Bassassin

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='123179' date='Jan 18 2008, 10:57 PM']Now this is a VERY nice example of a Greco P-bass: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JAPAN-FUJIGEN-GRECO-Vintage-Precision-Bass-N-MINT_W0QQitemZ290199262144QQihZ019QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/JAPAN-FUJIGEN-GRECO-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url] If it was a J, then I'd probably have to go for it.[/quote] That's a lot for a Fujigen P copy, particularly when you consider shipping from Japan & import bumrape tax. Very quiet on the JapCrap front post-Xmas, particularly the elderly copies, but there's one or two oddities. A medium-scale P copy, absurdly high start: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=310015589681"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=310015589681[/url] Another old Kay P copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290199414797"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290199414797[/url] A very strange & interesting semi-acoustic: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290199537819"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290199537819[/url] A Hondo licensed S D Curlee: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160200114714"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160200114714[/url] Aria SB1000: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250206670869"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250206670869[/url] And [i]another[/i] Washburn Force 40 - you don't see any in about 5 years of regular Bay-scouring, then 2 turn up in a week: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170185698770"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170185698770[/url] J.

[quote name='The Burpster' post='122644' date='Jan 18 2008, 09:03 AM']You are limited a bit with strings on the Hohner but the Spirit can use double ball end or single ball end so you can use whatever strings.... (MASSIVE bonus).[/quote] I have seen an adapter for the Hohner on Ebay, which allows the use of conventional strings. Typically, I can't find the bloody thing now, but they do exist. Not much help, really! J.

I have a Hohner B2A, which I've had from new (waaaaay back in the 80s!) and it's my permanent gigging backup. Ebay is always full of Hohner B2s, they do tend to be quite pricey - usually the less comfortable side of £200. Often they're listed as new - I think they're still available outside of the UK - as far as I know the Hohner brand isn't currently available here. I've never played a Steinberger Spirit, so I can't really comment - but I always assumed it was the same bass rebadged - after all the Hohner is a licensed copy. Another alternative is the H&S brand - a German importer which sells through Ebay, they frequently have a nice-looking set-neck Steinberger copy which sells for about £120-ish. I've seen one of these in the flesh, in a music shop in Barcelona (unfortunately didn't get the chance of a play) and it looked solid & well put together. They don't currently have this listed on Ebay - but they do have a twin-neck (!) which might give you some idea: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/H-S-Headless-Doubleneck-Double-Neck-Bass-headless_W0QQitemZ360013012274"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/H-S-Headless-Doublen...emZ360013012274[/url] Jon.

[quote name='PJPofStHelens' post='119492' date='Jan 13 2008, 01:32 PM']...the screws holding the tuner on to the headstock all appear to be firm.[/quote] Worth clarifying that the screws aren't to hold the tuner onto the headstock - that's the job of the hexagonal nuts you're asking about! The screws actually lock the tuners in position, and stop them from spinning around under string tension - so it's vitally important to make sure they're secure too. Jon.

It does sound to me that a fret level & dress is what's needed - this is a pro job which requires specific tools & experience, though. Possibly a neck shim, too, but a luthier will do that, if necessary, as part of a set-up. It doesn't sound too serious to me. Jon.

We definitely did play dress-up more in earlier lineups of the band (it was all a bit gothy/cyber a few years back) - however our current guitarist & drummer, whilst being exemplary musicians, possess style measurable in negative values, which makes it much harder work. Also, we have a female vocalist who is naturally the focal point onstage, so this is typical: [attachment=4937:maya29edit.jpg] Really, no-one's paying too much attention to the ugly gits with instruments, and no-one has to give Nick a hard time for turning up in a Hawkwind t-shirt. We've all been doing this for a long time (the band's been gigging since 2000 & this line-up's 5 years old) so confidence isn't an issue, ever - our favourite gigs are to new audiences who don't know what to expect, and we're seldom what they do expect. I don't think, at this point, specific stage outfits for the guys in the band would make any difference either to either our performance or an audience's reaction. It's all about the music, maaan. Jon.

[quote name='andy67' post='120880' date='Jan 15 2008, 03:57 PM']aye right!! status my ass! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Status-Jazz-Bass-Japan-circa-1973_W0QQitemZ320207162845QQihZ011QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Status-Jazz-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] But it is. 70s importer brand name, I've seen these before, not sure if it's a UK brand. Remember Rob Green's basses were originally called "Strata" until Fender got arsey - whoever used Status originally (early 70s by the look of the bass) would have been quite within their rights to do the same! J.

No idea about all the electrickery, but the bass is a 70s Kay P copy - these have been talked about on here a bit lately - you'll find a few mentions in the JapCrap thread - and of course the infamous "Dog Bass"! The J pup isn't original, but the routing looks quite well done, so the rest of the mods might be similarly OK. Might be a fun project, I had one & they play OK with a bit of work, original pup on mine sounded pretty good too. Jon.

Remember, if you're putting a replacement neck on your Geddy, if it's going to be a different scale length, you'll have to reposition the bridge to compensate. If you go for a longer scale, make sure you have room to move the bridge back - I doubt there would be room for a 36" or longer. Jon.

Hard to tell from the pic - but I had it pegged as an 80s-ish Hondo P copy. It has the slightly hooky headstock, and looks like it has the bogseat type bridge saddles that you see on these. I'd be comfortable paying about £50ish for it, including postage. Not that I'll be bidding. J.

[quote name='Paul Cooke' post='120216' date='Jan 14 2008, 05:10 PM']too late... it's been pulled... you should have gone for it while it was there...[/quote] You'd've had to be quick - it started at 16.57.23 and was pulled at 17.03.15! He obviously ticked the "Buy It Now" box by mistake! And if the OP hadn't hung about asking whether £15.99 was worth a gamble, & had just hit BIN... Jon.

