Bassassin

[quote name='TrevorR' timestamp='1445110646' post='2888922'] But what's the fun in need? [/quote] Tell me (and my 700-odd rubbish basses) about it! J.

Just a heads-up (originally posted by AT in the Ebay topic) that a Revelation Recording has come up on t'Bay for [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-RETRO-REVELATION-TRANSLUCENT-MAHOGANY-RLB-LP-recording-bass-guitar-/252129695305"]£185 BIN[/url]. Jon.

For pity's sake, someone buy this & do a review, for the sake of everyone in [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/250040-revelation-bass-brand-any-experience/"]this thread[/url]! Jon.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1445112171' post='2888934'] Kay with similar body shape. Cort made? [/quote] Certainly is. Wouldn't mind another one of them - preferably without the twisted neck my old one had... J.

Secondhand Squier VMJ (or maybe a £40 Harley Benton Deko Jazz, if one came up), a loud amp that works, and a lead to connect the two. Oh, and a strap. Jon.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1445090595' post='2888740'] I think I once had the 6-string guitar version of that - it was labelled Hondo II. [/quote] There probably were similar Hondos, but I've certainly never seen one of these with that badge. Not impossible, though I suppose, but it's worth remembering most Hondos (even the nice ones) were made by Samick, in Korea. Cort might well have filched the body shape from Kawai - but there were an awful lot of these symmetrical-bodied double cut basses around at the time, so I'm more inclined to think it's a coincidental resemblance. Although Cort did nick the headstock shape for others in the same range from Kasuga: And the Kasugas in question do have a symmetrical-ish double-cut body shape. J.

Well - it's a Kawai-made MIJ bass from the late 70s/early 80s. These turn up with a plethora of different names, usually of no consequence, including Lincoln, Asama, and a bunch of others I can't think of offhand. More interestingly they're variations on a Fernandes Japan-only (I think) model called and FXB-1 "Custom Hand" (pics [url="http://www.fernandes.co.jp/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/1978_vol1.pdf"]here[/url], on p.28). What's interesting about the one for sale here is that the silly name, and the logo, are indeed that of a respected Serbian luthier, and therefore it's actually quite reasonable to assume that Mr Bozo Podunavac licensed his name & logo to be used on this instrument. Whether or not it's reasonable to expect to get £375 for this based on an amusing name, rather than the £120-odd these would normally go for, is entirely another matter. Jon.

At a guess, the headstock one's fake - it wouldn't have both! SO + 6 digits is apparently 1990/91, as he claims. KV, however would be a late 90s Squier serial - the first 2 numbers giving the exact year, but are too indistinct to see in the pic. So - I think it's a Squier with a dodgy headstock transfer. Maybe he didn't notice the heel one or just couldn't be arsed. J.

What's all the fuss? It's just a Bongo, ain't it? /coat

This is its 3rd or 4th re-list since he picked it up last month (for £205), with the price gradually creeping down. It has a bid now, currently at £255 so after fees, he might make £20 off it unless a bidding war ensues. It is pretty cool, but the fact it's so modified does put me off somewhat. I remember seeing original Camacs come up on and off and liking the fact they were Eko BXes on steroids, so IMO it is a bit of a shame someone's chopped this around a bit. Lovely slice of pizza, that. J.

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1444906847' post='2887147'] Nice - do you know anything about it? Age/ factory it was made in etc? [/quote] Daions are typically associated with Yamaki but like most 70s MIJ brands, it's not exactly set in stone. I'd say this is an early (mid 70s or earlier) Daion because it doesn't appear to have traits I'd associate with later basses, such as the odd truss adjuster system: Also the big black oversprays on the body contours suggest it's not solid timber, which I'd expect to see on later Yamakis. It's probably laminated butcher-block with front & back veneers, like many copy-era MIJ basses. I don't know enough about Daion as a brand to say whether they used specific other factories but if I was looking at this without the brand, I'd say it was from Chushin Gakki or one of the Matsumoto manufacturing group companies. But that would be a guess, to be honest. Jon.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1444855839' post='2886808'] I'm sure Bassassin's already commented on this and his verdict is that it is most likely Italian. [/quote] Not "most likely", it undoubtedly is. And it's been significantly modified/customised to be that shape. Anyway, this worthy gentleman has been trying to shift this bass for a good few weeks now - he knows exactly what it is but still chooses to tread the Path Of Bullshit. There's a thread about it, with all the necessary links [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/269968-eko-camac-italian-or-japanese/"]here[/url]. J.

[quote name='Greg.Bassman' timestamp='1444831762' post='2886493'] Yes, 'bass centre' are doing them for £79 and 'Allparts' for £80. They look good at first sight... anybody actually using one through? How do they hold up? [/quote] For pity's sake, if you must buy one of these ugly, agricultural, archaic and arguably pointless chunks of deadweight - [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Omega-Badass-Bass-II-Style-Bridge-for-Fender-Precision-Jazz-2-1-4-Chrome-/381399438481"]at least don't get ripped off[/url]! If this is the dodgy Chinese knockoff it has every appearance of being, at least it might have proper metric-sized allen screws. J.

