Bassassin

Working link: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150524395000"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150524395000[/url] This one did get discussed in the Rickenfakers thread - quite funny because I sent the seller a message telling him exactly what it was - which he largely ignored, because it wasn't what he wanted to hear. Not sure why (apart from it not being an "Ibanez Lawsuit") because it's all good, in fact these are as good as bolt-neck MIJ copies got - and that's very good. The serial number looks like the same format as Fujigen - 1st letter = month, next 2 digits = year, remaining number = production number for the month. That's probably how this one works, this format occasionally pops up on Matsumoku instruments - anyway it would be the 2995th instrument made in February 1976. The bass has a whole bunch of details which are exclusive to Matsumoku, and many are specific to their 4001 copies: twin rods; control position dots on the scratchplate; "Wavy" Grover copy tuners (these are much better quality than the originals) "Steel Adjustable Neck" neckplate, and that odd little bridge pickup, clearly designed to be out of sight under a cover. In the UK these were sold branded as Aria & Aria Pro II, plus several UK importer names, including Kimbara, Arbiter & CMI. In the US & elsewhere you find Matsumoku Rick clones branded as Greco, Univox, Electra, Westminster etc, but realistically this one's unlikely to have originally been a non-UK brand. Very nice bass - please do post some pics when it's all sorted out & cleaned up. J.

[quote name='ashley699' post='1051776' date='Dec 8 2010, 03:20 PM']Hi all I recently bought a Rickenbacker copy, i have no real idea what it could be, i knows its japanese and i think its a 1970's one. someone has hand written the "Rickenbacker" logo onto the headstock on put some sticky back plastic on it, i have since removed this and it is a plain truss cover so i have no idea. it does have a double truss rod though. Can anyone help? Here the link with all the photos on: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url][/quote] Link's not working (got an Ebay item number?), but you've come to the right place. Twin truss rod means (if it's definitely Japanese) it was made by Matsumoku - none of the other MIJ copies have twin rods, and the only other twin-rod copy I've seen is an Italian- made Gherson. I'll need to see pics to be able to tell you much more, though. There's actually a sticky thread in the Ebay section of the BC marketplace devoted to Rick copies - it's very likely the original listing for your bass was mentioned there already. Jon.

[quote name='silddx' post='1051453' date='Dec 8 2010, 10:51 AM']That's cool. Ellie can certainly belt it out though, I don't why people think she can't.[/quote] In my case, it's purely because the only example of her music I have heard is a mumbling, whimpering cover of an already cheesy old song. It's unfortunate that this presumably gives an entirely wrong impression of what she's actually about as an artist, but on the whole, being the soundtrack to an ad campaign will tend to be detrimental to integrity & being taken seriously. And I'd really like to have explained to me exactly how the chart success of a department-store advert tune functions as an indicator of any kind of quality or talent. Or indeed why I should show "respect" - whatever that is - to those who purvey such things. Jon.

[quote name='charic' post='1051299' date='Dec 8 2010, 08:29 AM']Any chance of a listen? [/quote] There's a short (only 10 minutes!) compilation of excerpts on my band's [url="http://www.myspace.com/maya29band"]Myspace[/url]. Technically the album's not finished yet - my programming & cack-handed 6-stringery need to be replaced by a proper drummer & guitarist, and there are still some song-linking narrative/atmospheric parts to be finalised. But hell might freeze over before that happens - which appears to be the nature of relying on other people. J.

I've always wanted to write & record a concept album - a full-blown prog-rock magnum opus with themes, lyrical & instrumental leitmotifs, extended multi-part compositions and lots of incomprehensible time signatures . And I have - well, me & my lovely singist partner have. And I think it's f@cking amazing. I also think I played some pretty good bass on it too. [spoiler]However - I am British, therefore it's very difficult for me to find & maintain a sense of perspective about this. It occurs to me it's probably absurd, over-reaching and too ambitious for its own good, and that most people would think it was ridiculous, and crap. So underneath the sense of pride & achievement, I can't help having a sneaking feeling that it's really the Top Gear of progressive rock - ambitious but rubbish. [/spoiler] Jon.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1051028' date='Dec 7 2010, 08:57 PM']yeah I think the gumtree one is long gone. I dont want to take anything away from that model of bass. But having the binding and the block inlays make the bass look that much bit sweeter. Im not overly fussed on the stereo jack but I love the extra trimmings of binding and inlays.[/quote] I agree 100% - personally my Dream Rick has checked binding & full-width inlays, meaning it's either a pre-1973 4001, or one of the occasional factory special one-offs RIC turn out. Either of these would put the price tag up to £2500+, which is why it's very likely to remain a Dream Rick! J.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1050895' date='Dec 7 2010, 07:12 PM']I think your right andrew,,i will hold out for the real deal...I dont want to finally get one and then feel as though its a let down due to the extra cost of a few hundred notes.[/quote] Apropos of nothing - that ad's a month old, there's no way on Earth that Rick's still for sale at that price! I'm quite surprised at the suggestion that this one's not "the real deal" - while the original 60s version of this might have been intended as a no-frills budget Rick, that's really not the case for the 4003S. These have neither been made nor sold in the same quantities as the full-fat 4003, and I would expect this - plus the original RM1999's association with players like Squire & McCartney - to make ones the Gumtree bass very desirable. Even copies of the 4001S model (very rare in themselves) have been known to sell for £700+. J.

