Bassassin

[quote name='RhysP' post='960728' date='Sep 18 2010, 08:05 PM']My sister would deck you if she heard you say that - she thinks he's gorgeous.............. [/quote] No accounting for taste! J.

When in doubt, just settle for "Bignose out of Rush". It's not like no-one would know who you meant. Jon.

Green? Careful or you could end up with a Snotglo, like this one: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=56466"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=56466[/url] Your bridge pup's one of the little chrome types with two rows of pole pieces, isn't it? These are actually single-coils, despite having all those poles, and as far as I can make out, early ones were a bit weak. Quite odd because I have one of these in my bitsa Faker, it reads 11.5k and is really powerful - actually sounds more like a real Rick than either of my other 2. I think they beefed these up on later versions, same with the mudbucker style units. Anyway I have seen 2388Bs with real Rick pups squeezed into the surrounds so presumably they fit, or can be made to fit. While that's not necessarily the cheapest option, it does suggest Seymour Duncan Rick-type pickups should fit also, and that would be a bit more affordable. You can also get cheap toaster-copy humbuckers: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Humbucker-bridge-pickup-Toaster-Alnico-9-6k-/200518438805"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mini-Humbucker-bridg...k-/200518438805[/url] Obviously intended for guitars - but then so was the original Rick bass toaster. If that would fit your surround it might be worth a pop for £20-odd just to see what it sounds like. Looks quite cool too. J.

If you intend keeping it then of course it doesn't make much difference what you do to it - except that these are rare as Pope-poo and there ain't too many in as good original nick as yours! These were also available in fireglo & black, so it's possible you could find someone who'd do a swap for the same bass in a more appealing colour - although that's a bit of a long shot because there ain't too many of them left. If you do go for a refin, what about something a bit more unusual, maybe like a transparent blueburst: Have to say I think that's gorgeous - in fact it was seeing an early 70s 4001 in a similar finish (being played by Gerry Cunningham of Angel Witch, fact fans!) back in 1982 that was a formative influence on my lifelong Rick-fetish. As well as Geddy Lee & Lemmy, of course. J.

Permission to speak freely. Tino - with all due respect, the reason you haven't sold it yet is because it's been too expensive. The way things are at the moment (recession etc) the best you can expect to get for it is £400 - £450 - even pre-recession, Ibby 2388B/DXes like yours were getting £450 - £500, and not really any more than that. DON'T REFINISH IT!!! You have to understand these are now collectable vintage instruments and [i]anything[/i] you do to it to change it or modify it will devalue it. Refinish it, de-fret it (for pity's sake - NO!!!!!) or do anything irreversible to it, and you'd be lucky to get more than £250 for it. If you want to sell it, leave it stock, be patient and don't be greedy. You'll find a buyer eventually. Jon.

[quote name='arsenic' post='960118' date='Sep 18 2010, 07:02 AM']It looks like it has a strat style jack socket on the front - the same as the green one at the bottom of the page I linked to (which was also from e-bay) The red one at the top has has a pickguard mounted one - From the pictures, I can't tell if either is a standard jack or not.[/quote] Actually, just looked through the Musimas on Cheesyguitars and many of them have Strat-type jacks or conventional-looking sockets. Likely that either later production was changed to make them more compatible or the one I saw had a weird mod. Wish I'd taken some pics now! J.

I was nearly tempted to buy a Musima guitar I found at a Berlin flea market last year - really curious old thing, in very good condition - it was only the fact that it would have to have come back in the luggage hold that stopped me! One of the odd things was a very strange output socket - not designed for a conventional jack or anything I'd seen before. I presume the green bass has already been modded. J.

[quote name='silddx' post='959209' date='Sep 17 2010, 10:45 AM']It's when you do it ONLY for the money and do gigs you don't enjoy that it is sad.[/quote] This is why I don't do covers - I spent about 3 years in a covers band (alongside an originals act) and while there's some satisfaction in performing well and getting a good response from the audience, I remember most of the gigs as depressing, harrowing (we played some of the roughest pubs in Glasgow) or a downright grind. The question has to be "would I do this for nothing?" and as far as that's concerned, no, and the point I'm at with my "proper" band makes me doubt whether I'd want to gig at all, if covers were my only option. J.

