Bassassin

[quote name='budget bassist' post='166653' date='Mar 31 2008, 12:01 AM']also i like the colour name of that ric [/quote]There's a stock Rick colour called Montezuma Brown - it's not their most popular finish & is frequently referred to as "Sh!tGlo" - maybe that's what the seller meant... Jon.

Does it absolutely have to say "Fender" on it? If not: [url="http://www.ariaguitars.com/int/03_products/pro_eb_stb_exo_4.html"]http://www.ariaguitars.com/int/03_products..._stb_exo_4.html[/url] [url="http://www.ariaguitars.com/int/03_products/pro_eb_stb_gt_4.html"]http://www.ariaguitars.com/int/03_products...b_stb_gt_4.html[/url] Jon.

Interesting, that. Westone's only a brand name, & according to the Westone.info site has been used on "guitars and basses made under the Westone name in China or Korea since the late 1990s, which all seem to be copies of other makes". So I'm guessing that's what this thing is. The listing's a cock-up, and the title & description pertain to an Eko MM copy, elsewhere in the seller's listings, which fits the above description pretty well too. I think you'll find a half-decent MM copy for a bit less than 200 sovs - and it's worth bearing in mind that there were, as far as I know, no JapCrap Ray copies - the Ray was launched at the point when the Jap builders were moving towards original designs - and getting legal grief from pissed-off American corporations. The seller's other listings are faintly interesting to anyone with a soft spot for the obscure & oriental - but the definition of "Japanese" here seems to be anywhere east of Berlin... And yes - Thunders are very good. Jon.

I think he's being quite upfront about this tbh - that's why it's "spares or repair". Bet it's got no MOT, either. J.

A string-cleaning gizmo called a "Swipe" - it does actually work, but it don't do nowt a rag won't do. Best bit is I got it for nothing by making an "ah - Swipe!" type p!ss poor pun.... Jon.

[quote name='tauzero' post='165012' date='Mar 28 2008, 03:00 AM']Is that hideous scratchplate actually what they looked like? And that dreadful uncontiguous heel? What a f***ing awful bass. And that's before someone started delicately modifying it.[/quote] Yes - that's pretty much what the first 4000 series Ricks were like, different timber I think for the 1950s ones. It does look crude compared to the later 4001, but it's worth remembering this was the first-ever through-neck bass, which makes it pretty damn revolutionary for the mid 50s. I suppose I see this more as an historical artefact, rather than an actual useable musical instrument! Edit: Rick catalogue from 1957 - first year these were available: [url="http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/catalogs/cf57-6.jpg"]http://www.rickenbacker.com/images/catalogs/cf57-6.jpg[/url] J.

Funnily enough there's a fair bit of skinny-stringed JapCrap knocking around my gaff: Westbury Standard Hohner/Moridaira Washburn Wing knock-off Unidentifiable very old SG copy Ibanez Artist 2601 acoustic Matsumoku set-neck LP copy Home-made headless guitar - formerly a Columbus SG There's some Korea Diarrhoea too: Aria Pro PE Series - 2x P90s, Bigsby & glitter Hohner electro-acoustic And a Hohner Revelation "Eurofighter" SuperStrat. :ph34r: And there have been many, many, many others... Jon.

Not sure they'll get 10k for it, but this is a seriously rare bass. It does appear to be original, although it's been "4001'd" at some point - hence the trench warfare under the scratchplate! Good thing whoever did this didn't use the original plate for the modification. The seller's probably using this one, for sale at Gruhn's Guitars in the US, as a reference for their pricing: [url="http://www.gruhn.com/photo/BM2655.jpg"]http://www.gruhn.com/photo/BM2655.jpg[/url] [url="http://www.gruhn.com/photo/BM2655b.jpg"]http://www.gruhn.com/photo/BM2655b.jpg[/url] That one's $20000 - so considering the usual discrepancy between US & UK prices, the Ebay one doesn't seem quite as err.. [i]surprising[/i]. Jon.