Certainly do. I've done BVs in every band I've been in, and was in a couple of bands a few years ago where I shared lead vocal duties with the guitarist. These days I sing harmonies in every song, and have a lead vocal part on a couple of choruses. Some of my bass parts are quite involved, and I really don't like to compromise them, so working out how to sing & play some of the songs can be a challenge, but for me the key is understanding how the two different rhythms fit together - because they always do. Different melodies are not so much of an issue, certainly if you know the bass line well enough for it to be muscle-memory. Jon.

[quote name='Bassman Sam' post='1050136' date='Dec 7 2010, 03:03 AM']Check this one out, this ad has it all. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-SQUIRE-PRECISION-BASS-VGC-Cream-Korean-1990-/110620877781?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c184a3d5"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FENDER-SQUIRE-PRECIS...=item19c184a3d5[/url] [/quote] He spelt "origional" wrong - sorry - rong. J.

[quote name='Bassman Sam' post='1050137' date='Dec 7 2010, 03:11 AM']or anyone else. Caught my eye on the bay. what's the story with them, Any good? [/quote] Yes. I've got one: [attachment=65865:rbugporn.jpg] Extraordinarily well-made, if a bit heavy, mine's customised a bit but original hardware is largely the same as most other MIJ copies, apart from the large closed-back tuners. Pickups are Maxons, very accurate copies of the original parts, stamped with a date code which gives approximate age of the bass. Bolt-neck construction, mono output, these came in a few different colour schemes & the white top here is a factory finish, not a very common one though. Kasuga Gakki was a manufacturer in its own right with a factory in Nagoya, until quite recently best-known for doing contract work for Tokai in the early/mid 70s. Their own brands, plus their other OEM output (which includes Aria, Electra, Arbiter, Northern etc) are now getting more sought-after based on their quality & comparative scarcity. The Ebay one's a very striking bass and may well not go cheap! Jon.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1049400' date='Dec 6 2010, 03:16 PM']well a dont see any reason to bring that nonsence into a thread where we dont need bloodyminded intolerance.[/quote] I apologise - I was having a bad morning. However if you've ever been on RickResource, or, even worse, the official RIC forum, you should appreciate that Ricks are [b]all[/b] about bloodyminded intolerance. But at least I'm polite! J.

[quote name='cocco' post='1049750' date='Dec 6 2010, 07:31 PM']Bassassin to thread![/quote] Late to the party... Can't offer anything conclusive, but it looks like a nice quality parts bass to me. I don't know Fenders well enough to say whether the neck is a good copy part, licensed, or genuine - never mind MIA, MIJ, MIM or even if it's from a Squier. However it looks decent, the decal's nicely done and the tuners are good quality with full-sized backplates, rather than the scratty tinny little things you find on most recent copies. The bridge isn't a Fender part - you never find the 2 front mounting screws on real ones. Very nice 3-part body - the grain looks like ash but I'm no wood expert - and like the rest I'd be inclined to think it's recent. Nice bass and looks a good £200 worth to me. Needs an informed opinion from a proper Fender fan though! Jon.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1049330' date='Dec 6 2010, 02:36 PM']where as I have an email saying they are from the same factory available from Tokai UK and also on the Chinese pricelist[/quote] Is this subsequent to the discussion in the Rickenfakers thread? Annoying Twit contacted Tokai UK, who told him Rockinbetters were nothing to do with them, I think you claimed your contact had merely said they came from the same factory, rather than being an official Tokai product. Don't think you mentioned a Chinese pricelist before - is that from the manufacturing factory or Tokai? Very interesting, all this! J.

