Annoying Twit

Pickup only in Fulham. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ300410770396QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item45f1e093dc"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-II-BASS-GUI...=item45f1e093dc[/url]

[quote name='Musicman69' post='785397' date='Mar 25 2010, 01:27 AM']Just wondering.. is any of this fine-crafted firewood worth anything? I know yis love it but any monetary value?[/quote] Absolutely loads of it comes up on ebay, so the selling value is well known. I don't know the market like others, but just recently Westone Thunder basses have been going for about £100. Loads of stuff goes between £100 and £200. And the higher end such as SB1000 basses will go for several times that. When I was a teenager I played bass. I had an Ibanez Artist bass. When I looked to see what one was worth, I only found one on sale, being sold by (as others describe him) "That German w***er" for £800! That doesn't set market value as that guy sells all sorts of stuff for unbelievably high prices. Or, "attempts to sell", I should say. However, I found a post where someone in the US had bought one for US$500 and considered that a notable bargain. Did you see the picture of the Rickenfaker "project" that Jon sold for £180? Have a look in the Rickenfaker thread.

With those extra search terms, I found this page: [url="http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1003527"]http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1003527[/url] Here's Paul using the bass in the video for "Ebony and Ivory". Edit: I thought I'd see if I could find a better picture. But, I just learnt not to put "ebony and ivory video" into google image search with safesearch turned off!

I [b]knew[/b] I'd seen that triangle before, but for the life of me couldn't remember where. The Kay reissues (which in hindsight, I read about a year or so ago I think) have the triangle too. But since the clip is from 1974, that's Paul McCartney playing an original Kay bass then. :-o Many thanks.

The triangular headstock inlay looks familiar, but I can't place it. [url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO0aURDiuPo"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO0aURDiuPo[/url]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='783938' date='Mar 23 2010, 08:30 PM']Got a link to the post? Seems like an odd thing to say, because 70s Antorias were the exact same guitars as their Ibanez counterparts, right down to the model numbers. CSL was the house-brand of Charles Summerfield Ltd in Gateshead, who were UK importer for Ibanez at that point, so very likely they sourced their planks through Hoshini Gakki, Ibanez brand owner/exporter.[/quote] Here's the post. [url="http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-les-pauls/83356-anyone-expert-csl-guitars.html#post1614877"]http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-les-...tml#post1614877[/url] On re-reading, he does say that CSL was a major "upset" after only mentioning the "first" Antorias. In searching for information on CSL, I ended up reading an interesting thread on the Ibanez Collector's Forum with posts from you! Do you know which factory my Cimar Rickenfaker is likely to be from?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1976-Antoria-Les-Paul-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Fuji-Gen-Relic_W0QQitemZ260574013293QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3cab6be76d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1976-Antoria-Les-Pau...=item3cab6be76d[/url] Antoria Les Paul-ish bass. How well respected are the 70s Antoria basses and guitars? Being Fuji-gen, I'd expect good quality. But, someone who was a guitar shop worker in the 60s was reminiscing on the MLP forums, and he said that the CSL instruments, when they came out, were a real step up from the Antorias (etc.) that were being sold before then. So, how good does that make the Antoria instruments? Edit: What an unusual looking bridge:

[quote name='OldGit' post='783087' date='Mar 23 2010, 09:02 AM']Odd that Rondo can sell it for £90 in the US and Waltons charge nearly £250 in Ireland. I assume Waltons get them from a direct importer, same as Rondo.[/quote] I was told by a musical instrument dealer that the manufacturers charge different prices to different countries. And that they make bigger profits on sales to Europe which are used to balance slimmer profits for sales to the US. Higher levels of sales tax here also make a difference. But, I was told that US prices for internet sellers like Musician's Friend are often lower than the UK wholesale prices. Also, that certain discounting online suppliers are selling the instruments for not much more than the wholesale price. And in some cases the internet stores get a volume discount, such that their prices are actually lower than the wholesale price to small independent retailers. On the MI Pro website there are frequent comments from retailers complaining about not enough margin on musical instruments sold in the UK, and that shops should get together to agree on prices, and raise prices in the UK to what the retailers consider a more "reasonable level". Yes, I know that would be price fixing and illegal. However, it seems that it isn't the shops that are making huge profits. But, for such a discrepancy as you point out, someone is making a pretty coin, unless Rondo's £90 is a lossmaker for someone. Given that it's Rondo's stated policy that overseas buyers must buy a case, do they allow people to buy without cases? Or, do they say they'll do it but it's at the buyer's own risk?

[quote name='OldGit' post='783023' date='Mar 23 2010, 02:56 AM']Just get it from Rondo. Lots of UK people have bought direct from them. Aaaaaaarrrrrrr the Pirate basses as good as the normal SX's, me hearty?[/quote] Original price of the bass is: £86.16 W/postage to the UK, price goes up to: £140.89. Plus 17.5%VAT, 3.5% duty, and £15 "handling charge", price goes up to: £185.48 delivered. That's using current exchange rates. It's likely that a buyer's card (or other payment method) will not calculate the exchange rate so favourably, and the price will go up a bit. On top of that, you have: [quote]Orders shipped outside the US & Canada have no warranty and are not refundable - see return section for details. Customers ordering outside the US & Canada are also responsible for paying their own customs duty / VAT. All prices are in US Dollars Customers ordering guitars outside the US are required to order cases and must provide a phone number for customs[/quote] Let's say that it's $60 for a suitable case. I'm not sure whether Rondo will ship in a soft case which will be cheaper, but this is a typical hard case price from the Rondo site. The price paid to Rondo goes up to: £196.15. Add in VAT, duty, and "handling charge", and you get a full price of approximately £252.34.

