Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 A good friend of mine runs a charity shop and someone dropped this bass off the other day. He hasn't got a clue what it is or what it's worth so naturally he brought it to me. I haven't got a clue what it is or how much it's worth. So let's see - it's a Kawai Aquarius, I'm guessing early 80s, and in very good condition. A bit of light wear and grime to the body but the neck seems pristine and is absolutely gorgeous. The pots are a bit scratchy but it all works. Can anyone* shed some light on it and how much it should fetch? Honestly, I'm very tempted to make him an offer myself! * @Bassassin 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 (edited) Nice and simple P alike... https://www.vintagejapanguitars.com.br/en/kawai-1984-aqb-catalogue/ Edited October 29, 2021 by PaulThePlug 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 41 minutes ago, PaulThePlug said: Nice and simple P alike... https://www.vintagejapanguitars.com.br/en/kawai-1984-aqb-catalogue/ Ash or Alder! That is a surprise. It's very light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Where did you say the charity shop is again? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 There was a red one on eBay earlier this year, bassassin and I were both saying it is a shame it was so far south. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/kawai-ajb-555-pj-bass-mij-1983/1399502596 £200 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 (edited) Presumably it's worth a lot more than its worth? Edit: hang about, I think I've got that the wrong way round, presumably it's worth a lot less than its worth Edited October 29, 2021 by Ricky Rioli 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 38 minutes ago, Pea Turgh said: Where did you say the charity shop is again? Blackheath but the bass is in my house and I've got first dibs 😆 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 26 minutes ago, Ricky Rioli said: Presumably it's worth a lot more than its worth? Edit: hang about, I think I've got that the wrong way round, presumably it's worth a lot less than its worth I think that makes sense 😆 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 27 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/kawai-ajb-555-pj-bass-mij-1983/1399502596 £200 Gah! Link doesn't work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 14 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said: Gah! Link doesn't work. https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/kawai-ajb-555-pj-bass-mij-1983/1399502596?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=sms Try that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 29, 2021 Author Share Posted October 29, 2021 18 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: https://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/kawai-ajb-555-pj-bass-mij-1983/1399502596?utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_campaign=socialbuttons&utm_content=app_ios&utm_medium=social&utm_source=sms Try that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 Looks like it's an AQB450, from this 1983 catalogue. Headstock is a bit different to the one @LukeFRC posted: Probaly not going to fetch quite as much as something similar like an Ibanez Blazer, although quality-wise it's on a par. Kawai is pretty obscure as a brand but that itself might make it collectable to the right punter. Looks like it could clean up to near new condition, think if I was selling it I'd put it up at £300 but be prepared to accept a fair bit less. 15 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said: Honestly, I'm very tempted to make him an offer myself! But yeah, do that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 22 minutes ago, Bassassin said: Looks like it's an AQB450, from this 1983 catalogue What do we (ie you) know about the S-2000 pickup? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 Thank you! That's a bit fancier than mine. Can't argue with the price though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 53 minutes ago, Bassassin said: Looks like it's an AQB450, from this 1983 catalogue. Headstock is a bit different to the one @LukeFRC posted: Probaly not going to fetch quite as much as something similar like an Ibanez Blazer, although quality-wise it's on a par. Kawai is pretty obscure as a brand but that itself might make it collectable to the right punter. Looks like it could clean up to near new condition, think if I was selling it I'd put it up at £300 but be prepared to accept a fair bit less. But yeah, do that. Where would Basschat be without you? It does actually feel similar to my Blazer, particularly the neck, although the body is smaller and lighter. I've just tried tweaking the neck and the rod seems to be moving just as it should... I think I'm going to make him an offer! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 5 hours ago, Ricky Rioli said: What do we (ie you) know about the S-2000 pickup? The sum total of Jack Excrement, unfortunately. Although we can make a reasonable assumption it's a decent generic P clone, similar to those in a million other MIJ basses of the era and possibly made by Maxon. And if it turns out to be guff, a reasonably inexpensive, simple (and easily reversible when flog-it time comes) upgrade. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 Probably the best bass if you cover this song Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munurmunuh Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 49 minutes ago, Bassassin said: The sum total of Jack Excrement, unfortunately. Although we can make a reasonable assumption it's a decent generic P clone, similar to those in a million other MIJ basses of the era and possibly made by Maxon. At the mention of the Blazer, I had readied a space in the temple next to the Super P for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted October 30, 2021 Author Share Posted October 30, 2021 1 hour ago, Bassassin said: The sum total of Jack Excrement, unfortunately. Although we can make a reasonable assumption it's a decent generic P clone, similar to those in a million other MIJ basses of the era and possibly made by Maxon. And if it turns out to be guff, a reasonably inexpensive, simple (and easily reversible when flog-it time comes) upgrade. It sounds like a P to me, unsurprisingly. Although I think it's still wearing the original flats, there's very little treble left 😄 But you're right, even if the guts have perished, it's straightforward to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulThePlug Posted October 30, 2021 Share Posted October 30, 2021 (edited) Mis-Matched knobs, need strings, clean n set up... charity shop... £100? You can always bung 'em another £10 or £20 latter if all comes out well and ya feeling flush. Prolly be similar-ish in Crack Converters... Edited October 30, 2021 by PaulThePlug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted November 1, 2021 Author Share Posted November 1, 2021 It is mine! 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted November 1, 2021 Share Posted November 1, 2021 cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Javier Alexander López Gut Posted October 18, 2022 Share Posted October 18, 2022 l 29/10/2021 a las 16:15, LukeFRC dijo: Había uno rojo en eBay a principios de este año, Bassassin y yo decíamos que era una pena que estaba tan al sur. Hola cómo están todos, saludos desde Colombia, hace unos días estaba en busca de un bajo, llegué a una tienda de música en mi región y encontré un acuarius bass aqb 500, no sabía nada de la marca cuando lo probé me gustó el sonido por lo que lo adquirí, tiene todo original, aunque le reemplace los potenciómetros por unos cromados pero aún conservo los originales. Lo limpie brille, tiene detalles de uso como rayones, pero su parte eléctrica todo funciona muy bien. Me puse a investigar y aunque no se sabe cómo llego a Medellín Colombia, si me di de cuenta que es de 1983. Alguna recomendación al respecto en cuanto a este tipos de bajos. Ya que aquí en Colombia no es muy común ver uno de estos. Muestro las fotos de antes de adquirirlo y luego de la restauración. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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