Nibody

M A P L E! Preferably with the laquer aged to a nice Honey colour

[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/tokai-thunderbird-bass-guitar--good-condition-barely-used/104421737"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/tokai-thunderbird-bass-guitar--good-condition-barely-used/104421737[/url] Posted this in JapCrap as well.. if you live in Scotland you could pick up one hell of a bargain there - I've seen these go for £250 - £300 on ebay..

[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/tokai-thunderbird-bass-guitar--good-condition-barely-used/104421737"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/tokai-thunderbird-bass-guitar--good-condition-barely-used/104421737[/url] Tokai T-Bird. Have seen these go for twice the price - someones going to get a bargain. If only I was in Scotland...

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1339530939' post='1690123'] Yrah, Goto lookalikes. I broke one last winter and somebody on here very kindly found me half of one so I could repair it. They look ancient, but are smooth and stay in tune. and have outlasted the ones on my Fender which were knackered after about 10 years. Same Bridge as well. There is also a hole under the neckplate, I wonder if there was a version with an adjustable rake ? I remember Kopy Kats, but cant remember ever playing one. The Logo badge looked cheap and narsty, bit like a top Twenty...Now they [i]were[/i] really crap.. I would have thought an Ibanez would have had a S/No. somewhere. [/quote] I'm guessing that when they were sold on to a distributer (Pretty much the same with chinese bass's now) they left the factory without identifying marks so the distributer could apply their own serial number(if required) and logo. Some were just removed in the days before people realised how good they were. I read a piece about US customs seizing containers full of unbranded Japcrap's during the lawsuit era. Guess we'll never know. Determined to find out though. The hardware and quality is quite high so I am guessing they're from the Matsumoku factory.

I think a lot of them used the same production facilities. Mine has a sort of "two-tone" Headstock. Seen the same on an Ibanez bass. The history of Jap Crap seems to include a lot of incest!!

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1339513006' post='1689607'] Looks like the wheel has come off. Just hooked the old neck out of the loft and yeah, its got a forward tilt, Wonder why. Hadnt noticed that before I do remember Kopy Kat copies being around, little round badge/logo. thought they were a Woolies or catalogue brand. [/quote] They were apparently made by Ibanez. Does yours have the same tuners as mine?

Everyone screamed "Plywood" based on the 'burst of my MIJ no-name due to the amount of black. Turns out its solid wood. I don't think the style and colour of the Sunburst are nescecarily an indicator of the body construct, though I can see why people would think that.

Lenny Kravitz - Are you gonna go my way Bad Company - Cant get enough Cult - Lilk Devil or She Sells Sanctuary Nicklebacks version of Saturday Nights alright for fighting Havent got out with my lot yet, but the stuff they were doing with the previous line-up was going down a storm. We do the classic rock thang so Black Crowes, Rainbow, Whitesnake, UFO etc etc

Google it. There is a place that does foam cut to your spec based in wales - used it for a flight case insert for my wireless system. **EDIT** Not the company I used - cant remember them, but these do similair [url="http://www.easyfoam.co.uk/about.php"]http://www.easyfoam.co.uk/about.php[/url]

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1339445919' post='1688715'] Not sure what you mean by forwards angle. Just got the neck out of the loft to have a look. Heres some pics of the Bass as it is now, and of the neck. [attachment=110178:Image002.jpg] [attachment=110179:Image003.jpg] [attachment=110180:Image004.jpg] [/quote] The neck is straight right up to the nut on adjustment. The headstock itself is angled forwards - on mine the A string doesnt seat properly - not helped by the fact that at some point someone has done a hatchet job on the nut so the strings are sitting way too low. Looking like "they" may be VERY early Ibanez P copies - closest I can currently find is one called a "Kopy Kat". Only difference with mine is it has a "Wheel of Fortune" truss rod adjuster

[quote name='BRANCINI' timestamp='1339443148' post='1688630'] I got a similar one, extra screw in the middle of the scratchplate, holes for a pickup cover and and a thumbrest, same bridge, same tuners, same hole in the heel of the neck - which I've replaced with a Mighty Mite Jazz one now. A good hefty (very hefty) Bass that plays well, Pups werent great, but I replaced them with Kent Armstrong vintages, Made a hell of a difference btw. I love it, but I've been trying to find out who made it for years. I thought it was a Hondo as well. If you ever do find out for sure, could you let me know ? Never heard of Musima myself. [i]Edit..[/i] Just a thought, but does it have a sort of plastic bung on the back of the body behind the bridge ? [/quote] oddly enough yes it does! Did you're original neck have an odd forwards angle? Trying to find out if mine has just warped near the nut.

