Bassassin

If he wanted BC's assistance he could come back & ask, couldn't he? Might involve some measure of getting over himself, mind.

I think so, along with Top Twenty & the like. I have pages from a 70s catalogue showing a number of Zentas (including this one) alongside some JHS-branded instruments, so I'd assume they were the importer/distributor.

So - the reviewer returned the bass - and DarkHeart's just bought a B-stock... Hmmm. However - none of these issues exactly sound terminal to me, pretty easy fix if you have a screwdriver and a file.

Right choice - for all my Ibby love! Squier VMJs are great, as (IMO) are Jazzes in general. I have, and have had, dozens of different basses, and much as I like variety I always come back to a J.

Either of them beat "stupid fat c***" by a significant margin.

[quote name='Dave Swift' timestamp='1483728287' post='3209694'] Ouch, tough crowd! stingrayPete1977, maybe I should hire you as my agent! [/quote] No complaints about your contribution, Mr S. Although more vintage Japanese basses would have been nice...

Don't like singlecuts as a rule but that's actually not bad... B-stock one for £314. Just as well it's a no-GAS year.

[quote name='prowla' timestamp='1483790904' post='3210117'] Yep. Actually, no; it's a genuine '73 Ricky - I faked a faker! [/quote] Thought so! And just to demonstrate that I know my Fakers, the one you're buying is a Matsumoku-built bolt-neck, which would (assuming you're in the UK) have likely originally been badged as Arbiter, CMI, Aria or Aria Pro II, amongst others. You'll find it has a neckplate stamped "Steel Adjustable Neck" with a random serial number you can't date it from. Shame it has Schaller tuners because that means the original Wavy Grover copies have been replaced. Not that there's anything wrong with Schallers. It may also have dual truss rods like a real Rick (which unlike a real Rick, should work properly) but not all Mat bolt-necks have them. I can tell all that from four little dots.

Hope so, these can be very nice.

Unsurprisingly - that's gorn! What was it?

Cheap & nasty starter bass out of yer Ma's Littlewoods catalogue. Probably Korean.

[quote name='lojo' timestamp='1483700538' post='3209331'] The original post contains questions on race in the first or second paragraph [/quote] What - the examples of discriminatory attitudes that we reasonably wouldn't tolerate, used to highlight the fact no-one bats an eyelid at ageism? Apropos of nothing - I might be a bigot. In the event I decide to return my band to a gigging format, we might need to find a drummer. I think I'd struggle with anyone under 40-odd. Does that count?

Yes, it's a Matsumoku bass (good thing, most Hondos were Korean & not great quality) and yes, the bridge is bending as a result of 35-odd years of string tension - many Mat basses from this era have 3-point units made from cheese. They're not radiused, just rubbish, I'm afraid. I have a Matsumoku-built Westbury Track 2 which had a very bendy bridge when I got it: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:72631] Did a bit of research and this is a very common problem which turns up on lots of late 70s/early 80s Mats with these bridges. I found a period-correct baseplate for mine, otherwise the simplest solution is to replace it with an Epiphone or compatible unit, which will fit, or to upgrade with a fully adjustable Hipshot or Babicz replacement.

I'm slightly confused how a thread about ageism - where the OP illustrated his point with some examples of discriminatory attitudes we [i]wouldn't[/i] tolerate - has become one about racism.

I have Schaller 3Ds on several of my basses and they are excellent - beautifully made, easy to set up and great-looking. However I'd wonder if changing the bridge is really the best solution to the problem you describe, as it sounds like misalignment of the existing bridge might be the reason. Have you got any pics?

Interesting - and tbh looks like something you'd expect to pay a lot more than £125 for...

[quote name='mikel' timestamp='1483354844' post='3206397'] I have to say, Christine and the Queens, the number they did with the dancing, was fascinating. Highlight of the show for me. [/quote] She was the only thing worth watching it for IMO - very talented lady. The rest was often pretty painful/cringeworthy. Particularly the re-imagining of I Got You Babe as a creepy incest song.

Leaving aside the whole marmite "relic" thing - this is what I don't get: It's a basic Fender Jazz copy. Why is it £1500?

It's a rebadged Kasuga Scorpion. Not sure what the background to the Pro Martin brand was but I've only seen the name on Kasuga original designs in the UK/EU,so I assume they used it as an export brand. Might be connected to the fact that CF Martin used Kasuga to build "entry level" acoustics in the early 70s, prior to the launch of the Sigma brand. Doubt it was "official", though... Oh, and £100's a silly bargain, these are beautifully made instruments. Chances are it's a defret, but even so, if it was local to me I'd be proper tempted.

If you go for an SR, buy a used one - for £250 you'll get an SR500 or SR600. Or two used SR300s. For reasons no-one's clear about (because if you get on with the skinny necks, they're great basses), used Soundgears really don't hold their value and there are always s/h bargains out there.

[quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1483277215' post='3205813'] I personally like the look of it. [/quote] Yours for £850 - what's stopping you?

Likewise. I've had 2 80s MIJ Squiers (an SQ and an A-serial) from similar types of ads. The "cheap old bass that's been in the loft for 20 years" syndrome.

Looks interesting, tuners look MIJ and the exposed earth wire to the bridge suggests (to my none-too informed eye) a specific vintage reissue. Worth a punt if you're local, imo. Also, it's a Squries! Makes a change from all these Squires, Suqires & Squizzes.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1483030868' post='3204302'] Yup. Just you. [/quote] OK. I'm fine with that.