Any ideas?

[Alien]

Spotted [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170522712547"]this[/url], and wondered if anyone knows anything about it.
Worth a punt maybe?

A

[RhysP]

C.F. Martin made a range of solid body electric guitars & basses in the late 70s - early 80s. They never caught on and weren't around for very long.
I'm pretty sure that this ISN'T one of them, though it does look similar to them.

Maybe the Japcrap experts can shed some light on it?

Just found this, which would indicate it is a Japanese bass:
[url="http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-649/Pro-Martin-3.htm"]http://en.allexperts.com/q/Guitar-General-...ro-Martin-3.htm[/url]

Edited August 11, 2010 by RhysP

[Bassassin]

Already discussed in the JapCrap thread, starting [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=7473&view=findpost&p=914383"]here[/url] & continuing randomly.

Basically though it's a rebadged Kasuga Scorpion.

Not sure Allexperts is 100% right about the Pro Martin brand. Prior to launching their own MIJ Sigma range in 1970, there was an association between CF Martin & Kasuga - it would appear Martin were importing & distributing Kasuga acoustics - many of which were dead-on Martin copies:

[attachment=56337:Kasuga_M...in_label.jpg]

Possibly Kasuga (or some random importer) had the bright idea of selling Martin replicas with a slightly cheeky name, and eventually ended up selling Kasuga original designs under same the brand. I dunno, but I've seen a few Pro Martins like this one but never a Kasuga Scorpion in the UK.

Anyway - buy it.

Jon.