Bassassin

[quote name='Wolfman' post='1011475' date='Nov 3 2010, 10:52 PM']Another group piss-take with even a moderator chipping in...... Who should we pick on next..the bandy or the cross-eyed? This is the reason why I don't post here much [/quote] It's your bass, isn't it? Isn't it? Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1011374' date='Nov 3 2010, 09:28 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Kays-Bass-Guitar-/220692001666?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item336244b382"]This Kay is American made apparently.[/url][/quote] Well that's going to be a pisser for the seller when whoever buys it reads the little silver label under the neck plate. That's where it gives you the model number, and says MADE IN TAIWAN. I quite like the MOTO Indie in principle. Should have a plain scratchplate though. J.

Me & a couple of underage mates sneaked into a local pub and simultaneously experienced our first pint & first live band. For me it was a genuinely life-changing experience, and we staggered home choosing instruments in the band we were going to start. Watching the gig I had been most struck by the drummer, but realising that I'd have a job persuading my mum & dad to let me have a kit in the house, I went for bass. My listening at the time revolved around bands like The Stranglers, The Jam, The Who & Motorhead so it wasn't exactly a hard choice. A year later I heard Rush and my fate was, as they say, sealed. Anyway our "band" never played in the same room, although the singer fronted a few bands I know of. I seriously doubt any of the other guys are still playing, but you never know. Jon.

They are palm rests. The electric bass was originally designed with the expectation that the player would pluck the strings with the thumb, hence a hand-rest over the pickup, and a finger-rest (or "tug bar") on the "wrong" side of the strings. Like Doddy says the bridge cover was to accommodate a piece of foam to act as a string mute. With the evolution of modern playing techniques they became an irrelevance, and for many people (including me) a hindrance. Shame, because they can look nice. Jon.

The thing about guitarists that I don't get is the self-importance. There are lots of guitarists - far more than bassists, vocalists & drummers put together. So why don't they grasp quite how [b]replaceable[/b] they are? Jon.

[quote name='tino' post='1011176' date='Nov 3 2010, 06:28 PM']You didn't like it then????[/quote] I watch it every week, and do try to be philosophical, but you know how it goes - another day, another disappointment. J.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='1011055' date='Nov 3 2010, 04:56 PM']I wonder if the one-or-two-songs-each-by-several-bands format is ever going to work that well. I know when I play it can be 2 or 3 songs into a set before I've shaken off the sh*tty day I've had, the hanging around, the stuff that went wrong in the soundcheck, so if there's only 2 songs to play the chances are it's going to be a safe workmanlike performance rather than inspired. So, these people are supposed to be professionals and they have more chance of being inspired than I would, but even so.[/quote] I think the problem's more that the lineup of artists each week is safe & workmanlike, rather than the actual performances. Dull songs performed by dull musicians will still be dull, regardless of how on-form the players are. J.

Could be a Fergold. Anyway I think it's a great idea - a few more & we can start a Hybrids Gallery, this can go next to the [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=54525"]Prick[/url]. Jon.

[quote name='silddx' post='1010391' date='Nov 3 2010, 09:19 AM']No, you are not. In fact, that is the part of the evening we should meet up for a beer and a chat [/quote] Probably the best idea - I quite like the TV show but was stupid enough to go & see them live when they played in Edinburgh a couple of years ago. Inept, unrehearsed and entirely unfunny on every level. Jon.

Just Iplayered it. Not good, tbh. KOL - forgettable, formulaic trite guff, Clapton - first song awful, second song was OK, but only the usual excuse for Jools to get to rinky-dink along with another "legend" before they croak. Vaccines - insipid & timid-sounding, and they looked embarrassed, as well they might. Bellowhead - plenty of spirit & good playing but way too much of everything all at once, and MIA - what the hell was that? She might be able to rap but she certainly cannot sing - I can't see this helping her career too much. Thankfully. Have I missed anything? Wouldn't be surprised if I did because I think I might have blacked out there for a moment or two. Jon.