[quote name='paul h' post='120062' date='Jan 14 2008, 01:22 PM']If there were that many threads about her, I reckon I might have heard of her before. I've been around a while in different forms. I was on Basstalk and Bassworld. I'm sorry if you find my wanting to discuss a Lydia video an irritant. But this IS a discussion forum. P.[/quote] +1. I've never noticed any threads about her before, never seen the videos. What a great player/vocalist. [quote name='TheBigBeefChief' post='119833' date='Jan 13 2008, 10:42 PM']Just read through the thread that was closed. Laughed so hard a bit of wee came out. Glad I'm not the only one who offends the oversensitive types.[/quote] I think the difference is that you clearly go out of your way to do so! Must admit I wondered what had happened to Tanya. Jon.

The changeover from MIJ to CIJ indicates a change in factory - originally Japanese Fenders were built by Fujigen Gakki - Fender chose them initially because of the quality & accuracy of the copies they produced under the Ibanez & Greco brands in the 70s - far superior to the US CBS-era Fenders. Production was moved from Fujigen in the 90s and subsequently split between Dyna Gakki & Tokai Gakki, although I think it's predominantly Dyna at present. It's these instruments that are labelled CIJ. All three factories have a history of high-quality guitar manufacture, and as far as I know Japanese Fenders are all very consistent, regardless of the factory of origin. Jon.

Definitely a suss looking duplicate listing - but the real mystery's how the fark I missed such a glowing example of JapCrap absurdity! I had one of them, way back. Jon.

Anyway, this one is old & Japanese - original-style 1980 Ibanez Blazer, with single humbucker & headstock the same as my Cimar project, high start price, but a 3-day listing might mean it doesn't attract many bids: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190189859101"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190189859101[/url] Aria Pro Laser Heritage - quite uncommon, looks OK, neck pup not working: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160198084723"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160198084723[/url] Satellite P copy, back for about the 3rd time, and still far too dear: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280191724955"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280191724955[/url] J.

I played the Indie at Music Live '06 - it was, for the money, complete rubbish. It felt cheap & tacky, if it had been £120, no problem but £500 was a complete pisstake. I also met & chatted to "Mr Indie Guitars" about it & he was really quite cynical, basically saying it's half the price of a real one, so people will buy it anyway despite it being cheap & nasty. He also had no idea about RIC's design trademarks & their aggressive protection thereof. The fact it no longer seems to be part of the Indie range would suggest he's found out. The Rockinbetter does seem to be connected to Tokai, but doesn't seem to be in their catalogues at all. It looks a little more authentic than the Indie, it has the correct headstock & I think is neck-through. There's also a copy made by Shine, which sometimes pops up on Euro Ebay branded as Johnson. Apart from having a not very Rickish headstock, it's probably the most accurate, having a big Rick type tailpiece/bridge, convincing looking bridge pup cover & surround, and is fitted with Seymour Duncan's Rick upgrade pickups. None of them look the part as well as a 70s JapCrap effort, and are all likely to be dearer too. J

[quote name='wateroftyne' post='118493' date='Jan 11 2008, 01:19 PM']...it appears to have the wrong saddles on the bridge. He was challenged about this previously, and posted his (incredibly arrogant) responses on the listing. Then, it magically disappeared and was relisted without the questions. Nice one, Tune-o-matic...[/quote] This is the seller that our pal with the refin'd 74 Jazz is having "issues" with, isn't it? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190188059301"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190188059301[/url] Right or wrong saddles, the bridge alignment looks way out, anyway. Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='118430' date='Jan 11 2008, 11:39 AM']*** PEDANT ALERT *** He actually says "old [i]style[/i]", so that may just be a cheap modern Chinese P-bass with a plasticky finish.[/quote] Yep - that's why I said "[i]might[/i] be old & Japanese"! J.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='118277' date='Jan 11 2008, 12:16 AM']And wasn't someone looking for a [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SG-EB3-Japanese-Vintage-Copy-Bass-with-Slotted-Peghead_W0QQitemZ250203577391"]long-scale EB3[/url]?[/quote] That's the same as the Ibanez I mentioned when he asked - from Fujigen, April 1976. Looks very tidy. A few more from the last few days: Aria Pro Cardinal, pretty blue, £125 BIN: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230211275155"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230211275155[/url] Washburn Force 40, through-neck, active, built at Matsumoku, made out of sex & I want it: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230210696530"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230210696530[/url] Aria SB1000: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220190697343"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220190697343[/url] Westone Thunder 1, x2: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300188320690"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300188320690[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180204462563"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180204462563[/url] And just to prove it's not all Matsumokus today, a real oddity from Fujigen - an Ibanez Axstar: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200191052260"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200191052260[/url] And a no name, no packdrill P copy, might be old & Japanese, but is, apparently, [i]fibreglass[/i]. Wuh? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=270202350054"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270202350054[/url] J.

[quote name='Musky' post='118248' date='Jan 10 2008, 11:23 PM']Does this mean both of us were right, or we were both wrong? [/quote] Both. And that Rickenbackers are beyond the understanding of mere mortals. J.

4001S: [url="http://www.nationwideguitars.com/79_4001S.html"]http://www.nationwideguitars.com/79_4001S.html[/url] 4000: [url="http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/4000/4000.htm"]http://www.rickbeat.com/modelslibrary/4000/4000.htm[/url] I'd like to see a pic of the rout - if he doesn't know his Ricks he might well assume the wiring channel was a home job. J.

I don't think it's a 4000. It should have a through neck. I think the set neck was the 4001S. He's either a bit dim or he's at it. Jon.