Bassassin

It'll be interesting to see what it goes for, but my gut feeling is that something like this is really more collector's oddity than gigging musical instrument. J.

These don't come up very often, so quite unusual. These disappeared after about 1971, so pretty much pre-date the 70s "copy era". Earliest examples had a strange 2-a-side "jester hat" headstock. As for whether they're any good - never played one myself, and Ibanez quality in the early 70s (or even late 60s) was not what it became towards the end of the decade. That said, I doubt it's complete junk. J.

[quote name='Leon Transaxle' timestamp='1423936913' post='2690624'] That's right. I remember one of the music papers at the time referring to them as 'Elephant holding a Biscuit', or something similar. [/quote] Glad I wasn't just hallucinating again! [quote name='Hobbayne' timestamp='1423922163' post='2690391'] That was Prince wasnt it?? [/quote] I think he did something similar a few years later, and was subsequently referred to as "The Artist Formerly Named After A Dog", or something. J.

That's a shonky, wonky knockoff of a Vester Argus: Wild Rose Music was an ultra-cheapo Ebay outlet from about 10 years back, other highlights included a green wooden ripoff of a Tokai Talbo. That retailed at about £100 new, as would this thing - someone's having a proper giraffe with the price of this! Jon.

Seller plainly isn't a musician & knows nothing about this bass or any other, save what 25 seconds' Googling has turned up. Shame there aren't better pics, but I'm about 95% sure this isn't a high-end Yamaki build, which you'd associate with the Daion or Joodee brands. It looks cheap - the big black oversprays on the contours say ply, or at best butcher-block. Just a detail, but the MIJ neckplate stamped on the top half usually turns up on low/medium range stuff probably from the Chushin factory, as does the Gibson-type nut. I'd have liked to see a pic of the truss rod adjustment - Yamaki-built Fender copies featured an interesting side-of heel truss system, and I can't see any signs of that here. If it was starting at £50 it might be worth a look. Jon.

[quote name='Meddle' timestamp='1423871636' post='2690062'] Errr, actually John's own Ned Callan (collateral for dong the ad?) was sold at Christies for £2,200. And that was in 1993. [url="http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/lot/john-entwistle-a-ned-callan-solidbody-3613336-details.aspx?intObjectID=3613336"]http://www.christies...bjectID=3613336[/url] [/quote] No pic, and going on Christies' description, not one of these: [quote] A Ned Callan solidbody bass guitar in a sunburst finish; maple neck, 20 fret bound rosewood fingerboard, Schaller machineheads, two pickups, three controls and black pickguard[/quote] More likely a Ned Callan Cody "Nobbly Ned", prob'ly this very one:

[quote name='UglyDog' timestamp='1423771807' post='2688943'] We know that Mr West is the 'biggest rock star on the planet' because he has been described as such by... errm... himself. [url="http://entertainment.time.com/2013/09/24/kanye-west-im-no-1-rock-star-on-the-planet/"]http://entertainment...-on-the-planet/[/url] [/quote] And he's a god too, apparently. High time someone tested his immortality. Jon.

Weren't Freur originally called a squiggly symbol? In that their name was simply a squiggly symbol, not an actual word/sound? J.

The one for sale is clearly not the one in the Entwistle ad, which is a longscale, like the CMI-branded version I had a few years back. The ludicrously overpriced one for sale is shortscale, check the relative positions of bridge & output etc. Mine was a pretty cool old bass, I really only bought it out of curiosity & because it was cheap. It wasn't any practical use to me, and I sold it to BCer Razze06, who still has it now. Jon.

Slightly more modestly-priced (and specced) SR500: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/254908-ibanez-sr500/"]http://basschat.co.u...8-ibanez-sr500/[/url] J.

I've seen US sellers do this with boutique or uber-rare vintage stuff, but it does seem like overkill for a humble VMJ. Nice bit of quilting on the front of the body, though... Jon.

