Bassassin

Get a [url="http://www.pickguardian.com/pickguardian/RICBridgePUPlate.html"]Pickguardian[/url] or buy a bit of perspex sheet for a couple of quid & make your own: [attachment=28142:r_bugring.jpg] [attachment=28143:f_bugring.jpg] The silver one has a piece of card cut to shape & sandwiched behind it & the other is spraypainted on the back, like vintage Rick scratchplates used to be. The advantage is not having that horrible sharp metal hole to cut your thumb on. I've never understood why RIC (or some enterprising aftermarket company) don't make a replacement surround that fits the pickup like this, since the huge majority of Rick players bin the handrest. Jon.

[quote name='zbigniew' post='530354' date='Jul 2 2009, 10:36 AM']Wow, that's a quite interesting bass - looks good and is kinda unique. I can only imagine the through-neck version you talk about, it must be quite something. z[/quote] It has its charms: [attachment=28140:questmanhattan.jpg] :brow: J.

Not something you see every day: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1980s-Quest-Manhattan-Precision-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-Japan_W0QQitemZ260439185023"]Quest Manhattan M3[/url] Built by Matsumoku, Quest was a spin-off brand of Vantage. This is a bit on the pricey side - if it had been the through-neck, transparent/flamed front version I might not have been able to stop myself... J.

...when your guitarist tells you "you play guitar like a bass player". ...when a sound engineer suggests you avoid playing the E-string because vibrations through the stage a feeding back through the PA! ...when a guitarist tells you you're not a "proper" bassist because you use a pick... ...when a punter says you have "better technique that Chris Squire" because you don't play with a pick! Jon.

[quote name='iamthewalrus' post='528142' date='Jun 29 2009, 09:24 PM']Brings back memories of my first good quality bass in 1985! Nice & comfy to play (neck was a dream!) I had a Black RB750 with Red binding on the body - I later had it defretted by The Bass Centre, & kept it until I ended up trading it in with a Trace rig for a Washburn ABG & a Boss drum machine. Happy days... Cheers, iamthewalrus[/quote] Like [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=280364434701"]this one?[/url] J.

[quote name='Toasted' post='527830' date='Jun 29 2009, 03:43 PM']They're iconic looking instruments. I'd like to own one. I remember a solid red one with black hardware too - that looked great.[/quote] I absolutely love the red/black ones, seriously wish I could've afforded this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=170335622798"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170335622798[/url] That's the second time I've seen a red/black go for well under usual market value for a Rick - wonder if it's to do with the [url="http://theredrickenbacker.com/"]Legend Of The Red Rickenbacker[/url]? Jon.

If it's got body binding I'm guessing it's a Roadstar II, maybe like this: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/84/3.jpg"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/84/3.jpg[/url] Or maybe the ones at the bottom of this page: [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/102/2.jpg"]http://www.ibanez.co.jp/anniversary/102/2.jpg[/url] If it's in good nick £220 is probably not unreasonable - even better if they'll haggle! 80s Ibanez probably represent the pinnacle of affordable, original JapCrap & remember these were built by Fujigen Gakki, who at the same time were producing MIJ Fenders. Very good stuff. Jon.

You might want to have a close look at your Ibanez, particularly the serial number. If it starts with a "C", it was made by Cort. Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='524237' date='Jun 25 2009, 11:10 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Collectors-1960s-70s-K-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ180373648604QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item29ff1b74dc&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A10|66%3A2|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50"]K[/url][/quote] J.

Just finished it, I'll get it in the post to Cetera, just as soon as I get his details. J.

The guy reckons he's had it from new, kept it for decades & barely touched it - I'm prepared to accept that, having done the same thing myself with an Ibby Soundgear fretless: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23341"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=23341[/url] As has been mentioned the iffy burst is not only very common but accurate to the original. There are loads of 80s Tokai catalogues [url="http://www.tokairegistry.com/tokai-info/tokai-catalogs.html"]here[/url] and the Jaco-alike appears in most of them. The catalogue pics are poor quality so you can't make out much detail for comparison - but really I think the only thing that's at all suspicious is the shinyness of it. However, me & my old SR800FL exist as living proof some people just can't do fretless! J.

[quote name='guzzibass' post='522851' date='Jun 24 2009, 07:18 PM']It's ok - no-one will come after you with a big stick - ready? G-U-I-T-A-R got it? Guitar!! There --- thats better. [/quote] No use, if you spell it like that it doesn't say "git". J.

Disappointing - I hoped it would be this one: Including the parrot. Jon.

I beat myself up regularly for not grabbing the one I spotted on the Bay a year or so ago. £95 BIN. Jon.

I picked up a Columbus J a few years ago - it was OK but not fantastic, the body was ply, neck was pretty decent (but I remember it being a bit chunky), hardware was functional. As for the origin of Columbus, it's speculative. It was a UK importer brand so it's unlikely they sourced everything from the same factory, although their low-end LP copies (the ubiquitous black ones) have been 99% ID'd as Maya/Rokkomann. Variable quality - I've had 5 over the years; that Jazz, an SG (my first-ever g*it*r), two black LPs and a Strat. The best one was the SG, nice solid mahog body, real MOP inlays, green-button Kluson copy tuners - wish I hadn't killed it. I still have the Strat, although it's currently on The Bay - it's a later Columbus Mk2 and has no identifying marks - I'd say it's either Korean or one of the more obscure Jap factories like Moridaira. Either way it's not a bad little g*it*r at all. J.

Well - that's a turn up for the book. Whatever that means: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/El-Maya-Bass-guitar-INCREDIBLY-RARE-80s-Japan-fabulous_W0QQitemZ120439151149"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/El-Maya-Bass-guitar-...emZ120439151149[/url] I should add - this isn't Deaver's, just a really weird coincidence. This is only the second one of these I've ever seen! J.

[quote name='deaver' post='522116' date='Jun 23 2009, 10:15 PM']I think with p&p it bottomed out about £30 more in the end didn't it? Could be wrong my maths seems to have been a little awry of late El J[/quote] Maybe... Same thing happened with a lovely Ibby ATK I spotted about 18 months ago, £95 BIN - or £250 to me a year later! J.

Sorry to wee on anyone's fireworks here but WRM is Wild Rose Music, who were an Ebay cheapo importer/reseller from a few years ago. The bass in question is a copy of a [url="http://vesterfansite.nl/data/storage/attachments/b6c447077499aef765a57f0523698b6c.JPG"]Vester Argus[/url] - WRM sold other basses "inspired" by obscure oriental designs, including a green-stained wooden Tokai Talbo knockoff. There's no reason to believe this ain't a decent bass - but it's not a custom instrument so don't go paying custom prices! These were probably not much more than a ton when new. Jon

[quote name='BigRedX' post='520070' date='Jun 21 2009, 05:09 PM']Never understood the fascination for the covers on Fenders. Was there a practical reason for the pickup covers? I know that the bridge cover held a foam string damper, but I can't see any possible use for the cover over the pickup.[/quote] As I understand it, it's a handrest. In conjunction with the finger-rest on the "wrong" side, the intent was that you rest the edge of your palm on the cover, anchor your fingers on the rest & pluck with your thumb! I like the look of them but can't easily play with them in place - I either need to use the top of the pup as a thumbrest, or if I'm using a plectrum, rest the edge of my palm just behind the saddles. Jon.