Bassassin

[quote name='paul, the' post='140007' date='Feb 14 2008, 12:56 AM']So what's the best value bit of JapCrap then, Jon?[/quote] Hard to say, really - usually the stuff you pick up at car boots & charity shops for buttons! Not too many bargains on the Bay, because it's all becoming a bit collectable. Although Ebay has a funny hierarchy of brands, people assume (for no good reason) that some brands were better than others, and that some were junk - and it's not that clear-cut. Columbus, on the whole, were pretty cheap & nasty, but people will pay silly (for JapCrap) money for that brand. Avon, on the other hand, has a reputation for being the sh!ttest of the sh!t - and while this may have been true at first, later ones appear to be from Fujigen, and were really nicely made budget instruments. As far as the 80s original designs go, you won't go far wrong with any of the Matsumoku brands - Aria, Westone, Vantage, Westbury & so on. All built to a very high standard, very popular at the time, so lots about to choose from. Much, much cheaper than Ibanez or related brands - and in no way inferior. Unless you do find a Gumtree or boot sale bargain, there's an element of pot luck in buying JapCrap - but what's good is that you're unlikely to lose money re-selling, if you don't like it. J.

Two of em: A Tokai Rockinbugger, which I presume to be new: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280200308391"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280200308391[/url] And a Hondo Plywoodbugger, beat up & half the binding gone, by the looks. Wonder what the comedy reserve is? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280200381897"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280200381897[/url] J.

[quote name='finnbass' post='139085' date='Feb 12 2008, 08:58 PM']Sold! To the headed weirdo I'd like to say you led me to it Jon, but I spotted the relisted, reduced-in-price auction and then headed over here to see if it was on your list of JapCrap [/quote] Well done sir! Very unusual decapitee, that one. Think that's the third or fourth time that's been on, I did mention it the first time I saw it & kind of forgot subsequently, what with the price getting incrementally lower and all... I have been a little tardy with my JapCrapping of late though, I have to admit. Not that there's been all that much to shout about in the last week. Where are all the Rickenbuggers? J.

Gorgeous bass - and the upgrades just make it that bit more individual, imo. Glad to have been able to help you make your Rick a bit more user-friendly - and heavier! Jon.

[quote name='Tee' post='138014' date='Feb 11 2008, 10:27 AM']Anyone have an Epiphone Ripper? the [u]new one[/u] with the PJ config pickups. Any decent reviews anywhere? Harmony central seems to have older spec ones only. I'm guessing being all maple it's quite bright and snappy sounding.[/quote] Never seen one in the flesh - and I've looked. Pity they copped out & put Fender type pups on it. J.

I've been predominantly a plectrum user since I started - probably because all my early inspirations (JJ Burnel, Dennis Dunaway, Lemmy, Foxton etc) were pick users, and I stayed with it - apart from the inevitable mid-80s Mark King phase. In the intersts of broadening versatility, I started working seriously on my fingerstyle about 5 years ago, and these days never touch the pick at home. With the band it's now 50-75% fingers, depending on the set. Some things still need the pick, either because it sounds/feels "right" or I just don't have the speed to use fingers - but that will come. And some parts, like those that require aggressive right-hand damping, simply don't work without a fistful of plastic. Anyway, I'm really chuffed at the moment because after 27 years of playing it with a pick, I now can do [i]YYZ[/i] with fingers! Jon.

[quote name='David Nimrod' post='137349' date='Feb 9 2008, 10:30 PM']That is truly gorgeous - who needs a Gibson?[/quote] It is - and in all honesty, apart from the Gibson logos on the headstock, neckplate & pickup on the real deal, you'd be hard-pressed to tell them apart. J.

This one's looking promising, so far: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150212671996"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150212671996[/url] Slipped under the radar due to spelin issues. J.

[quote name='finnbass' post='137143' date='Feb 9 2008, 04:20 PM']I hope that's not your bedspread Jon [/quote] And what's wrong with a bit of pink fluff, exactly? :brow: J.

Keep ane eye on the JapCrap thread in the Ebay forum, Kev - Westy Thunders come up all the time, you'll score a decent one, no problem. Jon.

[quote name='tonybassplayer' post='136975' date='Feb 9 2008, 06:34 AM']Hi, I am looking for something slightly different and might be tempted as I wanted a Ripper or Grabber when I was a 14 year old schoolboy earning a pound a week doing a paper round so they were a little out of my league at the time !! What price are you looking to get for it ?? Regards Tony[/quote] Hi Tony - I really had no fixed sum in mind, the auction was 99p no reserve - so there was always the chance I'd be really unlucky! It seems some crazy mad foo' has bid it up to £100 already, I'm hopeful of it getting as much again considering there's still 8 days to run. Offers over £200 seem reasonable? J.

