Bassassin

Greg's Down Under, I think - and $150 Australian is about £70, I think, so a Squier Affinity's probably a bit more. Quality control's the big problem with the really budget end of the market - pot luck whether you get a straight neck with a decent fret job or one like a broken fire escape. This bass looks OK to me - it looks broadly like an Ibanex SRX knockoff - although thinking about that, a secondhand SRX200 would probably be in a similar price range, and these are generally regarded as good first basses, and are well put-together for the money. Greg - if you consider secondhand, there will be a lot more choice available. Do you have car boot sales in Oz? I picked up an old but perfectly playable bass for £12 at my local booter at the weekend - my partner has a friend whose son wants to take up the bass, and with a bit of a clean & a set of strings, this will be ideal. If you picked up a "project" bass, not only would you save a lot of money, but you could use it to learn about the nuts & bolts of how it works & setting it up, etc - and there's plenty of help & advice available here. Jon.

They are pretty heavy - when I got mine, it was the heaviest bass I'd owned (since eclipsed by the Rickenbugger!) and it's very nice to play - the reason I bought it. Well, that's what I told myself at the time... The fact of the matter is that mine's been in its case since I moved last August - I found that using it with the setup & effects I use live, it's very, very prone to feedback, so I don't gig it. Because of the metal body construction, it's naturally very bright, the hollow body makes it highly resonant too - so add a little bit of overdrive (and I really don't use much!) and the damn thing squeals like a piggy. Basically I took mine to bits to see if there would be any way of deadening the resonance - to find it's already packed with foam. The scratchplate on mine tends to rattle too, so my intention was to put something under its edges to rectify that. It is a back-burner project at the moment - I'd love to make it giggable, simply because it's a stunning-looking bass, but these days I'm spoilt for choice, what with all my cheap JapCrap tat, so it's not currently a priority! J.

[quote name='budget bassist' post='231697' date='Jul 3 2008, 12:11 AM']jesus, don't they usually go for about £300?[/quote] List price for the Talbo is (or was, not sure if they make/import 'em any more) £899 - and they are rare as a really rare thing. Most Tokais these days are Korean-made, hence the low prices, but the Japanese ones are typically a lot dearer, particularly exotica like Talbos. I've err... got one. I really should get it out of the case & put some strings on it, shouldn't I? Jon.

These guys are great, and despite the scary person-spec job-application type ad, are all really nice people, as well as being outrageously talented musicians. I've known Mikey, Ramage & Hammy (and their ex-bassist, Casey) for many a year in various Edinburgh bands, and they're incredibly committed to their music. I won't be applying because I'm to old, too slow and in no way metal enough. Best of luck finding a new bass creature, gents. Jon.

[quote name='kennyrodg' post='231010' date='Jul 1 2008, 11:55 PM']yep,thats a new one on me too,like you im sure we'll get the full heads up once jon's seen it. :ph34r:[/quote] Oh, OK then, since I'm so bloody predictable... It's one of those neck-through Corts, badged up as Kay. Should be a nice stripey natural finish, quite Matsumoku-esque, except someone's put a couple of litres of Halfords' finest all over it, and a tin scratchplate. Dunno how it's wired up - it should have 4 knobs & a 3-way switch. Fifty quid's a bit on the dear side, considering it needs a thing or two done with it... J.

Well that (surprisingly) is an Ibanez copy - you can tell by the rather erotic full-width sparkle inlays - and accuracy wasn't great with them to begin with, what with the big chrome Mudbucker that Fujigen had clearly wildly overstocked with in about 1971! Anyway - not sure this is exactly a "Lemmy replica" - Mr Kilminster's played a variety of weird Rick-based things, but I don't remember seeing one like that. Looks more like a half-arsed attempt to make it look like a Rick 4002. So - has Lemmy played more Fakers than real Ricks over his career? Discuss. Or not. Suit yourselves. J.

[quote name='neepheid' post='230541' date='Jul 1 2008, 02:11 PM']Well, you can add a new neck, looks a bit twisted doesn't it?[/quote] Snap! J.

If anyone's seriously interested in that Arse Of Spades thing - go & have a good look at the pics of the neck - it looks really badly twisted to me. It might be the photos, or a symptom of only having 2 strings - but I don't think so. The strings would pull the other way to the direction it looks twisted. I don't think I'd touch it, tbh. :ph34r: J.

[quote name='phil_the_bassist' post='230535' date='Jul 1 2008, 02:04 PM']Is anyone else going for this 'faker?[/quote] I doubt it. This really only bears a passing resemblance to a Rickenbacker - and less so since someone's obviously chopped the top horn off. J.

I'd say not - I can't find the phrase "Authorised Rickenbacker Dealer" anywhere. [url="http://www.soundmeout.com/about.html"]http://www.soundmeout.com/about.html[/url] Jon.