Yeah, and with two people potentially visiting, they're concerned about more trouble every day while they'd prefer to be left alone in their Orange Country lumbertruck with their penguin in bondage, while eating their hot dog and watching a movie from Hollywood. The most recent RBX374 that sold on ebay sold for £133 by itself. What's the betting that the seller ends up failing to get any bids. I was thinking that if that happened, I'd offer £130 for the pair, then ebay separately. But I can't be bothered.

Why sell two basses as a job lot if you're selling them pickup only? Surely your already small pickup only market is made even smaller as only people who want two basses will bid? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150424609003&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] I can understand selling as a job lot if you're posting because you avoid the inconvenience of posting both separately. But surely the additional inconvenience of having two callers isn't much.

[quote name='tazza1' post='781295' date='Mar 21 2010, 12:39 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/jazz-bass_W0QQitemZ120546156029QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item1c111c5dfd"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/jazz-bass_W0QQitemZ1...=item1c111c5dfd[/url] It's back again - we he regret not selling for £87?[/quote] My suspicion, for what it is worth, is that he'll get a bite before his dropping price gets down that far. With his new, specially selected, photos that don't show the problems so much, IMHO someone will think it worth a punt well before the price gets down to £100. How outraged the buyer may feel when they receive their bass is of course another question.

[quote name='BassJase' post='781407' date='Mar 21 2010, 09:43 AM']Yeah I put the other link up for the seconds Jazz basses for £50 up too. I was just trawling ebay and thought that some people might wanna but them cheap to use the bodies or necks for projects, seeing as battered up Jazz bodies can sometimes go on here for a decent price. Didn't realise I could get someone so upset and uptight by trying to possibly show a couple of bargains for someone..... (?!?)[/quote] Eh?!?!?! I'm not upset or, I believe, uptight in the least. I'm not too familiar with the bass market, and was just sounding out what people thought of the other cheaper basses versus the Arias. I'm open to different suggestions, and to hear the advice/experience of others. E.g. if they're for projects, maybe someone would say that the original body doesn't matter apart from basics such as wood types, as the whole thing would effectively get remade in the "project" stage. On searching on "Jim Harley" basses, I found some guitar reviews suggesting the instruments were made in Korea. I wondered if they had a bit of a rep. over and above random no-names. And I presumed that if they did, someone would correct me. (In a good way). I think this is a classic case of disconnect due to the difficulty of reading tone into straight ascii text. I'm not upset or uptight, but am very happy, eager even, to hear a range of different opinions on different sub-£100 basses. On looking at my post again, I think you may have taken some of my direct questions ("What's the advantage of a Jim Harley bass over an Aria bass?") as rhetorical questions. I'm not saying that there is no advantage, I'm asking what advantages there may be. The JH does look a bit better IMHO.

What's the advantage of buying a "Jim Harley" jazz bass for £70 + £15 p&p, when if you wait around a bit, you can get an Aria STB Jazz bass for a similar amount of money? Is Jim Harley a known quality brand? Or is it the SD pickup (just one?) that makes this a notable bargain? There was another thread with no-brand Jazz basses, factory seconds, for £50 + £20 p&p. I can't see the point of buying a no-brand when you can get an Aria for a similar price (one sold for £50!), and the Aria has, from what I read, a decent rep. Someone on here owns one, and told me that he'd rate it above a Squire Affinity, but below the Classic Vibes and Vintage Modifieds. Edit: Here's an Aria STB Precision bass for £69.99 starting bid plus £10 p&p. Past experience suggests that it's feasible that it might go for the starting bid. There are others BIN for up to £110, £139 etc. (more than they were new), but there always are. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-STB-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ190382149384QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c53a90f08"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-STB-BASS-GUITAR...=item2c53a90f08[/url] Edit again: STB Jazz bass sold for £50 + £10 p&p. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-STB-Jazz-Bass_W0QQitemZ140387253679QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item20afbb7daf"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-STB-Jazz-Bass_W...=item20afbb7daf[/url] Oh, and the previously mentioned STB Precision bass previously garnered no bids @£69.99.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='781042' date='Mar 20 2010, 06:58 PM']Right where can I get a fretless for nowt?[/quote] Freecycle! In case this doesn't make sense, this refers to a post of mine in the JapCrap thread. The one where I mentioned that in a spectacularly unsuccessful attempt to get back into playing real instruments in the mid 90s, I bought a fretless then gave it away on Freecycle.

My obsessive-compulsive side keeps suggesting that anyone interested in buying it should offer £25, a round £1 per fret.

