randythoades Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 To echo other comments. The prices of the MIJ stuff is embarrassingly low, definitely not a time to be selling. In the last month I picked up an 80s Aria Pro II TSB 350 as a backup to my existing 350 for just £101, and an amazing Aria Pro II 1981 Stratocaster for £67. I need to purge my collection at the moment but just not the time to sell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 8, 2015 Share Posted January 8, 2015 (edited) Here's a Cardinal Series bass. Left handed, but strung right handed. Hard case, reasonable postage, low starting price. It'll be interesting to see how high this goes. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-Bass-Left-handed-but-strung-right-handed-One-owner-Includes-case-/231446876573?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35e34f119d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item35e34f119d[/url] EDIT: Seems that some people are bidding on this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-GRANT-Fretless-bass-guitar-1960s-70s-Made-in-Japan-hard-case-/400837830018?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5d53cbe582 Edited January 8, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 9, 2015 Share Posted January 9, 2015 I am interested in that cardinal bass. One of mine has a long crack in the neck, nothing extreme but it would be nice to find another neck and swap over the nut etc, and then keep spare pickups and things as parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotsy Posted January 10, 2015 Share Posted January 10, 2015 (edited) Looks like a bargain to me: Vantage x88 bin for £150 http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-Guitar-Vantage-X88-4-string-fretted-right-hand-with-carry-case-/251786548778?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a9fa5d62a 15 hours left to bid on a Blazer (custom paint job), currently at £150: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331437507020?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT Edited January 10, 2015 by wotsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 10, 2015 Author Share Posted January 10, 2015 That Vantage is quite special - they don't come up in the UK very often & I'm pretty sure I've never seen that model in real life. Quite relieved I've got past my "have to have it" phase... J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 (edited) Nice looking Ibanez Artist fretless. But, 'Economy Delivery' is £82? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-Fretless-Bass-1979-/321638992641?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae32d8b01"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4ae32d8b01[/url] Edited January 12, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 12, 2015 Share Posted January 12, 2015 Ouch. Nice looking bass though. Got an Aria TSB 350 here: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1980-Aria-Pro-II-Thor-Sound-Bass-Guitar-TSB-350-Japan-Matsumoku-/231448771243?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35e36bfaab"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1980-Aria-Pro-II-Thor-Sound-Bass-Guitar-TSB-350-Japan-Matsumoku-/231448771243?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35e36bfaab[/url] £275 a very optimistic price I would suggest current climate, especially for one sprayed matt black and broken off strap pins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Westone Thunder 1A. BIN, but probably just a tad optimistic in the current climate. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-bass-guitar-With-Active-Pickup-Made-In-Japan/291344591055 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wotsy Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 [quote name='Musky' timestamp='1421272857' post='2659355'] Westone Thunder 1A. BIN, but probably just a tad optimistic in the current climate. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-bass-guitar-With-Active-Pickup-Made-In-Japan/291344591055 [/quote] There's one on Guntree for 150, looks in good nick too: http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/westone-thunder-1a-active-bass-guitar/1096507911 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) Prices of Thunders vary, but they seem to be holding up right now. A nice fretless sold for £185, but another sold for £147. On average the fretless basses seem to outperform the fretted ones. E.g. this one for £121 is about typical. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Matsumoku-Made-in-Japan-MIJ-Vintage-Bass-Guitar-Westone-Thunder-1A-Active-/161448463105?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2597140b01"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item2597140b01[/url] But, look at this one. £195!!! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1-Vintage-Collectors-Bass-Guitar-C-W-Fitted-Hard-Case-/141497623289?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20f1ea62f9"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item20f1ea62f9[/url] Would the new fitted hard case add to the price? I personally would prefer the original case. Thunder III fretless, £311. I think I've seen them sell for more in the past. Not a bass, but this Thunder 2A Guitar sold for £295!!!!! Is there anything special about it, as it looks identical to mine. Mine is in excellent, near new, condition and has the OHSC. Not that I want to sell it. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-2a-/111512250806?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19f6a5e9b6"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19f6a5e9b6[/url] Edited January 15, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Prices for Thunder IIs & IIIs have always been higher (unless you drop lucky), I guess because of the Matsumoku through-neck thing, which seems to be something people will pay a fair amount for - look at the prices of Aria Pro SBs & SB-Rs. Bolt-neck Thunders have held their prices surprisingly well while much of the rest of vintage MIJ has been in freefall. They never went for much more than £150, and many still do - surprising considering how common they are. