Bassassin

Let's not forget: Horrible American Rubbish That Keeps Exploding. Jon.

Pile of badly cobbled-together trash. So what - did Gibson get so hacked off at all those bloody Jap copies that they thought they'd best 'em at their own game - & make a crude ripoff of this: And after scratching their collective heads, decided the best way to achieve end this was to bodge an old Guild neck onto some sort of Rickenbacker copy body, which had been modified (by Gibson's bandsaw-operating blind chimp, evidently) presumably in order to avoid legal action! Are we honestly expected to believe that the neck & body are in any way related? [quote name='Ebay bloke flogging junk bass']This one was never made other than this one. So similar to a Gibson Moderne only this is much rarer.[/quote] I'm no Gibbo expert but as far as I know there was never a Moderne "prototype" built so that would hardly make this rarer, in the wildly unlikely event that it wasn't a bodged-together travesty . The Moderne was part of a planned trio of bizarre guitars from the 50s - the other two were the Flying V & Explorer. For whatever reason only a design blueprint for the Moderne ever existed from that era - the guitar itself wasn't actually built until the 80s. At least, not by Gibson. There were Ibanez & Greco examples (can't really call them copies!) built in the mid 70s based on pics of the body shape from the old 50s blueprint, which had been published in music mags - for this reason the Moderne copies had conventional 3-a-side headstocks instead of the rather rubbish-looking paddle of the "original". Jon.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='783984' date='Mar 23 2010, 09:02 PM']Do you know which factory my Cimar Rickenfaker is likely to be from?[/quote] So far these are something of a mystery - no idea where they're from but it doesn't look like any of the usual suspects - Fujigen, ,Matsumoku, Kasuga etc. Cimars, judging by the [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/index.html"]catalogues on the Ibanez site[/url] seem to go across a broad spectrum of quality - at the one end the crude budget stuff like many of [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/2/3.jpg"]these[/url] and at the other, high quality near-replicas like your 'Faker or the set-neck LP [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/14/2.jpg"]here[/url]. It's quite possible Cimars were sourced from several factories. Really the only way we'll be able to find out where yours (or any of the others) came from is if an identical instrument comes up with a factory brand, or with an importer brand which we already know was sourced from a specific factory. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='783811' date='Mar 23 2010, 06:50 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1976-Antoria-Les-Paul-Bass-Guitar-Japan-Fuji-Gen-Relic_W0QQitemZ260574013293QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3cab6be76d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1976-Antoria-Les-Pau...=item3cab6be76d[/url] Antoria Les Paul-ish bass. How well respected are the 70s Antoria basses and guitars? Being Fuji-gen, I'd expect good quality. But, someone who was a guitar shop worker in the 60s was reminiscing on the MLP forums, and he said that the CSL instruments, when they came out, were a real step up from the Antorias (etc.) that were being sold before then. So, how good does that make the Antoria instruments? Edit: What an unusual looking bridge: [/quote] Got a link to the post? Seems like an odd thing to say, because 70s Antorias were the exact same guitars as their Ibanez counterparts, right down to the model numbers. CSL was the house-brand of Charles Summerfield Ltd in Gateshead, who were UK importer for Ibanez at that point, so very likely they sourced their planks through Hoshini Gakki, Ibanez brand owner/exporter. Antoria was owned & imported by J.T Coppock Ltd in Leeds - they traded with Hoshino to source 70s Antorias (according to an ex-Coppock employee who posts on the ICW board) and the guitars were identical to Ibanez but were significantly less expensive. If there's a pecking order of UK-market Fujigen JapCrap it generally goes Ibanez >> Antoria >> CSL. I would expect 70s CSLs to be pretty much exactly the same basic instruments as Antoria, with possibly some finish & detail differences on some models. I've got a late 70s/early 80s CSL Jazz, but it was produced after Antoria changed hands & production went to Korea. Interestingly it's identical to a Cimar J copy which is from the era when Cimar was sourced from Fujigen and either owned or controlled by Hoshino. J.

Worryingly tempted by the 2x15. I was supposed to be going smaller & lighter but this is just up t'road from me, and I've always liked those shiny metal cones... Must resist. Must. Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='782105' date='Mar 21 2010, 09:03 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/HONDO-ll-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-70s-lawsuit-japan-bass_W0QQitemZ190382668045QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c53b0f90d"]Argh, forgot what this was called.[/url][/quote] It's a Horrible Hondo. Someone dropped lucky at the car boot, presumably, because he reckons he only got it today. Looks pretty tidy. J.

Unless it comes with a free DeLorean it can't be an '81 - Fender Japan didn't exist until 1982! Jon.

I'm strangely attracted to: Squier VMJ fretless Ibanez Jet King Ibanez ATK Italia Rimini Aria Diamond Mosrite copy ...amongst others. But all my basses are cheap rubbish anyway. Jon.

[quote name='Kyron' post='781112' date='Mar 20 2010, 08:01 PM']Well- I paid £120 for it 2 years ago (recommended by a friend to house the westone hardware). I've got no problem letting it go for the same price- on one condition... I get to see the bass finished! hehe Let me know what you think, Cheers[/quote] That's a bit outside of my impulse range at the moment, I'm afraid - sorry! If you've still got it when I've sorted out the necessary purchases (like a cab that doesn't sound like it's had a dodgy kebab!) I'll give you a shout. J.

