Bassassin

[quote name='lee650' timestamp='1469383343' post='3097880'] Don't discount the Tokais either! They IIRC they were made by matsumoko and created the infamous "lawsuit" fenders. [/quote] Hope you don't mind me being a bit of a pedant here but Tokais were made by, erm, Tokai. Tokai Gakki is a manufacturer in its own right and MIJ Tokais were, and are made in their Hamamatsu factory. Apart from in the early 70s when they briefly sub-contracted to Kasuga Gakki in order to meet increased demand. There weren't any lawsuit Fender copies - in fact to be properly pedantic (a failing of mine - or is it a virtue?) there were no MIJ lawsuit guitars at all. Ever. Anyway, you're right, 70s & 80s MIJ Tokais are excellent, replica-quality instruments. J.

I remember seeing one of these at a music show in Birmingham probably 12 years ago. Presumably it's a big blob of moulded plastic rather than any actual craftsmanship.

If you're interested in JVs & 80s MIJ Squiers in general, do check out [url="http://www.21frets.com/"]http://www.21frets.com/[/url] - more info about these instruments than you can shake a stick at. Unless it really. really has to have "that" serial number, don't get hung up on JVs, though. The later MIJ SQ, E and A - serial instruments are excellent quality and will cost you a few arms & legs less than a JV. I don't think it's the case that the late 80s MIKs were actually Japanese. These were initially built by Young-Chang and many are fundamentally identical to Young-Chang's own Fenix brand, which they built simultaneously. And why Fender took their business elsewhere... They're excellent quality and worth a look - as are Fenixes. It's also worth considering other 80s MIJ Precisions, unless it has to have Squier on the end. Anecdotally the very first JVs actually began manufacture as Grecos. Fender did a deal with Greco's brand owner to form Fender Japan, and one of the conditions was that manufacture of Greco Fender copies should cease. So basically an 80s Greco P is very closely related to a JV - the same factory (Fujigen) if nothing else. There are also various 80s MIJ replica-standard brands to consider - Fernandes & Tokai are the best-known brand & likely represent excellent value compared to JVs. Jon.

Quite relieved it's structurally sound and looking forward to seeing how this turns out. Re refinishing. I'm not certain but I think these were Cort builds. A couple of years back I grabbed a bargain Cort headless (close relative of Hohner B2A & Jack) which badly needed a refin. Upon removing the knackered black paint with a heat gun (it peeled off really easily), I found the wood underneath to already be clearcoated (presumably a grain sealing/levelling coat) - not perfect but completely acceptable. I left mine natural but it would provide a ready-made basecoat for a respray. And here's a random thought. If this was my project, I might feel inclined to take a hacksaw to the sharp end, a hammer & chisel to the blunt end and buy this to bolt onto it: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Headless-bass-bridge-for-4-String-Electric-Bass-Guitar-High-Quality-NEW-T1K0/162083449544"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K0/162083449544[/url] Could be a £450 payday in it... J.

Are you on the [url="https://www.facebook.com/groups/78514186083/"]Rickenfakers FB group[/url]? David (Retrovibe) Konig does a Rick-tailpiece styled bridge with standard BBOT - type saddles, and also does upgrade saddles for Chickenbacker tailpieces which allow proper individual string adjustment.

Call me a sick freak, but I do sort of like it. Sort of...

Never ceases to amaze me how much money people seem to want for this sort of squalid, ineptly butchered junk. Wonder if it's always wishful thinking or are there really mugs out there that buy this stuff?

That sounds positive! Not just £15 worth of firewood, then?

It's not helping my appetite.

I truly despair at the standards of literacy these days. [b]Base[/b] gruter. As any fule kno.

[quote name='Rich' timestamp='1469132055' post='3096081'] I always wanted a Westone Superheadless... dreadful name but a cracking instrument. I'd still like one. [/quote] That's high on my Headless GASlist too. No. 1 is a Riverhead Unicorn: Wanted one of these since 1985. Don't care that it's a bit (a lot!) of a Burns Flyte knockoff...

I'll happily sell you my Hohner B2A for £800.

Those should steam out, if youre careful.

Just found that myself - £130-odd for a new bridge though! Pretty sure without all the gubbins, what's on the bass will still work like a conventional bridge. The saddles are the similar to the B2A and look like they adjust in the same way.

Good Lad! I wouldn't think the bridges are still around, these basses haven't been available for 20-odd years. However, looks to me like the bridge as-is should be functional. Not sure how the missing drop-tuner part should work, so you might have to improvise a ball-end anchor for the E string.

Still showing as available. Did you hit the BIN?

Apparently so. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322197769762"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322197769762[/url] Total project condition but nothing too major as far as I can see - needs electronics, new tuners and a serious de-lousing at the very least, Half the bridge components are missing but what's left looks functional. Collection only from Manchester otherwise I'd be all over it. If the neck/body are intact it'd be a fun little project. Jon.

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1468839629' post='3093629'] Anybody sitting on a goldmine ? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-THE-RAIL-Bass-Guitar-with-Case-Vintage/391492789950?_trksid=p2047675.c100010.m2109&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D35923%26meid%3D4cb5807ca33b4804b05e4174fd1de6ef%26pid%3D100010%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D291821464385"]http://www.ebay.co.u...%3D291821464385[/url] [/quote] Oh dear. Good luck with that, then. J.

Certainly is - been watching that one, just out of interest. Very nice indeed - it's an early 70s (the nailed-on badge suggests very early) Matsumoku build and looks to be in exceptional condition for a 45-year old bass. Even still has its original bridge cover. Jon.

[quote name='lowregisterhead' timestamp='1468393986' post='3090574'] He did play an Ibanez too, but it was a Roadstar, I had one myself in the early 80's... [url="https://www.talkbass.com/threads/show-us-your-roadstar-basses.1149080/"]https://www.talkbass...basses.1149080/[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-1979-Phil-Lynott-Ibanez-RS-900-Bass-Guitar-Thin-Lizzy-/261875439983?nma=true&si=JdX398jT%252B0J2Hda20Mdtlpd2E%252Bw%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557"]http://www.ebay.com/...=p2047675.l2557[/url] [/quote] Looks like an RS800 Roadster with a mirror plate stuck on it. There's one (a bit modded, mind) on BC for £150: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/288038-fs-ibanez-roadster-1979-vintage/"]http://basschat.co.u...r-1979-vintage/[/url] Anecdotally "Roadstar II" was originally a misprint. Jon.

[quote name='Moosa' timestamp='1468353839' post='3090404'] Is that a Guild B302 on the floor? [/quote] Probably. You name it, Eric's got five of 'em. J.

Absolutely stunning. I have no idea of the value - but Flat Eric will be along soon to answer all of your questions. He has two of these and won't sell one to me. Jon.