Well, I've at least identified the tuners - Gotoh. Pictured bellow the " Res-O-Lite" version. Or at least a very good copy of. Bridge may also be Gotoh too.

[quote name='skidder652003' timestamp='1339313579' post='1686614'] loose the slippers dude! [/quote] My slippers are 'kin awesome. I have a pipe too...

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1339293000' post='1686580'] Thats a 60s Fender p bass but its had the logo sanded off with his black &decker drill.... [/quote] LOL... Might take it to my uncles and pop it in the loft...

[quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1339246151' post='1685818'] I love the look of the Spyder, which is quite odd for me as I normally don't stray far from Precision territory. [/quote] Ditto.. but then I have a secret hankering for an explorer or a Buzzard...

Ah right. I know the tuner config (2 screws on back, nut on front above ferule) was used extensively by washburn - My XS-4 has the same type of set-up but not with clover leafs. The only other basses I've found in my trawling with this set-up (apart from Washburn, who used Matsumoku for manufacturing) are Early-ish Aria's (Who also had production from Matsumoku). I bought a bass and recieved a Mystery!! Where's Scooby Doo when you need him (Though I'd prefer Daphne...)

Also the Headstock has a pronounced forwards lean.. whether this is because of the wood warping or a design fault.. dont know. meant A string wasnt seating in the nut. Had to add a string tree (there was a hole for one there already!?). Neck itself is gorgeous to play, has adjusted nicely, still needs a bit of tweaking though.. search continues...

More searching... looking at the Tuners its pointing towards the factory that made Washburns and Aria's - possibly Matsumoko?

[quote name='daz' timestamp='1339162508' post='1684656'] The thing about these type of unfinished projects, is that you stand a good chance of getting a real piece of crap. I wish i could convince myself of this though. I have bought 3 in 2 years Good luck with yours. Keep on keeping on and one day I might find a 62 P bass [/quote] On the face of it this is a nice P-Bass copy. Definately has some age to it - just be nice to know what it actually is!

[quote name='Immo' timestamp='1339161238' post='1684626'] From the looks of it, you hadn't wasted your quid. Looks quite nice and if the wood's solid and neck straight - you got yourself a nicle MiJ P. Pickups and hardware looks really solid. [/quote] You dont think it's a Musima Immo? I know quite a few wound up in Poland during the Communist period.

[quote name='Vinny' timestamp='1339161157' post='1684623'] I'd deffo bet a quid on that being a Musima now I've seen those pics. Where yours has the 'K' written on it mine has an 'M' (or 'w' not sure!) and the bridge is exactly the same. The lack of any shielding looks good, too, and the back of the headstock is way too familiar. [/quote] I was thinking that way, but the pots look fairly original to the bass - wouldn't have expected MIJ pots on a Musima, those East germans liked to do it their way or buy in from Russia. It's a mystery.

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1339160040' post='1684595'] Someone suggested it might be a Kay ^^^up there somewhere. It's not a Kay. What's that other hole in the heel of the neck? [/quote] I have no idea - it is obviously original to the manufacture as the laquer runs inside it. Laquer in general is a little crazed to say the least so it must have some age to it.

UPDATE FOR PICS******** Recieved it today, broke it down. One Pot has "Made in Japan" on the back, and there is a "K" in pencil on the neck... only markings. Body is solid wood. Did have a cover at the headstock end - home-made and covering... nothing!? Front of Headstock - note holes where homemade "cover" was. I think it was holding the nut in place, as you can see it fell off when I removed it. Needs glueing back on. Pick-ups Rear of Headstock Back of Neck Bridge Pots Neck Truss rod adjuster at heel

[quote name='grunge666' timestamp='1339013349' post='1682524'] The 1st 3 Iron Maiden albums set me up for 30 years of 4 string happiness! [/quote] Amen my Brother!! Also suggest (If you're into bluesy stuff) - Need your love so bad - Peter Green High Time Baby - Spencer Davies Group Rescue Me - Fontella Bass How Many More Times - Led Zep Radar Love - Golden Earing Tracks of my Tears - Smokey Robinson

I knew a guy a few years back who had an obsession with all things retro - used to play/write music under the nom de plume of Sgt Love. He had (from memory) a Hofner violin bass. And from my memory it was awful to play. Would'nt use one if they gave me a freebie.