Bassassin

[quote name='rockbass' post='839086' date='May 16 2010, 06:35 PM']Hi Jon, strange to me either, that's why I've been entering this forum and asking. I don't wanna switch a copy into an original. But as I mentioned in my first post it was bought as a RIC. And now after years puting it apart for a cleanup I was checkin' the Ser-No. and I was wondering.... With my question before: [i][b]'So I'm wondering if one could get a plate seperately with 'Made in USA'?'[/b][/i] I didn't mean to buy one by myself, there's already one. Oppositely I'm interested in having an adequate TRC too, how can we get together on that? Gunnar[/quote] I understand what you mean now! OK - the plate on the bass is probably a real Rickenbacker one - back in the 70s it was possible to buy spare ones from Rickenbacker. They don't sell them any more - mainly because so many ended up on copies, like yours did. Now, the only way a Rick owner can get a replacement is by exchanging one they already have. I think you should ask the guys on the [url="http://www.rickresource.com/forum/index.php"]RickResource[/url] forum to take a look at your cover and check whether or not it's real. There is a "Rickenbacker Appraisals" sub-forum there that is for things like this, and those guys know everything there is to be known about Rickenbackers. If it is genuine, then they'll probably also be able to tell you how much it might be worth - the 1960s / 1970s back-printed Plexiglass ones are very rare & sought after, as far as I know. I could easily make you a TRC the same as the ones on my basses, & I could print an Ibanez inlay to go underneath it. As far as an engraved replica is concerned, I haven't tried doing this yet so I'm not completely sure I'll be able to do it! I will experiment with engraving a logo on some scrap 2-ply plastic, and if it works I'll let you know! Jon.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='838953' date='May 16 2010, 04:19 PM']I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'd love it if you wrote a book on the history of Japcrap/Rickenfakers mate.[/quote] I'd love to do it - but there's only 5 people in the whole world who would buy it! ______________________________________________________ Gunnar - you know it's not a Rickenbacker, & it's not made in the USA, so putting a fake TRC on it seems a bit strange to me. The 70s Rick copies are fantastic & collectable instruments in their own right & I feel they should be celebrated as such. I have 3 Rick copies, none of which had their original covers when I got them, so I've made my own from 4 mm clear acrylic: [attachment=49905:trc_x3.jpg] The designs & logos are printed on thin card inserts behind the clear covers, apart from the plain black one which is simply sprayed black on the reverse. Ibanez Rick copy truss covers were made from 2-ply white/black scratchplate material, with the Ibanez logo engraved on the front so the black lower layer showed through: [attachment=49912:f377_3.JPG] I'm quite interested in trying to engrave scratchplate plastic in this way, so I might be able to make an accurate reproduction Ibanez trc. If you're interested, let me know. Jon.

"Fret Less"? I don't know what's wrong with Ebayers these days. It's "frettles", as any fule kno. Jon.

The Rick copies are being discussed in the relevant thread on the Ebay forum: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&showtopic=270&view=findpost&p=835383"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?s=&sho...st&p=835383[/url] Personally I think they look great - I love the white/black binding one & the MM-style pups are an interesting approach on a Rick clone. The price is also better than pretty much anything else on the market (new or vintage) and if I had a spare £300 to drop on one, I might well. I wonder if the importer/seller would consider making any examples available to BC members for review? Jon.

Sorry Noel - it's a Fujigen bass, the very small/fine chequers on the binding are the main giveaway here. The serial's Fujigen too - read the first digit as a letter: I, the 9th letter of the alphabet, representing the 9th month. Second 2 digits are the year and the remainder is sequential production run for the month. Meaning this was the 6773rd instrument built at Fujigen Gakki in September 1977. Ithangyew!!! Anyway, I'd be 99% certain it was an Ibanez - in Europe/the UK (not sure whereabouts you are, Gunnar) far & away the most common examples of Fujigen 4001 copies were branded as Ibanez. I think this is a late example of an Ibanez 2388B/DX, these had their specs updated to resemble mid 70s Rickenbackers, and used more authentic pickups/surround. Earlier 2388Bs had full-width sparkly inlays copied from pre '73 Ricks (as was the chequer binding) and used Gibson-style chrome pickups. I assume when Fujigen started building 4001 copies (as far as I can ascertain around 1971/72), replica pickups weren't in production, so they just used whatever was available. Anyway excellent pics Gunnar, and the bass looks to be in great condition for its age. Is the truss rod cover a real Rickenbacker item, or do you know if it's a replica? If it's real (which it might well be if it's been on the bass since the 70s), the back-screened Plexi covers are very sought-after by Rickenbacker collectors & fans. Jon.

