Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='878427' date='Jun 26 2010, 09:27 PM']CMI bass. CMI in this case standing for Cleartone Musical Instruments, the USA based CMI not the UK (?) one.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CMI-Bass-Very-rare-and-collectable-/120588301110?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c139f7336"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CMI-Bass-Very-rare-a...=item1c139f7336[/url]

Claims to be Fujigen. I'm not even going to hazard a guess if that's correct for this instrument or not

Edit: Oh, it needs a setup but the "trust" rod is broken. How do you do a setup on an instrument with a broken truss rod?[/quote]
Cleartone Musical Instruments was the UK one - Jim Marshall's "other" brand. The US CMI was Chcago Musical Instrument Co, who owned Gibson up until 1970, & interestingly didn't produce any copy-era guitars, as far as I know. Just to complicate things, it seems there was an Australian CMI as well!

I don't think this is a Fujigen, in fact I've never seen a definite Fujigen CMI. This looks like the stuff that appears with low-rent brands like Columbus & Avon - it's not clear who made these yet but I'm pretty sure it's none of the "big" names.

With a broken "trust" rod (in the kneck, under the fretts, unless it has a frettles arm) it won't be getting any setting up any time soon. Won't be reaching its reserve, either.

J.

[Bassassin]

Satellite J copy, £55 BIN:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-SATALLITE-BASS-/300441270000"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-ELECTRIC-GUI...S-/300441270000[/url]

70s Korean-made, a bit more crude than most of the Jap equivalents but a bargain if you can collect from Southampton.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='879128' date='Jun 27 2010, 07:28 PM']Cleartone Musical Instruments was the UK one - Jim Marshall's "other" brand. The US CMI was Chcago Musical Instrument Co, who owned Gibson up until 1970, & interestingly didn't produce any copy-era guitars, as far as I know. Just to complicate things, it seems there was an Australian CMI as well![/quote]

Boy there's a lot to learn in this JapCrap lark!

[quote name='Bassassin' post='880583' date='Jun 29 2010, 02:08 AM']Satellite J copy, £55 BIN:[/quote]

I was semi-hoping that it would look like one of the through-neck p-basses that turn up. Not that I could get down to Southhampton. But this looks much less interesting.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='883075' date='Jul 1 2010, 03:36 PM']I was semi-hoping that it would look like one of the through-neck p-basses that turn up.[/quote]

You might want to check new Fleabay bass listings around 9.30 tonight...

J.

[Bloodaxe]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-Bass-Guitar-Flight-Case-/130403676251?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1e5caa305b"]Extremely Blue Aria CSB-380[/url]

and I've no idea what this is... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Bass-guitar-LEFTY-/200489921853?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eae216d3d"]A Left-handed Sunburst SB???[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='883338' date='Jul 1 2010, 07:32 PM']and I've no idea what this is... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Bass-guitar-LEFTY-/200489921853?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eae216d3d"]A Left-handed Sunburst SB???[/url][/quote]
Now that is strange - not sure whether I like it or not. Maybe a refin; but he does say 1988, ie post - Matsumoku so it might be a Korean peculiarity. Odd that he says [i]designed[/i] by Matsumoku, rather than built.

J.

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883565' date='Jul 1 2010, 11:55 PM']Now that is strange - not sure whether I like it or not. Maybe a refin; but he does say 1988, ie post - Matsumoku so it might be a Korean peculiarity. Odd that he says [i]designed[/i] by Matsumoku, rather than built.

J.[/quote]

After a bit of digging around, it [i]could[/i] be an early SB-600, although the examples in the photos below don't have the skunk stripe laminations -

[url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html[/url]
[url="http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm"]http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm[/url] -

& since the S/N begins with a 0...
A bolt-on sunburst 600 fetched up in the Colonies a while back, I'll have a poke around TB & see what I can find.

P.

[noelk27]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883565' date='Jul 1 2010, 10:55 PM']Now that is strange - not sure whether I like it or not. Maybe a refin; but he does say 1988, ie post - Matsumoku so it might be a Korean peculiarity. Odd that he says [i]designed[/i] by Matsumoku, rather than built.[/quote]

It's an '80 - transition model - three different burst finishes were available - between '80 and '82 - similarly a gold fade and a silver fade - all are rare here - the tobacco burst (so-called) is the one you see most often - this looks like the version which had a higher yellow content (seen on examples dating from '80 and '81).

