Bassassin

[quote name='steviedee' post='772127' date='Mar 11 2010, 09:22 PM']Cheers Jon that's great thanks for the info mate, really useful to know a bit more about the bass. I had it on quite good authority before I went to see the bass that it was a great copy. I have to admit I know nothing about them and got most of the info from this thread and your posts, so cheers! I'm pretty sure it's a real Ric TRC, do people buy them? I'd really like to get my hands on an Ibanez TRC. As for playing in Edinburgh are you talking about Abel Ganz we don't do that many gigs but would love to play Edinburgh, our next gig is in Vilnius at the Baltic prog rock festival, though some of the lads are doing an acoustic set at the Ferry. My rockabilly band The Chihuahuas are meant to be playing some new trad/roots music venue in Edinburgh though at some point though.[/quote] Rick TRCs - if they are genuine - are very sought after, because Rickenbacker won't sell them. Presumably to prevent naughty people from sticking them on copies! So yes - these bits of plastic can sell for £100 or more. The best way to find out if it's original would be to take some good, clear pics of it & ask the very knowledgeable experts who frequent [url="http://www.rickresource.com"]http://www.rickresource.com[/url] forums - they'll probably even be able to tell you what era it's from. Just don't tell them it was on a Faker! You'd be very lucky to find an original Ibanez cover to replace it but I can knock up a facsimile made from 4mm acrylic - I've made several for my own basses & a guitar: [attachment=44662:4trc.jpg] The two with logos simply have a printed card insert stuck behind them - primitive but functional since I currently haven't found a workable (and cheap) way of applying an image to the back of the trc itself. These also have rounded & polished edges, just cos I like it... The other two have straight-cut frosted edges and are simply painted a solid colour on the back. As far as I know the original Ibby item would have been 2 or 3-ply scratchplate plastic, with the logo engraved through the top layer. I can't (yet!) do that but it would be easy enough to make a card insert with the correct Ibanez logo, under a clear trc. I've also go some mirrored acrylic that I've not yet tried working with - should be good for Pickguardian-type pickup rings... Anyway - gigs, I checked out the Baltic prog fest site & it seems they're still accepting demos. Wonder if they have room for two Scottish bands? J.

Surprised that Vantage hasn't shifted with a £135 BIN... J.

[quote name='steviedee' post='771317' date='Mar 11 2010, 10:11 AM']Just some more info about my newly purchased Rickenfaker. You might not be able to see the details from the pics, I'll post some more: It's a neck through bass and has checkerboard binding with a gap at the bridge, full length sparkly inlays, there are holes where a thumbrest used to be, and stereo outs marked 'stereosound' and 'standard'. The bloke I bought it from got it ten years ago and that owner had swapped the badge from ibanez to a real ric badge, I think they both worked in music shops at the time so getting ric spares was a possibility. It's a good quality instrument and I believe seller certainly thinks its an ibby and wasn't try to pass it off as something it wasn't. Obviously I'd like it to be an ibanez cos they seem to be the most expensive . I'm sure I'll totally love it and wont give a monkeys what make it is! Any info appreciated though, Jon appears to have the knowledge! Stevie here is the original thread [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=80430&st=0&gopid=771304&#entry771304"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry771304[/url][/quote] Definitely an Ibby from that description Stevie - checked binding & full-width sparklies only appear on Ibanez & Greco (both made by Fujigen), and Grecos tend to stay in Japan. Interesting that it's got "proper" Rick type pickups though, I've only ever seen Ibbys with the full width inlays and big Gibson-style mudbuckers, like this thing on Ebay now: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Custom-Made-Bass-Guitar-RARE-Looks-1950-60s_W0QQitemZ350325319182"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Custom-Made-Bass-Gui...emZ350325319182[/url] Later Ibby Fakers (to give it it's proper name, it's an Ibanez 2388B/DX) had accurate pickups but they also did away with the FW sparklies at the same time. Pretty cool if this is some sort of hybrid/transitional with the best of both worlds. If that's a real Rick TRC then you'd probably be able to get a good proportion of your money back by flogging it on. And you could probably find some twat to make you an Ibanez-logo replacement for a couple of quid... BTW Stevie, do you guys ever play through in Edinburgh? Jon.

