Bassassin

Some low-grade GAS is a permanent state & I imagine I'll be randomly buying & selling basses I find curious, attractive and otherwise interesting until Trumpageddon comes. However, I thought I was beyond all that full-on, real deal, full-blown, life-dependent craving. I had a vague idea that one day I'd like to get a couple of things I'd always aspired to, but always seemed out of reach. Those are a guitar - a Yamaha SG2000, or similar neck-through 1980s Yam SG, and an Aria Pro II SB-R80. The Yams are available but typically 4-figure expensive, and realistically remain out of reach. The SB-Rs are pretty scarce, often modded or otherwise unoriginal and usually look their age and then some. Prices are on an upward trend & I'd kind of thought that a good, original one would be something I couldn't realistically afford. [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/300933-gorgeous-aria-pro-ii-in-bass-direct/"]And then this happened.[/url] Looks like I missed that by an hour or so. And now I understand that I am not free of it. Never will be. GAS. GAS never changes...

I'd probably pay £70 for a reasonable one just out of curiosity & to get a look at one. Doubt I'd hang on to it long though!

[quote name='Defo' timestamp='1487850760' post='3243488'] 'Twas me, will post photos etc. When she arrives - bucket list bass [/quote] Glad it was someone on here and not some Ebay scalper wanting to make a quick £200. On a personal level I'm surprising myself about how gutted I am to have missed this - if you decide it's not for you, do give me a shout.

New Ebayer, only joined on Feb 21st. Seems he just sold a bunch of items - including this bass - as BINs: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/wilrobert_8/m.html?item=152445733908&LH_Complete=1&LH_Sold=1&rt=nc&_trksid=p2046732.m1684"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=p2046732.m1684[/url]

[quote name='MoJo' timestamp='1487770647' post='3242635'] I believe the GSR180 doesn't have a colour matched headstock [/quote] It doesn't - and it wouldn't have the SDGR logo either. Or black hardware.

On hold. Bugger. My dream Aria SB-R right there, and a surprisingly good price too. Would very probably have pulled the trigger on that.

Mann was a Canadian import brand known for their range of MIJ copies in the 70s. They were never sold in the UK. Which is cool because this is neither a Mann nor is it Japanese - it's an Italian-made Melody from the same era. A bit more interesting than the MIJ Grabber copies and a bit less common - mostly because they all seem to fall to bits, like this one is doing. Interesting to see but he's having a laugh starting this at £200 with its comedy collapsing neck.

Blimey. Mine (complete but needing rewiring & a good clean) was about £100. And very well advertised...

Peart's an interesting enigma in many ways and having read a few of his books (which can be quite hard-going, he's not a naturally gifted narrator) there are elements of him I strongly identify with. Sad though that he comes across as generally pretty unlikeable and not someone I'd ever want to meet. Remarkable man though.

The Gotoh tuners used on these (and a million other MIJs in the 70s/early 80s) get a bad rap & I've never been sure why. I've never found them to be unstable, inaccurate or difficult to use - and they were good enough for Shergold!

Daion Performer, 1980-ish, for those who can read. Like this: [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/daionfull_zpsklblhmzz.jpg.html"][/url] Only sunburst, and stripped & hipstered to within an inch of what's left of its life. Bloody shame, these are awesome quality & up there with Tokais, Grecos & Fernandes of the same era. But much, much rarer.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1487158355' post='3237579'] Just checked - they were £200 a few years ago, now £325. [url="http://www.brandoniguitars.co.uk/complete.asp"]http://www.brandonig...uk/complete.asp[/url] [/quote] Cheers for the link, those are for the built-up basses - he does have the body/necks listed too but they're POA. Might drop him an email.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1487160649' post='3237612'] Sorry to be displaying my ignorance, but isn't it basically just another P/J bass? Obviously the body-styling is intended to make you think 'Alembic' but won't it sound just like an Encore or a Westfield? [/quote] You could make the same argument about any bass with P/J pups. I don't doubt there's a multi-£1000 Fender Custom Shop with P/Js - why have that when you could have a Westfield? I suppose it'd be a Westfield with DiMarzios & Schaller hardware in the case of this, though. FWIW I never really saw the Alembic comparison, it's hardly a copy IMO.

