Bassassin

That's been a nice pre-'76 Fujigen build,same as Ibanez & Antoria. In that state, £35 is about what it's worth. Jon.

This CMI isn't necessarily a "low quality" bass. Importers tended to sell different levels of build within the same ranges. The only things I can tell from the pic are that it's probably in original condition and it really needs a clean. Value-wise, if I was selling I'd hope for £150+, buying I'd want to pay under a ton. J.

Still lots of grey areas & misinformation out there about copy-era MIJ stuff. BigRedX is on the money about CMI, a sub-brand of Marshall amps who sourced from various suppliers- including UK - built Ned Callan. However I don't think this bass is Fujigen, Matsumoku or Moridaira. Most of the CMIs I've seen have been identical to low-end Mayas, which many MIJ experts now believe to have originated from Chushin Gakki. Regarding upgrading it - that's going to depend on the original pickup routing, which may well be for the square 8-pole Maxons or little chrome Tele-style units which were both common on these basses. Jon.

I did message the guy with what I know about these, to his credit he's published my message. Hasn't re-worded the actual listing or its title, though... J.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1442998177' post='2871205'] OK I'll explain despite the fact that IMO this is just another inverse snobbery trolling thread. [/quote] Why do you think that? Genuinely interested. J.

Silly, silly bargain. Like Eric says,these can be variable but good ones are very good. Early 80s, made in Korea by Cort, some lovely details like the triple dot brass inlays. You often see these being fobbed off on Ebay as Matsumoku builds, priced £200+. Someone needs to buy this, if only to stop that happening! J.

About 10 years or so back, I was buying & selling a lot of 70s & 80s MIJ basses & guitars, basically picking them up cheap, cleaning/repairing/setting up, and then selling them on. I came across a scruffy CSL-branded Jazz copy in a local pawn shop, which I took home for £60 - fully intending to tidy it up & flip it, as was my wont at the time. Still got it now, just can't get over how well it plays. I have a good few basses, one or two of which cost more than £60 - but if I could only keep one, it'd be the CSL. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:12515] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:66973] Jon.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1442875821' post='2870254'] He's obviously typed his serial number in, and it's given him the Japanese E-Series information. Seen a few MIK basses up for silly money recently. [/quote] Apropos of not a great deal, I currently have an E-serial MIJ Squier Strat (Fujigen, 84-87) and an E-serial MIK Fenix "Strat" (Young-Chang, 1989). That Young Chang geezer knew his stuff - the Fenix p!sses all over the Squier. And looks cooler. J.

There was a thread about this when it was first listed a few months back. Despite the similarities to many through-neck MIJ basses, these were Italian, variations on Eko's BX basses built for Camac, which appears to have been a German label: [url="http://www.fetishguitars.com/eko/eko-the-final-years/eko-camac/"]http://www.fetishgui...ears/eko-camac/[/url] This particular bass appears to have had its body shape modified at some point, I'm fairly confident it was the standard Eko BX shape when it was made. The seller seems to assume it's an MIJ because of the through-neck construction, which he presumably thinks was invented by & exclusive to Matsumoku. Someone should show him an Alembic. Jon.

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1442836771' post='2869823'] Yes, it can go seriously wrong.... You might actually like it! Then you won't be able to sell and THEN where would you be?!! [/quote] Entirely unsurprised! J.

Easy £150 whatever the cosmetic condition. Must not buy-to-flip... J.

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1442824286' post='2869643'] Wasn't it two individuals originally? [/quote] Three, according to Wikipedia: [quote]The company was founded in 1956 by three brothers, Jai-Young Kim, Jai-Chang Kim and Jai-Sup Kim.[/quote] Originally making pianos for Yamaha, but over the years diversifying into various corners of instrument manufacture. However I'm sure the Ebay myth of Young Chang the master luthier (protegee of his dad, Old Chang) will continue to grow legs. Did you know those old Avons & Shaftesburys were actually hand-made in a shed in Clapham, by a prodigiously talented 13-year old called Rosie Morris? True that. J.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1442780426' post='2869469'] And also for a Hohner Rockwood: It could actually be what it says it is. [/quote] I never noticed it says "Rockwood" in the title! ffs. J.

I'm always faintly bemused by the way Ebay numpties invariably claim that the Korean Young-Chang factory is an individual. Why? Jon.

[quote name='colgraff' timestamp='1442644719' post='2868376'] The fact that the bass is filthy and the picture was taken outside makes me wonder what the inside of the house is like.... [/quote] Photo taken within 10 minutes of handing over a fiver for it at the car boot. It's never been "home", wherever that is! J.

I have, and they were. Interesting, I thought "Rockoon" was a Japan-market exclusive brand. Seeing a "Schaller Rockoon" listed in Germany sheds a bit of light on the origin of an obvious MIJ Rick copy I came across, branded as Schaller. Presumably it's likely to be a Kawai. A Rockoonbacker, perhaps. J.

The LP Recording copy is set neck (according to [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Revelation-Dark-Mahogany-RLB-LP-Recording-Electric-Bass-Guitar-RRP-399-00-/371278162760"]this Ebay listing[/url]) so the EB probably is too, although I can't find any pics to confirm. J.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1442612767' post='2868297'] Is the headstock bound or has someone gone to town with acrylic paints? I wouldn't be surprised at the latter. [/quote] You might be right - board does look bound though. Other differences aside, the headstock shape's a dead ringer for a Pervy Furry: J.

The more I look at it, the more I think the neck & body aren't related. Black hardware on the neck but not the body is a bit odd, as is the black headstock. Wonder if it's a Peavey Fury neck or something? Someone needs to drop £25 on it so these important questions can be resolved! J.

Interesting bound neck & headstock. Wonder what it is? I'd punt £25 on it on the very vague offchance that the pickups are DiMarzio Model Js. Most of the very cheap basses I've had have been absolutely filthy - give this a quick clean and setup and you could probably flip it for a £50 profit. Jon.

That's a steal for 90 quid, even with that novelty replacement scratchplate. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1442423227' post='2866882'] Somehow that looks a bit Cimarish to me. [/quote] Agreed. Looks like the "Cimar By Ibanez" branded stuff ([url="http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-22629-Cimar-by-Ibanez-CX140"]this sort of thing[/url]) that was around in the early 80s. I doubt it's MIJ. J.

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1442404465' post='2866666'] It must be a bugger to play in tune too, since the zero fret is just a marker now and the string length starts at the nut behind that. All the fret lines must be slightly sharp! [/quote] Didn't even notice that. What a spectacularly stupid thing to do! J.

I think it's an old custom build created from a home-made body, and neck & components salvaged from an early 70s MIJ EB copy, like this: The finish has been removed from the neck (exposing the giveaway strip-ply construction) and the tailpiece looks like it's been made from a Gibson-type 3-point bridge base with the bolt loops cut off! The "Selmer Made In Belgium" sticker is - just a sticker. It ain't no Selmer-Maccaferri! You can see where the original pin-badge (which probably said "Jedson") was fitted. It is kinda cool for an old home-build - but £650???? Jon.

Two-fiddy. J.