[quote name='Musky' post='1010333' date='Nov 3 2010, 07:57 AM']Looks-wise, the Matsumoku through necks. With a Rickenbacker TRC they're close enough to fool some owners that they're genuine Ricks.[/quote] +1 on this, the only thing that lets them down is the crappy bridge pup, designed to be hidden under a cover, so looks nothing like a real one. Very few of them turn up with the original unit fitted so I don't think they were reliable, either. The Mat copies (mostly branded Aria, Aria Pro, Kimbara in the UK, Greco, Univox, Electra etc elsewhere) are the most accurate Fakers I've seen, down to the twin truss rods. Based on a 73/74 4001 they have a toaster pup & accurate (and more reliable) copies of the rare "Wavy Grover" tuners. Like Musky says, many of these ended up with real Rick trcs and have spent decades being bought & sold as genuine - I have one that did! You need to be very anal about Rickenbackers & copies to spot the differences with these, but there are giveaways - fretboard wood's too dark, inlays are too pearly, truss adjusters are allens rather than nuts. Also the scale's 34" rather than the Rick 33 1/4", plus the routing for the neck pup cable is smooth, rather than the series of press-drill holes in old Ricks - Matsumoku apparently pioneered the use of CNC routers for guitar manufacture. These are also the rarest Jap copies, certainly in the UK, maybe because most of them are living a cosseted double-life as genuine Rickenbackers! J.

[quote name='bosozoku' post='1009239' date='Nov 2 2010, 06:00 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4003-Bass-Fire-Glo-Brand-New-Factory-/150513858146?pt=Guitar&hash=item230b533662"]eBay: Potential Fraud[/url] Heads up...this listing is suspicious. The seller is in Nevada, USA, however the bass will ship from 'Outside the United States'. The photos are the same ones on a well-known Chinese wholesale counterfeit site...not to mention the misspelling of words in the auction.[/quote] Also the bass in the pics isn't "brand new factory" - new Ricks have had full-width inlays for the last 2 or 3 years. J.

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='1008976' date='Nov 1 2010, 08:44 PM']That is by far the highest price I've ever seen a Musician sell for, even for a lefty! I bought both my lefty MC924's for 400 euros last year.[/quote] Just checked the final price - Would I be right in thinking this is not going to a UK-based buyer? Jon.

[quote name='tino' post='1008749' date='Nov 1 2010, 05:25 PM']Im often most optimistic having veiwed my intention though a mistyoptic I have interest on the Ibby from Germany.The Electra is a beauty (one of 2 I have owned a while)the modules are commanding good money on there own stateside.. but wait to you see the Electra 335 I have with vine inlays to neck....Be on the Bay this time next week,exceptionally rare in the UK and more so in its amazing condition.[/quote] Very interested to see the vine 335 - the vine/carved LPs & SGs are Kasugas, near-identical to their own versions so obviously I'm wondering if the semi will be too. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1008307' date='Nov 1 2010, 11:12 AM']I emailed Tokai UK to check out the veractiy of these claims. They gave me a clear answer. Rockinbetter is nothing to do with Tokai.[/quote] Thanks for finally clearing this up, Ross - it's good to get an answer from the horse's mouth as it were. And to be vindicated, of course. I suppose what's interesting now, is whether the person Johnston's dealing with and Tokai UK are the same... J.

Tino - I have to say you're dementedly but oddly endearingly optimistic with your prices! That aside - bloody hell man the Electra's stunning - I don't know how you can part with that, & while I doubt you'll get the BIN, you might get a bid or two... There really aren't many of these in the UK - I don't know if they were ever officially imported here, being a US domestic brand. Electras were actually made by a number of different factories so you might not strictly be accurate saying it's a Matsumoku - although having said that, I dunno who did make this one! Oli - that £75 EB-0 is an Avon - if you do decide to go for it, I have one of the metal pin-badges if you're interested. J.

You just know it's going to be full of Rush bores asking why they're not playing the UK and why they don't play Caress Of Steel in its entirety. And yes I am just jealous because I can't go! Jon.

[quote name='ThomBassmonkey' post='1007518' date='Oct 31 2010, 04:24 PM']Bassassin, if you want me to get any close-up pics of anything (like the pup) so you can have a good look, let me know. I've seen you're the go-to person about Japcrap (and apparently Korcrap ) stuff, so I don't mind uploading anything you'd be interested in seeing in better detail just for your own curiosity.[/quote] Cheers - wouldn't mind seeing the pickup in a bit more detail, but like I said it does look identical to the MIJ Maxons. Just curious whether it's a Korean copy or they actually used Jap parts. Btw - technical term's KoreaDiarrhoea. J.

