Bassassin

Does anyone else find that they sort of "naturally" compose stuff in unusual time signatures? I do this all the time, and it's in no way contrived - I think I've just spent so many years listening to prog & the more experimental end of metal that I don't know what's "normal" any more. Jon.

Detective Wars is it? OK then! You might be right but for me the pic isn't clear enough to see the damage quite as specifically. This is what I see: It's originally been something like this: [attachment=34585:pcopynut.jpg] Someone's simply attempted to replace this type of nut with a standard Fender one. There's no slot for it to sit in so they've glued what looks like a roughly quartered bit of pine dowel (from an Ikea knock-up wardrobe!) behind it to hold it in place. The pic isn't clear enough to be able to see any "modification" behind the nut, but if I'm right it's unlikely. I'm not sure if it's had the lacquer removed on the 1st fret position but if so it's not been done at the same time as the "repair" - the nut's brand new but the edge of fretboard timber's darkened & a bit grimy-looking. I think that nut's been recently bodged on just to sell the bass, & looking at it again, I don't even think it's glued in, the strings are holding it in the "slot", which is why there's a gap at the end of the board. Anyway, I think we'll have to agree to differ over this - sensibly neither of us are considering buying it! J.

Not sure what you think needs major work. I'd just remove the existing nut & bit of scrap wood & replace it with the right width Gibson-shape nut, which this would have had originally - there won't have been wood removed from behind the nut. I can't see any actual damage on the fingerboard side, it looks a bit dull so maybe the finish is off but I can't be sure. I certainly wouldn't consider this to be a big deal on a bass of this age/ilk, the worst problem might be that whatever cack-handed bodgster did this used superglue - in which case you'd have to be careful & patient removing the crap that's on it. This bass in A1 condition? Probably £120 - £150, JapCrap Ps are pretty common and no-names/obscure names don't interest collectors, the way Ibanezes or Grecos & such might. J.

[quote name='Jono Bolton' post='627192' date='Oct 15 2009, 06:22 PM']Anyone know anything about this [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/70s-Craftsman-Precision-Bass-Guitar-Japanese-Lawsuit-NR_W0QQitemZ120478339348QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item1c0d119114"]Craftsman P Bass[/url]?[/quote] Not without playing it or taking it to bits, but it looks to be a nice mid 70s JapCrap P. I've seen a couple of Craftsman-brand JapCraps come up over the last few years, but I don't know anything about the brand or who made them. One thing - despite what the seller says, it isn't solid wood. Worst case scenario is that it's ply, if you're lucky it'll be butcher-block, or a sandwich with front & back veneers. The telltale big black oversprays on the contours are a dead giveaway. The only other issue is a dodgy nut - this bass would have had a Gibson-type rather than the Fender style someone's bodged onto it. Simple job to sort that if you don't like the way it looks. I'd say the £99 BIN isn't unreasonable. Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='626501' date='Oct 14 2009, 10:30 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Greco-RB-1000-4001-type-Full-original-NTR-N-Mint_W0QQitemZ260491036037QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3ca679c585"]Greco[/url][/quote] Nice - that's early 70s, not 80s like the listing says. Same as the Ibby 2388B/DX, looks in nice condition for its age. Wonder why someone's stuck a P cover on it though, it looks stoopid. J.

[quote name='nick' post='626504' date='Oct 14 2009, 10:36 PM']Not mine, but exactly the same - nice looking [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ibanez-Blazer-bass-1981-Supergrass-Mick-Quinn_W0QQitemZ190340450105QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c512cc739"]Ibby Blazer[/url].[/quote] Lovely grain on that Blazer - but that's got 2 bids at £350? Incredible. J.

[quote name='nash' post='626461' date='Oct 14 2009, 09:56 PM']i think nothing will happen. i can't see how this is a problem for Fender or Rickenbacker, you still have to buy the bass to be able to replace the parts. Should they then send out C&D's to the pickup maker who make them to fit Fenders and Rics?[/quote] RIC will do exactly that if the pickup looks anything like the original - all their designs are registered as trademarks. J.

[quote name='GreeneKing' post='626274' date='Oct 14 2009, 06:40 PM']Not forgetting that Fender actually use Leo Quan bridges.[/quote] First thing I thought, on the Geddy & Marcus for starters. These are sig models & as such should remain accurate - what's the sense in Fender shutting down their supplier? As far as the Hipshot Rick bridge's concerned, it seems the only complaint RIC had was the basic footprint shape - even John Hall admitted it was a good product & he'd have no issues with it if it didn't infringe the copyright of the original. I understood it had actually been redesigned to be acceptable. J.

