Stance Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 (edited) Great bass! Bought an El Maya - it rivals my Precisions - it was a mess (and still is) but has a lot of mojo (and I plan to keep it that way) BTW, need one of those tuners! They´re just like the ones from vintage Yamaha´s, but have the clover leaf (like yours do) PS All original except for the Squier tuner and gold anodized original fender pickguard (that hides a huge hole...) and knobs. [url="http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_20141224_013126_zpshoykaawp.jpg.html"][/url] [URL=http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_20141224_013140_zpssfuhwmnn.jpg.html][IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t303/cacem/IMG_20141224_013140_zpssfuhwmnn.jpg[/IMG][/URL] [URL=http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_20141224_013201_zps14jtf55x.jpg.html][IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t303/cacem/IMG_20141224_013201_zps14jtf55x.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Edited February 21, 2016 by Stance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Very cool bass - mojo's one thing, but give it a hose down for pity's sake - you'll catch something nasty! Seriously, that's definitely high-end, one-piece neck & solid timber (not laminate/butcher block) body makes it near-replica standard. El Mayas don't seem very common in Europe so that's a fine score there. Those tuners are interchangeable with the Yamahas - I have two basses with these, a CSL Jazz and a Cimar P/J. I had a Yamaha BB400S fretless, and swapped the CSL's tuners briefly. These torque-adjustable 3-screw cloverleafs do turn up on quite a few late 70s & early 80s MIJs - including Tokais from that era. Keep your eyes peeled on Fleabay & a set will turn up eventually. Slow progress on the Daion, mostly because my workspace is in the garage and it's freeeezin'!! Cleaned up the pickup, tuners & truss adjuster mechanism, screened the control cavity, now looking forward to cleaning up all the screws & bridge components with numb fingers! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stance Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 lololol I use gloves when I play with this one lolol Yeah, the tuners appear on vintage Yamahas (I had a couple - one was so mint that it even had the original - and very rare - key to set-up the tuners ) - but the tuner head on the Yamahas are different. I also had some Cimars - but neither of them had cool tuners - both were crappy... I´ll keep my eyes open for one tuner (in case you find another, please let me know) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 Will do. I didn't keep the Yam tuners on my CSL because the cast heads rattled! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stance Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 You´re a fan of Japanese basses - check this other gem (at least to me) I got [URL=http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_2112a_zpsxpao27jk.jpg.html][IMG]http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t303/cacem/IMG_2112a_zpsxpao27jk.jpg[/IMG][/URL] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted February 21, 2016 Author Share Posted February 21, 2016 [quote name='Stance' timestamp='1456069373' post='2985078'] You´re a fan of Japanese basses - check this other gem (at least to me) I got [url="http://s163.photobucket.com/user/cacem/media/IMG_2112a_zpsxpao27jk.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] I missed out on one of those - very, very cheap - a few months ago! Is it definitely MIJ? J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stance Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 I´m sure it´s MIJ (tough it doesn´t say it anywhere) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 3, 2016 Author Share Posted April 3, 2016 Thought it would be polite - and timely - to update this thread now the bass is done. In fairness my pics aren't a whole lot different to the original seller's because the bass wasn't too vile (on the outside!) when I got it. [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/daionbody_zpsbgawupm1.jpg.html"][/url] Now featuring the correct complement of knobs and matching strings! [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/daionhead_zpslg4m3a9e.jpg.html"][/url] Flaky lacquer repaired with Superglue, 1200 grit & T-Cut... [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/daionneck_zpspsperel0.jpg.html"][/url] Managed to capture a bit of the flame on the neck here. Very pretty in real life, the lacquer's a fair bit darker than the pics show. [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/daionguts_zpsdnidbtm2.jpg.html"][/url] A bit cleaner & tidier inside now, with lots of pretty-coloured wires and The World's Biggest Orange Drop. An entire portion, in fact. 500k pots help to liberate its inner Burnel. What's good is that everything works as it should, no problems with the truss rod gearbox and it's a pretty damn good player. It could do with a couple of frets dressed up the dusty end & once I get around to that I think it'll be the equal of the Squier SQ I had a few years back - which was the only P that I regretted selling. So, very happy with this, it looks & sounds like a proper vintage rock beast - and I think I've finally got a P I might actually use! The only downsides are that my back will hate me, and that I'll definitely have to sell my lovely early 