Bassassin

Here's what was probably once badged as Shaftesbury, looking like it needs a bit of gluin' and clampin': [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300257005459"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300257005459[/url] J.

From what I've read, the actual bass touted as having been designed by Tetsu Yamauchi is actually the somewhat more stylish Ibanez 2369B (the one on the left ): There are a couple of people on here who own, or have owned Ibby 2369s. Although that Greco's rather nice too, and at the time this was in the range (mid 70s) Greco was built by both Fujigen & Matsumoku - both of whom produced versions of this bass, seemingly identical down to the odd pickup. This one's the Matsumoku version. J.

I've always been a Severin fan, but to be honest never even noticed he played like that before! That clip just reminded me what a great, idiosyncratic drummer Budgie is. Jon.

Looks tidy enough to me. Don't expect to nail it for £25, though! Bear in mind the bridges on these are awful - have a look at the string height in the 3rd pic, I'd be prepared to bet that's down to the crap bridge & probably non - height-adjustable mudbucker. If you lower the bridges on these by much, the strings tend to foul the front edge of the plate, so getting a playable action is a balancing act between bridge height & shimming the neck pocket. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find a slack truss rod & a neck like a banana, too - not an issue if the rod's in good working order. It's probably possible to make it play OK, I'd expect to find a decent fret job on this, & going on the general condition (for a 35 year-old plank) I wouldn't expect much fret wear. The "unplayable straight out of the box" setup will have discouraged its various owners over the past 3 decades, which will have helped keep it in good nick. In case you hadn't guessed already, I've owned one such as this. Some folks might be interested to know it was probably (along with other Columbii) made by Maya/Rokkomann. Jon.

Yes - I've actually read that some JVs started production as Grecos - and vice versa! I'll admit to showing an inordinate interest in SQs at the moment - just wish the postie would hurry up... J.

Didn't see it but £185 isn't a fantastic bargain for one o' those IMO. Reasonable price but pretty much the ballpark. J.

Call me a traditionalist - but this: :brow: :brow: :brow: :brow: :brow: Jon.

Does anyone else remember - or even have any pics of - that Cairnes Jazzman I mentioned? J.

[quote name='Musky' post='279554' date='Sep 8 2008, 10:52 AM']No such luck Jon - there are 4 screws in the top of the pickguard rather than the 3 of the JVs and SQs.[/quote] So there are. The plate would be drilled for an ashtray too, wouldn't it? J.

It'd be nice if the bass turned out to be a JV or SQ... J.

[quote name='thedontcarebear' post='277543' date='Sep 5 2008, 08:22 AM']Don't often get conventional detachable necks on acoustics?[/quote] Don't often get over-engineered gimmick necks either! [quote name='Darkstrike' post='277796' date='Sep 5 2008, 01:34 PM']I'd say that the fact that you don't have to detach the neck is pretty handy.[/quote] Only in the same sense that that Gibson "robot guitar" makes not having to tune up yourself handy. Realistically, a good setup will include - if necessary & possible on the instrument in question - adjusting neck set as well as relief, and should last at least as long as the set of strings you're using. Like I say, this is interesting but I can't help feeling developing an acoustic-specific adjustable bridge would address any & every issue this seeks to solve - plus allowing for proper, accurate intonation & individual string height. To be honest, it's always baffled me why acoustic guitars & basses don't tend to have fully-adjustable bridges, and beyond tradition, I can't see a clear reason. J.

[quote name='BigRedX' post='278996' date='Sep 7 2008, 10:41 AM']Cocktail stick(s) as many as required to fill the hole wood glued into place. When the glue's dry, cut flush with the surface and drill a new pilot hole for the strap button screw.[/quote] Plus the one. Works for any hole, any size you need to fill - just use more cocktail sticks. I use 2-part epoxy which fills any gaps between sticks without shrinking, and also means the glue sets & holes can be re-drilled pretty much straight away. Jon.

Thought you might find that interesting! J.

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='278910' date='Sep 7 2008, 01:03 AM']...and you can cast your knowledgeable eye over my prime example![/quote] Ooer Mrs, quick Matron, the screens! etc, etc. J.

