmare! I used it as my main bass for years, eventually had to move on to 5 strings for gigging so couldn't play it live any more. The Aguilar preamp stopped working a while ago so I put an Artec in it to keep it going, the overall construction is superb but the wiring was a bit haphazard. IIRC it had centre dented pots for the volume knobs which were split shaft with a bit of wood wedged in them to make them compatible with set screw knobs. Keep meaning to test the preamp on its own to see if it's actually dead or not.

Some more suggestions here:

Still play mine from time to time but no longer gig a 4 string, was my main bass for many years. Original owner's photo as I still have a junk camera:

Gator Pro Transit (or the old Pro Go X which is the same bag) is also long enough and a bit cheaper: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Gator-GT-BASS-GRY-Transit-Padded-Electric/dp/B01MYREW8U https://www.thomann.co.uk/gator_transit_series_bass_bag_gr.htm The Pro Go Deluxe is a great gigbag though and would be my choice.

Thanks, I actually spotted your website while doing a bit of research on my bass over the weekend before deciding to buy it. Great collection btw! Yours looks extremely similar to mine aside from the logo and obvious lack of metal bits on the neck - solid wood body, brass nut and saddles, 7 screw bridge, same colour of burst, same colour of scratchplate etc. I see yours is also drilled for bridge/pickup covers and has a screw hole in the middle of the scratchplate like mine, another weird thing they have in common is two close screw holes where I assume a thumb rest had been installed. Does yours have the 3 screw tuners? The bridge on yours is in much better condition though, mine is quite ratty and some of the plating is coming away.

The same shop also has a Harley Benton Fusion guitar, roasted maple and a lic Floyd rose for £160. Almost bought that as well.

I thought I'd seen them before and figured out it was from an old episode of Fanblade Instruments here:

How would that work then, would it be a little rod you stick in the hole (tried and failed to make that sound better I promise) and turn it to tighten?

The scratchplate is original I think, it was only the condition of it that made me think it was a replacement (too shiny!) but looking underneath it I don't think this to be the case. Tbh it matches the overall condition of the bass which is excellent. My rubbish phone doesn't really do it justice, the sunburst is much nicer in person and more brownish than red.

Although having said that I've just found this CImar with the same tuners and neck plate! https://www.coololdguitars.shop/products/1970s-cimar-ibanez-75-reissue-jazz-bass-torino-red

The first two digits on the pot code are 78 so I assumed that's when they were from at least. There's a lot of similarities between this and some of the El Maya Artist models from 1978 too. The only thing I haven't found on other basses is the 3 screw tuners which feel great despite being the 2 part shaft design, one was already unscrewing itself when I got it but fixed that now. The neck did take a fair bit of adjustment to get where I wanted it when under tension though, stuck a shim in there and it's playing great now. Pickup is very nice as well.

Some internal shots, looks original to me but not sure about the pickup, mainly because I don't know much about old MiJ stuff in general. No extra holes though. Tuners have been stripped and cleaned, truss rod moves fine (was set with barely any tension when I got it) so I've flattened the neck out. Will see if it needs a shim at all when I put it back together. That reflective sticker came off easily, nothing underneath it.

Obligartory tag for @Bassassin

Just grabbed this from my local Cash Generator, spotted it at the weekend and had a half day off work so decided to snag it as I need a boring trad bass for some upcoming dep gigs. Was £110 and they wouldn't shift on price as it had just been discounted from £140. Not sure what's original, I think the pickup, scratchplate and knobs might be replacements as they look too new but the bass overall is in superb condition for an old cheap bass. It's missing a thumb rest and pickup/bridge covers, assume the covers would have been stock. It also has a large silver sticker running under the strings by the bridge, assume this would have been disguised by the bridge cover but not sure if it's stock, had a poke and a prod and it doesn't seem to be hiding any naughty routing mods. Can't find much info on these, most CMI basses on the internet have a different logo, tele bass style pickups, cr@p tuners and that horrible forearm overspray which hides a butcher block body. This has a 3 piece body, brass nut/saddles, good quality tuners and seems very well finished overall. Truss rod adjustment is at the body end with a wooden plug at the neck and a skunk stripe. I thinksome El Maya branded instruments had the wooden plug and brass nut but not seen them on many MiJ basses. Is this 70s or 80s? Looks to have a standard sized neck plate so thinking later. Also any clue about the factory? Seen Chushin Gakki linked with CMI a bit.

The only times I've been disappointed buying blind was from big UK music chains selling "new" items and from a Thomann B Stock, all the used gear I've got has been splendid. Ideally I'd like to try every bit of kit before buying but this isn't always possible unless you restrict yourself to your local area or are prepared to write off a full day and fuel costs.

There shouldn't be an issue with discussing brexit now IMO, unsettling truths are always preferable to comforting lies.

One of the earlier Samick ones with the MIJ bridge, those J pickups are beastly as well.

There's one of the original Prometheans for sale on FB marketplace at the moment if you're still after a replacement, spotted it yesterday.

Regardless of platform for your main mix go as big as you can, it's nice to have the screen real estate for touch devices. Honor Pad 8 might be a good budget Android option, Lenovo do some larger Android tablets too. I prefer the full Windows X-Air Edit app over the Android, we have a Portege X20t-C (8gb/256gb, 12.5" screen) for our main mix and I use a Surface Go (8gb/128gb, 10" screen) for my personal monitor. Both have detachable keyboards which is handy. If I had to buy a budget tablet for mixing I'd probably just go for a used Surface Pro tbh.

We also went with the XR18 as everything is XLR. This means our keys player doesn't ask which cable to use as a way of getting out of setting up so well worth spending the extra £. You can fit the desk, a router and a power strip in a 3u shallow rack.