Annoying Twit

Just out of curiosity, are there any basses which are better than the Squier VM/CV basses, for less money? I don't mean better value for money, but actually. a better bass for less money. To keep it simple, it might be an idea to restrict things to P and J copies. Not that I'm planning on buying one, just curious.

[quote name='mcnach' post='1119546' date='Feb 7 2011, 10:03 PM']It wasn't so much about buying *any* cheap bass. I don't need another bass But the Sue Ryder turned out to be quite nice and a good substrate for modification (a hobby of mine, and why not?)[/quote] Is the Sue Ryder bass any better a bass or a base for modification than an Aria STB?

I've seen Aria STB basses go for £40 or so second hand on ebay. Pickup only. If I wanted something really cheap, I'd go for one of those. Maybe. What about the Johnny Brook basses? I've seen good reviews for them, though usually after someone has bought them and done a full setup and dressed the frets and this and that and ...... Available for even less than the Sue Ryder basses, though perhaps the postage will make the difference. [url="http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=johnny+brook+bass&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3a%6ffficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=15664876077793018021#"]http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q...76077793018021#[/url] [url="http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=johnny+brook+bass&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3a%6ffficial&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=8026863979712262741#"]http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q...63979712262741#[/url] I searched for the Johnson basses that were blown out at £60 or so second hand some time ago. I found these: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Darren-Johnson-Disposable-Guitar-Bass-Flightcase-/130483910938?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item1e6172791a"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Darren-Johnson-Dispo...=item1e6172791a[/url] WTF?

The OP could listen to the bass sounds here, and then report which most floats his boat. That should indicate which of P or J sound best fits the bill. [url="http://www.lakland.com/audio.htm"]http://www.lakland.com/audio.htm[/url]

[quote name='Conan' post='1117411' date='Feb 6 2011, 09:59 AM']I shouldn't really laugh... especially as my son is in debt to the tune of £600 after running up a huge mobile phone bill watching internet porn.... Which is why I'm trying to sell his music gear... But I did laugh![/quote] I couldn't imagine letting my son having anything other than a PAYG phone.

Can someone summarise what was in the auction and the photo, please?

[quote name='Muzz' post='1116447' date='Feb 5 2011, 12:45 PM']Yep, it's the same with biking, and not just with Harleys - last time I was at the TT a couple of years ago the place was full of middle-aged guys in the full replica leathers toodling around on brand new £10k sportsbikes with every possible bit of carbon-fibred extra. Up over the mountain, on the fast bits, the same blokes were still toodling along - I couldn't believe how many I went past on my big old daily-transport Honda, complete with topbox containing a packed lunch...now I've nothing against toodling along, but some of them were riding so poorly at speed they were actually a liability...[/quote] Mid-life crisis + bass playing = a moderate hole in the bank account Mid-life crisis + motorcycle riding =as above Mid-life crisis + amateur mountaineer + commercial expeditions to Mount Everest = OMG!!!!!!

[quote name='Johnston' post='1116410' date='Feb 5 2011, 12:13 PM']Either way I would like to know what Tokai Japans take on things is.[/quote] I asked Tokai Japan this morning. I'll pass on any response I get.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1116353' date='Feb 5 2011, 11:24 AM']The email I have he does say they are from the same Chinese factory.[/quote] Do Tokai basses only come from one factory?Is the output of that factory or factories primarily Tokai instruments, or do the make a large number of brands with Tokai instruments only being a small proportion of their output? Without this sort of information, we can't make sense of these claims.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1106310' date='Jan 28 2011, 03:30 PM']Got temptation for the gold top. Hassling a mate to get one. Anyone know of any cream humbcker sized p90s, aside from the kents, pair of those would cost more than the guitar.[/quote] Irongear Alchemist 90? Edit: Sorry, humbucker sized, but not cream.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1116336' date='Feb 5 2011, 11:09 AM']It's just a Precision copy with a brand name some people have heard of before. Nothing any more special than that.[/quote] [url="http://www.tokaijapan.com/hardpuncher2.html"]This[/url] on the other hand I find a lot more special. Edit: Futurama versus Sue Ryder P bass. Let the battle commence.

I added my 2p to the other thread.

Tokai UK are also the importers for Rockinbetter. But they wouldn't answer my question about whether these are made in the same factory as Chinese Tokai basses. They did tell me before that Rockinbetter basses are nothing to do with Tokai. The link in the UK seems to be: same distributor. But, how many brands are distributed by the same people as front up as Tokai UK. I've had a search around, and I can't find evidence of a "Tokai Factory" in China. Say, as there actually is an ESP Factory in China. People on the Tokai forum believe that Tokai does not own a factory in China, but subcontract out their manufacture to existing factories. [url="http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13235"]http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=13235[/url] If thats the case, then I think these claims about instruments being made "in the Tokai factory" are specious and meaningless. Quite possibly Chinese Tokai instruments are made in a variety of Chinese factories. What if they are made in say the Saein Factory? That would make huge numbers of brands "made in the same factory as Tokais".

