Bassassin

"Heavy relic" = "dragged it out of the river". Jon.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1423340864' post='2683765'] I would be amazed if that trade gets completed, even with the super distortion pickups, hugely overpriced sale.....I still have my one (my first guitar) which I wouldn't part with for love nor money, but still £510 for a Columbus if the trade goes through the seller can count it as a small lottery win! [/quote] I doubt the pickups are DiMarzios. This model came with open coil pups as standard, and there were plenty of MIJ-made pickups with cream bobbins & hex pole pieces, just like these. Quite likely this is what it left the factory with. J. J.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423357357' post='2683969'] Just like those Ritter ones. [/quote] Quite right. Overpriced tat! J.

Shame it's a cheap & nasty plywood body. Definitely a good way of saving weight - I've idly wondeed about doing something similar to one or two of my boat anchors. Jon.

Not really unique, but pretty uncommon. This is a Japanese Kawai/Teisco-built bass, made in the mid/late 60s. Very few of these are likely to have survived, this does look in nice original condition. Jon.

'Kay then - next line it is. Sorry - not my rules... J.

[quote name='cameltoe' timestamp='1423324166' post='2683563'] So you don't think the part where they describe it as a hand-finished, custom instrument by a family owned guitar building company is misleading? Given it's come straight off a production line in China and is in no way 'custom'? I wouldn't call it misleading as much as I would outright b***s***! [/quote] In what way? I don't know where it was manufactured, who owns that manufacturer & what their finishing process was - do you? If it's the use of the word "custom" you object to, then there are going to be a lot of targets for your ire beyond this one - including an entire Dutch brand from the 70s! And that would definitely beg the question - in what way is Squier's Vintage Modified range "modified"? What from? And by whom??? I demand we are told! J.

[quote name='chaypup' timestamp='1423313983' post='2683388'] Do I need the whole of the next line or just the song/artist? [/quote] Dunno - are there actual rules to this? I'm happy with artist/song. J.

£100 is a pretty fair price (broadly speaking) for a 70s MIJ bass. I say broadly speaking because like pretty much all the MIJ brands, the Maya badge went on stuff from plywood beginner basses right up to replica-level. If it plays as nice as you say then it's probably not a low-end example, could you get a pic or two by any chance? Jon.

Plenty of hyperbole but I wouldn't call it misleading in any way. Speaking as someone prone to verbose, overly-detailed and (some might say) florid sales descriptions, I'm inclined to think it's a better selling technique than simply saying: "Generic P bass copy. Black". And no - it's not mine... Jon.

So, assuming I'm right.... "You're one microscopic cog In his catastrophic plan..." J.

Oh. "...than the pride that divides, When a colourful rag is unfurled". That'll be Rush, Territories, from Power Windows. Jon.

"Fenda". J.

Pig-ugly IMO, but interesting - the original US-made Kay "Kelvinators" are very collectable and the reissues are pretty pricey too. Don't suppose those nice Cort-built neck-through Kays from the early 80s will ever command similar prices... Jon.

I remember having mild GAS for these 7 or 8 years ago, never found an adequately cheap one though. Interesting, I never noticed these had a zero-fret before. Jon.

Honestly, I dunno what's wrong with some people, can't they read? As if "Squire" wasn't bad enough... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Squizz-Fender-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-/201255396129"]At least one seller got it right![/url] Jon.

Got front row for Edinburgh - I'm quite pleased about that! Jon.

If you think that's weird.... [url="http://cheesyguitars.com/"]http://cheesyguitars.com/[/url] Jon.

Fantastic basses, those. Jon.

MIJ stuff isn't selling anything like as well these days as it was 5 or 6 years ago - and even back then you'd be lucky to get more than about £120 for the best condition, best photographed & best-advertised Columbus LP copy in the world. There's something decidedly fishy about this & I'd bet my own actual money (well, a very small quantity of it) that no-one's gonna pony up £500+ for this thing. First of all though Columbus LPs came in several different quality levels, and this is the top one, identifiable by the big split-diamond on the pointy end & pearloid LP Standard-type inlays. These (in stock nick) had proper humbuckers, solid timber bodies, & gold hardware with sealed tuners. Under that you got the much more common black LP Custom copy - square silver (not pearl) inlays, fake humbuckers, ply hollowtop body, chrome bits. Easily ID'd by the small split diamond on the head, these guitars turn up badged Columbus, Avon, Saxon, JHS, Sumbro, CMI, and also with Japanese brands like Maya. And sorry Uberkate - if your Saxon fits this description, it ain't a Matsumoku. Bottom of the Columbus heap was pretty much the same spec as the above, with a tobacco burst ply top & brown-painted MDF body. Anyway - if anyone fancies a top-end Columbus & wants to have a go at punting it on for £500, knock yourselves out! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970s-Columbus-Les-Paul-Copy-Made-in-Japan-/311281942649"]http://www.ebay.co.u...n-/311281942649[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Columbus-Les-Paul-Guitar-/321653346806"]http://www.ebay.co.u...r-/321653346806[/url] Jon.

I'm not convinced the neck & the body are in any way related. Jon.

And verily thou shalt wince and recoil mightily from such mangled, miserable and apalling grammar as displayed in this otherwise amusing essay, and thou shalt sigh, and wearily attribute the murder of thy beloved Mother Tongue to "them bleedin' Septics". Whether or not it was. Jon.

[quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1423077914' post='2680476'] You accept that musicians are pro simply for taking money for their services...and I agree that that is one definition, just not the most significant, IMO... I'd put more significance in excelling at the craft... [/quote] The word you're searching for is "virtuoso". I am not a virtuoso but for a couple of years or so in the mid/late 90s my primary source of income was the two bands I played in, & very busy weekends of gigging. I would have described myself as "semi-pro" at the time. Jon.