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='883588' date='Jul 2 2010, 12:38 AM']After a bit of digging around, it [i]could[/i] be an early SB-600, although the examples in the photos below don't have the skunk stripe laminations -

[url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html"]http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html[/url]
[url="http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm"]http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm[/url] -

& since the S/N begins with a 0...
A bolt-on sunburst 600 fetched up in the Colonies a while back, I'll have a poke around TB & see what I can find.

P.[/quote]
I think it looks the same as the set-neck SB600s on Graeme's site, only with a burst finish - look at the pic where it's lying in the case - that's a really chunky neck/body joint there.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883246' date='Jul 1 2010, 06:06 PM']You might want to check new Fleabay bass listings around 9.30 tonight... [/quote]

Did I miss something? Searching for "satellite" "bass" only gives me this peculiarity:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Satellite-Bass-Guitar-Short-Scale-/180527059354?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a0840519a"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Satellite-Ba...=item2a0840519a[/url]

Completed listings only gives me this, IMHO even more peculiar item. This body looks "lefty" to me, but the knobs etc. show it's a "righty".

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SHORT-SCALE-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-MADE-SATELLITE-/110540977207?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19bcc17437"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SHORT-SCALE-ELEC...=item19bcc17437[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='883740' date='Jul 2 2010, 10:16 AM']Did I miss something? Searching for "satellite" "bass" only gives me this peculiarity:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Satellite-Bass-Guitar-Short-Scale-/180527059354?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2a0840519a"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Satellite-Ba...=item2a0840519a[/url]

Completed listings only gives me this, IMHO even more peculiar item. This body looks "lefty" to me, but the knobs etc. show it's a "righty".

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SHORT-SCALE-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-MADE-SATELLITE-/110540977207?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19bcc17437"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OLD-SHORT-SCALE-ELEC...=item19bcc17437[/url][/quote]
Satellite's not my first choice for a search term - I like to be honest but don't want to actually put people off! However, if you tried vintage, MIJ, copy, 70s, etc you might come up with...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120590911861"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120590911861[/url]

It's got an issue or 3 but is a surprisingly nice, playable old plank.

J.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883761' date='Jul 2 2010, 10:30 AM']Satellite's not my first choice for a search term - I like to be honest but don't want to actually put people off! However, if you tried vintage, MIJ, copy, 70s, etc you might come up with...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120590911861"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120590911861[/url]

It's got an issue or 3 but is a surprisingly nice, playable old plank.

J.[/quote]
Great listing, Jon! Clear, thorough and honest, with good pictures.

Just one question: is that the original finish? It looks (to my non-expert eyes) like a really thick DIY coat of brush-applied varnish, but I know nothing.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='BottomEndian' post='883773' date='Jul 2 2010, 10:38 AM']Great listing, Jon! Clear, thorough and honest, with good pictures.

Just one question: is that the original finish? It looks (to my non-expert eyes) like a really thick DIY coat of brush-applied varnish, but I know nothing. [/quote]
Yes, that's the original lacquer. Probably what you're seeing is the wood texture showing slightly on the coarser-grained bits. It's either sunk over time or (more likely) the wood wasn't particularly well sealed before it was applied.

If anyone here's interested I'll happily pull the auction - I sincerely loathe selling on Ebay these days. £80 +£15 postage?

J.

[yorick]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='883761' date='Jul 2 2010, 10:30 AM']Satellite's not my first choice for a search term - I like to be honest but don't want to actually put people off! However, if you tried vintage, MIJ, copy, 70s, etc you might come up with...

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120590911861"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120590911861[/url]

It's got an issue or 3 but is a surprisingly nice, playable old plank.

J.[/quote]

I think that might be my old Satellite.... I scratched the logo off when i had mine!!!! Does the bottom end have a dent that look like a zip? I dropped mine in the gigbag!!!!

