Bassassin

Ham-fisted, unsubtle bludgeoning. If I want any of your your so-called "dynamics" I stomp on the overdrive or break out the plectrum. Or both. Jon.

Just - wow. I wouldn't know what to do with all them strings - but they're just stunning. Jon.

[quote name='nick' post='439523' date='Mar 19 2009, 06:21 PM']+1 to all the above. I doubt also that Rickenbacker are savvy enough to realise that their behaviour goes in some way to inflating the prices of their copies. [/quote] They do - it was one of the points I made (to no avail) in my near-mythic correspondence with J. Hall Esq. It's not really of any consequence to them - and to be honest I suppose it's more likely to put copies into the hands of collectors & enthusiasts rather than fake-badging gyppos. Mind you, I don't think anyone's going to be fobbing this off as a lowly Rickenbacker: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=220380315128"]Bloody Hell![/url] :brow: J.

I [i]hate[/i] to see this sort of thing. I'd gladly offer to "relic" his next custom guitar by beating his vacuous, slobbering, idiot face with it. [quote name='waynepunkdude' post='438384' date='Mar 18 2009, 04:01 PM']I've said it before and I'll say it again, if you see "custom" anywhere on an eBay listing just don't bother.[/quote] Suits me - I'll be looking because "Custom" was an obscure 70s JapCrap brand from the Netherlands, & I don't want you lot bidding on them! Jon.

[quote name='Musky' post='438348' date='Mar 18 2009, 03:32 PM']Strange. I'm sure that was the same bass that was up a few days ago but calling itself a Harmony. It's sure to be pulled very quickly for using the R word in the title anyway. If you're looking for a Rickenfaker you should have a word with Nick - he's got a rather nice Maya he's trying to shift at the moment.[/quote] Too late, unfortunatey - I PM'd him last night but the deal's already done & it's off to the States. Anyway - These Anniversary copies appeared on the RickResource board a week or two back, no pics of the 4003 type but the g*it*rs looked like contemporary generic Chinese or Korean copies, ie competent but uninspiring & largely overpriced for what they are. Just looked at this & it does look identical to the Harmony that was up earlier. Realistically, £360 is probably as good as it will get for a Rick copy, new or vintage. This looks very similar to the Rockinbetters & Shines, & at least it features a reasonable attempt at Rick hardware & pups, unlike the Indie with its Fender type bridge & J pup hiding under its cover. Wouldn't mind a proper look at one of these. Jon.

[quote name='jonsmith' post='437937' date='Mar 18 2009, 12:55 AM']They must be seen to protect their trademarks in these circumstances or they will eventually lose their trademark status.[/quote] You're quite right but that bit there's the point - [i]that's[/i] what's applicable under US law, not UK. Ebay will do what RIC request, irrespective of territory because they're a US company, if they didn't then RIC would likely be threatening them with legal action. However RIC is quite tardy about taking legal action against certain non-US infringers - John Birch is a case in point. Birch have had a Rick copy (it's even called a 4001) in their range since the early 70s, and still do now, and RIC haven't batted an eyelid, despite being well aware of its existence. This could be because Birch is a high-end, low-volume custom builder & as such is too insignificant to be worth bothering with, or it could be because if challenged, Birch could demonstrate a continuity of manufacture which pre-dates by decades RIC's registration of the specific design elements they would claim as infringements. Either way, Mr Hall chooses to turn a blind eye. I've said before, I grudgingly support RIC's necessary actions in sweeping the evidence of copies under the carpet - such a small business needs to protect its IP, and I think in their case its loss would be a major threat to their future. I love Ricks, always have, and I think a bit of hassle selling vintage copies is a small price to pay. J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='437915' date='Mar 17 2009, 11:55 PM']...an amount close to the pittance that you very likely paid for it in the first place...[/quote] It wouldn't be very much of an investment then, would it? And I have to say I spent rather more on that than I have on most of my other reclaimed firewood. In the unlikely event I ever sold it I would expect a quite substantial return - it's not like I'm selling a house, is it? :ph34r: J.

Oh go on, don't be coy! What's a "fair amount"? In Pounds Sterling? In these trying financial times I do find it hard not to look at my Rickenbugger as an investment... J.

Pisser. Despite the fact that's of dubious legality (US trademark law not actually being UK legislation last time I looked) it seems as though the seller might have to find another avenue for the disposal of this plainly questionable item. Perhaps he might find a potential purchaser among the users of a popular UK bassplayers' forum - particularly if he chooses to sell his hard-to-shift former object of desire for an amount close to the pittance that he is understood to have paid for it in the first place! J.