[quote name='nick' post='278901' date='Sep 7 2008, 12:21 AM']A Kay short-scaler if anyone's interested [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-KAY-SHORT-SCALE-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ130252604959QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130252604959&_trkparms=72%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3911.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-KAY-SHORT-SCAL...id=p3911.c0.m14[/url][/quote] Never seen a "fireglo" one of these before & it looks pretty tidy - but the other 2 he's selling (not Rickenbuggers) are much more unusual & interesting: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-MAYA-TELECASTER-SHORT-SCALE-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ130252603129"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-MAYA-TELECASTE...emZ130252603129[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-JAPANESE-ARBITER-DOUBLE-NECK-GUITAR-AND-CASE_W0QQitemZ130252608664"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-JAPANESE-ARBIT...emZ130252608664[/url] J.

Heard back from him - it doesn't actually have dual rods after all. So very unlikely to be Matsumoku. However, apparently it has a solid body, not ply. This is something I've only ever seen once before on a Hondo: [attachment=13048:26March1.jpg] And, I'm sure you'll agree, that's quite another kettle of worms altogether... J.

There was a lovely Jim Cairnes Jazzman - a Jaguar-ish shaped thing - came up for sale on the old BW board a couple of times, I kicked myself for not going for it. And again, even harder, when it turned up on Ebay & sold for a pittance (Ebay brand-zombies having no idea what it was) at a point when I had literally no money. Fourth time lucky? Nah. Jon.

[quote name='BigAlonBass' post='278429' date='Sep 6 2008, 09:48 AM']He didn't know the "rules" on evilbay. He reckons it has got twin rods as well. [/quote] He still doesn't - it will still get pulled if it's seen. Interesting if it does have twin rods - the only Jap copies with these I've seen are Matsumoku, and Mat did build some later Hondos, although I've never seen a Rick copy. I can't see ply layers on the edge of the body either, all the low-end Korean Hondos I've seen before were like this. I've asked him to clarify. J.

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='278331' date='Sep 6 2008, 12:26 AM']aww! that's already gone to my mate Nick...[/quote] Well I'm sure I can think of something else, eternity is a long time, and down here, our needs are many and colourful. So why not revive the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=21783"]Rampant Rickenbuggery[/url] thread with a few pics while I give alternative eternal torment a bit of creative thought? J.

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='278308' date='Sep 5 2008, 11:55 PM']You are, without a doubt, the shizzle when it comes to IDing jap copies! If I posted some shots of my replibacker, would you be able to give me some info on it?[/quote] Could 'appen. It'll cost you your immortal soul, though. J.

Here's a surprisingly tidy-looking Hondo - probably won't be up for long with that listing: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180286086240"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180286086240[/url] Seller reckons it has dual rods - wonder if it does? J.

[quote name='craigjf1969' post='278215' date='Sep 5 2008, 09:14 PM']Cheers Jon,i am fully aware of what i have,and do not want to fool myself or anyone else for that matter,in wanting my bass to look more pleasing to the eye!![/quote] Don't waste your money on that piece of fake crap then! FYI these are knocked out by some pikey in Italy, most of the ones on Ebay these days are his fakes. If your bass doesn't have a trc, make one out of a bit of black (to match the inlays) scratchplate material. For added authenticity, put "Electra Corsair" on it - that being what your bass is. You wouldn't - couldn't - fool anybody with that bass, Rickenbacker never, ever made a bass with a maple board & black inlays, never mind with those pickups. In my opinion it's a far more rare & unique bass than [i]any[/i] Rickenbacker - putting a fakey trc on it devalues it in that sense. J.

[quote name='craigjf1969' post='278140' date='Sep 5 2008, 07:24 PM']Hi folks,looking at a trc on the bay,but it is from a 360 guitar(project)...are the guitar covers the same size as the bass ones???...cheers[/quote] If it's intended for the bass in your avatar - that isn't a Rickenbacker you have there. It is a 1970s Japanese copy. Try & remember that. Jon.