Bassassin

The pickup's a Schaller - clue no.1 being "Made In Germany" on the underside of the covers, and then finding a wiring schematic with the same colour leads - the model's PBX & they still make it: [url="http://schaller-electronic.de/hp31873/PBX.htm?ITServ=CY796117abX1174a3c3344X1d39"]http://schaller-electronic.de/hp31873/PBX....174a3c3344X1d39[/url] I even sussed out that it's post-1990, otherwise it would have said "Made In West Germany"! These get good reviews, but unfortunately mine seems to have no output - although the wiring before I dismantled the bass was chaotic, and I haven't tested it properly since taking it out. Bod - Sumbro & CSL were one & the same, CSL = Charles Summerfield Ltd. I don't know if Sumbro were built at Fujigen - the CSL brand seems to have appeared around the time Summerfield were UK importer for Ibanez - which is probably why they went to Fujigen for their own brand. J.

Something to keep me distracted over the Season Of Illwill - I grabbed this on Ebay for a massive £43 - I don't tell you lot about all the JapCrap I spot... It's a Cimar, from about 1979/1980, with no name other than the rather unimaginative "Electric Bass" on the headstock. These were built by Fujigen Gakki, and actually marketed as an Ibanez sub-brand - in fact the Cimar Stinger & early Ibanez Blazers are identical. Also this is a close relation of my CSL Jazz copy - note the identical headstock shape: Anyway - as you can see from the original listing pics, it's seen better days - it's had a Halfords rattle can refin, a replacement P pup and a not quite right size replacement scratchplate. It's missing its full complement of strings and the bridge looks decidely odd... I picked it up over Christmas - and first appearances were not great - the neck was severely bowed, with a quite significant twist. Fortunately it turned out that the two remaining strings were wildly overtightened, and the truss rod completely slack. Removing the strings & allowing the neck to settle has straightened the curvature & reduced the twist to a barely discernible level. The truss rod appears never to have been adjusted, and works fine. Which was a relief. Knowing Fujigens to be generally well-made instruments, I extended a claw & had a bit of a scrape at the paintwork. This is what I found: Yes - somebody has squirted horrible matt black over what looks like a rather lovely ash body. I suppose there's no accounting for taste. Anyway, full stripdown & examination next - Neck removed, all hardware removed, dismantled & stored in 2 plastic tubs - all the grimy/corroded metalwork in a separate one, doused liberally with WD40. The electrics were a mess, the pickups wired (well, sort of) to single volume & tone & 3-way selector. Research shows me this setup was original - but I don't think I'll be rebuilding it like that. The replacement P pickup turned out to be a Schaller PBX - unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any output from it. The bridge pup is a typical 70s round-ended Jap Jazz type, which outputs a healthy 7.5k or so - and will probably sound pretty decent, if my experience of these is anything to go on. The strange-looking bridge saddle layout was the result of somebody confusing the string holes with the saddle holes when reassembling the bridge & stringing up. Did someone actually [i]play[/i] it like this? The saddles themselves are rusted badly, the height adjusters in two are seized, and the saddles will need to be replaced. I'm not sure they're original, anyway. The bridge base plate is a chromed alloy casting, pretty chunky & in decent condition, so I won't replace the entire bridge. The tuners are the same as the set on my CSL - I like the design of these, they have cast alloy backplates & a tension-adjustable collar. The same design, with different keys, was used on some early 80s Yamahas, too. These are in pretty decent condition - a little rough with corrosion on the backplates, and some pitting (and one bit of peeling chrome) on the keys. They'll clean up OK. To work on the body, then. Much as I'd like to hope the ratbike black would just flake off, it's actually been competently sprayed - the original lacquer's been keyed, and there's a coat of primer under the black. There's nothing for it but the 400 grit paper... Anyway - two days of gentle abrasion, and this is revealed: I'm assuming it's ash - Fujigen basses from this era tended to be ash, mahogany or maple. It's less like a 3-colour sunburst in real life, not so yellow as the pic appears. This is a common finish on late 70s/early 80s Ibanez, the catalogues refer to it as "brown sunburst". How poetic. Anyway, I think this is pretty damn nice, and apart from a liberal application of T-cut & elbow grease, I'll be keeping this finish It has been played over its 30-odd years, and as a consequence has a few scars to show for it - I won't be refinishing anything or replacing components that work, as I'd prefer it to be as original as possible. A bit of Google digging revealed this: The same bass, with a rosewood board. It's reasonable to assume mine would have once had a tort plate. The original plate is pretty close to a P shape, and I'm left with a choice whether to use a standard P type (£11 off Ebay) or to attempt to fabricate my own to the original shape. I'm guessing the plate mine came with was the cheapest possible replacement, since every other expense has been spared on this bass - but (apart from having no screwholes in common) it's a surprisingly good fit and apart from being slightly long at the lower horn, doesn't look wrong. It would be a good basic template to work from if I make my own. Anyway, that's about where I am with this, I'm presently cleaning up the metalwork & polishing the body, the neck's cleaned & the frets wire-wooled (not much wear, but a bit rough) and I'm thinking about building it up [i]sans[/i] electrics, just to see how it plays. Jon.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='113417' date='Jan 4 2008, 10:52 AM']Our friend in Germany has a nice Ibanez jazz going. as ever is asking price is a bit optomistic i think. nice looking thing though. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/70s-IBANEZ-JAZZ-BASS_W0QQitemZ180200808315QQihZ008QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/70s-IBANEZ-JAZZ-BASS...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote] One of the many he repeatedly lists & unsurprisingly never seems to sell. He has a black one the same, too. That Antoria Jazz I posted up earlier, identical apart from the name & colour, went for £175 yesterday. J.

