Bassassin

[quote name='noelk27' post='1004667' date='Oct 29 2010, 02:18 AM']I viewed that Jazz copy, Jon. There was no label or other marking on it to suggest it was Aria. Also, the pickups didn't look like the Maxon type I'd have expected to see on an Aria copy.[/quote] No headstock logo? If so I'd go with your assessment that there's no reason to think it's an Aria, after all. What do you make of the Aria-branded Kasuga LP? Obviously the Ebay link's long gone but I kept some of the pics: [attachment=62492:Image4.jpg][attachment=62493:Image5.jpg] [attachment=62494:Image7.jpg][attachment=62495:Image8.jpg] Jon.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1003991' date='Oct 28 2010, 04:20 PM']I have it on good authority the Tokai link is they come from the same factory [/quote] What - Tokai Gakki in Hamamatsu? Chinny reckon. These are sod-all to do with Tokai, [b]which is why they don't say Tokai on them[/b]. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1004327' date='Oct 28 2010, 08:25 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1980s-Aria-Matsumoku-Made-Japanese-Shiro-Bass-/320609897674?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aa5d6ccca"]Shiro Bass[/url]. Listing claims that it's Matsumoku made, but in previous threads by Jon disagree. Wherever it was made (and my money's on Jon ), I think it looks very nice. Fair bit of the right type of wear on the back though.[/quote] This is the same one that sold for £128 a couple of weeks ago: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shiro-Aria-Bass-80s-Japan-/220678047984"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Shiro-Aria-Bass-80s-...n-/220678047984[/url] Seller is covering his gyppo-flip profiteering attempt by not leaving feedback - but this is the BC JapCrap Squad, sunshine, we know your type and all your little tricks. Certainly doesn't look like a Matsumoku - and tbh there's no reason why it should be. Shiro may be an Arai Co brand but they didn't exclusively use Matsumoku - Kasuga LP copies have turned up with Aria logos so there's every reason to think if this doesn't look like a Mat then likely it ain't one. J.

I've never owned MIA or MIM so can't speak from experience - but over the years I've read a lot of posts on here from people dissatisfied with their MIM and MIA Fenders, but can't remember a single one complaining about a Japanese-made J or P. Interesting, that. Jon.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1001866' date='Oct 26 2010, 10:56 PM']i just assumed the smiley face and the face laughing would show sarcasm in my reply. I guess it was lost in translation.[/quote] No - it was quite evident that you were being sarcastic. However it wasn't exactly clear what the sarcasm was being directed at. J.

[quote name='waldemar' post='1001913' date='Oct 27 2010, 12:00 AM']Posting some pics if any of ye are interested, although I'm sure you'd rather be looking at MM's and MIA-P's..![/quote] Not at all! Far sooner see something a bit out of the ordinary, like this. J.

[quote name='munkonthehill' post='1001685' date='Oct 26 2010, 08:35 PM']how can you say its a fake/copy with those detailed pics [/quote] Tuners are wrong, trc is a fake, fireglo colour is wrong, fretboard's too dark, the description's bullsh!t and the seller knows it. Any other questions? Don't believe me - go & give the guy £1200 for it and find out yourself. J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1001797' date='Oct 26 2010, 10:01 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/yamaha-sb-2a-1967-70-bass-guitar-surf-bass-/290492766863?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43a2b7da8f"]Think this is an old one?[/url][/quote] Yep. J.

I might aspire to a nice little semi in Dennis Duna Way, but gyppo scumbag that I am, you'll probably find me slumming it in one of the clapped-out camper vans parked up on that strip of common grassland to the east of the estate, you know - Rob Green. Jon.

[quote name='razze06' post='1001129' date='Oct 26 2010, 02:04 PM']Ah well, i texted him today, but no reply. Not a problem, let me know if you got it! I noticed the pickup was different from the catalog after I posted it, Iwonder what it sounds like with the humbucker[/quote] Marco - if you fancy it, go for it, it's not like I need any basses! Realistically I probably would tidy it up, play it for a few weeks & then sell it on. I'll mail the guy and tell him you're interested, & he'll likely text you back. J.

[quote name='razze06' post='1001094' date='Oct 26 2010, 01:30 PM'][url="http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/Tokai-Volume1-Original-Series-catalog.pdf"]http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalo...ies-catalog.pdf[/url] Page 8 I may go for this...[/quote] Oops - I mailed him last night... As it happens these got discussed here a year or two ago - another BCer has one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26861"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=26861[/url] The Scumtree bass is an LBX60 with a humbucking pup (shown in the catalogue image in the thread) rather than the LBX50 on the Tokai site, which has a split coil pup. Can't see any other differences. J.

