Bassassin

Looks like an Integra IGB-60, if this 1993 catalogue is anything to go on: [url="http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/vintagejapanbass/Aria%20Pro%20Catalogs/1993%20Catalog/1993page8.jpg"]http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd117/v...g/1993page8.jpg[/url] Is it active? Jon.

B2s go for pretty silly money these days, you'll be hard pushed to find one for £200 on Ebay. Hohner Jacks, for some reason, seem to be cheaper - they're essentially the same bass with a body. The B2 is a pretty accurate copy of the original Steinberger. You do realise Geddy Lee played one of them, don't you Wayne? Jon.

Looks like "cracked slightly" translates as "snapped in half"! If it was me considering spending substantial wedge on this, I'd want the repair checked & verified as solid & stable by a reputable luthier - and I'd want a big discount off the asking price, too! Jon.

No idea how he is on the Fender generica - but "Westone Quantum - made in the USA"? O Rly, as that owl used to say. I suppose it makes a change from "the Ibanez Factory". And £500? Jon.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='655149' date='Nov 15 2009, 01:25 PM']The nice MIJ EB copies do come up, Kasuga & Matsumoku definitely are worth a look as well as Fujigen. I'll flag 'em if I spot 'em. J.[/quote] And this might be one here: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260507883079"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260507883079[/url] CMI - branded EB copy, the pics don't give much away but CMIs on the whole tended to be decent quality. They sourced from a number of factories, I can't be sure but a 6-bolt plate might point to Moridaira. Body's not plywood, so that's a good start. The insanely high bridge does kind of suggest it's in need of a decent setup, though. J.

Ishibashi links tend to do this - this one might work for a minute or two: [url="http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/ubox.cgi?T=syosai&sline=3174&print=1&keys2=sakae%40ishibashi.co.jp&tid=list3"]http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/u_box/ubox.cgi?...p&tid=list3[/url] Anyway, the pics aren't great & I can't read Kanji, but this looks like a fairly faithful modern 4001/4003 copy to me, bolt-neck, accurate hardware, which most modern copies don't have. The title just describes it as "4001 Type", and I can't read what's on the headstock. Not sure what's happened with the control layout, though. Good price - but Ishi prices often are for 'Fakers, because they've continued to be made for the home market despite becoming largely extinct in the West since the 70s. Shipping & customs might smart a bit. J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='656990' date='Nov 17 2009, 02:05 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-pro-II-RB-4001type-80s-Paul-McCartney-NTR-Goodcond_W0QQitemZ300368094718QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item45ef5565fe"]Aria[/url][/quote] That's fascinating - never, ever seen one of those before. This has a set neck, unbound body & dot markers, and has a typical Matsumoku 3-piece neck, rather than the usual skunk-stripe. Jap market only, clearly. Bloody hell, just when you think you've seen them all... J.

[quote name='hookys6stringbass' post='656285' date='Nov 16 2009, 07:29 PM']looks like a Hondo II to me - I thought Ibanez were thru necks?[/quote] No that's an Ibby - or at least made in the Fujigen factory, which made Ibanez back then. Check out the full-width glittery inlays, finger rest & narrow bridge pup surround. Up close it has checker binding, like the pre '73 Ricks these were based on. There were bolt-on as well as through-neck Ibbys, here's a 2388B bolt-on & 2388B/DX through-neck side by side: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/1/6.jpg"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/1/6.jpg[/url] Easy way to tell them apart is the big Mudbucker on the through-neck. Most Ibby 4001 copies are like these, but on later ones the design was updated to have more modern/accurate (ie generic) Rick features, and they lost all the cool bits apart from the binding. I'd [i]love[/i] an early 2388B/DX with the sparkly inlays, mudbuckers, chunky tailpiece.... :wub: J.

[quote name='Paul_C' post='655492' date='Nov 15 2009, 10:20 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270485168732&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m38.l1313%26_nkw%3D270485168732%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...%3D1&_rdc=1[/url][/quote] Now that is somehow just dreadfully, dreadfully wrong... :ph34r:

Might be time to start properly updating this thread again. J.

[quote name='SteveK' post='654455' date='Nov 14 2009, 01:43 PM']You mean, rather like this...[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPKDS5QP0Tc"]TOTP[/url] That's one devilishly handsome bass player, don't you think? Still got the bass. Anyone know where I can get the electrics looked at?[/quote] Wonderful song - to the extent my band recorded a cover of it a few years ago - and it's actually [url="http://www.myspace.com/maya29band"]up on our Myspace[/url], if anyone's interested. You'll be glad to know the tragically ugly bassist didn't abscond with your bass part though! Also met Hazel a few years back when she was performing at the Edinburgh Fringe. Lovely lady. Jon.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='654965' date='Nov 15 2009, 02:21 AM']Oh, I hate seeing that catalogue page. To the left of the 2350, the 2345B, I had one of those. I sold it when I bought a Japanese Epi Elitist EB3 and then wished I hadn't. That Ibanez was the nicest shortscale I've played. I'd really like to find another one.[/quote] The nice MIJ EB copies do come up, Kasuga & Matsumoku definitely are worth a look as well as Fujigen. I'll flag 'em if I spot 'em. J.

[quote name='4-string-thing' post='655085' date='Nov 15 2009, 11:39 AM']...just sounded a bit too thin through the Marshall superlead head I was using at the time (oh how I wish I had kept that!) But I reckon you got yourself a bargain. Do it up and keep it as a spare.[/quote] Well, if we knew them what we know now... Including why your Hondo sounded thin - like all 70s Rick copies, it will have had a bass cut capacitor wired into the bridge pup circuit, just like the real ones. Bypass that for loads more low-end. J.

[quote name='thepurpleblob' post='654292' date='Nov 14 2009, 10:16 AM']He told me that it's not all covers bands... so you might not have to plumb such depths [/quote] Even better! Set One will be the 45-minute concept piece then! J.

I've never actually owned a Hondo Rick copy, but there's a few folk on here who have & do. However I know a bit about 'em. This is mid - late 70s, Korean-made (Samick factory) and probably has a plywood body. Beyond that, they're pretty much identical to bolt-neck Japanese copies, and if you get one with a good neck (which you presumably have), you're onto a winner. Unlike the current crop of Rick copies, hardware & electronics on most of the vintage ones were pretty much identical to genuine Rickenbacker stuff. What's wrong with the electrics, exactly? If everything (pups, pots, switches) works it might just need a bit of a squirt with switch cleaner & a few dry joints soldered. There are Rick 4001 wiring diagrams suitable for a stereo copy at the [url="http://www.joeysbassnotes.com/Rick%20maint.htm"]Joey's Bass Notes[/url] site, which is an excellent resource for both real Ricks and copies. The latter unintentionally - Mr. Vasco is a bit of a curmudgeon about Rickenfakers... If you decide it's not worth the effort, I'll happily give you double what you paid for it, dodgy electrics & all! Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='654640' date='Nov 14 2009, 04:46 PM']I did do, it got to the point where I didn't want more basses in my house. All about the messaging pick up only ones and saying " will you unbolt the neck and post it for £20?" now.[/quote] I still look but I can't remember the last time I bought anything off Ebay. Good local indoor car boot ftw. J.

Mad as a badger. What's it for? Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='654584' date='Nov 14 2009, 03:52 PM']I spotted that. MAybe its a cunning plan to catch people that search 'giuter' and such...[/quote] So you do that too, Oli? "Base", "Japnese" and "copie" as well... :blush: Jon.