Bassassin

Such a pity the earlier pics in the thread got lost, presumably after the recent site update. However I remember enough to say it was a variation on the same model, with chrome hardware rather than black, and a P/J pickup arrangement instead of the J/J on this bass. It had the same style of scratchplate - which is the most unusual feature of this bass. I'm 99.9% sure @pbmuenchen's bass has been defretted, I don't think a factory fretless would have a lacquered board, and all of the fretless SB and Force basses I've seen previously have been unlined and had no position dots. The Force 30 appears to be a very uncommon model - I can't find any pics anywhere else online (didn't have the presence of mind to save the old ones from this thread!) and as we've seen, even self-proclaimed Washburn experts will deny the evidence of their own eyes and claim it doesn't exist! Bit of an update from the earlier post - as I said then research on old MIJ guitars & basses is ongoing - we now know that Matsumoku were not involved in manufacturing for Washburn at any point, so this bass is, with near absolute certainty, a Chushin Gakki product. The serial number, as I understand it, dates it to 1984. "Chicago" on the headstock refers only to the Washburn brand - this bass is 100% a Japanese-made instrument. I would strongly recommend posting pics & info to the "Daions Online" FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1066707010017715/ Daion was the main brand manufactured by Yamaki Gakki, who made the initial MIJ Washburns, & this group is where the best knowledge base for all MIJ Washburns can be found.

That's genuinely, properly remarkable to see one of these turn up. Don't think I've ever seen decent , detailed pics before either. Can't help thinking Tutmarc Jr would be better off selling it in a proper auction or offering it to genuine collectors rather than through the Fleabay meatmarket.

Ironically it appears Dallas-Arbiter could've got similarly stroppy about Status, if they'd been sufficiently petty - wonder what Rob Green would've called his basses then? Don't think the seller's trying to suggest this is connected with "proper" Statii. Just not very good at being a seller...

If I'd arrived before 2am I might've been able to post something coherent. As it is you'll have to wait til th' morra.

Low-end mid 70s MIJ copy with a dodgy sticker. Quite a lot of budget Ps & Js had those little Tele-type pickups hidden under big chrome ashtrays - here's a couple that passed through my hands:

+1 to that - incredibly versatile & technical when she wants to be too - we played loads of gigs with a bizarre proggy 3-piece she was in years ago. Awesome player.

It is a lower-tier SB - certainly compared to the 900 & 1000 etc but not poorer quality by any means. It's been refurbed to some extent - the knobs & coil split switch aren't original - but genuine parts (knobs in particular) are pretty much impossible to find. Starting price was probably a bit optimistic considering it's quite bashed up & has replacement parts. What's odd is that there was an earlier, bolt-neck SB600 which is rarer & probably more collectable than the set neck.

I think it's basically one of these but with a few detail/hardware differences: Cimar was Ibanez' parent company's budget brand & shared some crossover in styling. I think most of them came from a different factory, who presumably sold slightly differently specced versions under the Seiwa brand. I've encountered Seiwa before but never seen one of these. Interesting.

Sad that some people still hold onto such negative preconceptions about these instruments. These are actually very decent early 70s copies, imported by Dallas-Arbiter & sold alongside their Jedson range. The body's not plywood but veneered mahogany butcher-block, like most 70s MIJ copies, & the remaining original pickup's an 8-pole Maxon single-coil - in my experience these sound great. The J unit in the bridge slot's not original. The same bass (Fujigen Gakki model 2365B) badged as Ibanez would probably fetch about £400 in good condition, this looks a bit of a state but would likely tidy up OK.

Those look like Schaller M4S types with but cloverleaf keys instead of cast ones. Might be available from Schaller.

What - just me, you mean?

"Double thumbing" is basically using the thumb like a plectrum, playing upstrokes as well as down. Like most stunt bass techniques, it's of no use in my particular musical biosphere, but I did learn the basics of it out of curiosity. Got good enough to be able to do a stupid & messy-sounding solo bass rendition of the Captain Pugwash theme tune, then never bothered again. And no - you're never going to hear that!

That's my point - Ibanez were selling slick, lightweight SoundGears in metallic pink & blue to kids who wanted to be in Def Leppard. And Aria had dropped out of the game, pretty much.

I'd suggest the Aria downturn was a combination of two reasons - primarily the closure of Matsumoku (1987) and the movement of production of most Arias to Korea, which started a year or so earlier. There was an undoubted big drop in quality. Secondly the change in musical fashion away from the late 70s/early 80s trend for upfront, showy bassists - with ostentatious stripy basses to match - towards pointy shred guitars, Superstrats & poodle hair-metal. Ibanez had pretty much cornered the Superstrat market and bassists were relegated to a much more background role & generally more utilitarian instruments. In an era of streamlined designs & primary colours, Aria's Alembic Hippy Sandwich-inspired designs started to look very dated very fast, and the brand never had quite the profile with guitarists that they did with bassists. I might be talking rubbish here.

Plain slugs on the J & DiMarzio-type hex poles on the P - the hex poles might've corroded a bit. I have a Washburn SB-40 from the same era (early 80s) made by the same factory (Chushin Gakki) and with identical-looking pickups. I *think* the comedy pricing is because he wants to do a straight swap for a guitar - hence my £15 car boot Sunn Mustang offer...

Really hate it when a description is a pack of blatant made-up lies. Stupidly cool & rare bass, though - wonder how much actual money he wants for it. Or if he'd do a straight swap for an old Sunn Mustang Strat I've got hanging about.

Yeh. Can't play it though.

It does - in fact they're push/push, just to be flash! Very versatile it is too.

I've wanted one of these for a ridiculously long time. Big fan of Yammy SGs in general but I've always loved this particular model - the unadorned front & visible through-neck make seem it less of a Gibson variation than most of the rest of the SG range. This is a Yamaha SG1500, dated 1984 according to the pickup codes. What's interesting, unlike any other SG I've seen, is that it has no serial number on the headstock or model number on its truss rod cover - according to the guy I got it from, its previous (first) owner got it direct from Kemble Yamaha when the Kemble piano factory closed, so it presumably sat around for a long time after the model was discontinued. As Kemble was Yamaha's UK distributor I can only assume it was a not-for-sale sample that sales reps would have taken around their dealer network - I've heard of similar not-quite-retail models being used in this way before. Anyway, it's fairly well-gigged and has a few knocks & bumps, but also has been well looked-after, plays perfectly and is 100% original. Sounds immense, too. And did I get a bargain? Oh yes, I think I did...

Typical comedy price from unsere Deutsche Freund. I do know what it is - or was - assuming anyone cares. It's a mid/late 60s Matsumoku build, anyone's guess what the brand was, although Aria's always a possibility. The offset dots & "Steel Adjustable Neck" plate are a 100% ID for that manufacturer. It's probably worth about £60.

Went for £501. Didn't expect that, looks like it was a last-minute frenzy since it was still at £125 at midday. A realistic price for a scarce, high-end vintage bass, but still surprising. Makes me wonder how much my "rare" SB-40 would fetch. Not that I'm selling.

Looks brand new - the finish on these falls off as soon as you look at it. These are £500+ new - secondhand, they're ridiculously undervalued basses.

Those ubiquitous Gotoh tuners turn up on pretty much everything MIJ from that era - plus a few places you don't expect: Not the best looking & come in for a bit of stick, but never had any problems with them myself. This bass is really nothing to do with those Satellites - shame it's not a 99p no reserve auction, because you lot'd be turning your noses up at it for £50 while I'd be busting the "no-basses-in-2018" resolution before the end of January!