Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Ou7shined]

£245 for the Yammy I lost interest at £73.

[nick]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='662131' date='Nov 22 2009, 09:19 PM']£245 for the Yammy I lost interest at £73. [/quote]

Me too @ £82

[Bassassin]

Tell you what - the recession's done some weird stuff for JapCrap. I think people have downsized their GAS ambitions and focussed their attention on lower-end collectable stuff like this, hence some silly price increases. I just sold a Hondo Tele copy for £147 - which is easily £70 more than I expected, or would have got 18 months ago.

Anyway - I nearly pulled the trigger on this:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-bass-guitar-fretless-conversion_W0QQitemZ220514933626"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-bass-gui...emZ220514933626[/url]

Aria Pro II PB1500 - these are outrageously rare & I've wanted one since 1985 when Russell Webb from The Armoury Show played one. Unfortunately I have neither £100 to drop on it, or the time to put it right. The dodgy-looking defret worries me a bit, too.

Someone do the decent thing!

J.

[pete.young]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='662131' date='Nov 22 2009, 09:19 PM']£245 for the Yammy I lost interest at £73. [/quote]
Crikey. Norman's Antoria Les Paul went for £215 which I thought was a lot.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='662532' date='Nov 23 2009, 11:47 AM']I nearly pulled the trigger on this:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-bass-guitar-fretless-conversion_W0QQitemZ220514933626"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-bass-gui...emZ220514933626[/url][/quote]
And how I wish I had, if only for the purpose of quick 'n' dirty profiteering - it sold for nearly twice its BIN!

Jon.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='655149' date='Nov 15 2009, 01:25 PM']The nice MIJ EB copies do come up, Kasuga & Matsumoku definitely are worth a look as well as Fujigen. I'll flag 'em if I spot 'em.

J.[/quote]
And another one, seriously worth a look if you're in the Midlands, because he won't post - I've asked. I'm pretty sure it's a Matsumoku, branded as Eros (Rosetti's 70s JapCrap brand) and closely related to the 1931 & 1910 basses on this page:

[url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/solid/sg/19xx.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/aria/solid/sg/19xx.html[/url]

It's a stealth listing (ie rubbish) & won't attract Ebay JapCrap hunters, most of whom don't habitually search under "bass". As such it will likely be cheap & I'd seriously recommend someone picks it up, if only to profiteer. Or sell it to me. But not both.

J.

[BigRedX]

Jon, which bass are we talking about here? You seem to be missing a link to the auction in your post?

Are these set neck or bolt-on? I know most are bolt-on but every so often there are examples which are made to same way as the instruments they are trying to copy.

[Ou7shined]

VGC short scale Jedson - fairly Tele shaped - 75 earth pounds BIN. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160383197071&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123"]linky[/url]
I'd probably have snaffed it for a laugh but I'm saving hard for something at t'other end of the spectrum.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='671247' date='Dec 1 2009, 04:24 PM']Jon, which bass are we talking about here? You seem to be missing a link to the auction in your post?

Are these set neck or bolt-on? I know most are bolt-on but every so often there are examples which are made to same way as the instruments they are trying to copy.[/quote]

Coinsider the plot thoroughly lost! What a twunt.

This one - I assume it's a bolt-on because the 2 other Eros EB copies I've seen were:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270492800585"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270492800585[/url]

J.

[LukeFRC]

I guess this would be the place to ask... (captain japcrap mainly)

I said I would fix a bass for a friend, expecting an encore or stagg he came over nad dropped off a "Hohner bass" It's a pretty good P bass copy, Made in japan, ply body with 3 colour sunburst, maple neck and separate maple fretboard (fairly chunky with trussrod access at body end), BWB scratchplate, 7 screw bridge.... and bizarrely fender headstock shape, I would guess that make it quite old?

[Bassassin]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='671649' date='Dec 1 2009, 10:20 PM']I guess this would be the place to ask... (captain japcrap mainly)

I said I would fix a bass for a friend, expecting an encore or stagg he came over nad dropped off a "Hohner bass" It's a pretty good P bass copy, Made in japan, ply body with 3 colour sunburst, maple neck and separate maple fretboard (fairly chunky with trussrod access at body end), BWB scratchplate, 7 screw bridge.... and bizarrely fender headstock shape, I would guess that make it quite old?[/quote]
Yep - 70s, early 80s. MIJ Hohners were made by Moridaira until about 82 - 83 when they moved production to Korea. There may have been other Jap factories making Hohners but most of the ones I've seen are definitely Moridaira. If the P has a serial number sticker that looks like this:
[attachment=37519:serialsticker.jpg]
Then that confirms it's a Mori.

Got any pics, Luke?

J.

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='671403' date='Dec 1 2009, 06:43 PM']VGC short scale Jedson - fairly Tele shaped - 75 earth pounds BIN. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160383197071&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123"]linky[/url]
I'd probably have snaffed it for a laugh but I'm saving hard for something at t'other end of the spectrum.[/quote]

If anyone fancys one of these, I have a fairly trashed one (possibly missing a tuner, lost somewhere in my parents house) I'll post you for £55.

