Bassassin

Just sit out the nerves. Two minutes after you step onstage they'll be gone. Jon.

[url="http://www.overkilldesign.com/products.php?productid=13"]http://www.overkilldesign.com/products.php?productid=13[/url] Dear god - is this an official Fender commode? Jon.

One or two - I'm finding the "new & improved" Ebay search system a total pain in the arse & am sure I'm now missing all the ineptly listed stuff I used to sniff out! Oddly-intonated Jazz with Ronseal refin, collect only, £40 start: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320227653071"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320227653071[/url] Aria Pro II Super Twin - bass/g*it*r twin neck. Really don't see many of these: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130205374180"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130205374180[/url] Kay ten-ton P copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290214535268"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290214535268[/url] Very nice Aria Pro TSB-350: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140216249008"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=140216249008[/url] Hohner P copy - quite possibly 70s JapCrap rather than the more common Cort-built Hohners: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290214633991"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290214633991[/url] Ibby Blazer/P copy hybrid - a first-run Blazer neck on a no-name P body: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180224945786"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180224945786[/url] Ibanez 2388b/DX Rick copy - very expensive & collection only: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280209699962"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280209699962[/url] J.

[quote name='steve-soar' post='158731' date='Mar 17 2008, 12:50 AM']I'd give him £100 for it , we'll see. To think that 10 years ago you could get this kind of thing for about £25-30 in junk shops up and down the land. How times have changed. [/quote] £180's waaay too much for that - it probably wouldn't get that even on a particularly mental Ebay day. In fact, the fact it's a lefty would probably mean it would go for less than average price, from what I've seen. It's still worth keeping your eyes peeled for a £30 bargain, particularly at car boot sales & charity shops, and even on Gumtree. The general public (bless 'em) are blissfully unaware of the current collectability of JapCrap, so there are still deals out there. J.

A very tidy-looking Ibanez 2388B/DX - and it bloody well should be for that price: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280209699962"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280209699962[/url] A very florid description - "elm body, mother of pearl/ebony binding & nickel silver tuners"? J.

Agree again. £100 - £150 sounds about right - but have a close look: this one is, I think, ply - Mayas came in quite a few flavours & this one's the lower end of the scale - not crap, but a few budget features - ply body, 2-saddle bridge, cheap tuners etc. These are the same (same factory as far as I know) as the rather more common Columbus jazzes, and some of these aren't great. The bottom line is have a really good look & play before you hand over your cash, if you can. If you're going to mod/upgrade (sacrilege! ), bear in mind that the pickups on these are not a standard J size or shape, and therefore neither are the routs. They have rounded ends & are both the same size - so you may need to do some woodwork to make different pups fit. Jon.

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='158363' date='Mar 16 2008, 11:57 AM']Thats not just crap, that's AmeriCrap! There's a big difference between JapCrap and AmeriCrap, and that's JapCrap is actually good. Isn't this made by that idiot that had a big battle of hateful comments on youtube? I like how he calls it "Professional", I don't know what professional would ever use that.[/quote] I don't think it is that bass - I think there's some little factory in Indonesia turning out knockoffs of the some of the one-offs (to be polite about them) that turn up on the web. Remember this? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12882"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=12882[/url] Plus the spate of shonky-looking Ritter wannabes which popped up a year or so ago. J.

I'm another bedroom g*it*rist - I'd say 90% of my writing is done on guitar. I have written on bass, but I often struggle to compose other instrumental parts to go with basslines - whereas the other way around, I can come up with what I like to think are creative & complementary lines. I went through a phase in the early 90s when I wasn't gigging at all, just writing & recording - probably about 5 years, thinking about it - and I was pretty much exclusively playing guitar at that point, only picking up the bass when I needed to record it. It's somewhat different these days though - my writing's been going through a somewhat fallow patch for the last 18 months or so, and I'm rusty as feck when I pick up a guitar now! I messed around with keyboards a bit in the 80s but never really developed any proficiency to speak of. Jon.

That's a [i]hell[/i] of a lot of money for a badly made, bodged-together piece of crap like that. Jon.

Chancellor, James, Zender, Myung were all 90s (Mike Dirnt's technically 80s!) - and I saw Muse supporting Skunk Anansie in 1999... Tricky decade so far, there have been some great new bands, but no bassist has yet made much of an impression on me. I was going to say Martin Mendez from Opeth - but he first recorded with them in '99. /Gives up. Jon.