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 15, 2015 Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) I thought that some years ago when I watched them more carefully, that a Thunder 1A could be obtained for about £130, with an exceptionally cheap one just getting under £100 if it's pickup only in some obscure location, and up to about £160 as a good price, up to £200 exceptionally. Right now they're matching this and more. The £295 for the Thunder 2A guitar seems exceptionally high to me. The Thunders seem to be considerably outperforming the Bass Collections price wise. A Bass Collection SB320 went for £80 (or was it £80?) recently. Maybe an apples and oranges comparison as they're from different eras. But I wonder how they compare as basses. Edited January 15, 2015 by Annoying Twit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 On Ebay there's always the occasional out-of-hand bidding war leading to crazy prices or under-the-radar bargain, but there's usually a sort of median price range - I don't think it's changed much for Thunders. I had a nice T1 guitar which sold for exactly £150, about 6 years ago! Regarding current disparities, I refer my learned friend to [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/7473-japcrap-spotting/page__view__findpost__p__2636357"]my earlier post [/url]contrasting the same seller's Washburn Force 40 & (poxy) Westone Thunder! J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Aria Pro II CSB 380 £100 BIN collection only Newcastle. Should make someone happy. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-Series-CSB-380-Bass-Guitar-/171644660812?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f6d1ac4c"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-Series-CSB-380-Bass-Guitar-/171644660812?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f6d1ac4c[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Thanks Jon. That's a good example of a tale of two Japanese brands. [quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1421429664' post='2661179'] Aria Pro II CSB 380 £100 BIN collection only Newcastle. Should make someone happy. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blue-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-Series-CSB-380-Bass-Guitar-/171644660812?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f6d1ac4c"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27f6d1ac4c[/url] [/quote] What does it mean by 'maple replacement neck'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421432923' post='2661238'] What does it mean by 'maple replacement neck'? [/quote] Good question. From the rest of the pitch it sounds like a junk shop bloke who's Googled the bass for details, so maybe he means "detachable". J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421432923' post='2661238'] Thanks Jon. That's a good example of a tale of two Japanese brands. What does it mean by 'maple replacement neck'? [/quote] The original spiel from Aria on this included 'replaceable neck', along with 'flat ash body' etc. Someone should buy this before a bid is placed. I wonder if he'll post? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloodaxe Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1421432923' post='2661238']What does it mean by 'maple replacement neck'?[/quote] Partial misquote from the catalogue specs I suspect:— (Lifted from the 1984 catalogue). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howdenspur Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Bolt on as opposed to set neck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 [quote name='howdenspur' timestamp='1421438092' post='2661339'] Bolt on as opposed to set neck? [/quote] Yes, but replaceable sounds better than 'bolt on'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassassin Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 I suspect here it's reasonable (for me) to assume that "replaceable" is in fact Japlish for "detachable". Q, E, and quite possibly, D. J. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 [quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1421451208' post='2661594'] I suspect here it's reasonable (for me) to assume that "replaceable" is in fact Japlish for "detachable". [/quote] I briefly wondered if it was yet another case of a neck and a body from basses of different scale lengths put together. But I zoomed in on the picture of the neck and it looked like the original. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AgentCooper Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hondo-Professional-Bass-80s-32-Medium-Scale-length-very-rare-MIJ-Japan-/191484400461?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c955c134d"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hondo-Professional-Bass-80s-32-Medium-Scale-length-very-rare-MIJ-Japan-/191484400461?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c955c134d[/url] Replacement tuners but decent lump. No doubt weigh a Tonne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annoying Twit Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Nice fretted Thunder III. Surely it will sell for that starting price. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BASS-GUITAR-WESTONE-THUNDER-111-WITH-HARD-CASE-/321645379613?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae38f001d Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
randythoades Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Nice looking Westone Thunder II bass. I think this is the V3 which was the medium scale one. It looks very nice indeed and a good price if you are close to Yeovil. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-2-Bass-Guitar-with-case-/261740444845?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cf0f23cad"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-2-Bass-Guitar-with-case-/261740444845?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cf0f23cad[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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