[quote name='MoonBassAlpha' post='1007537' date='Oct 31 2010, 04:38 PM']Question - at what point does "multi-laminate" become ply?[/quote] When it's not part of an Ebay sales pitch. FWIW despite being amid a self -imposed ban on projects and/or new basses, if the guy had been willing to post, I would have been all over this for 100-odd quid. But then again, he'd have got a lot more than £106 for it. J

Mid 70s Hondo, made in Korea at the Samick factory. Body is almost certainly plywood, necks on these can actually be quite decent. Hardware (tuners particularly) doesn't tend to be up to much, full-size pots are a good sign - check if they have a "dp" logo - these are not bad, but will probably want a squish of switch cleaner. The pickup's interesting - it's a single-coil with 2 rows of pole pieces, quite common on Japanese basses of the era and I've seen them on MIK basses like yours but never had the chance of a close look to see if they're identical. Japanese ones are Maxons, and should have a logo in italic script embossed on the base plate. You might have to look closely to see it if it's there under the corrosion on the pickup base, or clean it a bit with some metal polish. These are actually really good pickups (well, the Jap ones are) and can be very high output for single-coil units. If you want to keep the original pup (and not have to route the body) it might be worth trying to repair the original scratchplate, or make a replacement yourself - you could get one made to accommodate that pup but it would probably cost more than the bass is worth. These - Hondos in general - don't shift for much on Ebay, a bass like this in good nick might make £70 or so. Oh - the kitchen drawer handle next to the pickup isn't original. Jon.

So I take it you're looking for American tat rather than a proper Japanese one? Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1006812' date='Oct 30 2010, 11:24 PM']Hey, wait a minute! That's 1970's MIJ ply, not like the rubbish MIM ply you get these days. The only thing better than 70's MIJ ply is 60's MIA chipboard, though I hear that the new Korean MDF is pretty good. Going WAY off-topic for a second, what with that being a Rickenfaker an 'all, d'you think you could use the stereo output to get the two halves of the split-P and bi-amp them? I probably shouldn't have had that second double Jack Daniels ...[/quote] You're right there, Jack - this is made from the finest quality Korean ply, formed from driftwood pieces hand-picked from the banks of the Nakdong River. As any fule kno. J.

Ah - it was that one! Is it definitely a Hondo? If so the tuners are replacements & considerably better than the originals. Anyway that will be a reasonably cheap & easy fixer-upper, if you're not too precious about the authenticity of the parts you use - and assuming the neck/frets are all in good order. However - I concur with the prevailing opinion - string 'er up and find out what that sounds like, the opportunity will probably never present itself again. Do it for science! Jon.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1006362' date='Oct 30 2010, 03:23 PM']Two totally different factories making them and put sticking the same name on them ???[/quote] The Dillion doesn't actually say Rockinbetter, though - that's presumably just their name for it and nothing to do with the factory. And they're plainly from different sources - there are a lot of differences, none of which favour the Dillion. Tokai have used Korean factories since the 90s so it's possible the Dillion's from a factory that's also made Tokai brand guitars - but as far as I know there's never been any implication that their Rockinbetter's a Tokai! What's interesting is that apart from the headstock, the Dillion's identical to the Indie Rick copy. I tried one of these at Music Live about 5 years ago & have to say I was massively underwhelmed, considering the £500 price tag. I had a bit of a chat with the main guy from Indie at the same time - he reckoned changing the headstock shape was enough to keep RIC off their backs. Plainly that demonstrates a failure to grasp the nature of US trademark law - but the bottom line is that I think you're right. RIC is, despite its image & reputation, a small family-owned company and it's highly unlikely they have the resources to tackle trademark infringement outside the US - they barely have coherent distribution in Europe! It's probably not as important either - in the US they have to go after infringements if they want to retain ownership & exclusivity of their designs. It's not necessarily the same - or as important - elsewhere. I can understand there might be a number of issues with importing, but presumably the ProBass guy only brings them in a few at a time, so it must be possible to find a supplier who will deal in small quantities. J.