Paul S Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Muchas gracias Hoiho! Funny things, necks. Usually I like then skinny - the skinnier they are, the more I like them. But I recently bought a Shergold Marathon and the neck on that is wide-but-shallow yet still somehow doesn't feel that 'wrong'. Maybe if a 'Black n Gold' comes up at the right price I might have a punt and see. Thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoiho Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 Ah, my first proper bass, back '81 or '82 was a Shergold Marathon (in trans burgundy). I loved the neck on that. Stupidly, I sold it, t buy a mediocre Jazz. But I now have, in my work room, a couple of Marathon necks - one NOS, unfinished with an undrilled headstock, and one that's seen action. Someday, I will make good use of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 28, 2013 Share Posted December 28, 2013 NOS Marathon neck, eh? Interesting and tucked away for future reference. Meanwhile there is a beautiful black one just appeared in our classifieds, if you aren't patient enough... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted December 29, 2013 Author Share Posted December 29, 2013 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1388210670' post='2319479'] Yamaha BB1200 [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-BB1200-Bass-Guitar-/321284942605?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ace132b0d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4ace132b0d[/url] <fast show Jazz guy voice>Nice!</fast show Jazz guy voice> [/quote] Definitely is, but a shame about the "upgrades". Good job he hasn't binned the old bridge, the sensible buyer will tidy that up & re-fit it & flog the Badass. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted December 29, 2013 Share Posted December 29, 2013 A more modern than most Columbus. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=321285450491&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:3160 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 [quote name='hoiho' timestamp='1388243899' post='2319880'] Okay, I've put my Cardinal under the vernier gauge, and the results are in: [indent=1]Width at nut: 43mm. But it's only about 20mm thick. It's a shallow C-shape, obviously[/indent] [indent=1]Width at 12th: 52mm, and about 25mm thick.[/indent] That compares with 38mm, at the nut on my Epi EB-3, and 40mm on my Aria RSB. I'm somewhat surprised by them. My slight preference is for a slim jazz-type neck. I've never felt the Cardinal to be as wide as my P-bass (but maybe because that's fretless?). I can only assume that the small thickness of the neck (the EB-3 is thicker than the Cardinal), the close string spacing at the nut, and the lack of string spread, is misleading me; it certainly[i] feels[/i] slimmer than it apparently is! As for weight, unfortunately my luggage scales have a dead battery! It feels about the same weight as my RSB, if that's any guide. Not a lightweight, but not a shoulder-breaker either. I'll try and get a real figure! Okay, on the missus's people-scales it comes in at about 3.9kg/8.5lbs. That's probably a wee bit more than stock, as I've got an EMG soapbar in there at the moment, rather than the original (which I keep meaning to get off to Aaron Armstrong for a rewind). [/quote] Same neck dimensions as my 300, which weighs in at 3.67kg/8.09lbs. My 380 is out on loan at the moment but feels exactly the same. I have to agree about the neck - I actually thought it was slimmer than a typical Precision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1388393167' post='2321386'] Same neck dimensions as my 300, which weighs in at 3.67kg/8.09lbs. My 380 is out on loan at the moment but feels exactly the same. I have to agree about the neck - I actually thought it was slimmer than a typical Precision. [/quote] Thanks for that. I will keep an eye out for one, I think, if and when the timing is right. For now my budget for random bass buying has gone on an 80s Aria Pro II Classic Laser. Or is that Laser Classic? Anyway, the active one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoiho Posted December 30, 2013 Share Posted December 30, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1388393167' post='2321386'] Same neck dimensions as my 300, which weighs in at 3.67kg/8.09lbs. My 380 is out on loan at the moment but feels exactly the same. I have to agree about the neck - I actually thought it was slimmer than a typical Precision. [/quote] Over the weekend, I was making a point of playing all my basses (to justify having the all!). After doing that, I think the 380 feels slimmer not just because of the thinness front to back, but because of the lack of the taper of Precision profile necks (and Jazz, to a lesser extent). And, since I tent to use the 380 more towards the dusty end than I do my Precision, the 380 feels thinner and faster (helped, no doubt, by the shorter scale). As an aside, the Aria Pro II Classic Laser Electric (rearrange those words as is correct!) has the thin single -coil Aria pup, at the bridge, doesn't it? Does anyone know of another pup with the same dimensions? The one in my RSB is rather battle-scarred, by a previous owner, who obviously played over the pup with a hard pick, and has taken large gouges out of the cover! Edited December 30, 2013 by hoiho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 1, 2014 Share Posted January 1, 2014 Yet another price which a seller appears to have found by inspecting their own posterior. http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/Bass-/4713/i.html?LH_PrefLoc=1&_sop=10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Electra Les Paul copy bass. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Electra-Bass-Guitar-MIJ-/131085139806?ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:GB:1123 Anyone know anything about these? It doesn't seem to have the tailpiece and wooden bridge setup that so many of these LP copies do and the headstock looks as though it ought to be familiar. At one time I'd have gone for this, but my GAS for short scale les paul basses has been well and truly satiated by my Duesenberg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 Is that a Duesenberg Star Player bass? If so, do you have a separate thread on it, pictures, recordings? I can't pretend I'm likely to buy one, but the Duesenberg looks a very nice bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 (edited) Cardinal series bass with pickup replaced (visible routing), but has a hard case. Cheap starting price, pickup only, in Swaffham. I don't know where Swaffham is in relation to King's Lynn, but I wonder if this is one of those obscure locations where collection only items are attractive only to a limited pool of buyers. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cardinal-Pro-Series-bass-guitar-with-hard-case-/171210327321?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27dcee4519"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27dcee4519[/url] Edited January 5, 2014 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted January 5, 2014 Share Posted January 5, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1388931565' post='2327724'] Is that a Duesenberg Star Player bass? If so, do you have a separate thread on it, pictures, recordings? I can't pretend I'm likely to buy one, but the Duesenberg looks a very nice bass. [/quote] Yes it is, although it was called Star in 2007 when it was made. No separate thread other than Greene Kings for sale thread. It's a very nice bass with a dark sound. You were asking about Swaffham it's 16 miles SE of Kings Lynn you can probably see the lights on the wind turbine if you look out of the window! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 5, 2014 Author Share Posted January 5, 2014 [quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1388930365' post='2327705'] Electra Les Paul copy bass. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Electra-Bass-Guitar-MIJ-/131085139806?ssPageName=ADME:B:WNARL:GB:1123"]http://www.ebay.co.u...B:WNARL:GB:1123[/url] Anyone know anything about these? It doesn't seem to have the tailpiece and wooden bridge setup that so many of these LP copies do and the headstock looks as though it ought to be familiar. [/quote] I know about Electras and this isn't one. Electra was a US importer brand (actually 2 separate US importers but let's not get bogged down with that) who sourced instruments variously from Fujigen, Matsumoku & Kasuga - none of whom used the small split diamond motif. What they did use was a bloody great big headstock logo saying "Electra", and what Electra didn't do was sell any guitars in the UK. This bass was possibly made by - or at least exported by - a Japanese company called Rokkomann - the exact same bass appears in a Maya guitars catalogue. This one however will have been sold as an unbranded bass, and that's exactly what it is. If it had been branded, it would likely have been as a low-end starter brand like Columbus, Avon, Saxon etc. This exact same bass was sold under those names, so expect a hollow-top plywood body, and weedy single-coil pickups in humbucker cases. Like any cheapo, if you get a good one, they can be nice players (70s Japanese fretwork was typically decent even on low-end stuff) but intonation's going to be hit-or miss with that tinny bridge. A bass like this is a decent buy if you find one at the car boot or in Crack Converters and pay less than £50. Truss rod cover ain't original either. The wood bridge bass you mention is pretty similar to this, the only real difference being that bridge & the fact they have proper humbuckers. They're ply/hollow and also have interesting strip ply necks. These were sold unbranded and also as the Jedson "Jet Bass". J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoiho Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 Nice Aria Cardinal - a 450 (as it says on the truss rod cover), which you don't see too often. They're supposed to have a carved ash top, but it still looks pretty slabby to me, albeit a bit less angular at the flat chamfers than the 380. The 450 also has a set neck, where the 380 is bolted. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1981-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-series-bass-Made-in-Japan-Matsumoku-CSB-450-/251419143177?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a89bfac09 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted January 6, 2014 Share Posted January 6, 2014 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1388965964' post='2328338'] I know about Electras and this isn't one [/quote] Awesome. Thanks Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 8, 2014 Share Posted January 8, 2014 (edited) I'm lowballing this one. Anyone who is a serious bidder, go ahead! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maya-Fretless-Bass-/271367178850?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2ebe8a62&autorefresh=true"]http://www.ebay.co.u...utorefresh=true[/url] Edit: Someone bid £10.69 on it!!!! I'm amazed by quite how low some people's lowball bids are, but that was a different thread. Edited January 8, 2014 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='hoiho' timestamp='1389014702' post='2328742'] Nice Aria Cardinal - a 450 (as it says on the truss rod cover), which you don't see too often. They're supposed to have a carved ash top, but it still looks pretty slabby to me, albeit a bit less angular at the flat chamfers than the 380. The 450 also has a set neck, where the 380 is bolted. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1981-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-series-bass-Made-in-Japan-Matsumoku-CSB-450-/251419143177?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a89bfac09"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3a89bfac09[/url] [/quote] I have had the CSB 450 and it does have an carved top which initially makes it seem slightly less angular but it is slightly uncomfortable to play as the carve ends abruptly, almost as if it had a binding. The flat chamfers on the 380 are more comfortable for me to play. Also, the 450 has a different pickup and is less aggressive and a touch smoother, good for 80's pop and soft rock, not so good for classic rock and punk though. I sold my 450 and kept my 2 x 380s in preference (one which is a generally poor state so I have dismantled it to use the neck on a custom build bass). As a guide, I bought my 450 with hard case for £170 in Summer 2013 and sold it in the Autumn on ebay for about the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1382983924' post='2258803'] Red cardinal bass. Low starting bid. Free delivery. Very blue lined hard case. What is there not to like? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1981-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-series-bass-guitar-Matsumoku-made-CSB-450-/141102323585?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20da5a9781"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20da5a9781[/url] [/quote] That was mine, before I realised you could sell on BC. Doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='randythoades' timestamp='1389343608' post='2332977'] That was mine, before I realised you could sell on BC. Doh! [/quote] I don't know exactly how much the various flavours of Cardinals go for, but I hope you're happy with your sale. It looks a very nice instrument, and I'm sure the buyer is happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1389347757' post='2333041'] I don't know exactly how much the various flavours of Cardinals go for, but I hope you're happy with your sale. It looks a very nice instrument, and I'm sure the buyer is happy. [/quote] Buyer seemed really happy, and they should, a lot of instrument for the money... Cardinals don't go for that much really, unlikely to get one reaching much more than £200 unless on a really good day, they don't seem as popular as the Thorsound versions, although the Black and Gold versions I have seen do well on ebay. I swapped my TSB for a Cardinal when I was playing classic rock - the ash body was lighter and it had a slightly more aggressive sound. Really miss it now though as I don't like the SG body shape for playing blues and vintage styles. I have gutted one of my Cardinals and trying to build it into a Telecaster body for a more vintage looking instrument, the neck has a 57mm heel which fits nice and snug into a Fender guitar neck pocket... Great basses though, especially for the price! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Thanks for the info on your Cardinals. Interesting looking El Maya here. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/El-Maya-Ibanez-active-bass-made-in-Japan-1981-/271364720733?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2e99085d"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/El-Maya-Ibanez-active-bass-made-in-Japan-1981-/271364720733?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2e99085d[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Samashton12 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1389198157' post='2331227'] I'm lowballing this one. Anyone who is a serious bidder, go ahead! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maya-Fretless-Bass-/271367178850?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2ebe8a62&autorefresh=true"]http://www.ebay.co.u...utorefresh=true[/url] Edit: Someone bid £10.69 on it!!!! I'm amazed by quite how low some people's lowball bids are, but that was a different thread. [/quote] I just want the neck :'( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1389355942' post='2333174'] Thanks for the info on your Cardinals. Interesting looking El Maya here. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/El-Maya-Ibanez-active-bass-made-in-Japan-1981-/271364720733?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3f2e99085d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3f2e99085d[/url] [/quote] No problem, I like to share my love of the Arias! This El Maya looks interesting. Great looking body, not keen on painted necks myself though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoiho Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 [quote name='Samashton12' timestamp='1389356513' post='2333190'] I just want the neck :'( [/quote] I bought one of these tlast week - see upthread! The neck's not at all bad, nicely finished, with a pleasing profile, and it's pretty flat, which allows a low action with lots of lively mwah (although I did need to shim the neck to get it properly low). But it's not quite as flat as it should be. I get a rather nasty buzz on the G string when fingering G#. I strongly suspect a new nut, as it's cut more like a fretted nut, and a light rub might aleviate this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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