I have a guitarist mate who used a bass head with a 1x15 in his death metal band for years - reckoned it was the only way to get the low-end grunt he was after. And it did sound terrifying! Conversely, about 100 years ago I blew up the amp part of my HH VS bass combo and subsequently ran a borrowed 60s Marshall guitar head through the cab, until I got another amp. For a while back then, I pretty much was Lemmy. And to think if I'd managed to hang on to that old Marshall head, & still had it now, I could probably buy my own planet with what I could flog it for... Jon.

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='838191' date='May 15 2010, 03:32 PM']Does that mean it doesn't need a truss rod? [/quote] I dunno but I doubt it's got one! J.

[quote name='Johnston' post='838047' date='May 15 2010, 12:05 PM']Are they Dimazrios with the hex pole pieces???[/quote] Probably, but not always. You get Schallers that look exactly the same, as do some of the late 70s/early 80s Jap P pups. Me, I'm none too convinced it would be harmonically correct, even if you could get more than two strings not hanging over the edges of the board - the frets don't exactly look parallel! J.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120569468799"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120569468799[/url] Home-made bass that looks like it's been hewn from a single big lump of mahogany (apart from a scarf-jointed headstock), lots of genuine skill, care & attention has gone into shaping & sculpting this & it's actually a very striking-looking object. Which makes it such a shame that its creator has evidently never seen an actual bass guitar & has presumably put this together from a box of random P copy bits, using a rough pencil-sketch as a guide. This'll never work! Jon.

White pearl - or why not black pearl? Never seen that on a black/rosewood/pearl blocks J before, I think it would look great. Jon.

Going to be jamming with a Rush-fan drummer soon, so I've had to dust down a few lines I haven't played for a decade or two - plus a few I've never played, so Beneath, Between & Behind has just got a couple of run-throughs. Nice & straightforward for a Rush song, so I set myself the challenge of learning the instrumental part of Free Will note-perfect - I've never worked it out properly before. Feeling quite pleased with myself because although it might still be a bit untidy, I think I've nailed it. Jon.

[quote name='bassplorer' post='616086' date='Oct 3 2009, 09:53 PM']That could be a Greco or a Electra (Corsair) as they used to call their Ric.copies. Made by a very good builder brand in japan by the 70s called Matsumoku. It is an excelent copy bass and for most of the people that has had the chance to play a Ric. and some of these copies the diference in quality of sound and playability of these guitars is almost nothing. That is why Rickenbacker still very concern when they see them on E bay ...[/quote] I don't think it's either, for a number of reasons. First of all, I assume this bass is in the UK - Greco is a home-market brand in Japan, as was Electra in the US - neither were officially imported to the UK so that alone makes it quite unlikely. Secondly, Greco's 70s 4001 copies were initally made by Matsumoku & Fujigen simultaneously, and subsequently by Fujigen alone - this bass is not either. Again, Electra's Corsair model was sourced at different times from both of these factories, and also from Kasuga Gakki - & I'm 99% sure Kasuga did not make this bass. The reason Rickenbacker are concerned by copies is nothing to do with their quality - it's simply because the existence of copies threatens their ownership of their trademark designs. Under US law if they do not pursue & prevent every visible infringement of their trademarks, they lose the right to exclusively use it, which would mean anybody & everybody had the legal right to make Rick copies. That's why there are so many Precision, Jazz, Les Paul, Strat, Telecaster etc copies - Fender & Gibson didn't act to protect their designs. Jon.