Neck through fretless precision bass with a vaguely SB1000 style colour scheme. I like it! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretless-guitar-Early-Japan-built-classic_W0QQitemZ270550188555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3efe0c420b"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretles...=item3efe0c420b[/url]

[quote name='Jigster' post='775534' date='Mar 15 2010, 06:59 PM']thanks so far - any P bass like recommendations - Fender included but other P bass types..?[/quote] Prolly not what you're looking for, and will prolly go for under your budget. But, this is the internet. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretless-guitar-Early-Japan-built-classic_W0QQitemZ270550188555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3efe0c420b"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretles...=item3efe0c420b[/url]

[quote name='joegarcia' post='778483' date='Mar 18 2010, 12:39 PM']Seems it's not gonna happen anyway. Very bad feedback being left now.[/quote] As of a few seconds ago there is no negative feedback for the last month. [url="http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=sansiriw&&sspagename=VIP:feedback&ftab=FeedbackAsSeller"]http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...eedbackAsSeller[/url]

In my opinion, this email is utter bullshit. Sellers do not have discretion as to whether to sell the item once a auction has been won, except in a small numer of well defined circumstances. Which don't apply in this case. I quote from the Ebay user agreement itself: [url="http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/seller-rules-overview.html"]http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/sell...s-overview.html[/url] [quote]In addition to the above rules, here are some additional policy breaches not permitted on eBay: * Seller non-performance - Sellers must honour the transaction contract. Sellers cannot fail to deliver an item for which payment was accepted, significantly misrepresent an item by not meeting the terms and item description outlined in the listing, or refuse to accept payment for an item at the end of a successful sale.[/quote] Personally I believe that ebay are just trying to fob you off. If I were you (I'm sure you're big and hairy enough to make your own decisions), I would reply to the email, pointing out that the advice appears to conflict with their sellers' user agreement, and ask them to explain the discrepancy. I'd also continue filing for seller non-performance. I'd keep a record of all communications, and if they continue to fob you off and take no action, then I'd make an official complaint to ebay at them not following their own policies. And after that was unsuccessful (spot the cynic), complain to Watchdog. They don't follow up every complaint of course, but if they've had a block of matching complaints, then they might do a segment about it. If you decide to sue for loss of bargain, then I'd be prepared to chip in a tenner towards the costs. If a few more people would pledge money, then the cost of the small claims court case could be spread around. However, I believe (I'm no lawyer) that for there to be a loss of bargain, you'd have to have purchased a like and similar bass, at a higher price. Otherwise I believe that a judge may conclude that you didn't really want the bass anyhow, and hence have suffered no loss. And there's also the problem of whether or not the judge will conclude that a contact is made when an auction is won. Ebay's policies say that a contract has been formed, but they don't make the law.

[quote name='steve' post='780315' date='Mar 19 2010, 10:49 PM']I'll be looking for a six string fretless at some point, not sure when tho - I have other acquisitions afoot![/quote] Would you consider buying a cheap no-brand bass from ebay, or would you be looking for something more up-market?

Certain German on-line sellers always seem to have fretless six-strings in their model lineup. Is there a big market for cheap six string fretless basses? I'd have thought it was a rather limited market. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-String-Thru-Neck-Bass-Active-Swamp-Ash-Fretless_W0QQitemZ220570143951QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item335b014ccf"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/6-String-Thru-Neck-B...=item335b014ccf[/url] (I must admit that I have a cheap fretted one ).

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNUSUAL-VINTAGE-BASS-GUITAR-HOME-MADE-PROJECT_W0QQitemZ320499932030QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item4a9f48db7e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNUSUAL-VINTAGE-BASS...=item4a9f48db7e[/url]

Thanks for all the info, all. Also: Alden L/H Violin bass. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alden-Violin-Beatles-lefthanded-Bass-Guitar-Sunburst_W0QQitemZ350327808413QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item51912a219d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Alden-Violin-Beatles...=item51912a219d[/url]

Thanks, as always, Jon. Here's a fretless Westone Thunder on Ebay. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Fretless-Westone-Thunder-I-A-Bass-Japanese-NR_W0QQitemZ120545577417QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item1c111389c9"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Fretless-Weston...=item1c111389c9[/url] There's sort of a story here. I think I might have owned one of these. In the mid 90s, I was getting nostalgic for my school days when I played some bass (if I could go back and tell myself to learn properly rather than just .... not, but never mind). So, I saw some bass ads somewhere, Loot or a paper or whereever), and there was a fretless bass for £80. So, I went and bought it. I don't remember much about it, but I think the name was West-something. What I remember of it though, makes me think it was one of these. Single split pickup and approximate shape. And black. So, maybe Westone or Westbury or something. It was originally a passive bass that the owner had modified to make it active. I remember he was selling it to buy a Wal. Remembered that bit, but not the brand of the one I bough! The Mick Karn connection. But, after buying it, it just sort of sat there. After a few years it was annoying me that I ad gone out and bought a fretless bass to start again on, not thinking it a good choice. So, having too much stuff, I gave it away on freecycle. I don't really regret it though, as if I decide I want one again, they are available. Now, the Ibanez Artist bass I had when a teenager, THAT I really wish I still had. But, C'est la vie.