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='884013' date='Jul 2 2010, 02:41 PM']Yes, that's the original lacquer. Probably what you're seeing is the wood texture showing slightly on the coarser-grained bits.[/quote]
Yeah, that's probably it. Most noticeable on the top horn in the first couple of pictures.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='yorick' post='884035' date='Jul 2 2010, 03:02 PM']I think that might be my old Satellite.... I scratched the logo off when i had mine!!!! Does the bottom end have a dent that look like a zip? I dropped mine in the gigbag!!!![/quote]

No - plenty of dents on the bottom of all shapes & sizes - except zip-shaped! I expect removing the logo's a pretty common knee-jerk reaction though. Funny thing is on this one it looks like the logo had been printed on [i]over[/i] the lacquer - all the finish is original as far as I can tell, with the ghost of the S*tell*te name on the wood underneath it.

I got this one off Geoffbyrne here on BC about 18 months ago. There was a lot of thick black Hammerite-type paint on the headstock when I got it.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='884013' date='Jul 2 2010, 02:41 PM']If anyone here's interested I'll happily pull the auction - I sincerely loathe selling on Ebay these days. £80 +£15 postage?[/quote]

Not me sorry, I've just had my instrument buying budget zeroed again by an object I could not refuse on another forum. Best of luck with the auction (or other sale methodology).

[Annoying Twit]

Vantage Bass sold for £65. Looks a bargainlicious price to me. Wrong?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120586278656&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='884485' date='Jul 3 2010, 12:17 AM']Vantage Bass sold for £65. Looks a bargainlicious price to me. Wrong?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120586278656&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url][/quote]
Oh yes. Or rather, no, not wrong. Bargain.

Anyway how's about a Sumbro "Gibson Les Paul" bass, collection only from the Bradford area:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140423136205"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=140423136205[/url]

Odd he was able to research the brand accurately (quoting me, into the bargain ) but decided he'd stick with using the name of the only guitar he'd ever heard of for the description.

Doubt this is anything special but it looks nice.

J.

[Bassclef]

Hey Jon. Here's a scan of your Satellite bass from an old book I have.

Sorry about the quality, my scanner is sh*te!

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='884502' date='Jul 3 2010, 12:58 AM']Oh yes. Or rather, no, not wrong. Bargain.

Anyway how's about a Sumbro "Gibson Les Paul" bass, collection only from the Bradford area:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140423136205"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=140423136205[/url]

Odd he was able to research the brand accurately (quoting me, into the bargain ) but decided he'd stick with using the name of the only guitar he'd ever heard of for the description.

Doubt this is anything special but it looks nice.

J.[/quote]


Was thinking about having a punt on it but the neck doesn't look right.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bassclef' post='885571' date='Jul 4 2010, 05:09 PM']Hey Jon. Here's a scan of your Satellite bass from an old book I have.

Sorry about the quality, my scanner is sh*te![/quote]

Thanks for that - very interesting, what's the book?

I do remember seeing these when they first appeared, think it would've been 1980. My local shop had them for £99 and I remember being impressed at a through-neck that cheap, and then rejecting the idea out-of-hand, simply because they said "Satellite" on the end. Glad I grew out of brand snobbery! This also clears up another thing - I'd got it into my head that Satellite was owned by JHS. Wrong bunch of letters!

J.

[Annoying Twit]

On another forum a 1970s Maya fretless P-bass is being offered for £200. I don't know if this is a good price. But if anyone wants to know where to find it, please ask.

[Bloodaxe]

Just goes to show that the odd bargain still happens...

The Very Blue CSB-380 with case topped out at 65 Spons (probably due to the horrible colour) & the oddball lefty SB-600 (again with a case) fetched a mere 102 of your Earth Pounds.

Stunned.

As a bit of light relief, a truly vile Aria [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-Aria-Pro-II-Bass-1976-Made-Japan-762726-/110552844681?cmd=ViewItem&pt=Guitar&hash=item19bd768989"]Ripper/Grabber copy[/url] (can never remember which is which), in scintillating Municipal Blue. The deranged colour seems to have affected the seller - I mean. no-one in their right mind would value [i]that[/i] at nigh-on £400... would they? Thankfully this is in the U.S., so we're probably safe.

Edited July 7, 2010 by Bloodaxe

[Bassassin]

I think I'd blame really rubbish listing titles / search term for the first 2 bargains - that and the fact it's clearly just too much trouble to walk to the PO.

The Ripper's hilarious - what a piece of junk, it would be an OK fixer - upper for £70, I suppose. The most interesting thing is the bridge - looks like a Schaller 3D Piezo - these go for about £200. Obviously, you'd have to want one first.

J.