[2x18]

Another Jedson---- How Much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jedson-Bass-Guitar-Telecaster-Short-Scale-60s-Vintage_W0QQitemZ270494704914QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3efabda512"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jedson-Bass-Guitar-T...=item3efabda512[/url]

Will.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130349656696&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en"]Antoria mudbucker tele bass[/url]

Totally planning on bidding for this, so if anyone wants to plan to not drive the price up, I have a set limit in mind, so PM me.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='671732' date='Dec 1 2009, 11:50 PM']Yep - 70s, early 80s. MIJ Hohners were made by Moridaira until about 82 - 83 when they moved production to Korea. There may have been other Jap factories making Hohners but most of the ones I've seen are definitely Moridaira. If the P has a serial number sticker that looks like this:
[attachment=37519:serialsticker.jpg]
Then that confirms it's a Mori.

Got any pics, Luke?

J.[/quote]

yep....

[LukeFRC]

oh and this i swapped with rasta for a POD, unmarked headstock aria pro 2. It's japanese so Ill stick it up here, someone may be able to tell me something about it.

[noelk27]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='675158' date='Dec 5 2009, 06:22 PM']oh and this i swapped with rasta for a POD, unmarked headstock aria pro 2. It's japanese so Ill stick it up here, someone may be able to tell me something about it.[/quote]

It's late 80s, from the RSB range. Control layout mirrors the likes of the RSB Deluxe II, but it uses a later pickup design than the MB-III used in the D-II, but similar to the pickup that first appeared with the RSB Medium II in '85. Best guess '87 RSB series.

[Musky]

It looks like the original pickups have been replaced and the the routing for the larger footprint filled, so it might have come with MB IIIs.

Luke, what's the serial number - the first digit (or possibly the first two) will give you the year.

Edited December 5, 2009 by Musky

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Musky' post='675191' date='Dec 5 2009, 07:08 PM']It looks like the original pickups have been replaced and the the routing for the larger footprint filled, so it might have come with MB IIIs.

Luke, what's the serial number - the first digit (or possibly the first two) will give you the year.[/quote]

yeah replacement pups, made by 'shadow' whoever that is
serial is 3061192

[Bassassin]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='675158' date='Dec 5 2009, 06:22 PM']oh and this i swapped with rasta for a POD, unmarked headstock aria pro 2. It's japanese so Ill stick it up here, someone may be able to tell me something about it.[/quote]

Pretty sure it's an RSB Special II - I have an RSB Deluxe II which I bought new in 1985 - the Special was contemporary to it, with a different finish & pickup layout. This would have originally had 2x soapbars with P-layout pole pieces - I think they're MBIVs.

Dunno what sort of rewiring's been done in there but that should have stack knobs, I think. My Deluxe does, & the control layout's otherwise identical.

J.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='675256' date='Dec 5 2009, 09:02 PM']Pretty sure it's an RSB Special II - I have an RSB Deluxe II which I bought new in 1985 - the Special was contemporary to it, with a different finish & pickup layout. This would have originally had 2x soapbars with P-layout pole pieces - I think they're MBIVs.

Dunno what sort of rewiring's been done in there but that should have stack knobs, I think. My Deluxe does, & the control layout's otherwise identical.

J.[/quote]

interesting, thanks. It currently has one of the wee coil tap switches out of order. When I get round to fixing it It would be half interesting to put stack knobs back in.
somehow the aria logo on has been removed form the headstock without any signs it was on there either.
bass sounds really really good though. Back pup esp.
currently trying flats on it, may switch back to roundwounds though.
did they make fretless or has it been defretted later?

[noelk27]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='675379' date='Dec 6 2009, 01:16 AM'][D]id they make fretless or has it been defretted later?[/quote]

That's a whole other can of worms, given how Aria detailed factory fretless necks/touchboards ... All I'd say is even although from the photo an initial assessment would be defret, that might not be the case with Aria! I'm sure one of the more informed BC'ers will provide the answer.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-Mystery-P-Bass-Guitar-Solid-Wood-Body-PROJECT-79_W0QQitemZ360215098658QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item53de7e3522"]6 bolt P copy[/url]

No idea if its jap really, seemed appropriate enough to flag up witha sort of reasonable BIN.

[LukeFRC]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='675559' date='Dec 6 2009, 11:46 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-Mystery-P-Bass-Guitar-Solid-Wood-Body-PROJECT-79_W0QQitemZ360215098658QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item53de7e3522"]6 bolt P copy[/url]

No idea if its jap really, seemed appropriate enough to flag up witha sort of reasonable BIN.[/quote]

im not sure i would pay half of that!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='675559' date='Dec 6 2009, 11:46 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Old-Mystery-P-Bass-Guitar-Solid-Wood-Body-PROJECT-79_W0QQitemZ360215098658QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item53de7e3522"]6 bolt P copy[/url]

No idea if its jap really, seemed appropriate enough to flag up witha sort of reasonable BIN.[/quote]
Looks like a Kay.