[quote name='josh3184' post='436813' date='Mar 17 2009, 12:36 AM']bassassin in 3..2..1..[/quote] Nah - JapCrap has given us no bona fide classics - with the possible exception of the Aria Pro SB series and Ibby Musicians, which have been mentioned, and these were very much of their era. Probably a lot of this is to do with the fact that the Japanese guitar industry is built on copying - and even when forced to shift to original designs, they remained identifiably derivative for years. The true JapCrap originals, for example the Tokai Talbos & Atlansias, are far too wilfully obscure to ever attain "classic" status. Ironically the closest things to real classics built in Japan are probably JV Squiers! Jon.

Has someone stuck their hat on the top bout or what? Jon.

[quote name='Musky' post='436719' date='Mar 16 2009, 10:24 PM']Did you clue him in? "The seller ended this listing early because of an error in the listing."[/quote] Indeed I did. I also pointed out that the Fender-type bridge that his guitar tech mate had (allegedly) fitted looks too wide for the narrow Grabber-esque neck, so digging out the original might be a plan. Not sure why he didn't just edit the text of the original listing - I don't think it had any bids. J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='435684' date='Mar 16 2009, 12:01 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/rare-CMI-grabber-bass-vintage-70s-not-GIBSON-IBANEZ_W0QQitemZ110364538692QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110364538692&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Grabber[/url][/quote] Whoop-de-do, it's an Ibanez! Stupid me, thought it was a Melody M-6600, made in Italy. Must be losing my touch... J.

I messaged the seller, his reserve is £1200 and he's not willing to split & sell the Jazz separately. Anyroad up, we'll see what happens... J.

Look familiar? [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31614"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31614[/url] Wonder why he refuses to split? He could've sold them all & probably made a lot more 6 months ago. Jon.

I think this is right (updated)... Benwhiteuk Beerdragon Ped [b]Moi[/b] Cetera Farmer61 MacDaddy J.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='434138' date='Mar 13 2009, 08:32 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-70s-MIJ-Lawsuit-Maya-Thru-Neck-Stereo-Bass_W0QQitemZ160321437157QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item160321437157&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Maya[/url][/quote] Now that's lovely. It was one of these which went for £600+ a couple of months ago. Interesting to see what this does. J.

[quote name='spinynorman' post='433737' date='Mar 13 2009, 02:51 PM']Is it one of the ones Fender sued Ibanez over in the 1970s because they were so uncannily accurate and better quality?[/quote] Oh yes! US customs seized them all at the port & sawed the headstocks off, don'cha know. Definitely an Imaginez, from 1968. Jon.

[quote name='xgsjx' post='433345' date='Mar 13 2009, 10:32 AM']It's the SR1000E from 1990, with IBZ C2 pups.[/quote] I'd say Dangerboy's right about the price range - last year I sold a 1990 SR800 fretless for £250. Off the top of my head, 1990 was around the transition point between Japanese & Korean manufacture - an "F" prefix serial will be Japanese (Fujigen Gakki) & these will probably get a slightly better price than later Korean versions. I played SRs for years but don't get on with the skinny necks at all any more. Jon.

[quote name='Lifer' post='433319' date='Mar 13 2009, 10:08 AM']Love the talbo, got anymore pics? I nearly bought and aluminium one a few years ago, awesome sound but the bloke in the shop wasn't interested at all so I though "BLEEP you mate you're not getting my cash!" Didn't realise they did the bass in wood too.[/quote] Proper bass-porn style pics of the Talbo will come soon, I intend to do a proper gallery of all my stuff in the gear porn section. The Talbo's a great bass to sit at home & play & muck about with, but unfortunately it's terribly microphonic - which means at gig volume it squeals like a piggy. I tend to use a few effects too, which only makes things worse. Great shame, it's a stunning looking thing. J.

[quote name='Musky' post='432843' date='Mar 12 2009, 08:36 PM']A Kay - for spares, repairs or slinging on a fire... [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-spares-or-repairs_W0QQitemZ220376257637"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-spares-o...emZ220376257637[/url][/quote] Or burying 200 feet deep in a lead-lined concrete box - the bloody thing looks radioactive! J.

Well that Made-In-London-By-Ibanez Shafty's relisted after it didn't sell - £345 now & open to offers. Still not posting it though, which will likely be why it ain't shifting: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:VRI&item=150331983650"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150331983650[/url] J.