[quote name='alexlotta' post='229770' date='Jun 30 2008, 03:13 PM']5 string and i would Try It (alone ,At my house ,hidden).. Welll i 've missed That 80' touch as i was jung ,always wanted To Feel what it means Playing with a clown-bass [/quote] Clown bass! PML!! Now relisted at a slightly more realistic £105. Still too much... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220252192815"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220252192815[/url] J.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='230417' date='Jul 1 2008, 11:40 AM']And he answers. How much do you think its worth?. [/quote] Scruffy Satellite P-Bass with a novelty hatchet-job body? In real terms, about thirty quid. However, as a "unique" piece of "art" - depends how much you [i]want[/i] it... It won't get too much attention - "base" doesn't come up in very many searches. Unless you specifically look for it. Doubt I'll actually go for the Raider (although if it stays nice & cheap...) & I'd guess the neck/body paradox is down to what was lying around in the factory that day. A dealer would call it "transitional". J.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='230102' date='Jun 30 2008, 10:00 PM']Hmm a crisp one you say. :brow: Has it ever been gigged? [/quote] Oh yeah, mercilessly. Its like-new crispyness is testament to its stunning build quality, you'd really never know it fell out of the back of the van on the M6 a couple of times. They really don't make 'em like that any more. Luckily it's never had any food product containers lobbed at it. Yet. J.

Bit quiet in here! Here's a few: Antoria J with those strange little square pickups: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280240383714"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280240383714[/url] Maya J with an oddly mutated headstock: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160256025773"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160256025773[/url] Columbus J with nothing remotely remarkable about it, other than an absence of strings: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130234714957"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130234714957[/url] Tidy-looking Epi ET280. High start. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220252181210"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220252181210[/url] Westone Raider - pointy [i]and[/i] glittery. Want. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170234126125"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170234126125[/url] Nice-looking Aria Pro Laser Heritage: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160253717900"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160253717900[/url] And this - I really don't know what to say... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110266400999"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110266400999[/url] There's more, out there. J.

I'd guess it's because it's through-body. I had this same problem on a Gibson Ripper copy - fortunately the bridge made it possible to string it normally. It does look a bit like it's got a 4-string set plus a single guitar string, though. Jon.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='230043' date='Jun 30 2008, 09:01 PM']But you knew that. [/quote] Of course... ...but if you ever change your mind, I've got a nice crisp twenty right here.... J.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='229855' date='Jun 30 2008, 05:00 PM']BTW do you want to buy a Tele Deluxe copy? It has never let me down and has never been gigged.[/quote] Is it old JapCrap? Give you £20... The only gig damage any of my basses has ever acquired (yet! Touch wood!!!) is a small circular dent in the front of my ancient (and retired) Aria RSB Deluxe, where I dropped a lead, pointy-end first, onto it, while it was lying in its open case. That would have been in 1985... Conversely, I have a beautiful, ungigged Ibanez SR800 fretless, which I bought new in 1992 - which has a large semicircular dent in the front of it - a result of it intercepting a flying babyfood jar, hurled at my head by a psychotic, raging, insane woman-thing who I had earlier made the mistake of marrying. At least my head would have got better... Jon.

I love my videogames, me, but I suppose because I'm a "proper" musician, I have no interest, beyond a bit of general curiosity, in this type of game, and have never actually played one. But the point is - they're games. Like any other game genre, they don't aim to replicate the "real" experience, they're just for fun, and I don't think they'll have any negative impact on the amount of people who get into making music. Similarly, the vast number of driving games available hasn't led to a downturn in road usage, people still join the army & go off & get blown to bits, despite being able to vicariously have that experience in a plethora of war-based games, and the FIFA & PES titles have (regrettably) not led to the demise of professional football. I'm sure the videogame media would love to be able to point at GTA, as a reason for a decrease in violent crime! And there's no "Bass Hero", is there? Jon.

I'd love a T40 - in fact just a year or two ago, they could be had for around £200 - then suddenly they all dried up & Mr.Classicandcoolguitars appeared with loads for sale at £400 - £500... Gorgeous basses - do keep an eye on Ebay, Gumtree & your local free ads - they still pop up at more sensible prices occasionally. Jon.

[quote name='noirpunk' post='229556' date='Jun 30 2008, 11:17 AM']That's the link to my bands page, there's music on there. Let me know which style you think would suit best. Cheers[/quote] Proper old-fashioned punk rock? Rick shape, without a doubt. In fact a Hondo copy is the single most appropriate bass you could play in that band! BTW have you guys ever played the Island Of Punk fest up here in Edinburgh? Jon.

[quote name='AndyMartin' post='229219' date='Jun 29 2008, 08:05 PM']Surely you mean "The Arm" [/quote] It was "the handle" on one I saw last week. Anyway, just as well it's not frettles. Might need a new knut though. J.

Call me a big gay freak, but I'd play that. Jon.

More Hondo - featuring The Elusive Pickup Cover: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260256901458"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260256901458[/url] Hintsville - if anyone's interested in this - drop him a message pronto - the fact he's mentioned Rick in the title means it's a cert to get pulled, so at least you'll have a means to contact him. Noirpunk - have you got a web address for Metal Guitar Man? J.

[quote name='BassManKev' post='228907' date='Jun 29 2008, 10:41 AM']at least the phrets are in good condition[/quote] Phrets? He means "fretts" - surely! Hope the kneck's straight... Jon.