[quote name='chrisAngryman' post='163775' date='Mar 26 2008, 02:25 PM']i have a cmi ricky copy i bought it about 11 years ago and used to sound pretty good, it got water damaged a few years back and one of the pickups doesn't work but could easily be resurected. if i can answer any questions on the subject let me know[/quote] Pisser about the water damage - is there any output from the pickup? Anyway, do you have any pics of your CMI you could post? If it's the same as the Ebay one I'll have plenty of questions! J.

[quote name='Born 2B Mild' post='162825' date='Mar 24 2008, 08:33 PM']If this a Fender, then I am er ...not very observant. Is it JapCrap? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-PRECISION-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ170203854716QQihZ007QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-PRECISION-BAS...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] 99% sure it's JapCrap, 100% it's not a Fender! Most likely a 70s JapCrap jazz neck bunged onto a P bod of uncertain origin - plus a decent set of tuners, either Schaller M4S or Grover Titans, pup might even be a Dimarzio or Schaller by the looks. Actually looks like the makings of a tidy project. Bit too dear - and too distant - for a cheapskate like me, though. J.

Copy-era Eko electrics - and particularly basses - aren't particularly common, it's really hard to second-guess how much someone might want to pay for one. As for ID, the same thing applies - but fortunately there are a bunch of catalogue scans on this site: [url="http://www.fetishguitars.com"]http://www.fetishguitars.com[/url] Do you have any bigger/clearer pics? Jon.

[quote name='barneythedog' post='162739' date='Mar 24 2008, 05:43 PM']Oooh - now THAT was a first. I just showed my wife that Tokai and said if that's how much they fetch then I'm thinking of selling mine, and she said "no, you can't, I like that one". Do you think that means I'm ok to buy another? [/quote] Why stop at one? They're clearly an investment! J.

[quote name='Musky' post='162748' date='Mar 24 2008, 05:58 PM']Can't help with either the TR or outputs, but I've seen a CMI rick with a maple neck. I don't think too many rickenfakers had maple necks, so it might narrow things down a little.[/quote] You'd be surprised! My Rickenbugger - made by Kasuga - has a maple board (they also did it with black inlays too), I've seen Electra branded copies from three different makers (I know a guy in the US who collects them!) with maple necks - these are Fujigen, Matsumoku & Kasuga. I've also seen a surprisingly nice Hondo, all maple (not ply for a change) with a maple board, black binding, inlays & scratchplate! I'd actually say most of the factories made a maple one at one point or another. CMI is tricky - they didn't source from a particular factory - the very first CMI instruments were British - rebranded Ned Callans, made by Peter Cook. These were all original-ish designs & weren't available for long. They definitely sourced Jap copies from Moridaira (6-bolt necks) & Rokkomann, and I think some were Fujigen. It was doubtless down to who was offering the best deal at the time - I've seen a bolt-neck CMI Rick copy I'm sure is a Matsumoku. I'm confused by this bass, though, the seller hasn't answered my questions, so I'm stumped! I'd guess Fujigen - but would expect to see checker binding. Tuners, bridge pup & scratchplate are wrong for a Matsumoku or a Rokkomann - although they could have been changed. The wild card here is that it might not even be JapCrap - those Brazilian Gianninis are a lot like this... J.

[quote name='nick' post='162425' date='Mar 23 2008, 10:59 PM']It is Jap, but definitely not crap![/quote] Remember it's all JapCrap, in the sense that US Fenders or Rickenbackers are YankW@nk and Wals & Status are BritSh!t... J.

Much less corporate, & not just concerned with instruments that feature in this year's catalogue: [url="http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum"]http://www.ibanezcollectors.com/forum[/url] Could do with a few more bassists. Jon.

That's probably a pretty fair price for a good condition 70s Birch 4001 - but despite what he says, the guy selling it is, ever-so-slightly, a guitar dealer... Jon.

