Bassassin

Hands up who wishes they'd bought a Rail & a Quantum (and a Super Headless & a Washburn Bantam & a Washburn Force 42 & an Aria Pro ICB Interceptor & a Riverhead Unicorn & an Ibanez Axstar AXB...) before JapCrap got popular, & people couldn't give the damn things away? Yeah, me too... J.

[quote name='TheRev' post='1138927' date='Feb 23 2011, 05:54 PM']An early Hohner Arbour series bass? I can remember a Hohner bass with an identical bridge hanging in a local music shop circa 1989.[/quote] Possibly - but I think the Arbors tend to say so - stuff like cast neckplates & headstock logos with the Arbor brand. TBH the ones I've seen weren't that great. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1138490' date='Feb 23 2011, 01:09 PM']Wow! I've seen some MIJ Fender Strats go for that little, but never a P Bass. And, the P Bass has a Hiscox case too! I don't want to sound cynical, but I did wonder briefly if it was a relabelled Squier. But, if it is a MIJ Squier, surely it would still be a bargain?[/quote] If it was & it was a 90s MIJ Squier, that'd probably be a bit steep - these tend to go for around £200. This has been modded a bit (although the Schaller 3D's a great bridge), dunno if that would affect the value negatively if it was a Squier. If it was any of the 80s Squier serials it would be a good price, I'd say. J.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1138459' date='Feb 23 2011, 12:42 PM']Tadaah! Any thoughts on the control plate Jon? I quite like it. [/quote] I think this is just what Hohner plates were like, at one point. Pretty sure I remember seeing a more tacky-looking Hohner Rockwood J in Crack Converters a while back, fairly certain it was the same basic design as this - same slightly weird control plate & scratchplate layout. It definitely didn't have the same pups, bridge or inlays, or it might've got a bit more attention from me! J.

Looks way too "budget" to be a Fernandes - they have done some nice shortscales but this isn't ringing any bells for me. However you'll find a pretty comprehensive archive of Fernandes catalogues between 1973 & 2009 [url="http://www.fernandes.co.jp/others/catalog/list.html"]here[/url] - might be worth a look (if you've got a spare afternoon!) just to make sure. Jon.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1138347' date='Feb 23 2011, 11:26 AM']Looks like a job for Capt. Japcrap. [/quote] And in a flash of wild speculation - he appears! It's an oldie - early 80s Korean, I think. Probably Cort, who made the Hohner Pros a few years later. The round-end J pups & bogseat saddle bridges appear on a good few 80s Koreans (including the aforementioned Hondos & Encores), copied from Japanese designs common in the 70s. Nice abalone inlays by the looks of it - you see these on Hohner Ps from the same era. Jon.

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='1138397' date='Feb 23 2011, 11:53 AM']If anyone is still trying to get hold of a Ryder bass, there is a Red one with a maple fretboard sat in the window of the Thetford shop.[/quote] Like the sound of that - glad it's nowhere near me! Red/maple with a black pearl plate would be classy. For skip trash. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1138107' date='Feb 23 2011, 07:40 AM']I wonder if the new seller (top link) has been influenced (misguided) by the previous seller (bottom link).[/quote] Definitely - that's the Ebay Effect for you. You can also see the effect of [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTONE-THUNDER-1A-BASS-ASH-BLACK-flight-case-/270704807579"]this deluded twonk & his hilariously overpriced Westone Thunder 1[/url] in the various £200+ Westy Thunders that have suddenly appeared since he listed it. The fact that someone was evidently prepared to pay over £400 for what's previously always been a £150ish bass ain't going to help reality/sanity reassert itself, either. J.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-Precision-Bass-Guitar-HARD-CASE-Lawsuit-Japan-/260742095402"]Very tidy-looking Matsumoku Precision, 1978.[/url] Solid timber body, think it's a 1-piece neck, pup is very probably a DiMarzio Model P. No brand on the head but there's a "ghost" where it's been removed - can't work out what it was but never mind - if I was selling this I'd want more than £150 if it plays as good as it looks. Could do with a little bit of elbow-grease (and the G tuner screw tightening!) and a couple of "proper" knobs but this looks like a lot of P for £150 to me. J.

[quote name='EssentialTension' post='1137199' date='Feb 22 2011, 03:33 PM']He's added an extra pic now after starting a clean up job.[/quote] Yep - shows you the quality & like-new results you can get by attacking it with a Brillo pad! Jon.

[quote name='Skol303' post='1137359' date='Feb 22 2011, 05:33 PM']^ This gets a +1 from me. And let's face it, maybe Peter Hook is testament to the fact that there's more to making it in the 'music biz' than having technical chops.[/quote] And a cursory glance at most of the Music Biz for the last 40 years will show that technical chops are usually the last thing you need. I like Hooky - one of the few bassists who, whether by accident or design, has a unique style & sound which has defined most of the music he's been involved with. Unlike any number of condescending & bitter Bedroom Jacos. Jon.