[quote name='rockbass' post='836738' date='May 13 2010, 11:37 PM']Hi, I guess I'm the same as [b]'monkealan'[/b] and maybe a bit late on that thread: I'm new in here and I might be cheeky too and I've been researching a lot and also my dad bought a 'Rick' in the late 70's which I now use but neither of us knew anything about it. It looks evan the same in details as Al's, except mine has got a black switch and a white string sattle. And very astonishing there's a printed one-letter/6-digits number at the back of the head, I always thought this was the RIC Ser-No. which isn't, but it seems like an IBANEZ-No. This copy is very accurate made and has a thru body neck and JETglo color, the checkerd bindings are matching to Rick's. But it has just one truss rod and it's head and even the cavity matches to a 77 IBANEZ Western Guitar I owne. This makes me believe that it's made by IBANEZ or GRECO. I appriciate any clue on the manufacturer of this bass? Cheers Gunnar[/quote] Hi Gunnar - if you post some pics of the bass it should be possible to ID it accurately. If it's an Ibanez, that will be easy to spot - there are some variations but all Ibanez 4001 copies have black & white chequered body binding, rather than the plain white most copies have. The binding does appear on some other manufacturers' instruments but I'd need to see some pics to be 100% sure which was which. A point worth mentioning - it won't have actually been [i]made[/i] by either Ibanez or Greco - these are both just brand names owned by Japanese trading companies, who contract various factories to build their instruments. During the 70s Ibanez & Greco both used Fujigen Gakki to manufacture their instruments, so often they are identical apart from the names. Greco did also use Matsumoku, and again the 4001 copies from that factory are very easy to spot. Fujigen basses will have a serial like the one you describe, and I am inclined to think that's what yours is, but some pics will confirm it. Jon.

[quote name='backwater' post='836290' date='May 13 2010, 04:01 PM']Yep, me If it still had frets I would have kept it as it is light, easy to play and looks pretty good. Half-tempted to buy it back and get it fretted but I'd probably get killed by the wife Andy [/quote] It's tiny - just stick it in a cupboard or behind the couch, she'll never know. [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='836431' date='May 13 2010, 06:05 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-String-Bass-Guitar-/250632453448?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a5adbbd48"]Dun if jap, but nice ash body, and might be hex pole pickup.[/url][/quote] Nice - I think that might be a Melody, from It'ly, although I'd need to see the back (neck construction & plate type) to be sure. Could be an old Dimarzio or Schaller pup stuck in it, too. J.

[quote name='razze06' post='836226' date='May 13 2010, 02:54 PM']Anyone for cricket? Washburn on [url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/38/58485138.html"]Edinburgh gumtree[/url][/quote] That's a very good price - these are stoopidly rare. If it still had its frets, I'd have had no choice. Looks like he bought it off a BCer in Edinburgh a couple of years back: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=10647&hl=washburn+bantam"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...washburn+bantam[/url] J.

A standard 20-fret Fender-type neck won't work on that body - there isn't room to reposition the bridge any further back than where it is now. I'd be dubious about a 24-fret neck working either, assuming you could find one with a compatible heel. If the project's just to build a small-bodied bass, you might be better off picking up a cheap P or J body & getting busy with a saw! J.

[quote name='Soloshchenko' post='835793' date='May 12 2010, 11:35 PM']Those music bakers look really cool hybrids. If the pickups are sh*te I suppose replacements are easily sourcable as well. Are these a brand new? I've never seen one before.[/quote] These are new - they don't seem to be related to any of the other current copies - the other setneck ones (as opposed to neck through) have too many frets. I think the guy who's selling/importing them should be made aware of this thread & should give us a review example. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='835557' date='May 12 2010, 06:46 PM']Are there bigger scans?[/quote] It's a real pity that this site doesn't have bigger/better quality scans, particularly the more esoteric brands. I've found a few Japanese catalogue archives over the years and some of the images are ridiculously small - even worse than these. Realistically you're safe from me pressing you into translation service, I have been threatening for years to do a JapCrap website (a book would be better, my vanity says) but it would largely be photos & my verbal diarrhoea, I imagine. If it ever happens! I wouldn't let any of the JapCrap forums get wind of your linguistic versatility though - they've been after translations of various Japanese vintage guitar books & magazines for years... Anyway if you're interested (not for translation purposes!) there are better quality Greco catalogue scans here: [url="http://psyco.jp/greco/cata.html"]http://psyco.jp/greco/cata.html[/url] And a mass of scans from numerous brands - predominantly acoustics, but there are a few basses & electric guitars: [url="http://www.oldguitar.jp/catalog/catalog.htm"]http://www.oldguitar.jp/catalog/catalog.htm[/url] But never mind the Japanese - check out that dot-neck Rickenfaker in the 1973 Greco catalogue. :brow: J.