Peaches - The Stranglers. Arguably I bought a bass specifically to learn to play Peaches - I had no idea how to tune a bass at the time, so when a more knowledgeable friend showed me what I was doing wrong, I had to re-learn the song... I then went on to learn the entire Rattus Norvegicus album, so that was OK. Jon.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='781024' date='Mar 20 2010, 06:39 PM']Neck through fretless precision bass with a vaguely SB1000 style colour scheme. I like it! [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretless-guitar-Early-Japan-built-classic_W0QQitemZ270550188555QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3efe0c420b"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/P-Bass-style-fretles...=item3efe0c420b[/url][/quote] I've got a project one of these (fretted, maple board) which I bought from BCer Geoffbyrne last year. These are Satellites and almost certainly Korean, not MIJ. I'm ancient enough to remember these first appearing in the shops in 1980 and being quite impressed at a neck-through for £99! I was way too much of a snob to consider buying anything with "Satellite" written on it, though... J.

...and somebody just paid £100 for it. J.

[quote name='benebass' post='781021' date='Mar 20 2010, 06:37 PM']I reckon yours is a BX7 that was never routed for a Jazz pickup near the bridge - they did come with a maple board[/quote] I think you're right about that - the pup spacing looks like there should be something between the bridge & P route, if not the existing one would be more central. Kyron - if you have some idea of what you'd like for it, let me know! I'm supposed top be putting a bit aside for a new rig at the moment so unfortunately I'm not too flush, which means if I were to go for it, it would have to be impulse-buy cheap! Based on the fact you bought it originally, I'm guessing you have a specific minimum amount in mind... From what I've read about Brandoni they bought up all of Eko's stock when the company folded in the 80s, so this will doubtless be part of the factory's original output. Clearly it's been built up as a complete bass at some point, but it's hard to tell what kind of condition it's in & what play wear there is. Looks like a few knocks & bumps on it but that might just be flash glare/reflections. Hard to say. J.

No idea of value but I might interested if the price is going to be sensible - always loved these & fancy a bit of Italian for the collection! Here's the Eko P/J variant: [url="http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/eko/finalyears/bx7.html"]http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/eko/finalyears/bx7.html[/url] Jon.

If the pup in this is an old DiMarzio Model P (which it looks like) they can fetch £40-odd alone. I'm almost tempted... :blush: Edit: In the (unlikely) event anyone gives a sh!t what it was before its appointment with the bandsaw - it was an Italian Melody: [url="http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/recanati-castelfidardo/melody/melody70/m5000.html"]http://www.fetishguitars.com/html/recanati...dy70/m5000.html[/url] The neck's the giveaway - 3-piece, protruding heel-end truss adjuster, dots to 17th fret & that strange skinny neckplate. Shame, 'cos you don't see too many of these. J.

One for a completist Rush tribute band, perhaps? [attachment=45167:geddyteardrop.jpg] Geddy's was a 60s Precision once - wonder what this one was? Jon.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='780133' date='Mar 19 2010, 07:25 PM']How much do they usually go for? What would you value that particular one at in its current condition?[/quote] I can't really tell much from the pics - it looks dull & grubby but the seller reckons "there's hardly a mark on it". I've had some absolutely foul guitars clean up beautifully so I think it would scrub up well. As far as value's concerned - remember this thread from around Xmas: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=71823"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=71823[/url] That one sold for £170 ultimately - I think with this one I'd cross my fingers for £120 - £150, given a good Ebay ad. J.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='779749' date='Mar 19 2010, 01:41 PM']Westone Concord Bass. Collection only. BIN of £80. Starting bid of £30. Doesn't look wonderful I must admit. I'm presuming that this is Matsumoku made. Weren't the Concord guitars and basses among the first instruments released after the brand was created? EDIT: "Bought in the early 1980s". [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Concord-Bass-1_W0QQitemZ260571566933QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3cab469355"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Concord-Bass...=item3cab469355[/url][/quote] Yes - these are Matsumoku. Surprised it's still there at 80 squids - if I was down in That London , I'd have it [s]and probably clean it up & gyppo-flip it[/s]. J.

It's a badly put-together bitsa - I'd expect a cheap & nasty neck & hardware - including the pups. Looks to me like the pocket/heel area's been roughly reshaped - I think that fancy grain's probably hiding a multitude of horrors! £87 was probably about right... Jon.

[quote name='Pookus' post='777916' date='Mar 17 2010, 08:05 PM']I have a very nice '73 Rickenbacker Jetglow 4001. When I bought it (in 1984) the damper assembly was missing. Until now I never missed it - but recently I got into using flatwounds and a whole different vibe. I want to replace the damper. Now I can easily resource the two bolts (they appear to be the same as the strap buttons!) but I cannot seem to find the strip with the damper material. Can anyone help me find one - or fab one up? Cheers, Jamie[/quote] You should ask at [url="http://www.rickresource.com/forum/"]http://www.rickresource.com/forum/[/url] - someone will probably have one in their spares box. They'll probably want to see lots of pics of your '73 JG. As do I. Jon.

These pop up on Ebay occasionally, early 80s JapCrap, possibly made by Matsumoku (as some Vox guitars were) and might have a DiMarzio in it. Jon.

You can use anything really - I've bodged 'em with folded-up cardboard in the past. Surprisingly good acoustic properties... Jon.