It's gone a bit quiet again in JapCrap land, after the post-Christmas surge of activity. But there's this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200189066560"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200189066560[/url] Antoria P bass, he reckons, but I'd say a hybrid, Antoria Jazz neck on a P body, with nice parts box hardware. I do think this would scrub up nice. A bargain Hohner Jack, for anyone in Surrey. Poor listing & no post means this has as yet gone unnoticed: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=300186943273"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=300186943273[/url] A Matsumoku - or, at least, Aria-like EB-0, if it stays cheap, I might have a pop at this... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120205931105"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120205931105[/url] And while I don't usually post US-listed stuff, I'll make an exception for this - a Kawai Sleekline, basically a farked-up Jazz, only the second time I've seen one. The first was a few years ago, it went through UK Ebay twice without selling, with a stupid start price - at a time when I had no money. Unfortunately third time unlucky, & someone snagged it. Ebay being Ebay, there's always another one coming along - and here it is: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=180201082424"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180201082424[/url] Don't know what the customs sting on that would be, but if it doesn't get any bids... J.

+1 for Sir Finn Of Bass' cocktail stick method, substituting epoxy for his choice of adhesive. The pointed ends of cocktail sticks allow several to be used for larger holes, they can be tapped down to make a tight fit & cut flush (carefully!) with a Stanley knife blade. Jon.

[quote name='aj5string' post='113055' date='Jan 3 2008, 05:17 PM']What scale length will this be? And what type of price would you aficionado's think is acceptable for it? Alex.[/quote] It looks medium-scale to me, but if I were you I'd message the seller & get them to measure nut to bridge. Pricewise it's hard to say - the Antoria brand attracts a premium because they're from the same factory as Ibanez & are often identical. There's no good reason for the premium, other than Ebay Madness. If I really wanted one of these, I'd probably be prepared to go to £150 or so, which bears in mind I'd get my money back reselling if I didn't get on with it. If you're prepared to go a bit higher, you could probably snag the very similar Shaftesbury: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260197959651"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260197959651[/url] - Because I'll be very surprised if people will actually bid competitively on it, at that start price. This bass appears to be very similar to early Aria versions, and was possibly built by Matsumoku. J.