Not sure why I've never seen (or contributed to) this thread myself - will post a few of my Mats in a day or two. However - the role that this community has saddled me with means I must occasonally drag you all off to Pedants' Corner for a good talking to. First thing - it's now accepted that Washburn was never built by Matsumoku - initial models were from Yamaki and production later moved to Chushin Gakki. Doesn't really matter because no-one's posted one, but pedantry's pedantry, right? Secondly (and if I don't point this out I risk being formally drummed out of the International JapCrap Obsessives' Guild): unless your instrument is an Ibanez-branded Gibson copy, manufactured before 1976 and featuring an "open book" headstock profile, it is not, and never will be, a "lawsuit" instrument. And to muddy the waters even further, even that's not technically right because no lawsuit ever took place. "Lawsuit Era" will do at a pinch, but "Copy Era" is the proper terminology, covering. as it does, the entire range of 70s MIJ and MIK knockoffs. In my defence I've had less than four hours sleep, have a stinking cold and have spent the last fortnight "sleeping" on two uncomfortable single mattresses piled on top of each other, under a couple of scabby dog blankets. And they call this a holiday. Trust me, you'd be feeling petty & bloodyminded too, if it was you.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1486999045' post='3236139'] Not sure if this has been on a thread before - [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brian-Eastwood-Bender-Collision-bass-guitar-/272519379512?hash=item3f736bba38:g:17AAAOSwjDZYd2T3"]http://www.ebay.co.u...7AAAOSwjDZYd2T3[/url] It's truly horrible! I feel sick looking at it! [/quote] It'd be cheaper to just go on stage wearing a t-shirt saying "Woo! I'm really mad and wacky, me!". Would give precisely the same message.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1487119753' post='3237334'] I saw it, thought it was quite nice but it's got too few strings for me. Sniping tools, they're the way forward. As long as none of you beat me in an auction using them, of course. [/quote] Would've been no help to me I'm afraid - set my upper limit but clearly someone wanted it more than I did. Wonder if Brandonis still have the body/necks for these?

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1487114423' post='3237310'] ...with the help of the amazing [b]Bassassin[/b]... [/quote]

My first decent bass was a 1981 Washburn B20 Stage series, which I sold after 3 or 4 years to buy an Aria Pro RSB Deluxe. Those Washburns - built to an incredibly high standard by Yamaki, a fairly short-lived high-end Japanese manufacturer - are like the proveribial rocking horse droppings these days and I do wish I still had it. The Aria was a great bass and far more practical & versatile, but as far as build and craftsmanship's concerned, the Washboard was in a completely different league. More recently, I kinda wish I'd kept a lovely SQ serial Precision I managed to pick up for a steal. Never been a P user but this one was something special, sounded & played sublime and the wood and quality of finish were just mouth-watering. At the time, renovating & selling instruments was a necessary supplement to my income so I had no real choice - but still...

That's much more like it - classy Faker, that one.

It's worse than that - they're ply (even the necks) and ply is useless as firewood. They can't even do that right.

Just got outbid on this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232232203311?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ss"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232232203311?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ss[/url] It's an Eko built variation on their early 80s BX7 neckthrough, no headstock decal but it's basically the same as the versions that turn up under the French Camac brand. Think it's likely this one's a Brandoni version, not seen a Camac with Schaller components & what looks like a DiMarzio Model P before. I've had GAS for one of these for years and am a bit gutted to have missed it. Anyone on here grab it?

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1487021719' post='3236364'] Was this before the advent of the Trade Descriptions Act (1968)? [/quote] Very probably. It was falling-to-bits ancient in 1985!

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1486818189' post='3234754'] As does referring to Del boy's van as such. It was a Regal III, ffs... [/quote] SuperVan III, Shirley? A drummer mate (who only had a bike license) had one in the 80s, and that's what his said on the back. Bloody terrifying, it was.

Ebay made it plain probably 8 or 9 years ago that they wanted their business model to become a portal site for retailers, and since then it's a become more and more expensive, risky and hostile place for the private sellers the business was built upon. Which was entirely intentional. As a result, I think most sellers have migrated to ScumTree or FB groups - which is fair enough, but I do miss getting some ridiculous bargains from badly-listed auctions - plus making some eye-watering killings by getting a bidding war going over [s]some piece of tat I blagged for a tenner at the car boot[/s] an immaculate, expertly-restored vintage rarity it broke my heart to part with.

I'm going to guess it's Nanyo Bass Collection related...