Bassassin

Serial's consistent with mid-80s MIJ, which is what it looks like to me. Jon.

Original Maxon pickups are quite hard to find, not having been made for 40-odd years, but occasionally they do come up. Alternatively an Artec mini humbucker like this should fit: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Artec-Mini-Humbucker-Violin-Bass-Pickup-Chrome/151278941934"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Artec-Mini-Humbucker-Violin-Bass-Pickup-Chrome/151278941934[/url] Not sure how pole spacing & output would work, but it's a 4-wire so it'll do single-coil. J.

Nice example - I've had a few of these. Sorry to tell you Avons weren't Fujigen builds - there's no confirmation of exactly who did make them, but Chushin Gakki's a possibility. Judging from the neck - round-end fretboard, inlays up to the 17th, fairly high heel - I'd say it's early 70s, possibly 72/3. Those traits disappeared when copies got more accurate. Jon.

Sometimes these pickups don't have date stamps, I don't think it necessarily means they're earlier than dated ones. I'd still place the bass at 72/3 based on the other features I mentioned. [quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1430151813' post='2758429'] My old man has an Antoria Les Paul, I read up on them once and supposedly they were owned by Ibanez. [/quote] Not sure where you read that. Antoria's a British brand which has changed hands a number of times over the years, but has always been owned by UK distributors - I believe it currently belongs to Tim Gentle Music. Anyway at that time it was owned by J.T. Coppock Ltd of Leeds, who sourced instruments from Fujigen Gakki. Ibanez is a brand name owned by Hoshino Gakki Ten - they also sourced their 70s copy-era instruments from Fujigen, which means that some models are identical to Antoria apart from the brand name. There's absolutely no other connection. [quote name='Maude' timestamp='1430170988' post='2758694'] Coldflows, I'm sure that's my old Antoria! [/quote] Bloody hell - amazing coincidence of the week! That explains the unusual finish & the dodgy pickup! J.

[quote name='ead' timestamp='1430136908' post='2758242'] There was a 3TSB Antoria with these p/ups on evilbay recently. I'm sure bassassasin will be along shortly to shed light on this murky corner! [/quote] These pickups are Maxon single-coils, they appeared on loads of early MIJ basses (even Ibby Rick Fakers had 'em) before 70s copies started getting accurate. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:69930] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:61017] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:61019] If there's a code on the back, this can be used to date the pickup, and will also give you an approximate date for the bass. Pre-76 Antoria basses (made by Fujigen Gakki) didn't have serial numbers, so it's hard to date them otherwise. This bass is pretty interesting - it looks like an early example - I'd guess 72/73, based on the chrome trc and inlays to 17th position - but I've never before seen an Antoria or any other Fujigen J copy with a solid finish & matching headstock. The fact there's a correct & authentic abalone logo on the head strongly suggests it's not a refin. Value - not sure. A good, clean & original early Antoria J might get around £175 - £225 or so if you're lucky - but if you can find a keen collector, this odd finish might fetch a bit more. Jon.

Got a can of Servisol Super 10 sitting right here on my desk - great stuff. Don't use WD40 on pots. Or bike chains. Jon.

No, no, yes? 1 - 99% it'll be a Satellite, Memphis was a US importer rebrand of the same thing. [sharedmedia=core:attachments:53548] 2 - 1980. I can say this with some certainty because I am an old sod & remember seeing/trying these in my local shop in that very year. They cost £99, which was (even back in the olden days) a total steal for a not too badly-made through-neck. However I was young & poor, and (at the time!) a snobby little brand-Nazi who wouldn't have been seen dead playing anything with "Satellite" on the end. I got over that & had one of these a few years back. They're OK but not great, Korean-made (none of the Satellite/Kay/Hondo stuff like this was MIJ) and mine weighed a ton. The wood under the stain & heavy lacquer was like random offcuts with lots of filler in the various cracks & holes, the bridge on mine had been routed (badly) about 5mm into the body to make it playable. They weren't necessarily all like that (QC on cheapos was abysmal back then) but I wouldn't recommend paying more than about £120 max for one of these, and I'd want a proper look at it first. J.

Another (probably) Yamaki-built P: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/70s-Daion-P-bass-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/321738204750"]http://www.ebay.co.u...r-/321738204750[/url] Looks like typical mid-70s build - butcherblock (maybe even ply) body, Gibson-type nut, glued-on fretboard. Not in original condition (new electronics) so the price is somewhat optimistic, I'd say. And speaking of optimistic pricing: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASHBURN-VULTURE-RARE-1982-SB40-VINTAGE-BASS-GUITAR-/191566993186"]http://www.ebay.co.u...R-/191566993186[/url] In fairness, I'd love to see this sell for £450 - I have one exactly the same and it's an extremely rare and wonderful bass, if & if pricing for these matched the Aria Pro SBs from the same factory & era, that'd be a bargain. This is the only one of these I've seen, apart from my own. J.

[quote name='bartelby' timestamp='1430127631' post='2758123'] Do left handed Dekos ever appear? I'm after a left handed neck as a donor to a project. Seems like a cheap way of getting a reasonable neck... [/quote] [quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1430031660' post='2757171'] DEKOS! [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_jb_20_sb_lh_deko.htm"]http://www.thomann.d..._sb_lh_deko.htm[/url] Left handed Jazz bass. EDIT: Gone. [/quote] I suppose you might be taking a chance that there aren't neck issues - but most seem to have been fine. Jon.