[quote name='thunderbird13' post='1000925' date='Oct 26 2010, 11:01 AM']FWIW I never liked brow - he always reminded me of that annoying Monty Python sketch -nudge nudge wink wink ![/quote] That's the whole point - to me he's a 20x20 pixel Sid James! J.

He's still there: There's just no link any more. Sort it out! J.

That's a fretted/fretless twin-neck waiting to be born. Jon.

[quote name='waldemar' post='1000616' date='Oct 25 2010, 10:58 PM']That vee looks cool. After a bit more of a dig around - apparently Vulcan was a brand name (amongst others) stuck on guitars coming out of the Korean Matsumoko factory. Possibly a forerunner to the Westone brand.[/quote] Erm - there was no Korean Matsumoku factory. Matsumoku was in Matsumoto city, Japan. This is likely early 80s Korean - Japanese factories pretty much stopped making copies for export by the end of the 70s so that part of the market shifted to cheaper facilities in Korea, Taiwan etc. It's likely that Vulcan was simply the importer's choice of name and nothing to do with the factory that made it - that was the case with the vast majority of small 70s and 80s brands, and is still the case now. The neck looks quite tidy, body is almost certainly ply, though. Jon.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140469853562"]Not the Ibanez he wants it to be[/url] - which is a good thing because it's made of nicer wood & has a more attractive Fireglo than most Ibbys. Don't know what this is, ones like this turn up branded as Fernandes & Fresher, it's not clear who made them. It's also possible it's a Brazilian Giannini. I'd be a bit more worried than he is by the lacquer cracking & flaking around the neck/body join - looks to me like the body wings are de-laminating quite badly. **UPDATE** Leaning more towards Giannini (or something else non-MIJ) now after having a good look at his pics - hardware details aren't consistent with Japan: bridge holes too squared, strange elongated strap buttons - and a "StereoSound" jackplate with a very curious Rick-type serial, to start with. Also skunk-stripe and inlays look wrong... Oh, and this has been on before, back in November 2007. The neck joint wasn't quite as f@cked then... J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='999912' date='Oct 25 2010, 12:32 PM']Edit: Is it just me, or does quite a bit of the "information I found on the web" sound quite Bassassin-ish?[/quote] You probably post on the same forum he pinched it from! Anyway - you have to be [i]really[/i] on the ball to work out that what I'm talking about is absolutely arse-all to do with his poxy bass. And that's the beauty of hidden messages. Or is it the horror? I never was clear about that part. J.

[quote name='josh3184' post='1000055' date='Oct 25 2010, 02:33 PM']But yeah it looks a bit light to me, like it's been sanded down?[/quote] I wouldn't be surprised if it's been recently re-fretted and had the board refinished at the same time. If you look closely, I think it is still gloss - you can see what I'm pretty certain is a reflection on the last pic, right side of the 21st position. That's not visible in the other pics. J.

Noel's referring to the fingerboard/fretboard (being a committed member of the Junior Pedants League, I only use the term "fretboard" to refer specifically to a fretted instrument ), touchboard isn't a very commonly used term but is correct in this context. It's more commonly used in reference to instruments like the Chapman Stick or Warr, where it's descriptive of the intended playing techniques. Jon.

Here's a no-brand project (might be a Kasuga bolt-neck but that's a wild guess) with some of the strangest mods I've seen on this or any other bass: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180578699320"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180578699320[/url] What the hell would that sound like? J.

That's the weirdness of Ebay for you right there - I'm sure I've never seen a 6-bolt EB-0 copy before (I would remember!) and now, they're like buses. Amaze. J.

Blatant copy, I'm surprised the listing's still active. Jon.

Six-bolt neck is quite unusual on an EB copy, don't think it's an Avon because of this. It's claimed that Moridaira used these early on but I have no idea if that's the case, tbh. I hope the price is a typo - surely he must have meant £75? Or maybe it's because it's part of the "Law Suite"? J.

[quote name='tino' post='998666' date='Oct 24 2010, 10:27 AM']with an out of auction offer of £500 + postage if it does not sell on ebay it may well be winging its way to an ibby collector in the US.....youd think with 97 watching some one would have had a go at it... finger and toes crossed [/quote] Someone might well jump in at the last second - if you get two or more there might be a nice little scrap over it. J.