Bassassin

If you need tuner spares, you might want to keep an eye on this auction: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hohner-The-Jack-Headless-Bass-Saddles-Tuners_W0QQitemZ150324149639"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Hohner-The-Jack-Head...emZ150324149639[/url] Looking at the pics, are you sure that split isn't fixable? It looks like it only crosses a little way into the centre neck lamination, I think it might be worth having a go at glueing it up & clamping it. I'd strip off the hardware for a better look. Do you have any plans for the case? I have a B2A as my gigging backup & am always a bit nervous taking it out in its little PVC gigbag - it could do with some armour-plating! Jon.

I have an STB-GT 4 which is my favourite bit of non-JapCrap at the moment: Got it off Ebay for just over a ton, second-hand but in absolutely brand new condition. Setup was pretty rotten when I got it - probably why it was for sale if the original owner was a beginner - but it didn't take much sorting out, and now it's a pretty sweet player. There were a couple of rough fret-ends up the dusty end, but a few seconds with a file fixed that, and it's a really nice neck, quite a Jazz-like feel but not at all cramped. The battery box is a bit flimsy - I tape mine shut when gigging because it has a tendency to spring open if you move about too much, so I might eventually replace it with a more robust one. Other than that it's hard to fault for the money, and well, look at it - it's gorgeous! :wub: Jon.

Add me to the list! Cheers Jon.

Those were - that's a Ned Callan Cody, or "Nobbly Ned" - built by luthier Peter Cook, these were sold variously as Ned Callan, Shaftesbury, CMI & Simms-Watt. And possibly some other names too. J.

I can appreciate the guy's musicianship & technical skill - but he's put light-gauge strings on his bass, tuned it up an octave and is playing a piece using classical guitar derived fingerstyle. I'm sorry, but this breaks no boundaries, it's just eccentric. If I put a set of bass strings on my old Kimbara classical & recorded myself playing [i]Mr Pink[/i] I somehow doubt I'd be hailed as revolutionary on acoustic guitar forums. Jon.

It's quite pretty - I'd give him fifty quid for it. If it had a big 70s style headstock, natural finish & chrome hardware I might even have gone to sixty. Jon.

[quote name='neepheid' post='392575' date='Jan 27 2009, 11:48 AM']Actually, I was making a semi-serious point about the shifting perceptions of "quality" as the Far Eastern production is concerned, but never mind [/quote]I know but sometimes a bit of mindless hostility is the only option. As it happens, this wasn't actually such a time but whatever. And yes - I'd say Korea's been the new Japan for a while - most decent mid-range stuff's Korean these days, in the same way most low-end stuff's Chinese & Indonesian. Public perception might take a little while to catch up, but the Korean guitar industry goes back to the mid 70s, and broadly speaking quality was probably about 10 years behind Japan. That said, they caught up quickly & some 80s KoreaDiarrhoea's actually becoming quite sought-after now, even with its own "lawsuit" brands, like Fenix & Vester. Squier production moved to Korea in the mid 80s & with the brand already established, there probably wasn't a dramatic drop in quality. Back to the abuse now? J.

[quote name='neepheid' post='392414' date='Jan 27 2009, 09:13 AM']Korea is the new Japan?[/quote] In the same sense that "Squire" is the new "Squier". I think I'm having an Intolerant Bastard day today - the combined repetition of "Squire" & "origional" in that ad makes me want to buy it just so I can collect in person & then beat his oxygen-thieving, illiterate face in with it. And if that offends anyone, they can expect the same. Have a nice day. J.

[quote name='Kev' post='392243' date='Jan 26 2009, 10:54 PM']il be watching this one very closely, never seen one before: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300289237138&_trksid=p2759.l1259"]Headless Westone[/url][/quote] There was somebody on here selling one last week, less red, more fingermarks: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38827"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38827[/url] [quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='392301' date='Jan 26 2009, 11:42 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-UNBRANDED-NOT-WORKING_W0QQitemZ110343223865QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110343223865&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Not sure its jap, guess the other part is lively.[/url] Something familiar about it.[/quote] I think it's JapCrap, there were some Mosrite-ish (or MosWrong, in this case?) Teiscos a lot like that.. Shame he won't post, I quite like it. J.

He says "Feel free to ask any questions". OK, how about "How come you're such a crass, greedy, delusional cock?" Jon.

I've only ever seen JapCrap Pearls, some of which have been identifiable as Matsumoku. But that's not to say they weren't made elsewhere. Obviously there's not a lot you can tell from one indistinct pic of the front. Anyhoo, I've asked him his reserve, no response as yet but I'll keep everyone posted... J.

[quote name='mrcrow' post='391193' date='Jan 25 2009, 08:30 PM']i think the country where its made is most important and japan has been knocking out very good clones and factory endorsements for years[/quote] That's the whole basis of Fender Japan. The operation's run by Kanda Shokai, owner of the Greco brand - no doubt you'll have heard of their "lawsuit" copies! Fujigen Gakki was the original main source for MIJ Fenders, the same factory which built Greco, Ibanez, Antoria etc copies in the 70s and effectively kicked off the whole "lawsuit" thing. CIJ production these days is split between Dyna Gakki & Tokai - another builder very well-respected for their replica-standard copies. The reappearance of the MIJ stamp might suggest that Fujigen is making Fenders again but I doubt there'll be any difference in quality one way or the other. Jon.

Nice to see the [url="http://www.ibanez.co.jp/world/news/show/namm2009/L/016.jpg"]Ibanez Musician[/url] back for its 30th birthday bash. $6250, though - Jon.

Posted off to Chezz55 this afternoon. Job's a good 'un. J.

OK - serious - if somewhat impulsive - question: If I could track down the manufacturer/exporter of these (it'll be some Chinese or Indonesian sweatshop) and import a few of them, who would take one off me 'ands? Obviously I don't know how much we'd be talking about - but given the prices of the likes of Wesleys, I doubt it would be very expensive. Just a thought. J.

I want that. Why is the exchange rate so crap, and why does stuff like this never make it to the UK? Gah. Jon.

That's a Riverhead Unicorn - the first headless I had serious GAS for - I remember going up to the Bass Centre, when it was in Wapping to try one, probably '84 or '85. Sadly I was too poor to buy it & eventually ended up with an Aria RSB Deluxe, & a (much cheaper) Hohner B2A a bit later. I'll be watching this, but I suspect it'll go for a little more than the £100 start - these are incredibly, incredibly rare these days. IMO these are about the most desirable JapCrap headless, just for the Burns Flyte ripoff body, if nothing else. Jon.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='389765' date='Jan 23 2009, 04:32 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Grantson-electric-bass-guitar-made-in-japan_W0QQitemZ250361836880QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250361836880&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Grantson[/url] Doesn't say 'Lawsuit' and looking at the headstock, I think it could legitemately do so. Might bid a tenner just so they can't change it.[/quote] That's kinda cool in a retro-minimalist sort of way. I had a Grantson EB-0 copy a while back, a little more accurate than that one: [attachment=19115:fronts.jpg] Looked the part but it was a pretty generic ply-body cheapo, in reality. I'd expect the same of this one. J.

[quote name='Beedster' post='388825' date='Jan 22 2009, 05:52 PM']7/10 for the drumming and 2/10 for the vocals [/quote] And a composite 20/10 for doing both at the same time. Impressed me, anyway! J.