Bassassin

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1487119753' post='3237334'] I saw it, thought it was quite nice but it's got too few strings for me. Sniping tools, they're the way forward. As long as none of you beat me in an auction using them, of course. [/quote] Would've been no help to me I'm afraid - set my upper limit but clearly someone wanted it more than I did. Wonder if Brandonis still have the body/necks for these?

[quote name='LukeFRC' timestamp='1487114423' post='3237310'] ...with the help of the amazing [b]Bassassin[/b]... [/quote]

My first decent bass was a 1981 Washburn B20 Stage series, which I sold after 3 or 4 years to buy an Aria Pro RSB Deluxe. Those Washburns - built to an incredibly high standard by Yamaki, a fairly short-lived high-end Japanese manufacturer - are like the proveribial rocking horse droppings these days and I do wish I still had it. The Aria was a great bass and far more practical & versatile, but as far as build and craftsmanship's concerned, the Washboard was in a completely different league. More recently, I kinda wish I'd kept a lovely SQ serial Precision I managed to pick up for a steal. Never been a P user but this one was something special, sounded & played sublime and the wood and quality of finish were just mouth-watering. At the time, renovating & selling instruments was a necessary supplement to my income so I had no real choice - but still...

That's much more like it - classy Faker, that one.

It's worse than that - they're ply (even the necks) and ply is useless as firewood. They can't even do that right.

Just got outbid on this: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232232203311?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ss"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/232232203311?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ss[/url] It's an Eko built variation on their early 80s BX7 neckthrough, no headstock decal but it's basically the same as the versions that turn up under the French Camac brand. Think it's likely this one's a Brandoni version, not seen a Camac with Schaller components & what looks like a DiMarzio Model P before. I've had GAS for one of these for years and am a bit gutted to have missed it. Anyone on here grab it?

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' timestamp='1487021719' post='3236364'] Was this before the advent of the Trade Descriptions Act (1968)? [/quote] Very probably. It was falling-to-bits ancient in 1985!

[quote name='Telebass' timestamp='1486818189' post='3234754'] As does referring to Del boy's van as such. It was a Regal III, ffs... [/quote] SuperVan III, Shirley? A drummer mate (who only had a bike license) had one in the 80s, and that's what his said on the back. Bloody terrifying, it was.

Ebay made it plain probably 8 or 9 years ago that they wanted their business model to become a portal site for retailers, and since then it's a become more and more expensive, risky and hostile place for the private sellers the business was built upon. Which was entirely intentional. As a result, I think most sellers have migrated to ScumTree or FB groups - which is fair enough, but I do miss getting some ridiculous bargains from badly-listed auctions - plus making some eye-watering killings by getting a bidding war going over [s]some piece of tat I blagged for a tenner at the car boot[/s] an immaculate, expertly-restored vintage rarity it broke my heart to part with.

I'm going to guess it's Nanyo Bass Collection related...

Messy-looking defret & it ain't going to play well with the zero-fret unmodified. Too much money for a project.

[quote name='Dan Dare' timestamp='1486466700' post='3231993'] You said it - "The guitarist wrote the music". It doesn't have to be an "orchestra or pit band" for there to be arrangements and it isn't "arrogant" for a writer of a piece of music to visualise the entire piece, rather than just a simple melody/top line and to want parts played in a certain way. Why, because it's "pop or rock", does that mean it has to be a free for all? Afraid you're being naïve. [/quote] I agree with this - in my band I compose the music, apart from the vocals - I absolutely don't want a guitarist & drummer deciding to discard my work & rewrite the parts just because it's "their" instrument. They get a degree of free rein to interpret parts - and I'm always open to input & trying different ideas & approaches - but the bottom line is the song's the song and once it becomes a performance or full band recording, [i]everyone[/i] serves the song.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1486464983' post='3231970'] Thought it might have been a Yamaha SBV-500 but the remaining bit of body doesn't fit that theory and the headstock's a bit skinnier. [/quote] Fortunately not - too many frets & an SBV has no rear routing. Still thinking some sort of Cort...

These wonky home-made bodge basses are always hilarious. And this time the seller's delusion is equally so.

[quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1486035152' post='3228629'] ...was outbid with minutes to go while out with the dog. [/quote] I'm very much afraid you're doing it wrong.

Not for that much. You sort of expect a Deko to be about £40, in which case it's worth the gamble that it might have genuine issues. This is only £60 less than a full-price one.

[quote name='EMG456' timestamp='1485910266' post='3227723'] Ah, the black and red Washburns - Force 4? [/quote] Force 8 BBR, I think - don't think the Force 4 had binding. Someone on BC a few years ago had a headless Force 42 BBR. And I couldn't afford it...

Aaaand - It's the 80s again. Fender - if you're going to do it, at least do it [i]properly[/i]. [url="http://s1276.photobucket.com/user/LanterneRouge/media/Various%20Basses%20and%20Guitars/Washburn%20BBR%20Force%208_zpsytwrltbo.jpg.html"][/url]

[quote name='pete.young' timestamp='1485878867' post='3227441'] A Fresher jazz bass. I don't think we've seen one of these for a while: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Fresher-Bass-Guitar-1975-made-In-Japan-/232216063265?hash=item361127ed21:g:pWgAAOSwopRYh4ZD"]http://www.ebay.co.u...WgAAOSwopRYh4ZD[/url] [/quote] Nice bass & an unusual finish for its era. Had [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/299353-quite-tasty-copy/"]its own thread[/url] that no-one paid much attention to...

[quote name='T-Bay' timestamp='1485452563' post='3224087'] You have only just heard it? It was released in 1990 and wasnt cliched when released, may have been copied since....... [/quote] Not cliched? You're possibly oblivious to the fact that by 1990, AC/DC had been re-hashing the same three chord riff & 5-note guitar solo for seventeen years! Firmly in the "should have jacked it in after Bon Scott died" camp.

That's rather cool, and very unusual to see a 70s MIJ copy that's anything other than sunburst or natural. I quite like the odd little inaccuracies in these old copies, part of their charm for me. Fresher's a pretty uncommon brand in the UK, not imported in any great quantities, & possibly not official at all. These are believed to have been made by Chushin Gakki - which basically means this will be the same bass as more common brands like Columbus or Grant. But try finding one of them in white!

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1485434751' post='3223930'] That seems very expensive. My Wesley acrylic bass cost £60 second hand. [/quote] Mental inflation! When these first appeared on Chinese sites a few years ago they were about £70. Serioulsy considered buying 10 and selling them on at £150 a pop.

Don't know if anyone on here has. Someone on the FB group was talking about the pickups (didn't like the J unit) but hasn't - as far as I know - talked about its build & playability etc.

[quote name='AndyTravis' timestamp='1485374761' post='3223514'] I had a p-bass (Axl player series) Changed everything out on it and had a fender neck on it. Was about 14/15lbs. [/quote] This is mine, also used to be an Axl: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57742] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57744] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57743] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:57745] Looks awesome but weighs 13lbs meaning I've never gigged it. Also sadly the neck is junk, despite looking nice. Would make a great wallhanger but I wouldn't trust a guitar hanger - or my walls - to support it.