[quote name='ped' post='626266' date='Oct 14 2009, 06:29 PM']I might be wrong but I think Schaller £D bridges 3 hole arrangement are a direct fit onto a fender. far better bridges than the Badass, too, in my opinion! ped[/quote] They are, and (imo) they are. However you do need to drill 3 holes for the Schaller's main screws - it has two smaller screwholes which line up with the 2nd & 4th original holes, to allow the new ones to be marked/drilled accurately. Great bridges, cheaper, better looking & much more versatile than the BA2 Jon.

[quote name='mike257' post='625922' date='Oct 14 2009, 12:48 PM']Looks an awful lot like those Stagg Jag copies, I'm sure they've got the big-polepiece pickups on em too. Hmmm....[/quote] They have - they are very, very similar. Realistically the main difference is likely to be quality control. Oh, and about three hundred quid: [url="http://www.guitarampkeyboard.com/en/stagg-bm-370-vintage-m-series/68744"]Stagguar[/url] The Silverado reminds me of this a little: [attachment=34467:stbgtfull.jpg] Just checked out the price list - I have to say that I think £689 for a probably Chinese-made bolt-neck bass which has a cosmetic resemblance to a Rickenbacker is pretty much redefining the phrase "outrageous rip-off". Jon.

[quote name='LeftyJ' post='625841' date='Oct 14 2009, 11:28 AM']I also quite like Fernandes' take on the RIC. Not quite sure how old this is though. [/quote] Early 80s, Japan-only unless you can find a dodgy import! Fwiw like most MIJ brands, Fernandes isn't an actual manufacturer, these would have been made by Kawai or Tokai. Happily Fernandes still produce Rickenbacker copies, not exactly accurate but I'd make a few allowances for the paintjob: [url="http://www.rakuten.co.jp/gakki-genki/674604/838925/899155/"]Fernandes Sw***y Spider[/url] (can we PLEASE sort out the fukking autocensor?? ) [quote name='Jigster' post='626146' date='Oct 14 2009, 04:25 PM']Have been reading some intresting feedback about the Chinese Gibson/Rickenbacker/Fender headstock branded guitars on this site.. I guess you don't need Anniversary or Tokai and the like when yu can get the 'real' thing with a Made In Usa stamp to boot [/quote] [url="http://www.dhgate.com/original-rickenbacker-4003-in-nature-electric/p-ff8080812295ac8a01229655464d1f23.html"]They're stunningly realistic![/url] J.

[quote name='OutToPlayJazz' post='624718' date='Oct 13 2009, 09:16 AM']The really good copy is the Tokai "Rockinsbetter" model. They are excellent basses if you can track one down.[/quote] Again - over to hooky6stringbass on this, he had a Rockinbetter & as far as I can tell subsequently judged his Anniversary to be a better bass. I have no experience of either but based on hardware it would appear the Anniversary is a more accurate copy - realistically the Rockinbetter is just a bass with a Rick-shaped body & headstock. There's a special mystery prize, by the way, for anyone who can find solid & indisputable evidence of a link between these basses & Tokai. And I don't just mean retailers' website listings. Jon.

[quote name='AndyTravis' post='623331' date='Oct 11 2009, 07:00 PM']Any Squier Experts? Can you confirm that the bridge pickup is non-original? Enjoy Trav[/quote] 99.9% sure it is - what serial number prefix does it have? Jon.

[quote name='yorick' post='623488' date='Oct 11 2009, 09:31 PM']nowhere near as good as the INDIE brand and definately over priced.[/quote] I played an Indie a few years ago and it was pretty horrible considering the list was £499. Vile melted-looking headstock too. J.

No experience of them myself but from what I gather these are the best of the current copies, certainly as they come out of the box. Not entirely certain but they might well be made by Shine. Drop hooky6stringbass (Ian) a PM - or failing that he'll probably see this thread & fill you in. I got the impression he was very pleased with his, on the whole. Jon.

It's unlikely that they'll be a perfect fit, but the great thing about wood is the way you can file bits off & stick other bits on & [b]make[/b] things fit. Make sure the scale is the same or you'll end up having to reposition your bridge too. Jon.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='622697' date='Oct 10 2009, 09:19 PM']That's what I was going for. I guess it IS how you tell 'em then. [/quote] Sorry mate! :blush: Maybe it's how you spell 'em! J.