To answer the question (like I didn't in my previous post), like most people I would need to be paid for playing covers, with certain occasional exceptions, like charity gigs etc. I play original material, and have done for most of the time I've been playing. Most of that material has been my own work, which I'm immensely proud of (misplaced or otherwise) and love playing & putting in front of an audience. I'm happy to do that for nothing and will continue to do so as long as I'm able. Covers are a different matter, as would be other people's original material. I [i]might[/i] gig for nothing with an originals band where I wasn't involved in composition, but I would have to absolutely love the material & the band - I can think of a couple of bands I'd do this with but there really ain't been that many. Covers is work, I played covers for a few years and it was a broadly enjoyable work but not something I'd ever do for the love of it. It would be nice to think that original music, unvalidated by media, business & familiarity, could be worth anybody's time - or even money - but the prevailing mindset is that it's inevitably sh!t until someone (who presumably knows better than you do) tells you different. And unless they do, you can barely give it away. J.

[quote name='clauster' post='1136267' date='Feb 21 2011, 09:04 PM']I've got a friend who is a backing singer in a covers band. I was asking if they got well paid for gigs. The answer: I don't know, the sax/singer keeps all the money: it's his band and he is a professional [/quote] Wow. This is both incredible & outrageous at the same time. Professional what - con artist? So is this backing singer just spectacularly naive & biddable, or has this "professional" somehow hoodwinked an entire band into supporting his career for f@ck-all? Jon.

[quote name='tino' post='1135835' date='Feb 21 2011, 05:24 PM']And knowing what a theiving B'Stard I am I got £475 for one of these on Gumtree London...[/quote] Result. People pay exactly as much as they're willing to pay. J.

These are sort of interesting - seems they were made in both Italy & Japan, no idea about the Jap ones but the Italians are Eko. If it's cheap, definitely get it for mucking around on, tidying up & flogging. These presumably are the earliest Rickenfakers, seem to be mid-60s onwards. Found this on RickResource, of all places: [attachment=72881:Shaftesb...ue_60s_1.jpg] [attachment=72882:Shaftesb...ue_60s_2.jpg] [attachment=72883:Shaftesb...ue_60s_3.jpg] J.

That B14 bridge will almost certainly have a grub screw on the side (out of shot) to lock the saddles in place once intonation's set - and you're right, you do move the saddles by hand. I've got a Hohner B2A headless & the saddle arrangement is identical on that, to be honest it can be something of a pain in the arse. Looks like all of the bridges on that page use a similar principle of not having intonation adjuster screws. Actually though, the B10 technically has string spacing adjustment - the black saddle inserts should allow a small amount of lateral movement. Might be worth keeping your eyes open for a Schaller 3D - these have roller saddles with spacing adjustment which works the same as the original bridge on your bass. Superb bridges, but curiously unpopular, meaning used ones can go for as little as £20. J.

[quote name='nick' post='1134699' date='Feb 20 2011, 07:38 PM']Here's another. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hutchins-Twin-Neck-6-String-and-Bass-Electric-Guitar-/110651666684?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c35a70fc"]Strange looking Hutchins 4 + 6 string doubleneck[/url]. Quite low BIN[/quote] Holy (neck) Diver! Very cheap for such a curiosity, though. Jon.

Nah - think I'll give up on this one, it's no place for logic & rational thinking. Too much like banging your head against a brick [s]troll[/s] wall. J.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1134981' date='Feb 21 2011, 12:18 AM']what contradiction..? I never said the equation was that simple. Where did I say all expensive basses are good? That wouldn't be an assumption of yours, would it?[/quote] In what way is it an assumption? I said this: [quote]So you are still taking the "if it's cheap it has to be sh!t" line. Does it therefore follow that "if it's expensive it will be good, no question"?[/quote] It's plainly a question. If you'd expand a little on your answers & your reasons for holding your opinions, this discussion might actually become a bit more stimulating & productive than the monosyllabic contradiction it's largely been reduced to. So tell me - if you do hold the opinion that it's inevitable a cheap bass must be rubbish, why does it not follow that a dear one will be good? Why is that somehow less black & white? J.

Any danger you'd be prepared to expand on what appears to be a massive self-contradiction? Oh - let me guess... No? J.

[quote name='skej21' post='1134613' date='Feb 20 2011, 06:27 PM']Are you sure you want to take a risk on a bass that, in truth, you'll probably not have in 6 months because it'll be in a skip somewhere? [/quote] Investment potential! I've got a big loft, nice & damp. I can bung it up there for 10 years and when it comes out, it 'll be nicely mildewed, warped & unplayable (so I won't need to get my sander & blowtorch out), then I can Ebay it for loads of dosh. All it'll cost me is a couple of bob for a nice Fender transfer. And a Custom Shop one for round the back, obviously. Pays to think ahead. J.

I'll give you £70. J.

[quote name='JTUK' post='1134456' date='Feb 20 2011, 04:17 PM']but this bass is priced at a starter market with due compromises built in.[/quote] So you are still taking the "if it's cheap it has to be sh!t" line. Does it therefore follow that "if it's expensive it will be good, no question"? J.