[quote name='silddx' post='1049282' date='Dec 6 2010, 02:07 PM']It looks [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-guitar-project-thru-neck-thru-body-stringing-/160515037741?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item255f711a2d"]ridiculous [/url] [/quote] It would be interesting to get a closer look at that - going by the neck inlays, it's a Cort, from around 1980. These came in a variety of peculiar designs, but I've certainly never seen a Status "inspired" one before! Wonder if it's a particularly uncommon variety, or (more likely, I think) someone's used a Cort through-neck as the basis of a Status-wannabe home-build. I don't think I'll be bidding, though! Jon.

Can I just take a moment, while there's a general atmosphere of bloodyminded intolerance here on BC, and while I'm sitting here looking at the 4 inches of f@cking snow that has fallen this morning, to point something out that bugs the living tits off me? RIC, or Ric: Acronym for Rickenbacker International Corporation, the company which manufactures Rickenbacker instruments. [b][u]Rick: Abbreviation of Rickenbacker.[/u][/b] Thanks for listening, I feel better now. As you were. Jon.

[quote name='icastle' post='1047781' date='Dec 4 2010, 09:14 PM']There are two seperate companies - Tokai China and Tokai Japan. The Futuramas are made on the Tokai China production line along with Chinese Tokai branded items which are about 1/3 the price of the Japanese ones![/quote] Is this verified? It's not simply that Tokai Gakki in Hamamatsu contract a Chinese factory to build lower-budget instruments to their specification? It would seem, for example that the Rockinbetter-branded Rick copies come from the same factory that makes MIC Tokais, but according to Tokai UK (who, one assumes, would know) they are nothing whatsoever to do with Tokai. I wouldn't have thought that Chinese Tokais have sufficient market share to warrant a dedicated manufacturing facility. Interestingly Fender Japan is a separate company from its US parent - it is run by Kanda Shokai & retailer Yamano Gakki. Kanda is owner of the Greco brand & anecdotally, the first run of MIJ Fenders were apparently re-badged Grecos. This business about the Fender Japan/Tokai contract really does sound like guff made up by some shop assistant trying to appear knowledgeable in order to flog his own-brand cheapos. CIJ Fenders are made by Dyna Gakki as well as Tokai, and I'm sure the end of a time-limited contract with one particular factory would not result in a production shortfall. The thing about Fender "forgetting to extend their copyright" is just laughable. Futurama? Leaving aside the fact that these days, all copyrights pertaining to that name are likely to be tightly-protected properties of a particular animated sci-fi comedy show, this is just part of a trend. Lately a good few old 60s/70s era brands are being dusted off & stuck on new cheapo instruments & accessories - as well as Futurama, you'll find Antoria, CSL, Westone, Vantage, Ventura, and probably a good few more, if you dig a bit. Jon.

[quote name='karlfer' post='1048830' date='Dec 5 2010, 10:26 PM']Comments gentlemen please? I feel a weakness coming on. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270675481604&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url] Cheers, Karl.[/quote] In the highly unlikely event it stays anywhere near the start price, it's a decent bass. Ibanez 2388B, post 1975, can't really tell from the pics, which aren't great, but looks tidy. You can see in the reverse pic that it has a serial number, this would make itn 1975 at the very earliest - there were no serials on Ibbys prior to 75. Also it has accurate hardware and small inlays, which suggests it's probably about as late an Ibanez copy as you're likely to find. Jon.

Johnston - funnily enough [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showuser=821"]Roman's actually a member here[/url] - when Bach first came to the attention of BC, maybe 4 years ago, he joined up & made a couple of posts. I did try & get a delivered price for one of the 4004 clones, but like you said, he's uncommunicative & I eventually gave up after asking here & trying but failing to register on the Bach site. A pity, they're a damn sight dearer now, & the pound's a lot more rubbish than it was then. Just out of curiosity, let me know if you can confirm the country of origin of these things, it would be fascinating (and pretty cool) if they were Czech - but I bet they ain't! J.

[quote name='steantval' post='1045412' date='Dec 2 2010, 06:07 PM']Elton John's, Your Song is a classic IMO, it's from the 70's and takes me back to my first job, motorcycles and a generally great time of growing up. This Ellie Goulding version is not good - what's the point? - why cover it? Ellie sounds a lot like this new breed of female vocalists that sound breathy and voices like 4 year olds. Kylie Minogue - 40 year old woman with a 4 year olds voice. Duffy - sounds like she's on helium. Proper voices like Annie Lennox, Chrissie Hind, Christine McVie, Alison Moyet, Dusty Springfield etc, take a lot of beating.[/quote] Couldn't agree more - my partner (a female singer with a very powerful set of pipes) calls them special needs/speech impediment singers. And this song in question is, surprisingly enough, a Christmas advertisement for some department store. Bill Hicks was right. J.