Being in the position of watching my band's gig schedule dwindle to the point that we have played twice in the last year, and there being little or no prospect that things are likely to improve particularly without major (and potentially catastrophic) trauma within the band, I feel like I'm viewing this from the wrong end of a telescope. Bands are supposed to gig, doesn't much matter if the experience is good, bad or indifferent, if you're not playing you have no right to call yourselves a band. I can't find words for how much I miss it. It feels like I've lost a limb, or part of me's been cut out. Jon.

[quote name='noelk27' post='958413' date='Sep 16 2010, 03:16 PM']This model was never produced at the Matsumoku factory complex. (He also seems somewhat confused about the history of Matsumoku - the Singer Corporation didn't buy the complex post-Matsumoku, it owned the complex and Matsumoku, and the complex consisted of more than one factory. The unit in which guitars were made was neither destroyed by earthquake or fire, simply closed as it was not economically viable at the time - the time being a world recession.)[/quote] Noel - I'm constantly impressed by the depth & detail of knowledge you have about Matsumoku instruments. Is there a particular source it's drawn from or is it a cumulative result of investigation/research? Hope you don't mind me being a nosy git but as I'm sure you know, accurate information can be hard to track down amid the suppositions & speculation. Jon.

[quote name='Golchen' post='958153' date='Sep 16 2010, 11:17 AM']I don't watch it as much as I'd like to, but I still think that it's a fascinating window through which you can view a multitude of different styles, approaches and degrees of talent. There was a time years ago when I couldn't stand all the 'cr*p' (my perception at the time) bands that went on. But now I find even the woeful performances have points of interest. Boy are my opinions of music mellowing out in my old age![/quote] Have to say I agree with this 100%. It's fair to say they never feature artists representative of my personal taste - but it's worth watching anyway, and there's always something to appreciate. Jon.

[quote name='Johnston' post='957736' date='Sep 15 2010, 09:44 PM']a " Cort" Vintage Fretless Bass Dunno is it vintage or not or indeed a cort? [url="http://belfast.gumtree.com/belfast/21/65562621.html"]gumtree[/url][/quote] It's a Cort - you can just make out the logo in the 3rd pic, and probably quite old by the looks of it. Nice Schaller 3D bridge, and the pups could be Seymour Dunks. Looks like it's been de-fretted, so it's anyone's guess what the neck's like. J.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='957694' date='Sep 15 2010, 09:04 PM']Tino, I've just worked out the subtitle to this thread. I think the name you're looking for is Bassassin ... [/quote] Maybe, but I'm bugger-all help here. That Fleabay thing looks like a Strat copy with a re-shaped headstock, & if so I'd bet GMI's the initials of whoever re-shaped it. Never heard if it otherwise. Jon.

She isn't at it, I think she just has no idea about pricing - I guess she thinks it's an old "Fender" so it must be worth a fortune. She's unlikely to get any bids at that price. The pics are terrible but it's a bitsa alright. If I remember rightly one of the issues with the BA1 bridge as fitted to this was that it was way too high for Ps & Js, hence the BAII being much lower-profile. It's hard to tell from the pics but it does look like the neck's been shimmed so it stands very proud from the body, presumably to get a playable action. That and the novelty bridge angle makes it look like a proper bodge job. And what's with the two metal doorhandles (I hesitate to call them strap buttons!) sticking out of the bottom of it? Jon.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='957064' date='Sep 15 2010, 11:52 AM']You guys might be able to help [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=102894"]here[/url]. [/quote] Saw that. I'd just assume the neck route's a modification by a previous (Sheehan-fan?) owner. You don't often tend to find dates on JapCraps - one of the reasons dating 'em accurately is so hard. J.