[quote name='beerdragon' post='112615' date='Jan 2 2008, 10:26 PM']That Kay looks a lot like the dog bass i posted. [url="http://www.dogswebspace.com/bass1.htm"]http://www.dogswebspace.com/bass1.htm[/url][/quote] It does, doesn't it? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=10320&view=findpost&p=109528"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=109528[/url] J.

Yep - it's a Kay, probably early/mid 70s, and possibly made in Taiwan - it's not yet known if any Kays were MIJ. Jon.

I think that's pretty damned erotic - especially with the LEDs. Jon.

15. I suppose the band taking its longest break ever, from August until the middle of December didn't help, but I'm still very disappointed. 2008 should be busier. Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='112427' date='Jan 2 2008, 05:10 PM']Be very careful ... there's no full-length photo and that could easily be a short-scale or even a 3/4-size bass.[/quote] That's full-scale, I had one for a while. These are not bad, but might take a bit of brutalising to set up right - the neck on mine was glued as well as bolted into the neck pocket, and I'm certain came from the factory like that. It took some persuading to remove - which was absolutely essential to shim it down to a playable string height. They also weigh an absolute ton - I don't know what the body's made of, but I'm sure a whole tree made of it would have its own gravity well. The necks are weird - what in the early days of Jap/Oriental guitar manufacture was referred to as "strip mahogany" - plywood by any other name. This means the neck's very rigid - but also ridiculously heavy, too. Quite a bulky feel to the neck if I remember. Mine actually sounded great, very authentic, and played not bad too, would have benefited from a decent fret dress but was perfectly playable anyway. TBH though, £49, plus £17 postage, plus necessary upgrades (bridge!) and replacement bits & bobs - you could pick up a better/proper JapCrap P copy for about the same if you're patient. J.

[quote name='Musky' post='112149' date='Jan 2 2008, 10:39 AM']A genuine Ibanez up for sale - [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-Model-2389bmr-Bass-Guitar-Rare-MIJ-Retro_W0QQitemZ140194948589"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-Model-2389bmr...emZ140194948589[/url] Not sure I like the sound of the neck repairs though.[/quote] That's probably why it's not £100 dearer - these basses (it's a 2388bDX if it doesn't have a serial number ) can fetch over £500, just on the strength of the logo. Speaking of which - the original trc's not present, he's very careful not to show the headstock. Also bear in mind that this was a standard factory design by Fujigen Gakki - it might have never been an Ibanez. Anyway, if I was looking to buy (at that price? Not a hope, there'll be one at the local car boot for £35 eventually) I wouldn't be concerned about the splits at the body - this is very common on real Ricks, so it's hardly surprising when it happens on JapCrap. It's presumably a messy bodge of a repair, though, which is likely why he mentions it. The neck cracks sound a bit more worrying - it's either been battered or it's had the truss rod hugely overtightened. I don't like the fact he'd sooner show an old catalogue image than any pictures of the damage. Despite what he says, I'd be as concerned about the likelihood of a ridiculously high & unlowerable action, which is surprisingly common on 70s neckthrough/set neck JapCrap in the first place, and seems to be standard on these. I have seen a few of this model, and I played one a couple of years back which was practically unplayable above the 7th fret - the strings were being stretched out of pitch simply to fret a note. The neck was straight, and the saddle slots had been filed brutally to try & get it down, but it was still about 1cm at the 12th fret. The only way I can see to rectify this would be to rout a hole for the bridge to sit in. I'd always be wary of a through-neck example, unless I could get to see it before I bought it. Or it was insanely & absurdly cheap. J.

Hurry up & have a laugh at this before it disappears up its own absurdity: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LATE-60s-RICKENBACKER-BASS-MAKE-AN-OFFER_W0QQitemZ230208819469"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LATE-60s-RICKENBACKE...emZ230208819469[/url] It's a Hondo. J.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='111367' date='Dec 31 2007, 11:05 AM']And finally, for the lovers of the weird, esoteric, and exclusive to Woolies in the late 60s/early 70s, a Teisco EB(?) which was probably sold as a "Top Twenty": [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290194561326"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290194561326[/url][/quote] Looks as though the light's attracting them: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220187500085"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220187500085[/url] This one still has its Top Twenty sticker. J.

