Bassassin

Got a look at it before the listing was pulled - definitely very shonky. Not certain, but didn't it say "Marcus Miller [b]style[/b]"? Wonder if it was one of these with a dodgy sticker: [url="http://www.bachmusik.com/en/music-instruments/bass-guitars/model-bach-bjb-s"]http://www.bachmusik.com/en/music-instrume...odel-bach-bjb-s[/url] Jon.

Is it really better than a Wal, or did he drag it out of a skip last week and make all that crap up? I wonder... Jon.

Rickenbacker International Corp, despite the important-sounding name is just a small, family-run American business and they do not have the legal right, reach or cash to touch anyone outside the US. Rick copies get pulled off Ebay because Ebay's a US company & happens to be based just down the road from RIC in California. You'll notice lots of Rick copies are currently manufactured and available - Rockinbetter, Shine, Indie, Anniversary etc can all be bought easily in the UK. The retailers, distributors, importers & manufacturers market these things openly - I doubt John Hall's particularly pleased about it but there's not a whole lot he can do. So I don't think he's likely to be too bothered by a little UK bass forum. The issue isn't really copies (or counterfeits, which are not the same thing at all), it's trademark protection. In the US, it's a requirement of law that a trademark owner (and all of RIC's designs are registered trademarks) has to take action against infringements to maintain ownership of the TM. If they don't, the mark enters the public domain & anyone can use it - which is precisely what happened to Fender & Gibson's body shape designs in the 70s. This is US-specific legislation meaning copies available in the rest of the world don't affect the US trademark ownership. None of this explains what happened to the build thread, though... Jon.

[quote name='neepheid' post='1027679' date='Nov 18 2010, 10:12 AM']They're possibly not retards - merely working on the statistical possibility that there's always someone out there who's more cerebrally challenged than oneself. "There's a sucker born every minute"? You're clearly not in their target market and I think you feel hurt and left out as a consequence, feeling the need to lash out because of your feelings of abandonment and rejection [/quote] That's an interesting analysis, but unfortunately somewhat wide of the mark. My feelings of abandonment & rejection are the result of a traumatic experiences at a strict single-gender school, and those are what drives me to don my gasmask and oilskins, grab my rubber-handled clawhammer and go out killing on a warm summer's evening. It's very cathartic and I'd recommend it to anyone. J.

That's really nice - I have a soft spot for the more modern Arias, they have a cheapo reputation they don't really deserve. This looks like a distant relative of the [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/catalogs/78_pb1500_slick/78_pb1500_slick.jpg.html"]PB-1500[/url]. They should reissue that one! Jon.

Another cretin making up fantasy rubbish to try & sell their broken junk. Can anyone explain why it is these retards seem to think that everyone else is even more stupid & ignorant than they are? Unbelievable! Jon.

Yep - Hohner The Jack bass, made in Korea by Cort, late 80s/early 90s, hardware licensed by Steinberger. Btw Hohner & Hofner are entirely separate brands, and Hofner have never made anything like this! Jon.

[quote name='kevbass' post='1027215' date='Nov 17 2010, 07:22 PM']Might be worth getting it and taking that fur off and if the finish is sh*te stripping it down?[/quote] Possibly but £120 is a bit much for something that might be wrecked underneath - certainly too much for a gyppo like me! J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1027374' date='Nov 17 2010, 10:09 PM']There have been a lot of this type and colour of bass on ebay recently. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CMI-EBO-Bass-Guitar-1974-Gibson-Copy-MIJ-SG-Shape-/120648657774?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c17386b6e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CMI-EBO-Bass-Guitar-...=item1c17386b6e[/url][/quote] Or is it just the same one being flipped around like a stranded fish - check his feedback! He's also got a nice Maya Gibson Marauder copy which he bought about a fortnight ago too. Some of his "facts" are a bit arse-about-face - not sure where he's doing his research. J.

[quote name='kevbass' post='1027116' date='Nov 17 2010, 05:40 PM']I do wonder what all that fur is covering up, like a bad paint job underneath or damaged wood.[/quote] Nah. I expect he just thought this particular piece of early 70s, rare, never-seen-in-the-UK JapCrap was some cheap rubbish for him to f@ck up. Such a pity! J.

[quote name='TheRinser' post='1026782' date='Nov 17 2010, 12:18 PM']But the dirt keeps the funk in![/quote] If funk equates to getting other peoples' sweat, snot, piss & excrement on your hands, then yes - it probably does. But then I'm a prog rocker & therefore know little of this "funk" of which you speak. J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1026219' date='Nov 16 2010, 06:58 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-Rickenbacker-Tribute-/200544299962?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eb15f2bba"]Unspecific tribute, probably modern.[/url][/quote] That'll be a Shine. J.