That is stupid cheap, though - you could take it to bits & make a profit flogging the parts... Not that I'd ever do any such thing... Jon.

I quite like the ornate-ness & attention to detail, this sort of thing is not what fashion dictates that basses should look like - and that's +1 for me. I don't like the fact that the photos are so busy showing the fancy inlays that you can't tell with any certainty what [i]shape[/i] it actually is! And no pictures of the back. At all. I'd also concur that this is not a £500 bass - £200 and under would be fine - this is a generic no-name, made in China/Indonesia/wherever cheapo under all the ostentatiousness. This has way more class, imo, and is significantly cheaper, shame about the crap pics, but these are stunning in the flesh: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200206165395"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200206165395[/url] Jon.

This topic came up a couple of months ago - there were some good tips for DIYers: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9776"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9776[/url] Still haven't done my Peavey 5 yet... one thing at a time. Jon.

Geddy Lee (Rush) Dennis Dunaway (Alice Cooper Group) Jean Jacques Burnel (Stranglers) Lemmy (Motorhead) Steven Severin (Siouxsie & The Banshees)

Go on & post it anyway - we don't see too many Vantages in the U of K. There's a few other things, starting with the obligatory Thestone Wunders: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290206943503"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290206943503[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280207695161"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280207695161[/url] A lovely neckthrough Washburn Hawk series: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180222149248"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180222149248[/url] Another lovely Washburn - this time a Force 8: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280207043391"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280207043391[/url] Now this is really odd, I've never seen one of these before. Shame it's so expensive - a Riverhead Phantom (nearly) headless: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270218354664"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270218354664[/url] Aria Pro II RSB Performer - £120 Buy It Now. Well, what are you waiting for? Do what the nice man says... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280207941719"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280207941719[/url] Franconia Jazz - I had one of these a few months back - not entirely sold on the idea it's Japanese - the construction materials say Korean to me. Anyway, £100 BIN, it would be better at the £75 start: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190205694320"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190205694320[/url] "50s/60s Fender Jazz" - Yeah right. The neck at least - and probably most of the rest of it - is from a Fujigen or Matsumoku, mid 70s. Both factories used the 3-piece construction with a quarter-sawn centre section. The £200 start is, frankly, ridiculous: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130205070914"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130205070914[/url] And finally, an Aria STB-GT. This one's not a JapCrap, but I love these, gorgeous Precision/Ray hybrid, and a future KoreaDiarrhoea classic: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200206165395"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200206165395[/url] J.

[quote name='barneythedog' post='154065' date='Mar 9 2008, 06:11 PM']Jon, have you any ideas on [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290212327891&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=019"]this[/url] (in my neck of the woods with this one ) ? It doesn't actually say it's Jap, but it looks quite tasty[/quote]Hard to say, really, the pic's not very clear, but I'm inclined to think it probably is Japanese. The block inlay rosewood necks don't appear on much other than 70s JapCrap, also it looks like it has the little cast-button tuners you see on many a 70s MIJ bass, and I think that's a truss rod aperture with its chrome cover missing... He's put a new scratchplate on, the original would have been tort, and it's also had ashtrays at some point. So at a guess, this is likely a French importer's equivalent to a Columbus, or similar 70s UK brand. Probably made by Maya/Rokkoman, almost certainly a ply body hidden by the black-edged sunburst. It's not bad, but don't pay too much. Might be worth asking the seller to mail you a few more pics. Jono - I think £150's a bit over the top for a no-name, no real description P copy, might not even be Japanese. I'd have the same reservations about the body of this that I expressed about the Jazz copy. Jon.