70s Ibanez 2366B... J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Great thread and a very nice looking bass! Congrats John, Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1455362565' post='2978384'] And here's the filth and mess under the bonnet: [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Daion%20Precision%20Copy/guts_zps6el99imo.jpg.html"][/url] [/quote] Oh my giddy aunt you could grow potatoes in that lot Belting instrument though, the truss adjuster is such a neat idea. Good score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 You've made a thorough and cracking job of that Jon. What are the pickups voiced like - if you had to make a comparison between any of the Seymour Duncan range, for example, which would it be nearest to? And what was the final weight/width of neck at the nut please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stance Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Nice! Could you explain your mods on the electronics? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Liking that - is there a jazz bass version? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 Questions! OK - Paul, can't make very accurate or direct comparisons because the majority of basses I own that have P units have are fitted with DiMarzio Model Ps, the same as this! I like them because they're loud, seem to accentuate mids & are quite aggressive sounding, which tends to be what I want. I went with 500k pots which have made this a bit more clanky & snarly. Neck width is 42mm and it's a fairly shallow C-shape with quite a pronounced radius. All-up weight is about 10.4 lbs so unfortunately it is a bit of a boat anchor! Stance - nothing fancy with the wiring, just a series/parallel push/pull switch on the tone pot, which thins it out & calms it down a bit. Geek99 - there were indeed Jazz copies. These would have been sold as Daion, JooDee & Yamaki. There probably are a few around but I've never seen one. [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Catalogues/yamaki03_zpspltgeehq.jpg.html"][/url] I'd happily give a home to the maple/pearl blocks one. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlatEric Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Nice job mate!! Love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ead Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Nice work there Jon, great looking instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geek99 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thanks for the low down, Jon. It would appear that, all things considered, it has the features I am not keen on - heavy, wide-ish neck, middy aggressive pickups - useful to know should another pop up. Looks the biz, though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1459782700' post='3019562'] Thanks for the low down, Jon. It would appear that, all things considered, it has the features I am not keen on - heavy, wide-ish neck, middy aggressive pickups - useful to know should another pop up. Looks the biz, though [/quote] Ironically, I normally prefer a bass that's at least 2 or 3 pounds lighter & has a J-width neck - the pickup's the only thing on this I'd actually choose. And even that's not original. It does look badass though. Did I just actually say "badass"? J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Did you mean "naughty-bottomed"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 [quote name='Rich' timestamp='1459796015' post='3019779'] Did you mean "naughty-bottomed"? [/quote] Yes. Yes, I do believe I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh971 Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Very cool, looks awesome! I've played some 70s Fender copies which play really nice, they can be great basses. Hugh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmettC Posted April 5, 2016 Share Posted April 5, 2016 I have a very beat up '72 precision, it came with a Dimarzio pickup fitted (also cream), I recently fitted the original pup, for about twenty minutes, the Dimarzio is much nicer, I couldn't get it back in fast enough. I love my Fender, but I doubt it's any better than a decent 70s Japanese made P. It is pretty light though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotsy Posted April 9, 2016 Share Posted April 9, 2016 Woah, I've just seen one of theses for sale on Gumtree for £399:99! It's not even got all the original parts. https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/vintage-daion-electric-bass-guitar-70-s-japan-emg-pickups-refurbished-upgraded/1163857108 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted April 10, 2016 Author Share Posted April 10, 2016 [quote name='wotsy' timestamp='1460238074' post='3024014'] Woah, I've just seen one of theses for sale on Gumtree for £399:99! It's not even got all the original parts. [url="https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/vintage-daion-electric-bass-guitar-70-s-japan-emg-pickups-refurbished-upgraded/1163857108"]https://www.gumtree....aded/1163857108[/url] [/quote] Same one's been on Ebay for over a month. Going nowhere fast - wonder why? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VINTAGE-DAION-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-70S-JAPAN-EMG-PICKUPS-REFURBISHED-UPGRADED-/301923655012"]http://www.ebay.co.u...D-/301923655012[/url] J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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