Bassassin

I paid £60 for my Westbury Track 2 and haven't yet sold it. Draw your own conclusions! The white / blood spattered ZZBs are the best ones! [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/1985/85_ap2_cat_pg19.jpg.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/...t_pg19.jpg.html[/url] Bottom of the page. J.

[quote name='Gwilym' post='753367' date='Feb 21 2010, 11:16 PM']why are cheap basses so cheap? I mean, someone somewhere is really getting screwed, probably. Think of all those poor little children, with no workers rights and slave wages that have toiled night and day building that cheap bass for you in the far east.[/quote] You make a very good & relevant point. Have a skim through this site: [url="http://cortaction.wordpress.com/"]http://cortaction.wordpress.com/[/url] And that's Korea - one can imagine it's not going to be better for workers in China, Taiwan, Indonesia etc necessarily. Jon.

They do look great - even with Wayne's migraine-triggering scratchplate. I have one such project in the works, I'd say "wait 'til you see mine" but we'll probably all die of old age first. Jon.

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='752857' date='Feb 21 2010, 03:06 PM']I emailed and the guys going to send me photos of the thing...[/quote] Luke, if you're considering going for this one, I'll take a polite step back - really need to save for a new rig, anyway! Post the pics when you get 'em. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='752513' date='Feb 21 2010, 08:59 AM'][url="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electric-Guitars-3419/aria-pro-II.htm"]http://en.allexperts.com/q/Electric-Guitar...aria-pro-II.htm[/url] Guitar?!?![/quote] Also worth bearing in mind that some of "Johnny Genocide"'s expert knowledge, observations & opinions on vintage MIJ & MIK guitars on Allexperts.com is hilariously & outrageously misinformed. In this particular instance he didn't actually proffer anything of value (not even to date the thing from its serial number!) but some of his comments (and valuations) on Hondo Les Paul copies are hysterical and had me choking on my own oesophagus. J.

This is a great-looking solution to a perennial Rick problem, and I've never understood why Rickenbacker don't sell an "official" equivalent, (or simply a chrome mounting plate that fits closely around the pup), considering most Rick players seem to bin the handrest. Sadly this wouldn't fit any of my Fakers for various reasons, plus I like to use the top edge of the pup as a thumb anchor - I've made perspex surrounds for the 2 that I gig, which allow the pup to protrude about 5mm. I'd buy one if I had a proper Rick, though. Jon.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' post='752343' date='Feb 20 2010, 11:30 PM']Here's another vastly under-rated model, although Fuji-Gen this time, my 1979 Ibanez Studio ST105, again, bought in Cash Converters for £140 this time, with original case. G.[/quote] Bloody hell Geoff - Cash Convertors by you must be staffed by mugs! Result! J.

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='752284' date='Feb 20 2010, 10:13 PM']Jon, that 2366b is breathtaking,dibs on it please if ever you,well you know the rest. [/quote] I [i]think[/i] it's a keeper - but you never know... I've also got a project Blazer the same as your 1980 one, which I bought off BCer MrPablo, who's quite local to me. It's all original & complete but the body needs a refin so it's presently in a queue! J.

There's never been a "proper" 4005 copy - there are some late 60s/early 70s medium-scale Rick-ish basses, like bass on this page: [url="http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/general/shaftesbury.html"]http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/general/shaftesbury.html[/url] But these are more based on Rick guitar designs. The closest thing I've ever seen is a late 60s Aria RB350: [attachment=43191:5883.jpg] [attachment=43192:5895t.jpg] This one's owned by a JapCrap collector in Canada & is the only example I've ever seen! Realistically, if you're after a bass with a similar vibe to the 4005 you could do far worse than the [url="http://www.woodbrass.com/images/woodbrass/I+IBRIMB.JPG"]Italia Rimini[/url] Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='752261' date='Feb 20 2010, 09:49 PM']That was a brand-new listing with nearly seven days to run, so it's been pulled.[/quote] That makes sense - the listing doesn't suggest he knows the market for Rickenfakers. I'm guessing someone made him an offer he didn't expect - and quite possibly ended up with a bargain. J.

I hear SX do a pretty tidy P-bass for £120-ish... Jon.

Well - he's actually added a pic of the headstock (and nothing else!) to the listing now. It's presumably the actual bass he's selling unless he randomly found a pic with 3 strings... J.

