Bassassin

Interesting, but I wouldn't touch this without seeing it first. About 8 years so back, a bunch of these necks were doing the rounds on Ebay, I picked one up for a project, when I got it, it was obvious the headstock was bent forward from the wooden back component of the neck & the fretboard was delaminating. Fair enough, returned it for a refund no problem, but I did a bit of reading about these and it appears this was a common issue - the headstocks are welded on (presumably not particularly well) and the necks are very susceptible to temperature changes - I found details of extreme examples, eg where a bass had been in the luggage hold of an aircraft, temperature changes & string tension causing the head to detach completely. Pretty sure the neck I'd had was failing in the same way - it had signs of use and I think it was being pulled apart by string tension. Jon.

[quote name='bh2' timestamp='1399706998' post='2446788'] I also had a bass by H Noble... he is also on the list (don't tell him Pike!), although I've heard he's a made up geezer. [/quote] Not exactly made up - Hayashi-san is held in high esteeem by many MIJ fans: [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/nobuaki_hayashi.html"]http://www.matsumoku...ki_hayashi.html[/url] Arguably his Atlansias are more innovative than the Aria/Matsumoku designs he's best known for. J.

Tidy-looking Washboard Scavenger with original hard case (and a little Carlsboro praccy "hamp") for £150 / best offer, if you're oop north: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/vintage-washburn-bass-guitar-with-vintage-case-and-carlsbro-bass-hamp-/221436059788"]http://www.ebay.co.u...p-/221436059788[/url] Edit - needs a new nut. J.

Hi Midleofnowhere and welcome to BC. Unfortunately you have come to the wrong place to find advice to help you narrow your choices down to one instrument, and I'm surprised no-one's yet offered you guidance to make the correct choice regarding your dilemma. So let me be the first. Buy all three. The simple fact is, if you're going to hang around here, that will happen anyway. And that will only be the beginning. One is never enough, and for many of us, neither is ten. Or twenty. Jon.

Pretty, but a bit overpriced considering the mods & "reliced" condition. I miss my SQ - I'm not much of a P fan but it really was special, played & sounded beautiful, and had absolutely gorgeous book-matched grain on the body. Jon.

[quote name='Musicman20' timestamp='1399466629' post='2444487'] - Truss rod wheel. Every bass should have this; [/quote] Pretty common on MIJ instruments from the 60s onwards, not sure who used it first but you see it on a lot of early Kawais and Guyatones. Same with the 6-bolt neckplate. J.

[quote name='geoffbyrne' timestamp='1399416231' post='2444134'] These can be pretty nice if you get a good one - latterly had DiMarzio pickups fitted, I believe, but Bassassin will jump in & correct me if I'm wrong - he usually does - and I'm usually wrong!!!! G. [/quote] Don't remember seeing these with DiMarzios but that doesn't mean it didn't happen, Geoff! Hondo put them in similar-standard instruments at that time, quite possible these Satellites came from the same factory Hondo was using, so it ain't unlikely. DiMarzios were a pretty standard upgrade on loads of 70s/80s basses anyway, so on that basis I tend to pay close attention to any old cheapo that turns up with cream pickup covers! Jon.

And lets not forget Paul Tutmarc, who made the first fretted electric bass, some 15 years earlier than that nice Mr Fender. J.

I'd have said Rick Turner/Alembic for the reasons previously mentioned - multi-laminate necks/bodies, first graphite neck, active electronics, and anecdotally the first 5-string. Also Rossmeisl/Rickenbacker, pretty sure the original 1957 Rick 4000 was the first-through-neck bass. Jon.

Not had a cat for years but well remember the necessity of wearing motorcycle gloves when it was necessary to encourage Moggy to do anything it wasn't entirely convinced of doing. Had a lot of nasty scratches over the years but fortunately, never a bite. Jon.

I'd probably still say my favourite was Machine Gun Etiquette, but Curtain Call from the Black Album is absolutely stunning - a 17 minute proto-goth/punk/prog epic! Fantastic stuff! Jon.

Actually, this might've been something (a bit) interesting, once. Looking at the neck, tuners & 5-bolt neckplate, I'm inclined to think it got Italian, or possibly Eastern European roots. Definitely not Japanese, other Oriental, UK or US origin. It is, however, still a ghastly mess. J.

[quote name='kennyrodg' timestamp='1399217627' post='2442156'] By the way Jon, I've not forgotten about the Cimar scratchplate for you. I'll be doing a pick up swap soon so will get it done then am pm you when ready. Cheers, Pete. [/quote] Thanks Pete. I may be parting with the Cimar - impending house move means some will have to go, so I'll let you know if I sell it before you do the pup swap. J.

Bitsa. Jon.

Interesting way of running a "make me an offer" auction. Shame best offer prices go undisclosed, but the pics are awful, bass looks a bit rough anyway, seller comes across as (and I may be wrong here) someone who picked this up for £30 at his local car boot, knows nothing about instruments and has Googled it & looked at Ebay sold listings. What "lesser versions" does he imagine he's referring to? About £150 - £175's worth, imo. Jon. Edit - he's previously failed to sell this at £275: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ibanez-Blazer-Bass-made-in-Japan-collectors-item-CAN-POST-OFFERS-INVITED-/271432810199

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1399147055' post='2441569'] [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Westone-Thunder-lll-Fretless-Electric-Bass-Guitar-1987-Very-Good-Condit-/301173170545?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item461f51e171"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item461f51e171[/url] Very nice, and more interesting as a fretless. That's quite a high price though, will it actually sell at that? [/quote] Beautiful example, but I'd think that's £150 or so over the odds. Westones are not quite worth Aria SB money yet! J.

Should point out this is a "licensed by Steinberger" bridge from the Hohner B2 series & other Cort-made headless basses, not an actual US Steiny bridge! Trying to ignore this - I don't need any more bits for theoretical projects I'll never actually do! Jon.

Aria STB-GT: [sharedmedia=core:attachments:71585] [sharedmedia=core:attachments:34467] Basically a poor man's Ray with a Jazz-ish neck, P-shaped body & 2-band EQ. These tend to go for around £120, think they were/are around £200 new. There was a blue one for sale here for ages, don't know if it's still up or not. Jon.

That's the thing. Should be a big string retainer block with it too: Schaller 460, apparently. J.

Always liked the guitars but remember thinking the bass was hideous when I saw one in a shop. That was a good few years ago & funnily enough, I really like the look of this. I'm somewhat relieved I don't have £650 to blow! Jon.

Actually - having another look, I'm pretty sure the bridge is an old Schaller 2-point roller bridge. You hardly ever see these (don't think they've made them for years) and might well be worth a couple of bob in its own right. J.