[quote name='dangerboy' post='136527' date='Feb 8 2008, 01:38 PM']I used to use one of those Hartke necks on a P-bass, and because the aluminium isn't bolted to the body, but all the string tension runs through it, it started pulling itself out of the neck by wrenching the fingerboard off. Not pretty.[/quote] I bought one off Ebay for a project about 4 years ago - it was brand new - when it turned up it was like this: [attachment=5483:fboardpeel.jpg][attachment=5484:volutegap.jpg][attachment=5482:fboardcrack.jpg] The centre section was blatantly ripping the fretboard off - even without string tension. There was no nut fitted, don't know if there had been originally - but fitting one would have been challenging, with the metal section standing about 1.5mm proud of the wood. Got a refund, fortunately. I later read that the headstocks of these have a tendency to detach - they're welded on, rather than part of the same casting - and presumably not particularly well welded. Piece of crap, basically. Don't touch! Jon.

I wouldn't ordinarily do this - but with FeeBay going the way it is, I doubt I'll be selling much more there: [url="http://search.ebay.co.uk/_W0QQdfspZ1QQfsooZ2QQfsopZ32QQlredZAny00000QQsassZmaya29band"][b]Buy my JapCrap[/b][/url] Oh & should add in the unlikely event anyone's seriously interested, make me an offer, I'll gladly pull them off EPay & sell them proper, like. J.

[quote name='umph' post='136197' date='Feb 8 2008, 12:10 AM']mij copy? ;p[/quote] Yep - like this one: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120219987488"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120219987488[/url] In fact, it [i]is[/i] that one - I listed it on EvilBay about 6 minutes before reading this thread... J.

I think he played his Jazz on most of [i]Moving Pictures[/i]. [i]YYZ[/i] certainly doesn't sound like a Rick. Jon.

[quote name='nash' post='136085' date='Feb 7 2008, 09:37 PM']600 i think[/quote] You could buy a near-identical unbranded 70s MIJ copy off me, for quite significantly less... Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='136077' date='Feb 7 2008, 09:26 PM']Does this count as a RickenFaker? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Palm-Bay-Pacific-Active-Bass-Guitar-NR_W0QQitemZ120219906142QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Very-Rare-Palm-Bay-P...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] I don't think it "infringes". Quite like it, tho. J.

The last few days' worth of JapCraps: Curious little violin bass, branded Zenta: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170190407665"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170190407665[/url] Solid-looking no-brand P copy, needs a wash: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250212638816"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250212638816[/url] Pretty Ibanez RS800 Roadster, not worth the £200 reserve: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290203331882"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290203331882[/url] Returning Ibby Slack Beagle - will it ever sell? Not with that reserve it won't: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230219067808"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230219067808[/url] Medium-scale Shaftesbury Tele bass, from Italy. TallyCrap? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110220921015"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110220921015[/url] Absurdly overpriced Columbus P copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=330209361992"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=330209361992[/url] Aria Pro II Laser Classic, with hard case: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260209543285"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260209543285[/url] A Westy Thunder 1 "base": [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=150212671996"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150212671996[/url] A trashy plywood EB-0. Why are people bidding on this? 'Cos it's a Kerr-LUMBARSE! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190196088766"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190196088766[/url] Another P copy, he's convinced himself it's a "Ventura, from the 60s" but we know it's probably an Avon, from the 70s, and someone slapped a sticker over the badge. Upside-down: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120217657652"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120217657652[/url] A Cimar P copy, the seller proving conclusively that if you know sod-all about what you're selling, just make stuff up and all the collectors will believe it. Won't they? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200197931038"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200197931038[/url] J.

[quote name='Stag' post='134721' date='Feb 5 2008, 11:24 PM']Not an eBay one but has anyone seen this?? [url="http://www.wizardguitars.com/BassGuitars.php?product=847&action=moreinfo&offset=20"]http://www.wizardguitars.com/BassGuitars.p...o&offset=20[/url] Actually looks in very good nick...[/quote] It bleedin' should do - it's brand new! Now this, on the other hand, is just outrageous - a one-off 4080 copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Reeve-Custom-Double-Neck-Guitar-and-Bass_W0QQitemZ120219170584"]Bloody hell![/url] J.