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Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting


Bassassin

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi guys, does anyone know how much could this one be worth? I've got trade proposal and I don't have idea whether it's good or bad proposition.. The guy says it's Japan from early 80's. I've seen some Cimars but never with this kind of headstock, which I've only seen with Ibanez basses. Any ideas on price?

[attachment=90245:Cimar-celok.jpg] [attachment=90246:Cimar-hlava.jpg] [attachment=90247:Cimar-hmatnik.jpg]

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Need some help. Got a mate who is selling one of these Westone Thunder IAs.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1A-IA-Bass-Guitar-/330616587845?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cfa48c645"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4cfa48c645[/url]

Firstly, do you think the price of £150 is fair? This one is a bit of a project (needs new strings and a new input) but apart from that it's exactly the same. It actually feels like a real quality bass (I'm almost tempted myself just to have an active!). Any help on price recommendations is really appreciated you Japcrap Gods.

Edited by Soloshchenko
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[quote name='Soloshchenko' timestamp='1317320301' post='1389512']
Need some help. Got a mate who is selling one of these Westone Thunder IAs.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1A-IA-Bass-Guitar-/330616587845?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cfa48c645"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4cfa48c645[/url]

Firstly, do you think the price of £150 is fair? This one is a bit of a project (needs new strings and a new input) but apart from that it's exactly the same. It actually feels like a real quality bass (I'm almost tempted myself just to have an active!). Any help on price recommendations is really appreciated you Japcrap Gods.
[/quote]

Westone Thunders are very good basses, I have one of the earlier 1A models with the split precision type pick up. If it is exactly the same as the one on eBay your mate has the later version 3 model with the Magnabass pick up. You can get more information on Westone basses here: [url="http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html"]http://www.westone.info/indexthunderbass.html[/url]
As for the value, they have risen in price lately. I've seen 1A's go for between £80 & £200 it really depends on the condition it's in & I've not seen as many of the later versions for sale. You also need to be sure that it is definitely the input at fault not the active electronics.
There are currently two other 1A's on eBay, both with BIN of £195.

Edited by tazza1
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  • 2 weeks later...

A Sakai that has been defretted. Tempted to have a cheeky bid, I fancy learning fretless and it's pretty close to me to pick up. Cool body shape too.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290617029253?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1413"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290617029253?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649#ht_500wt_1413[/url]

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[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1318965082' post='1408403']
Anyone have any ideas about [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160662447838&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123"]this[/url] one?
[/quote]

I'd be interested to know what it is. I made a bitsa using what looks like the same body, - extra screw in the scrathplate and neck end truss rod - Never managed to find out who made it though

I still have the neck which feels nice, kinda like a bassball bat.

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[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1318966888' post='1408440']

I'd be interested to know what it is. I made a bitsa using what looks like the same body, - extra screw in the scrathplate and neck end truss rod - Never managed to find out who made it though

I still have the neck which feels nice, kinda like a bassball bat.
[/quote]
Well I've gotten her home and given her the once over - ie. completely stripped all the components and serviced them (the bridge is a bit knackered so for now I've put on a Fender '70's RI bridge on - imagine my shock when the screw holes lined up exactly) flushed off 30 odd years of crap and put it all back together but this time as something working and playable. And the result is (as I thought from the pics) she's a lovely wee bass with a nice old school but chimey P bass sound. The body is a gorgeous one-piece Ash and by my reckoning the neck is a 5-piece. The controls are very responsive - the tone control has a very wide control sweep on it so it requires just a little winding back to keep it playable. Yes the neck is a baseball bat in profile and oddly quite Jazzy front on 39mm at the nut up to 62mm at the heel. The frets are minuscule, the tiniest I've ever seen. And finally there are no markings on it whatsoever, no dates or nothing - apart from there are patent pending stickers on the rear of the pups. But I've nick-named her Blondie.

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Somebody suggested it might be a Marlin. But I'm not so sure myself. Looks nice, and if I'd spotted it on ebay I might have been tempted. mine looks like somebody tried to relic it - with a cheese grater.

It came with a set of machine heads that look like Schallers ( big nuts on the front, smaller back plates ) and Precision type knobs. And yep, old type Fender bridge fitted straight on, so did a Fender thumb rest which I had so I stuck it on but tbh dunno why, never use it. Wonder why yours has what look like Gibson knobs.

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[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1319036597' post='1409178']
Somebody suggested it might be a Marlin. But I'm not so sure myself. Looks nice, and if I'd spotted it on ebay I might have been tempted. mine looks like somebody tried to relic it - with a cheese grater.

It came with a set of machine heads that look like Schallers ( big nuts on the front, smaller back plates ) and Precision type knobs. And yep, old type Fender bridge fitted straight on, so did a Fender thumb rest which I had so I stuck it on but tbh dunno why, never use it. Wonder why yours has what look like Gibson knobs.
[/quote]
Yeah I think the Gibbo knobs were an add-on. Not now though as this is how she looks today...



Mine has the vintage style huge plate tuners which are 100% original as there are no other screw holes in the back of the head.
Not that I would mind some Schallers on there like, but these are working perfectly, if a little pitted, which I can put up with considering her age.

I doubt very much that's she's a Marlin as any I've seen have been a little thin, Blondie is big and chunky.

Note how the lower horn and p/g don't quite match up. Is yours the same?

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[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1319041197' post='1409260']
Yeah I think the Gibbo knobs were an add-on. Not now though as this is how she looks today...



Mine has the vintage style huge plate tuners which are 100% original as there are no other screw holes in the back of the head.
Not that I would mind some Schallers on there like, but these are working perfectly, if a little pitted, which I can put up with considering her age.

I doubt very much that's she's a Marlin as any I've seen have been a little thin, Blondie is big and chunky.

Note how the lower horn and p/g don't quite match up. Is yours the same?
[/quote]

No mine fit about right. Are the pups original ? the ones that came with mine were rubbish, So I put Kent Armstrong 10Kohm vintage ones on it.

Edited by Slipperydick
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[quote name='Slipperydick' timestamp='1319047069' post='1409342']

No mine fit about right. Are the pups original ? the ones that came with mine were rubbish, So I put Kent Armstrong 10Kohm vintage ones on it.

[/quote]I've got no real way of knowing if they are original or not but they are very old and my gut feeling is that they are. Underneath they are white, that cream colour you see on top is genuine mileage. There are no "new" screw holes in the wood which you often get when new P pups are installed. There was a bit of masking tape which acted as insulation where the 2 pup's wires are joined together, it too is very old in fact it is just a dried up husk of a bit of paper so I took it off.

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