[quote name='TankJon' post='835530' date='May 12 2010, 06:21 PM']Anyway, as far as I know Cimar was the cheap Ibanez range in the late 70's early 80's but thats all I found. It does explain why it looks like an Ibanez Blazer though.[/quote] A tenner? you're worse than me. That's about it, what you've put. Cimar started as a separate brand in the 70s, using Hoshino (Ibby brand owners) for distribution, it seems in the late 70s Hoshino took over the brand completely as a sort of budget Ibby range. Interestingly some models are identical to their Ibanez counterparts - the Cimar Stinger is the same instrument as the first Blazer design. At this point they were coming out of Fujigen Gakki, the same factory as Ibanez, but later ones, which are actually branded as "Cimar by Ibanez" appear to be quite low-end Korean stuff. Anyway yours is one of the good 'uns and we'll let Mr Hoshino tell you about it: Looks like all it needs is strings, a couple of chrome knobs and a hose down and it'll be sorted out. Jon.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='835456' date='May 12 2010, 04:56 PM']Any Lost-watching bass guitarists should buy two, one white, one black. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Retrovibe-RV4-Black-Bass-classic-styling-DON-T-MISS-/190396416848?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c5482c350"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-Retrovibe-RV4-Bl...=item2c5482c350[/url][/quote] Oh god - only 4 episodes of the final season left... Yes, I am a really bad person. :ph34r: So - white/black bound/set neck Faker for cheap? I really like that, imo it p!sses all over the Rockinbetters & Anniversarys aesthetically, and I think the fat MM 'buckers look really good. Dammit - I want one! J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='835392' date='May 12 2010, 04:06 PM']PS: I lived in Japan for four years. Being illiterate got stale REAL FAST, hence plenty of motivation for the reading and writing bit.[/quote] Ross mate, you are going to be [i]so[/i] useful in translating all the Japanese catalogues - here you go: [url="http://www.geocities.jp/guitarofworld/cataroueMAIN.html"]http://www.geocities.jp/guitarofworld/cataroueMAIN.html[/url] Let me know when you're done. J. (btw & )

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='835289' date='May 12 2010, 01:54 PM']If you mean 浅間山 for Mt. Asama, then that is a very strange name. It more or less translates as "wretched" or "cursed" "interval". Maybe that has something to do with the volcanic activity there[/quote] Thanks for that - I have no knowledge of the Japanese language & was just regurgitating misinformation I picked up on one of the other boards! I hope the rest of my sources are not as misleading! J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='835135' date='May 12 2010, 10:55 AM']Kay SG type bass. £9.99 start. The seller is local to me but doesn't do collection or viewings. They sell a lot of stuff, and I wonder if they do house clearances. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-KAY-BASS-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-PLEASE-VIEW-/400121220661?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item5d29154e35"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-KAY-BASS-ELE...=item5d29154e35[/url] Edit: Does that bridge cover look a bit wonky? Does the whole thing look a bit home made?[/quote] I think these are low-end Taiwanese beginner stuff - I'd pay a car boot price (about £15 - £20 ish) just as a flipper, but I doubt an Ebay one would go for that little. This one looks quite tidy considering it's being sold as a project - so I'd say house clearances or car boot trawls is where their stock comes from. The bridge cover's just held on with that screw in the middle - it'd twist straight. In answer to your earlier question about Kawai - I can't do much better than point you at this coincidental thread: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87742"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=87742[/url] They made good stuff, alright. Eric - love to see some pics of your bass (is yours branded Lincoln?) but sadly I'm too skint/got too many basses to be making any offers right now. Must clear a few out first! If you're after a guitar version, try searching for these names as well as Lincoln: The Asama, Memphis, Bozo & Torchy. I love Euro brand names! Asama is the most common brand - apparently it's a mountain in Japan & the name translates literally to "Big Bottom". J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='834682' date='May 11 2010, 08:45 PM']What is this? Looks like one of the early Hondo basses doesn't it? Nice (IMHO) through neck, except the headstock seems to be making a bid for freedom. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUALITY-MADE-THRU-NECK-BASS-PROJECT-LINCOLN-/270577702175?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3effb0151f"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUALITY-MADE-THRU-NE...=item3effb0151f[/url][/quote] Real shame about the headstock break on this, been slightly gaseous towards these for a while. These are a bit of a mystery (which I'd like to think I've solved) on the JapCrap boards - they appear with several thousand different names all over Yurp & the US in both bass & guitar versions. There are several threads about these on the Matsumoku board - Ebayers usually claim them as Mats because of the Hippy Sandwich body/neck - but this is what they really are: [url="http://www.fernandes.co.jp/others/catalog/1978_f_01/27.jpg"]http://www.fernandes.co.jp/others/catalog/1978_f_01/27.jpg[/url] With a few variations in pickup/controls, it's a Fernandes "Custom Hand". Where do they get these names? According to one of the Japanese vintage sites, Fernandes was built by either Kawai or Tokai at this point. And I've seen an 8-string version of this.... :brow: J.