FWIW I think the reason they lose value so quickly is the fact they're so common/popular. The SR range has been around now since 1987 and available in a mind-boggling range of permutations & variations, so there's no element of scarcity to keep prices high. J.

Big fan. I had two SR800s, fretted & fretless, regret selling them. I still have an EDA-900 Ergodyne, 1980s RS924 Roadster and early 70s 2366B Precision copy. Modern Ibbys are amazing value/quality, the SRs are beautifully balanced & lightweight - but the ultra-skinny necks are a bit marmite, if you favour a chunky P-type you probably won't like it. Also - buy secondhand, save a packet. Jon.

A couple of albums I first heard way back in the 70s, before I even knew what music was. Queen: Sheer Heart Attack. Such an incredibly imaginative, colourful, genre (and gender) bending explosion of downright joyous music and performance. The Who - Quadrophenia. My introduction to the concept album, and it doesn't get any better. A brilliantly nuanced, powerful and intelligent collection of interconnected compositions, audacious musicianship and more pure emotion & energy than many bands manage in a career. There are a handful of albums from the past that for me don't bring some element of nostalgia with them - and these two still sound as fresh & immediate as the first time I heard them. Jon.

Westone Rail? Interesting 80s oddity made by Matsumoku. In fact I think there might be one or two owners lurking around on BC. Jon.

These are pretty common, Taiwanese-made, early 70s, realistically more of a kitschy hipster wall-hanging than a musical instrument. Yours has been fitted with what might be a genuine Rickenbacker tailpiece - although the 70s copy parts were pretty much identical - which is probably (ironically) a massive improvement over the original bridge. These basses do violate Rickenbacker's trademarks so selling them is tricky - they are actually prohibited from sale on BC, athough talking about them is fine. Ebay sales get pulled, as do Gumtree. Your best bet is the Facebook group devoted to "Rickenfakers" - although you can expect a bit of gentle ribbing about your Kay. Jon.

[quote name='thebrig' timestamp='1423565925' post='2686300'] Oh Dear!!! Seller Refused To Send Item & Respond To Requests - Ebay Case Found In My Favour Not received , had to get refund from ebay !!!! Only received refund for one of the three items bought from this seller Never received item , no reply to emails [/quote] Yet he still has a 100% positive feedback score. Wuh? J.

[quote name='itsmedunc' timestamp='1423514084' post='2685840'] Oh dear, hope I'm wrong because somebody has bought it! [/quote] Relisted. That was quick... [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FENDER-JAZZ-BASS-USA-/131425439950?"]http://www.ebay.co.u...-/131425439950?[/url] J.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423504627' post='2685639'] And it's never been jigged! [/quote] So relieved to hear that. Can't stand those Ceilidh bands! Jon.

I can't go in there. I'd come out with an SG3000, and no money ever again. Jon.

It is water damage - the wood's swollen & split the lacquer, by the looks I'd be very surprised if the wood's not split too. The cracks are huge. There's definite separation around the neck pocket - speaking of which, you're not going to get anything in there without considerable work, even then there'll be warping, meaning a neck's unlikely to sit straight. Total ruined garbage - it's too wet to even be firewood. J.

"Heavy relic" = "dragged it out of the river". Jon.

[quote name='Roger2611' timestamp='1423340864' post='2683765'] I would be amazed if that trade gets completed, even with the super distortion pickups, hugely overpriced sale.....I still have my one (my first guitar) which I wouldn't part with for love nor money, but still £510 for a Columbus if the trade goes through the seller can count it as a small lottery win! [/quote] I doubt the pickups are DiMarzios. This model came with open coil pups as standard, and there were plenty of MIJ-made pickups with cream bobbins & hex pole pieces, just like these. Quite likely this is what it left the factory with. J. J.

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1423357357' post='2683969'] Just like those Ritter ones. [/quote] Quite right. Overpriced tat! J.

Shame it's a cheap & nasty plywood body. Definitely a good way of saving weight - I've idly wondeed about doing something similar to one or two of my boat anchors. Jon.