Bassassin

The 99p no reserve SB's going to be interesting to watch - I think this sort of auction is the most accurate test of an instrument's true value. I would be very surprised if Aria offered a valuation service - and other than an Ebay average I can't imagine what criteria such a valuation would be based on, since any vintage instrument is only worth what people are willing pay. I suspect his Aria "value" is more likely based on the price of the reissue SB1000. J.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='962833' date='Sep 20 2010, 11:10 PM']This is possibly become the project bass I've been thinking of. Got some Mex Jazz PUs knocking about (maybe require some woodwork?) And want to do a nitro finish as I've never done one and I'm not a fan of the burst. We'll see how she looks when she arrives.[/quote] With luck the Mex pups should drop right in - I recently stuck a set of DiMarzio Model Js in my CSL Jazz, which had the same round-end pups. The holes seemed slightly oversize & they fitted no problem. If you do a refin I'd recommend a solid colour - otherwise you'll have all those lovely lamination lines around the edges and on the contours - that's why they're solid black on the original burst! J.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='962506' date='Sep 20 2010, 06:25 PM']Interesting. Do you know if there was any cross over between Ibanez and Columbus? Reason I ask is because I've recently bought a Columbus bass with a remarkably similar headstock design to this:[/quote] Apart from being Japanese & a Fender copy, there's no connection, I'm afraid. The main similarity in the pic you posted is the big chrome truss rod cover - these were very common on early Japanese Fender copies, probably simply down to the way factories were tooled up to make necks, and the available parts. Most factories sourced hardware from one or two parts manufacturers, hence there's a lot of crossover. Anyway later Ibanez, and other basses built in the Fujigen Gakki factory have small white plastic truss rod covers, and eventually as the instruments got more accurate, they disappeared altogether, as did the Fender-type nuts. If you could put this Ibby & your Columbus side-by side there are a lot of differences - the Ibanez has a 3-piece neck, body construction is butcher-block as opposed to ply, the Columbus has round-end pickups while the Ibanez has more accurate square-ended ones and so on. If you're interested, go through the early catalogues on [url="http://www.ibanez.ru/info/index.php?catalog"]this site[/url] and you'll get some idea of how Fujigen designs changed over the years. You got a pretty good deal on that Columbus - I had one of these a few years back & actually managed to sell it for £170 - odd! These weren't built byFujigen, it's not clear who did build them, but many Columbus instruments are identical to Maya-branded guitars. Maya was owned by a company called Rokkomann, and it's believed they owned their own production facility, so that's a possibility. Columbus is a UK rebrand, thought to have been imported by FCN, who also owned the Kimbara & Satellite brands. The Jazz copy is the Columbus N77 - here's one depicted in a 1974 catalogue: [url="http://personal.inet.fi/surf/lorse/bellcatalogue/26.jpg"]http://personal.inet.fi/surf/lorse/bellcatalogue/26.jpg[/url] The pic here looks like a factory catalogue shot - it's unbranded and there are some detail differences from yours if you look closely. I think it's probably an early version. Jon.

That's a spectacular-looking thing right enough. But 12.4lbs? My back hurts just looking at it! Jon.

[quote name='King Tut' post='961744' date='Sep 20 2010, 12:08 AM']What was the bass the guy in Manics was playing? Looked groovy and didn't sound too bad[/quote] Italia Maranello Jon.

[quote name='BottomE' post='961229' date='Sep 19 2010, 03:07 PM']Thanks - it sounds pretty cool too! For some reason i believe i need a Fender Jazz (i blame the guitarist in my band as he is a Fender nut) but when i go check them out the build quality isn't as good. I end up playing the Cruise Bass and thinking why would i want a Fender? Maybe familarity has made me not appreciate this baby?[/quote] I think it's stunning - a really striking take on a Jazz with masses of character & style. I love Jazzes but on looks alone, you'd have to be mental to consider trading that for a same-as-everyone-else's Fender - don't do it! Jon.

[quote name='Fat Rich' post='960994' date='Sep 19 2010, 10:39 AM']Thought she sang well but something was missing that made the band sound like an average covers band.[/quote] Agree. I did think the rhythm section felt really stiff, almost mechanical. J.