Well, that's not far up the road from me, don't think it's a scam (collection/cash only) and I'm slightly interested because on the whole, basses in (presumably hard) cases with the clasps off, are usually quite old. He's answered a question by saying it's an "Aria pro II custom body part No 555719" - that number ring any bells, Mr Bloodaxe? J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='751995' date='Feb 20 2010, 05:57 PM']Chris Barber's very own Aria. Allegedly. From Germany. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1975-ARIA-BASS-GUITAR-CHRIS-BARBER-JAZZ-BAND_W0QQitemZ160406631516QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2558faf45c"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1975-ARIA-BASS-GUITA...=item2558faf45c[/url][/quote] Stealth auction, presumably - can't see that getting only one bid & stalling at £100 & reserve not met otherwise. Not considering an [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-1974-Ibanez-2389B-NT-Ricky-4002-stereo-bass-MIJ_W0QQitemZ220555961681"]Ibanez 2388 sold for nearly £590[/url] this afternoon. That aside - what a lovely bass. No interest in its provenance at all, but you don't see many Matsumoku Rick copies with natural boards, particularly not in that condition. Wonder what his reserve was? J.

[quote name='WWRRSS' post='752048' date='Feb 20 2010, 06:50 PM']Mine looked that good once. Sean.[/quote] In fairness, it didn't look much like that when I got it. Scrubbed up nice, though. J.

Pretty in pink - Ibanez 2366b, pre-75: [attachment=43162:2366f.jpg] [attachment=43163:2366n.jpg] Bought this off a BCer (sorry - can't remember your name offhand!) about 4 years ago, gorgeous old thing in fine condition, plays like butter & thumps like a thumpy thing. I don't think the 'trays are original but I'm not complaining! The fretboard has a lovely flame which you can just see a hint of in these pics. 1980 RS924 Roadster: [attachment=43164:rs924v2.jpg] Rubbish pic I'm afraid - I'll have to take some more that do it better justice. Picked this up from ScumTree about 3 years ago, ridiculous bargain at £80, being a total gyppo scumbag I bought it to profiteer (I've seen these Ebayed for £300+) but once I cleaned it up & re-strung it, I couldn't put it down or part with it. This hasn't been out of its case much in the last 30 years, & it's practically spotless - I've gigged it a couple of times but it's a hefty beast & my back doesn't like it for more than half an hour without a lie down! For that reason it's on recording duty - an excellent-sounding bass that seems to be great in any context. Jon.

Best thing you can do for a quick overview is check out the Thunder pages at www.westone.info: [url="http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html"]http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html[/url] And Geoff - what a stunner for £120! It's things like that that keep me going into Crack Converters. Mind you, I think my Thunder 1 guitar was a bit of a bargain: £8. It's good when people don't appreciate the value of something, ain't it? Jon.

It was JJ playing Peaches that lit the blue touchpaper. Subsequently I learned to play by copying every line on The Stranglers' Rattus Norvegicus. It was probably Geddy Lee, & specifically that riff from Xanadu which kept me playing, but there have been a hell of a lot of others... Jon.

If you must have it saying "Fender" on the end, remember that for US basses you pay a premium for the fact that it was made in the States - not for quality. Buy a Japanese Fender & save £300. Jon.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARIA-PRO-2-SB900-BASS-EARLY-80S-MADE-IN-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ120533478455"]APII SB900 for £325 BIN[/url] Which I think qualifies as something of a bargain for one of these, ne c'est pas? J.

[url="http://shop.ebay.co.uk/babs2441/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p4340"]I spy an alcohol-fuelled free listing day frenzy![/url] Jon.

[quote name='Bassulike66' post='750351' date='Feb 18 2010, 11:10 PM']Cheers Jon....thank's for the info.. Bloody hell!! that B-20 takes me back..i had the tobacco burst version, great bass! I'll keep hold of it if your interested, i'm in no rush to get rid mate..... [/quote] You had a B20? Snap! Wish I'd never sold it - the stupid things you do when you're young... J.

[quote name='Bassulike66' post='750317' date='Feb 18 2010, 10:47 PM']I didn't think the Force series was out that early Jon... Worth an investigation though...cheers. oh and make me an offer if you want..lol I only play 5 strings now....[/quote] That'll be from 84/85-ish, the Forces were out in 84 - the guitarist in a band I was in had the Force 6, like the one in this catalogue: [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/catalogs/bbr/bbr_pg1_web.jpg.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/c...g1_web.jpg.html[/url] Basses here: [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/catalogs/bbr/bbr_pg2_web.jpg.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/washburn/c...g2_web.jpg.html[/url] But no Force 42 - in fact I don't remember ever seeing one before in BBR. I'd love the bass but a new rig's my priority at the moment - that said, if you decide to sell give me a shout. J.

Off the top of my head, I think the headless is a Force 42, so that'll be a Force 42 BBR. And yes, I'd like that very much please. Now. Jon.