Even Rockem who brazenly describe the Rockinbetter basses as being "Tokai" don't list the Futurama basses as being Tokai. [url="http://www.rockemmusic.com/product/futurama-p-bass-vintage-look-bass-guitar-sunburst"]http://www.rockemmusic.com/product/futuram...guitar-sunburst[/url] And, the new price is £188. Are these the same bass? Or is there more of a range?

Interesting combination of things to sell... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-GUITAR-ROCKINBETTER-TOKAI-/200572469901?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eb30d028d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BASS-GUITAR-ROCKINBE...=item2eb30d028d[/url] [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BEATLES-SGT-PEPPER-COSTUME-/200572469022?pt=Adult_Fancy_Dress_UK&hash=item2eb30cff1e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BEATLES-SGT-PEPPER-C...=item2eb30cff1e[/url]

I've heard of many cases where Ebay buyers try it on, and back down if the seller calls their bluff. You could say to them that if they're not satisfied, they can return the bass and case to you, and you'll make a full refund of the original purchase price and original postage (but not the postage to return the item). It's not my money involved, but my guess is that the buyer will back down. However, they may get "revenge" by leaving negative feedback. But, if they do, at least you can follow up (truthfully) with "I offered you a full refund, which you declined. What else can I do?" Edit: Ah, I had this post in a window while I was working, and DLP beat me to it!!! Make this a +1 post then.

Doesn't anyone want the hard cases?

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1112423' date='Feb 2 2011, 02:05 PM']He relisted for [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280624531627"]just under £500 BIN.[/url] Gone already obviously, someone can put a bit of effort in and make that back too easily. Dammit.[/quote] Perhaps he was concerned that without a BIN, he wouldn't actually be able to sell them all for as much less than they're worth as he wanted to. That's £22.72 per guitar. So, pretty much £22 for 22 guitars. Maybe he's into numerology. Now we can have fun watching out for them reappearing on ebay. And tracking how much they all sold for.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1111653' date='Feb 1 2011, 09:28 PM']Presumably his uncle had a VERY BIG loft.[/quote] Picture of the loft [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/22-Electric-guitar-cases-and-2-foldable-guitar-stands-/280624045697?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item41567f1e81"]here[/url]

Includes two basses if you don't mind buying twenty six strings at the same time. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/22-Old-electric-guitars-Spares-Parts-Westone-Columbus-/280624029925?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item41567ee0e5"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/22-Old-electric-guit...=item41567ee0e5[/url] It does take all types to make up ebay's sellers community, doesn't it. Edit: [quote]please email me for questions, but i am not going to go through all parts and models. [b]I also have a listing coming on in 1 hour for 22 hard cases as well.[/b][/quote] Words fail me ....

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1110960' date='Feb 1 2011, 01:37 PM']Simple solution to that one, Ross - forget it & buy my Yammy BB400! [/quote] I still very much like the idea. But if I don't follow my own insanely convoluted budgeting rules then I don't have any moral standing any more to say that "we can't really afford X". Jon. You are getting sleepy, very sleepy, you will forget that you have a BB400 until the end of March. When I click my fingers you will be awake and remember nothing.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1110478' date='Feb 1 2011, 12:19 AM']Most people aren't fantastically good a tidying things up to sell them, I would be surprised if the lines wouldn't clean off. Depends how they are marked, if it's some sort of ink, then a bit of acetone will sort it out, won't damage the lacquer either. Failing that, T-cut & elbow grease! That's a very nice bass btw - light-years ahead of my Maya P.[/quote] [quote name='Jerry_B' post='1110505' date='Feb 1 2011, 12:49 AM']Hmm - shame about those lines - otherwise I'd buy it![/quote] Hey you guys, stop saying things like that!!! While I'm sure it'll go for well over the starting price and this is all academic, I'm bl**dy tempted. The lines on the fretboard may not be a problem for me. While I haven't tried an unlined fretless, at present I am tending towards lines. These remaining lines might be a compromise. But, I would prefer to wait until gear buying budget builds up a bit more. If it did go for its starting bid, I'm not sure I could resist. But, I assume the lines won't knock £70 off the previous £150 estimated value.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1110379' date='Jan 31 2011, 11:11 PM']It's a real shame about "marking the frets" on the fretboard ... what a waste. Presumably they could be gently sanded out and the fretboard re-finished, but it hardly seems worth it on a £150 bass.[/quote] I wonder if the lines are all in the right places.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Maya-fretless-Fender-p-bass-copy-70s-80s-Rare-/220732552749?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3364af762d"]Fretless Maya P[/url] Edit: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CSL-Original-80s-Jazz-Bass-Japanese-Vintage-Ibanez-/280619904126?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item41563fec7e"]IMHO rather expensive CSL Jazz Bass[/url]