[quote name='Musky' post='960205' date='Sep 18 2010, 10:05 AM']It wasn't a weird co-ax type thing was it? I've come across that on an old early 60's cheapo before, though I can't remember the brand. I think it might have been a Rosetti or something.[/quote] It might well have been, I really don't remember too well! Like I said, if only I'd taken a picture! [quote name='allighatt0r' post='961108' date='Sep 19 2010, 12:40 PM']That Cimar headstock is the shape of the Ibanez Blazers... Are they the same beast?[/quote] Not the same, but closely related. The relationship between Cimar & Ibanez isn't entirely clear, but the Cimar "original" (well, ish) designs were made by Fujigen, like Ibanez, and marketed alongside Ibanez by brand owner Hoshino - sometimes as "Cimar by Ibanez". There was actually some complete crossover - the early Blazer design (with the big single pickup & skinny headstock) was also sold branded as a Cimar Stinger. So this isn't exactly the same as a Blazer but you can expect the same quality components & build. It's later than the guy claims - the serial looks like 1981 to me - which puts it in the same timeframe as the Blazers. J.

[quote name='RhysP' post='960728' date='Sep 18 2010, 08:05 PM']My sister would deck you if she heard you say that - she thinks he's gorgeous.............. [/quote] No accounting for taste! J.

When in doubt, just settle for "Bignose out of Rush". It's not like no-one would know who you meant. Jon.

Green? Careful or you could end up with a Snotglo, like this one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=56466"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=56466[/url] Your bridge pup's one of the little chrome types with two rows of pole pieces, isn't it? These are actually single-coils, despite having all those poles, and as far as I can make out, early ones were a bit weak. Quite odd because I have one of these in my bitsa Faker, it reads 11.5k and is really powerful - actually sounds more like a real Rick than either of my other 2. I think they beefed these up on later versions, same with the mudbucker style units. Anyway I have seen 2388Bs with real Rick pups squeezed into the surrounds so presumably they fit, or can be made to fit. While that's not necessarily the cheapest option, it does suggest Seymour Duncan Rick-type pickups should fit also, and that would be a bit more affordable. You can also get cheap toaster-copy humbuckers: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Humbucker-bridge-pickup-Toaster-Alnico-9-6k-/200518438805"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Humbucker-bridg...k-/200518438805[/url] Obviously intended for guitars - but then so was the original Rick bass toaster. If that would fit your surround it might be worth a pop for £20-odd just to see what it sounds like. Looks quite cool too. J.

If you intend keeping it then of course it doesn't make much difference what you do to it - except that these are rare as Pope-poo and there ain't too many in as good original nick as yours! These were also available in fireglo & black, so it's possible you could find someone who'd do a swap for the same bass in a more appealing colour - although that's a bit of a long shot because there ain't too many of them left. If you do go for a refin, what about something a bit more unusual, maybe like a transparent blueburst: Have to say I think that's gorgeous - in fact it was seeing an early 70s 4001 in a similar finish (being played by Gerry Cunningham of Angel Witch, fact fans!) back in 1982 that was a formative influence on my lifelong Rick-fetish. As well as Geddy Lee & Lemmy, of course. J.

Permission to speak freely. Tino - with all due respect, the reason you haven't sold it yet is because it's been too expensive. The way things are at the moment (recession etc) the best you can expect to get for it is £400 - £450 - even pre-recession, Ibby 2388B/DXes like yours were getting £450 - £500, and not really any more than that. DON'T REFINISH IT!!! You have to understand these are now collectable vintage instruments and [i]anything[/i] you do to it to change it or modify it will devalue it. Refinish it, de-fret it (for pity's sake - NO!!!!!) or do anything irreversible to it, and you'd be lucky to get more than £250 for it. If you want to sell it, leave it stock, be patient and don't be greedy. You'll find a buyer eventually. Jon.

[quote name='arsenic' post='960118' date='Sep 18 2010, 07:02 AM']It looks like it has a strat style jack socket on the front - the same as the green one at the bottom of the page I linked to (which was also from e-bay) The red one at the top has has a pickguard mounted one - From the pictures, I can't tell if either is a standard jack or not.[/quote] Actually, just looked through the Musimas on Cheesyguitars and many of them have Strat-type jacks or conventional-looking sockets. Likely that either later production was changed to make them more compatible or the one I saw had a weird mod. Wish I'd taken some pics now! J.