AKA Jon, who is currently bemused at failing to notice this thread nearly a year ago, and reeling violently towards shock-induced panic at the realisation that come May of this year, he will have been attempting to play the Electric Bass Guitar for thirty years. A self-proclaimed "depressed optimist" Jon shows disturbing signs of compulsive behavioural archetypes, which manifest themselves in a number of ways, most of which are unsuitable for discussion on a family-friendly forum. One particular trait is his voracious hoarding of what he mock-disparagingly describes as JapCrap - a class of musical instruments ordinarily manufactured in Japan in the 1970s and 1980s, Jon seems to feel he has some kind of mission to preach the questionable "virtues" of these instruments, a role he performs with a near-religious manic fervour. The BC community tolerates this eccentricity in the sort of way a kindly passer-by might tolerate a gin-soaked tramp, reeking of stale piss & vomit, trying pathetically to sing and dance in the hope of being tossed enough loose change for a fresh bottle of white spirit. Jon is a founder member and co-composer in Maya29, an original rock/prog/metal/goth/covers/occasional Rush tribute/freeform jazz band, his roles being bassist/backing vocals, recording/mixing/mastering engineer, artwork & website designer. Maya29 have played numerous gigs in the UK, Ireland & Europe over the past 7 or so years, and not one single band member, past or present, has ever got laid as a result. Jon is looking forward to a secure future as a drunken, piss-soaked tramp, shouting at disgusted passers-by, because he cannot dance. J.

[quote name='sgt-pluck' post='153672' date='Mar 8 2008, 05:30 PM']More [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBANEZ-STUDIO-BASS-GUITAR-RARE-IN-GREAT-CONDITION_W0QQitemZ220210300542QQihZ012QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]Ibanez[/url], looks lovely. Looks HEAVY! Pluck[/quote] That's an ST-924, more or less a bolt neck Musician. I doubt two things very much - that there were only 300 made, and that it cost £600 in 1980-whatever. Also note that the fitted hard case, which will probably only fit this bass or a Musician, is not part of the auction. If you want it, you can buy it separately at an undisclosed price. Still, an interesting bass you don't see too often. J.

Here's my favourite Ibby catalogue archive: [url="http://www.ibanez.ru/info/index.php?catalog"]http://www.ibanez.ru/info/index.php?catalog[/url] RS800/900: [url="http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1979/09.jpg"]http://www.ibanez.ru/info/catalog/1979/09.jpg[/url] There will likely be some lovely wood under the refin - it'd probably be worth digging it out, I had a similar experience with my Cimar refurb project: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10819"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10819[/url] And that's a pretty decent BIN, I'd say - looks original & in decent condition, apart from the refin - and these are a lot more scarce than Blazers, for example. J.

Shame about that Pro Martin branded Kasuga - the seller refuses to either divulge the reserve, or consider posting it, even though it has a fitted hard case. Why do people put things on Ebay when they plainly don't want to actually sell them? J.

Janek is actually a member on here - perhaps he'll come & state his case in person when he gets a minute. Although I do remember some of his contributions to the old BW forum being a bit, err... [i]contentious[/i]. For my part, I don't really do "stunt bass" - although I can watch & appreciate with a mixture of admiration & gut-ripping jealousy. I'd love to be able to master some of the more advanced techniques - simply from the perspective of being able to do it. Although I have neither the patience to undertake the quantity of practice necessary, or any practical use for any of it in my own musical context. I see myself as a songwriter/composer whose main instrument happens to be bass, and as such, it seems to me that to have little or no technique or knowledge of theory would be akin to an illiterate attempting to write a novel. The other side of this (and I've been guilty myself) is to end up incorporating unnecessary techniques & complexity into a composition just because you [i]can[/i]. McCartney was mentioned earlier - I believe I remember he was quoted as saying he refused to learn theory or work on technique, because he was concerned it would be detrimental to his writing - he would be being directed by what he'd learned was "correct". Jon.

[quote name='Rayman' post='152941' date='Mar 7 2008, 11:03 AM']Is that how you spell irrelavant? irelavant, irelevant? Dunno.[/quote] Irrelevant. But that [b]is[/b] irrelevant! If I was in the market for a Fender, it'd be a used MIJ - these were built by FujiGen & many reckon they're better than the current Dyna/Tokai CIJs. Besides, it appeals to the JapCrap geek in me. Jon.

Rick basses have always had 20 frets, right from the very first 4000 series bass in the 50s. There are a few very, very rare 21 fret examples from the early 70s - but there's never been a 24 fret Rick bass, and realistically, Rickenbacker are so set in their ways, I seriously doubt that there ever will be. Jon.

[quote name='nick' post='151836' date='Mar 5 2008, 04:28 PM']Will also be interesting to see how long it stays on before removal by Rickenwaffen, now it's been posted here [/quote] Hmm - you suspect a spy in our midst? :ph34r: J.

A Shaftesbury neckthrough, with a few been-chucked-down-the-stairs type issues: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250222341521"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250222341521[/url] I do think the seller's playing dumb. J