[quote name='daz' post='956822' date='Sep 15 2010, 05:42 AM'][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64JX-DHzbX8&feature=related"]'Peaches'[/url] is one of my all time favourites, its the first punk single i ever bought and it turned me onto the bass sound. Lately i have been playing it several times a day, its become my party piece [/quote] First single I ever bought, first bass line I ever learned - JJ's got a lot to answer for! J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='956378' date='Sep 14 2010, 06:55 PM']Jarock made in the same factory as Ibanez? Jon, you said before that you thought the 6 string Jarock blazer was not a Fujigen made instrument. I presume the same applies to this bass? [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970-80s-Vintage-Jarock-Roadster-Bass-Made-Japan-/280561181940?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4152bfe4f4"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970-80s-Vintage-Jar...=item4152bfe4f4[/url][/quote] I think they're Blazer copies - close but not quite right, and lots of details that don't say Fujigen. Still pretty cool though - I bid on a pink sparkly version of this bass a couple of years back & I'm not exactly averse to this blue one! J.

[quote name='Lozz196' post='956421' date='Sep 14 2010, 07:23 PM']I also think the "guitarist playing bass" bit adds to it, as in general, guitarists play nearer the bridge. At one of our band practices, me & the guitarist swapped instruments, and the drummer commented on how much like JJ he sounded, using my set-up, no eq/settings changes. I was quite envious. Funnily enough, just been watching The Stranglers on youtube quite a bit, and bought their last cd - quality band, must get round to going to see them when they`re next playing.[/quote] Wasn't JJ a trained classical guitarist rather than the egocentric fretw@nk sort, though? Jon.

No need to go over there. El Maya and Maya were brand names owned by the Rokkomann trading company based in Kobe, Japan. The brand and company names are derived from mountains local to Kobe. It's thought (but unconfirmed) that Rokkomann had their own factory in Kobe which produced these instruments, as well as OEM rebrands for various importers all over the world. It's also suggested that this factory was destroyed in the Hanshin earthquake of 1995, but clearly this is unconfirmed too. Rokkomann is still trading but no longer produce Maya & El Maya guitars. It's generally accepted that El Maya was Rokkomann's high-end brand and Maya was the budget range, however high quality guitars appear with the Maya brand as well as the more mass-market stuff. There doesn't appear to be any budget-level El Mayas. As well as copies of popular US instruments, the El Maya range included some very exotic original designs, such as these: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=52746"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=52746[/url] [attachment=58691:El_Maya_..._cutting.jpg] Maya/El Maya were one of the few Japanese manufacturers to build unbound/dot-neck 4001S copies, this is the first black one I've seen, as far as I can remember all the others have been natural finish. These are very good quality basses, & the differences between these & the genuine articles are pretty negligible - it will have a single truss rod rather that the 2 in a real Rick, and the fretboard wood is darker than the original. Sound-wise they tend to be quite authentic and often Rickenbacker copy components (the tailpieces particularly) are significantly better quality than the American-made originals. But don't tell that to a Rickenbacker owner. As you will have seen by now, here on BC we've spent a good few years scouring Ebay, the web & beyond for vintage JapCrap Rick copies, and a natural finish El Maya 4001S, identical to your dad's apart from the colour, holds the record for the highest price achieved in an Ebay auction, at £656. For this reason I'd strongly recommend looking after this bass, don't alter anything ([u]especially[/u] the logo!) and keep it in good condition. Jon.

[quote name='Delberthot' post='954613' date='Sep 13 2010, 12:34 PM']i have no idea what you are talking about :blush:[/quote] That bit about lawsuits is b0ll0cks and I'm sure you know it! Btw best of luck - you know I'd do exactly the same myself! J.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='954644' date='Sep 13 2010, 12:51 PM']Is that a DFA switch? Amazing job on the headstock btw. [/quote] Incredibly, it's actually a fully functional series/parallel switch! I have a Westbury Track II with a DiMarzio Model P wired in the same way & I like the slightly brighter & thinner tone, works better in my band than a standard P thump, so I thought I'd bung one in this. Too bad the bloody thing makes my left arm go numb after 2 songs - back to the gym then! I was absolutely made up with how well the headstock worked - re-shaping it was very rewarding & good fun too, and the paint worked out much better than I had any reason to think it would. However, if I try & do another glitter/flake finish (and I think I will), I'll be trying this: [url="http://www.specialistpaints.com/product.php?p=flakes-canz"]http://www.specialistpaints.com/product.php?p=flakes-canz[/url] So much less stress! J.