[quote name='tauzero' post='111836' date='Jan 1 2008, 03:40 PM']Right, who's going to offer him £150?[/quote] I'd maybe give him £150 - but it's in a bit of a state. Looks like lots of bits of binding have started splitting & peeling off and have been Evo-Sticked back, and the scratchplate & knobs are non-original. Surprised it hasn't been pulled due to the title - are the Rick Police on Xmas holiday? J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='111364' date='Dec 31 2007, 10:57 AM']....I'd prefer a thru-neck[/quote] Here you go then: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170181713050"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170181713050[/url] Although with that BIN, I hope it just gathers dust. This is maybe a Shaftesbury, Maya, Cimar or the like - but it's pretty battered looking & far from original. Having seen a few neck-throughs with unadjustably high actions, I'd be a bit wary about buying one off the bay, I think. Unless it was stupidly cheap. J.

Well, Christmas is over, and the JapCrap's coming back. Which is nice. An Arbiter/Matsumoku (probably) Rick copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120203908461"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120203908461[/url] And a no-name neckthrough 4001-a-be with a tongue-swallower of a BIN: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170181713050"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170181713050[/url] The ever-popular & so far sensibly priced Ibby RS900 Roadster: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=140194099066"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=140194099066[/url] Keepin' it Fujigen, an Antoria Jazz, high start but worth a sniff if it doesn't attract too many bids: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320201155257"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320201155257[/url] And keepin' it both Fujigen and Antoria, a nice old LP bass (shame about the cack bridge): [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260198569119"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260198569119[/url] And maintaining the Gibson-esque theme, but this time hailing (possibly) from the JapCrap anorak's favourite sewing machine factory: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260197959651"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260197959651[/url] And finally, for the lovers of the weird, esoteric, and exclusive to Woolies in the late 60s/early 70s, a Teisco EB(?) which was probably sold as a "Top Twenty": [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290194561326"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290194561326[/url] Good to have 'em back, isn't it? J.

Good grief! A 70s JapCrap Rick copy: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120203908461"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120203908461[/url] Very nice nick & also very interesting - it has twin truss rods, like most copies don't. and it's somehow even odder to see this on a bolt-neck. I think it's a Matsumoku, the hardware & age (owner claims to have had it from new) would point to that, and some other Arbiters are confirmed Mats. J.

[quote name='finnbass' post='109578' date='Dec 26 2007, 06:00 PM']Does yours have fur around the hood? [/quote] Oh, that's right, mock the afflicted. FYI I have several, some with fur, some without. And some of them have pink fur. I'm not ashamed. J.

The body's from a 70s Kay KB24. I knew this at first glance. Will somebody please take me outside & shoot me? Jon.

[quote name='warwickhunt' post='107593' date='Dec 21 2007, 12:40 PM']If it is the same T&C as the UK it will have to be a minimum of £50 or the equivalent in $... now that is scary![/quote] Well it's now bid up to $50 and the reserve's not met yet - which demonstrates two very disturbing, but strangely amusing things, I think. And I did enquire what the reserve was, and whether he would ship to Yurp - both questions he has chosen to ignore. Although that might be because I suggested he do a Google image search for "Warwick Buzzard", and pointed out his Warwick neck was a bit of well-used 70s JapCrap with a sticker slapped on it. Oops. J.

[quote name='Hit&Run' post='108929' date='Dec 24 2007, 02:42 PM']I've gone for the P-pickup spot because that's where I like to rest/anchor my thumb. Resting your forearm on the top edge of the body can lead to [i]carpal tunnel syndrome[/i]. Or so I've heard. That said, I wish I could get some decent floating thumb action going down. Then I wouldn't be limiting my choice of basses and their respective pickup placements.[/quote] That's a bit worrying - although thinking about it I can understand how that could develop. Time for a rethink, perhaps! J.