That's a beautiful burst over a simply stunning grain, you don't appreciate that at all with the plate on. Clear plate ftw. Jon.

[quote name='jono b' post='161785' date='Mar 22 2008, 01:14 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Ibanez-Bass_W0QQitemZ280211041730QQihZ018QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Ibanez Rick-a-like[/url]. Taken off and then re-listed. Looks nice but the start price is a bit high.[/quote] I don't know why it's been relisted - the original listing didn't mention the "R" word, so it seems likely this one will go too. Start price is insanely high - realistically it might finish around there if they were lucky. It looks in pretty nice condition - although the chrome on the bridge is totally shot. Also I'd be very wary about how much filing's been done to the saddle slots - the last one I saw in the flesh had had this done - to no avail, the action was still unplayably & unadjustably high making it little more than a very pretty- and expensive - ornament. J.

[quote name='barneythedog' post='161724' date='Mar 22 2008, 10:57 AM']Is it just me or do some of these look familiar?[/quote] The Kay P's a relist - reserve not met, and I'm guessing it won't be this time, either. Three of 'em look pretty familiar to me because I've owned identical ones - in fact I have a no-brander Jazz, identical to the Maya (complete with funny little Tele pups) sitting in my "to do" rack! So now I know who made it.... J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='161487' date='Mar 21 2008, 04:26 PM']And the prices just get higher and higher ... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-custom-shop-PROJECT-SERIES_W0QQitemZ330221590497QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1977-GRECO-Japan-cus...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] That's just outrageous! Can't see him getting many bids, but I've been wrong before... In fairness, it looks in ridiculously good nick for a 1977 bass - if he's honest about how original everything is - but I'd bet any money he imported this from Japan & likely paid about £200 for it. Rickenbacker's price hikes won't exactly be helping to keep vintage JapCrap affordable, and I have an unpleasant feeling there'll be more turning up with shonky Rick trcs on, ripping off the unwary. J.

Here's a few worth a sniff: CMI neckthrough Rick: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300208944075"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300208944075[/url] Lovely Shaftesbury Ripper copy - never seen one of these on the Bay before: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220214885649"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220214885649[/url] Aria Pro II The Cat factory fretless: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180225712089"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180225712089[/url] J.

Very nice through-neck Jetglo, CMI branded: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300208944075"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300208944075[/url] Still trying to get the seller to tell me whether it has twin rods & stereo outs, so I can guess who made it. He's insisting it's an Ibanez, made for Chicago Musical Instruments (who once owned Gibson, don'cha know) and obviously, he's completely wrong on both counts. I think it might not even be JapCrap... J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='160530' date='Mar 19 2008, 10:26 PM']Tempted by that TSB-350. Anything I need to know before deciding whether to bid?[/quote] I don't know about any issues with these - and this one looks in very tidy nick. Good comprehensive description, the guy's had it for at least 15 years so presumably it's an accurate description too. If you could get it for not much more than the £125 start, that'd be a pretty damn good score, imo. But do make sure you get the original knobs with it - those Strat ones look 'orrible! J.

[quote name='lwtait' post='160525' date='Mar 19 2008, 10:17 PM']there has to be something on ebay to suit your needs... a wesley or something... for that price its never going to be a brilliant bass so i'd go more on what you like the look of most. also, have you thought about an old ibanez or cheap japenese copy from that sort of era, i dont think they reach much higher than £100 (i may be wrong, ive never really been interested in them).[/quote] You won't get any vintage Ibanez for £100 on Ebay - these are getting pretty collectable, and the same goes for JapCrap copies in general. If I wanted a cheap P, I'd take a punt on one of these: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110222463010"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110222463010[/url] For that money, I'd expect it'll need some serious setting up, but it looks like the body's solid timber, & if the neck's OK you could replace all the hardware (if necessary) & still be under budget. Jon.