[quote name='nick' timestamp='1430054963' post='2757486'] I don't like the look of those Badass ones either. [/quote] Shame - got one in my parts box that I don't want either! I'm a big Schaller 3D fan - but you do have to drill new holes for them. The Gotoh hi-mass thing's a good choice, quite sympathetic to the BBOT design but less, well, rubbish. J.

Lovely classic 70s MIJ Jazz. Probably a Fujigen build if it's '77. Glad you're going to swap the hardware back to chrome - will you use a BBOT, or go for an "upgrade"? Jon.

For the record the Joodee isn't a Fujigen - it's a Yamaki build, which is (arguably!) better from a geek perspective. Wish Ebay sellers wouldn't just bullsh!t when they don't know what they're talking about. Shame the original truss adjustment's gone. The Westy's wildly overpriced, considering it's not even in playable condition. That would be dear for an immaculate one, mind. J.

I wouldn't accept that on a brand-new, £700 bass. Not for a poxy £50 off. Jon.

[quote name='tauzero' timestamp='1429885218' post='2756000'] What were you doing in my back garden? [/quote] Stealing pics of your bass, it would seem! Zephyr/C5 are the same thing according to the tag mine had on it when I bought it, presumably the 4-string's a C4. Really must dig mine out & stick some new strings on it. J.

Peavey C5 does all that, they go for less than £200 and are really well-made: Weighs a ton, mind. Jon.

That's a score! It's great when you find a shop that has no idea what they're selling, reminds me of my £70 Ibanez Musician MC150! Not 100% sure, but I think MIJ BC Rich were Kasuga builds, will be top quality. Pics ASAP, please. Jon.

We could club together and buy it, then burn it. That might stop it coming back. Maybe... Jon.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1429742907' post='2754604'] Speed Triple! I had one in lime green. Great bike. [/quote] It is f**ing awesome. And not just the paint job. J.

[quote name='alyctes' timestamp='1429738216' post='2754545'] Wow. That's quite spectacular. Though the neck makes me nervous, it looks as if it's made of sandpaper. (Was that the Squier you had from me? I liked it well enough, but that... [i]thing[/i] is something else ) Edit: Pics with the new plate, please [/quote] Yes, it was your old VMJ, sold to a friend along with our old PA. Despite appearances, there's very thick lacquer over the metalflake so the neck's nice & smooth. The finish has a depth to it you can't really see in the photos. Can't do the plate straight away due to lack of workshop facilities, but that should be sorted soon. [quote name='ahpook' timestamp='1429738439' post='2754553'] It's Barbie's bass ! [/quote] Indeed. And I think it complements Barbie's batshit-mental motorcycle quite well. J.

[quote name='uk_lefty' timestamp='1429728171' post='2754392'] If you just bought it because you liked it... well, i think you need help [/quote] What kind? J.

[quote name='ras52' timestamp='1429727233' post='2754373'] Is it a trick of the light, or is there some beveling going on on the spot where a regular bass of this ilk would try to carve a line into one's arm? [/quote] There is indeed - there's still a small ridge where the binding is, but far less pronounced with the forearm contour. It's also got a handy little gut-cut. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' timestamp='1429726918' post='2754365'] Would now be a good moment to enquire as to the future of your Kasuga? [/quote] They've not yet been introduced, but I feel any offspring might be marvels to behold. J.

GAS, she is a hard taskmistress. Following the one-in-one-out rule, I sold my lovely-but-surplus Squier VMJ Fretless - and within 24 hours, this was on its way. It is (I think) the very last new Retrovibe RV-4, one of only two made in this tasteful & restrained colour, which, if it was an official R*ck*nb*ck*r finish, I'd like to think would be "GayGlo". The other is the personal instrument of ProBass mainman, David Konig - and I'm not 100% sure he wanted to part with this one! Anyway he did, and I have finally caved in & bought a modern Faker, and I am pretty impressed with it. Finish is stunning, fretwork is excellent, it's fairly light & well-balanced, more comfortable & nicer to play than an "accurate" Faker - and by 'eck it's loud! David has re-wired this & his other "purple" (it's not really, is it?) one similarly to a Peavey T-40, which means the tone controls act to switch the pickups between humbucking & single-coil mode, as well as working conventionally in humbucker mode. There's not as pronounced a difference as on a T-40, but the single coil mode thins & brightens the sound a little. It'll want a little fettling to get it looking & playing how I'd like - intonation & action are OK but do need tweaking, and a black pearloid scratchplate would look [s]more vulgar[/s] less plain than the white, so it'll be getting that. In the meantime - do yer worst! Jon.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1429540287' post='2752411'] Looks like a VM body with chrome knobs as said. The neck could be from a Japanese Deluxe - [url="http://en.audiofanzine.com/electric-fretted-bass/fender/deluxe-jaguar-bass/medias/pictures/a.play,m.343150.html"]http://en.audiofanzi...y,m.343150.html[/url] T serial and gold/black logo... [/quote] I think that's exactly what it is. Odd, though - what happened to the "proper" body? Jon.

There are any number of MIJ basses from the late 70s/early 80s which have single P pups, but otherwise look & feel nothing like a Precision. Westone Thunder, Westbury Track 2, Kasuga Scorpion, Washburn Scavenger or Vulture1, Vantage VS series & god knows how many others. These were all great-quality instruments & most can be had for bargain prices these days. Jon.