[quote name='PaulWarning' post='771814' date='Mar 11 2010, 04:47 PM']I've got an 1981 professional II that I'm fond of, made in Japan, with Dimarzio's, made at the same factory as Tokai's I believe, but I may be wrong, again[/quote] More likely Matsumoku but Tokai has been "fingered", although no-one seems to know what models were made where. We only know about Mat because some conveniently say so on the neck plate. TBH by the time Hondo were getting into the 80s, quality of the better-end models was good wherever they were from because Korean factories were chucking out some quality stuff by then. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='771789' date='Mar 11 2010, 04:34 PM']It's gone up quite a bit now, but another one has been listed. And there's someone selling a Westone Rail over in the basses for sale forum. I was thinking very, very, seriously about this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Thunder-1A-bass-guitar_W0QQitemZ180479402531QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2a05692223"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Thunder-1A-b...=item2a05692223[/url] I'd already checked where the seller's house was in relation to the 127 bus stop. But I won't be bidding now I have my Rickenfaker. Though, I'm a bit worried about the bid I still have outstanding on another Westone. It is quite low though, so I don't think I have anything to worry about. I.e. if I win I can probably sell it on for a profit [/quote] If push comes to shove I'll give you £50 over what you paid for the Cimar. Or maybe £40... J.

[quote name='Stylon Pilson' post='771860' date='Mar 11 2010, 05:26 PM']Oh man, I'd love that bass. I'd replace the bridge with a badass, replace the tuners with lightweight ones. Maybe defret it. I'd definitely give it a purple sparkle finish and a mirror pickguard. Then, and only then, would it be awesome. S.P.[/quote] I can be a bit anal about non-reversible mods & keeping things original, but I'm not convinced sitting in its case for 20 years is better than the above suggestion! It must be really bored. And is there some sort of big deal with keeping the vintage filth on these things? Oh, that's 58-year-old skin flakes & navel fluff you're looking at - that's the mojo. Someone give it a good wipe. Jon.

No-one's signed it yet! J.

Here's the original ad - sold for £580 back in February. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-GEDDY-LEE-BLUE-CUSTOM-NEW-UNPLAYED_W0QQitemZ120523901893"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-GED...emZ120523901893[/url] Personally I think it's bad form to gyppo-flip an Ebay purchase while the listing you bought it from's still linked from your feedback - always wait the 3 months for it to be auto-deleted. I'd also have thought £580 was a bit dear for what is basically a bitsa with a Geddy neck, but whatever... Jon.

You lucky, lucky boy. I'm happy to take some credit for encouraging a wise decision here, and on the matter of money let's just say he's almost as much of a gyppo as me, on this evidence. Absolute stunner. Jon.

Very nice! How do you know it's an Ibanez, though? Jon.

99.9% that's not structural - your neck won't fall off. It's in a fairly inconspicuous place, I'd run some superglue into it to make sure the lacquer doesn't flake, and forget about it. Jon.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='769946' date='Mar 10 2010, 12:16 AM']I think Bassassin has a 4-string example. Pete.[/quote] I do, sir. It's a 1984 RSB Deluxe II, which was pretty much my only gigging bass from when I bought it (new) until I retired it in 2000 due to an upsettingly twisted neck. I have a (scabby but straight) replacement neck for it from a mid-80s RSB Straycat - I was going to fill the dents & give it a matching refin but I'm sorely tempted to just bung it on & take it out as it is - I miss it! Anyway mine differs from Bloodaxe's by having a P/J type layout (not a P pup - a similar soapbar with exposed poles in P format) and in having a 22-fret neck rather than 24. The controls are stacked V/T and phase switching for each pup. There was also an RSB Deluxe I, with a single pickup, but these don't seem at all common. Jon.

Finished this now & BassKS has been PM'd. Very good read, in my opinion, he's a good & very readable writer. I'm not as familiar with his music as perhaps I should be but he comes across as very idealistic, positively uncompromising & visionary in what he wants to achieve musically. Given that bassist/bandleader/composers are relatively uncommon it's quite an inspiring insight into how a successful career can be maintained, especially making music that's "against the grain". He doesn't talk specifically about bass playing very much, but this bit did make me grin: [quote]I now realise that when you accept bass as (essentially) an emanation of God (at gut level), as the "ground" of existence, let alone music, you make a friend of impermanence, everything vibrates, moves, is in a state of flux, therefore the fear of losing what you have, or of not getting what (you think) you want, diminishes. You will truly ride the rhythm, you will reside in the resonance of Om, to you the open E string becomes spiritually vehicular. You can ride the sonic boom to heaven.[/quote] I love the idea & philosophy but I'm usually too busy trying to remember what note comes next... J.

[quote name='Musky' post='768789' date='Mar 9 2010, 07:23 AM']Double hit with that last "Custom". It doesn't seem remotely custom to me - more like one of the early Fuji-Gens. Full width sparkley inlays - check. Mudbucker - check. Humbucker type at the bridge - check.[/quote] Certainly is. I am unhealthily interested in this one - been fancying a 2388B/DX for ages... J.