Saw these on Ebay a few months ago. They're a complete clone of a BA2, right down to the unslotted saddles. What's (un)funny is that if you buy one form the US, it'll cost you £35 or less - buy one in the UK and it's £80 to you, squire. Which is a lot of money for a knockoff. Do the decent thing & buy a Babicz or a Schaller. Jon.

If I can find my little digital scale thingy, I'll weigh mine & let you know. They're not particularly light, though. A couple of things about the description - he describes it as an "original" Talbo. While I don't think he's intentionally dissembling, be aware this is the reissue from 2000-ish, not an 80s original. Mine I found pretty much unuseable live, because it's very microphonic (he does mention this) and I couldn't get a tone anywhere close to what I prefer (cutting, toppy, touch of nasty overdrive) without it squealing like a piggy. It's probably fine for more, erm, polite-sounding players though... This is only the second one I've seen on UK Ebay in about 12 years or so, and while I'm not considering selling mine, I'm curious to see what interest this gets. Jon.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1444676147' post='2885036'] When did Fender EVER have a factory in India...... [/quote] Sunns & Squier IIs were made in India. Unlikely that Fender actually owned a factory there any more than they do in Japan, Korea, Taiwan etc. Regarding MIK Fenders, I'm no expert (usual disclaimer!) but I'm fairly sure in the 80s & 90s only Squiers would've been Korean. The first MIK Fender I remember noticing was the Jazz 24, from about 10 or so years back. Jon.

Chicken head knobs. Now there's a phrase you never tire of saying. Chicken head knobs. Jon.

Just seen this pop up in "Basses for Sale": [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/257487-peavey-cirrus-usa-4-string-through-neck-price-dropped-again-l550/"]http://basschat.co.u...ped-again-l550/[/url] Which is a timely reminder that the Zephyrs were intended to be affordable versions of Peavey's high-end US made Cirrus models. And apart from the electronics, they're pretty damn close I would say (body shape/styles aside) the popularity of the through-neck design undoubtedly starts with Alembic but it's likely not as straightforward as Aria just knocking off the through-neck method for the SB basses. As far as Aria are concerned, I do know their through-neck PE guitars pre-date the SB basses by a year or so - apart from the construction they're Les Paul derived designs, but it would make sense that Aria decided to build a range of basses with a method they were already using on guitars. Over-thinking a bit further, it would seem likely that the high-end PE guitars were directly influenced by, and intended as direct competition with Yamaha's through-neck SG2000, which dates (I think) from 1976. These were designed in collaboration with Carlos Santana, who like the set-neck Yammy SGs but wanted something denser & with more sustain.... So we can blame Alembic and Santana equally for the glut of stripy guitars in the early 80s, and for the Peavey Zephyr. Probably. J.

[quote name='Ebay Fantasist']By legend the Fullerton equipment was shipped to Japan along with several technicians to set up Fender's Japanese operation. As the equipment, and many of the technicians, had been at Fullerton for the 25 years from 1968 to 1993 the instruments produced were nicknamed 'Silver Series' and this was eventually officially adopted for the initial range produced.[/quote] Seriously? This is some parallel universe he inhabits where "Fender's Japanese operation" was set up in 1993? Words fail me etc. Jon.

I think it is. I think it dates from long before the days of replica logos & Ebay - which might help explain a schoolboy error like putting an early 60s logo on a (purportedly) mid 70s bass. Probably the best - or only - example the artist could find to copy. J.

It's not Matsumoku or any other MIJ. Everything about it says luthier-built, probably a one-off. To me there's also something peculiarly British about it - I don't think it's actually very Alembic-y at all! J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1444325079' post='2882300'] But all of them are highly inspired by Aria Pro 2 SB1000s (and similar models). Were the Arias the original of that style of bass? [/quote] I suppose the whole stripy wood through-neck thing started with Alembic's "Hippy Sandwich" designs in the early 70s. Aria probably did the most to popularise the style by making it somewhat more affordable, and obviously pretty much every other Japanese factory followed suit. As far as through-necks in general go, the original Rick 4000 launched in 1957 - not sure if it was the first, but I don't know of any earlier ones. J.

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1444306992' post='2882072'] ....the bridge & saddles are slightly similar to his. [/quote] That's a Schaller bridge - specifically an out-of-production variant of the 3D for use with Gibson-type 2-point mounts. Did JayDee ever use these? The bass makes me think of Wilkes or GB/Goodfellow. Don't think it is, though, probably just the concave end-cut putting me in mind of these. Are there any pics of the headstock pre-mod? Jon.

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1444246026' post='2881597'] I just practice with the bass unplugged. It's free. [/quote] Me too, always have. I was starting to think I was weird... Jon.

And boom - just like that: [url="http://www.steamingaudio.myzen.co.uk/gear_pages/vtb_4bs.shtml"]Mania bass[/url] Knackered after all that mental effort. I need a lie down... J.