I was nearly tempted to buy a Musima guitar I found at a Berlin flea market last year - really curious old thing, in very good condition - it was only the fact that it would have to have come back in the luggage hold that stopped me! One of the odd things was a very strange output socket - not designed for a conventional jack or anything I'd seen before. I presume the green bass has already been modded. J.

[quote name='silddx' post='959209' date='Sep 17 2010, 10:45 AM']It's when you do it ONLY for the money and do gigs you don't enjoy that it is sad.[/quote] This is why I don't do covers - I spent about 3 years in a covers band (alongside an originals act) and while there's some satisfaction in performing well and getting a good response from the audience, I remember most of the gigs as depressing, harrowing (we played some of the roughest pubs in Glasgow) or a downright grind. The question has to be "would I do this for nothing?" and as far as that's concerned, no, and the point I'm at with my "proper" band makes me doubt whether I'd want to gig at all, if covers were my only option. J.

Being in the position of watching my band's gig schedule dwindle to the point that we have played twice in the last year, and there being little or no prospect that things are likely to improve particularly without major (and potentially catastrophic) trauma within the band, I feel like I'm viewing this from the wrong end of a telescope. Bands are supposed to gig, doesn't much matter if the experience is good, bad or indifferent, if you're not playing you have no right to call yourselves a band. I can't find words for how much I miss it. It feels like I've lost a limb, or part of me's been cut out. Jon.

[quote name='noelk27' post='958413' date='Sep 16 2010, 03:16 PM']This model was never produced at the Matsumoku factory complex. (He also seems somewhat confused about the history of Matsumoku - the Singer Corporation didn't buy the complex post-Matsumoku, it owned the complex and Matsumoku, and the complex consisted of more than one factory. The unit in which guitars were made was neither destroyed by earthquake or fire, simply closed as it was not economically viable at the time - the time being a world recession.)[/quote] Noel - I'm constantly impressed by the depth & detail of knowledge you have about Matsumoku instruments. Is there a particular source it's drawn from or is it a cumulative result of investigation/research? Hope you don't mind me being a nosy git but as I'm sure you know, accurate information can be hard to track down amid the suppositions & speculation. Jon.

[quote name='Golchen' post='958153' date='Sep 16 2010, 11:17 AM']I don't watch it as much as I'd like to, but I still think that it's a fascinating window through which you can view a multitude of different styles, approaches and degrees of talent. There was a time years ago when I couldn't stand all the 'cr*p' (my perception at the time) bands that went on. But now I find even the woeful performances have points of interest. Boy are my opinions of music mellowing out in my old age![/quote] Have to say I agree with this 100%. It's fair to say they never feature artists representative of my personal taste - but it's worth watching anyway, and there's always something to appreciate. Jon.

[quote name='Johnston' post='957736' date='Sep 15 2010, 09:44 PM']a " Cort" Vintage Fretless Bass Dunno is it vintage or not or indeed a cort? [url="http://belfast.gumtree.com/belfast/21/65562621.html"]gumtree[/url][/quote] It's a Cort - you can just make out the logo in the 3rd pic, and probably quite old by the looks of it. Nice Schaller 3D bridge, and the pups could be Seymour Dunks. Looks like it's been de-fretted, so it's anyone's guess what the neck's like. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='957694' date='Sep 15 2010, 09:04 PM']Tino, I've just worked out the subtitle to this thread. I think the name you're looking for is Bassassin ... [/quote] Maybe, but I'm bugger-all help here. That Fleabay thing looks like a Strat copy with a re-shaped headstock, & if so I'd bet GMI's the initials of whoever re-shaped it. Never heard if it otherwise. Jon.

She isn't at it, I think she just has no idea about pricing - I guess she thinks it's an old "Fender" so it must be worth a fortune. She's unlikely to get any bids at that price. The pics are terrible but it's a bitsa alright. If I remember rightly one of the issues with the BA1 bridge as fitted to this was that it was way too high for Ps & Js, hence the BAII being much lower-profile. It's hard to tell from the pics but it does look like the neck's been shimmed so it stands very proud from the body, presumably to get a playable action. That and the novelty bridge angle makes it look like a proper bodge job. And what's with the two metal doorhandles (I hesitate to call them strap buttons!) sticking out of the bottom of it? Jon.