[quote name='hagguy' post='770809' date='Mar 10 2010, 07:20 PM']that roadster is by far one of thebest looking basses i've ever seen and i would love one if you get rid gimme a shout, looks a topper really like ibanez stuff especially the older stuff like this i've got an atk 300 thats not in this things leauge i know but going by how good that is think i'll try and track down one of these roadsters for myself, awesome collection man!!![/quote] Not thinking about selling just now but if I do, I'll let you know... Meanwhile keep an eye on the JapCrap spotting sticky in the Ebay subforum - if one comes up it'll get flagged. J.

[quote name='jezzaboy' post='768186' date='Mar 8 2010, 04:41 PM']Oh my god! Where is Captain Japcrap when you need him? (Said in 1960`s batman style). He`s your man. Jez[/quote] In Gran Canaria [i]sans[/i] internet connection. And [i]sans[/i] my lunch on a regular basis. Anyway I'm back now and taking solids as well, so help (of a sort) is at hand. First of all, Mr Falcon, Hondo II is a brand, not a model, so regrettably without pics I can tell you nowt about the specific bass - so get snappin'. PaulWarning - wrong way around - early/mid 70s Hondos were all Korean and anyone who tells you otherwise is plainly getting their facts from Ebay sales pitches. They were uniformly low/mid quality up until the late 70s when steps were taken to upgrade the brand by installing DiMarzios in some models, and others being MIJ. Later Korean Hondos can be quite decent (I had a lovely set-neck LP copy) as broadly speaking the Korean factories were about 5 years behind Japan in terms of quality. Hardware on all Koreans seems to be pretty guff, though. So anyway that's it until we see the pics. Jon.

Beautiful job bringing that back to health - I had one of these in 1981 (my first serious bass) and it was gorgeous. Don't think I really appreciated it at the time & wish I still had it. Great restoration work from Mr Parker there, impressed by his technique for rectifying the truss problem, and the ebony fillet in the back of the neck - I'd love to see clearer pics of that. Just one little detail though - this needs gold speed knobs, surely! Jon.

[quote name='philw' post='761500' date='Mar 2 2010, 08:46 AM']Pretty ugly guitars though I have to say. Phil[/quote] Agree. Italia do this sort of thing with infinitely more style. Jon.

Plenty of action tonight! First of all, £160-ish would be a bit of a steal for a Westy Track 2 (forget about my £60 one unless you share my GyppoPowers ) and they're great basses. Westbury prices seem to be going up at the moment & I'd think under £200 for this one would still be a pretty decent price.. Look closely at the Greco & you'll see a few similarities to 80s Ibanez - they're from the same factory (Fujigen) & share a lot of components and construction techniques, in fact one or two models are pretty much the same. Greco is technically a Japan-only brand, a few escaped to the US and even fewer made their way here. This makes this a bit of a collectable so don't be surprised if it gets hectic at the end! It's a lovely-looking bass but by 'eck it would benefit from a good scrub! J.

Erm... don't you think that description sounds a bit like [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=78472"]this[/url]? J.

[quote name='Musky' post='759783' date='Feb 28 2010, 02:28 PM']Removing the neck prior to shipping opens up your options for packaging considerably though. And bear in mind that some couriers won't insure if it isn't in a hard case, so check their T&C's.[/quote] I'd always recommend neck-off if it's a bolt-on. Much less to get smashed. Which raises an interesting question regarding couriers & insurance. ParcelFarce, for example, won't insure instruments over £150, and then it has to be in a hard case - which the insurance doesn't cover. So if you take off the neck, strings, neckplate, screws - it's a box of parts, not an instrument. Loophole? When I post a bass or guitar I go to my local Lidl & blag a bunch of those heavy-duty fruit box/tray things. When I get 'em home I modify them to make parts of one big box & stick them together with a hot glue gun. The instrument's thoroughly bubblewrapped & packed into the box with newspaper/expanded polystyrene/whatever so it can't shift, & the box is sealed up around it then gaffertaped to buggery. I've posted about 40 guitars & basses packed like this & it seems pretty much indestructible. Touch wood. J.

[quote name='bassman2790' post='759108' date='Feb 27 2010, 02:03 PM']I've had a quick squint and it doesn't look half bad.....why is everything I want in Scotland? .... lol Yeah, I'd appreciate that mate. Thanks for the (unitentional) heads-up[/quote] I'm guessing what you want isn't a decent 300w+ light-ish rig / 2x10 combo for sensible money then - they're all in Bristol! If it's still up when I'm back we can sort summat out - I'm quite keen to get a (guilt-free) look at it anyway. J.