What's wrong with tidying it up before you sell it? Strip it down & give it a good clean - the rust will come off the saddles. The pics aren't very clear but by the state of the bridge & strings I doubt it's exactly clean. I've bought dozens of used instruments & never fail to be amazed (and revolted) by the squalid condition people seem to be happy to let their instruments get into. I'm a lot more likely to consider handing over money for something that looks clean & well looked-after (regardless of wear & tear from use) than for something neglected-looking & crusted with decades-worth of gunk & secretions. Jon.

I didn't know they were particularly rare - I remember there was one in Rockers in Denmark Street when I bought my Talbo, that was about 6 years ago. Don't remember how much it was, but it certainly wasn't any five grand! Jon.

These are definitely short scale - check the position of the bridge on the body - that body would have to be huge otherwise! The knobs aren't original - I think it probably would have had the tall, narrow transparent type you see on a lot of old JapCraps. These look like they might've come off a 70s hifi. J.

[quote name='Jerry_B' post='1024640' date='Nov 15 2010, 01:58 PM']Call me weird (just not all at once) but I actually quite like that Commodore. In terms of design anyway...[/quote] This is essentially the same as the Epiphone ET-280s that come up fairly often - it's a decent little Matsumoku shortscale, and this model's also been seen badged as Aria. The Aria version also has a 4-in-line headstock rather than the 2x2 on the Epi. Looks like the black slap would probably come off easily with a bit of wire wool/acetone etc and I expect the original finish is still there underneath. Considering the restoration it needs though, I think the £99 start is a bit ambitious. The Epis are quite popular & can go for a few quid. Possibly to weirdos but who am I to judge? Jon.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-RSB-delux-Bass-Guitar-not-fender-gibson-/290500382692"]Aria Pro II RSB Deluxe 2 £150 BIN or best offer.[/url] Total bargain, if it's as good nick as the pics make it appear. One of these (in blue/black burst) was my no.1 bass from 1984, when I bought it new, up until about 2000 when I retired it due to an irreparable neck twist it had gradually developed. Light, comfortable, beautifully made, passive with lots of switching options making it very versatile, slim J-esque neck. And drop-dead gorgeous. Just look at it! Obviously I'd buy it if he'd post; in fact half-tempted to see if he'll hang onto it until I go down to Birmingham for the bike show next month... Nah. Too many basses. One of you buy it. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1023915' date='Nov 14 2010, 08:33 PM']Everyone else's crack converters seem much better than mine. I dropped in one one today, and apart from a Satellite six string, rather awful looking, they've had for ages, nothing. When will I see a decent JPN Jazz Bass in one?[/quote] Right place/right time - that J is the only thing I've ever seen or bought from mine. J

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1024019' date='Nov 14 2010, 09:31 PM']To be fair personal opinions on it's aesthetics are being asked in the thread title. You can't expect for only positive answers to be submitted.[/quote] Quite - and while I wouldn't go as far as Wayne, for what it's worth I don't think the yin-yang design works in this context, and the body shape of the Monarch to me is clunky, cluttered & half-finished looking, like the slightly wonky-looking home-made basses that pop up on Ebay from time to time. Quite like the pretty butterfly, though. Jon.

[quote name='Slipperydick' post='1023315' date='Nov 14 2010, 12:30 PM']If this really a 70s one, it might be good. I just dont like the ?? in the description. Tempted to have a punt, I've never even tried a fretless. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Antoria-Precision-Bass-Fretless-Japan-70s-/300492119662?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item45f6b9de6e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Antoria-Prec...=item45f6b9de6e[/url][/quote] [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=7473&view=findpost&p=1020743"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...t&p=1020743[/url] and the subsequent 5 or 6 posts. Always assume any Ebay seller has no idea what he's talking about. For a change this one's admitting he knows nothing rather than just inventing random lies. In short, it's a 70s Antoria built by Fujigen & these were very good. J.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='1023289' date='Nov 14 2010, 11:55 AM']My local Crack Converters (Lewisham) has a fairly tidy-looking bound 'n' blocked Sunburst Columbus Jazz for £65. Some wear to the finish on the neck, but looked quite well set up. Usual black-edged sunburst to hide the plywood. Good deal? Par for the course? Rip Off?[/quote] Play it, try & find fault/pick holes and they might knock the price down - I got a Satellite Jazz copy for £25 by doing this. The neck pup just needed to be re-soldered. If they won't bite, hand over the £65 and walk out grinning - these are pretty decent 70s copies and would make at least twice that in a 99p/no reserve Ebay sale. J.