BlueMoon

Class act. Thanks for sharing.

Another shout out for Ishibashi. I’ve imported a few Japanese oddities from them. Clear communications; honest descriptions; fast dispatch and secure packaging. Never had a problem. I wouldn't hesitate if it is an instrument that is a Japan-only model.

I think the pickup is the same. The bezel is now on 2025 models direct from Rickenbacker in place of the classic chrome-effect pickup cover.

A beauty……….just the right amount of ageing. Well done!

Fantastic example of skill, dedication and artistry. Proficiat!!

Nice….thank you! And a pic of the man with a Freedom Rhino bass, I do believe.

Depends on the sealant layer that was first used on the bare wood. Since it's a relic surface maybe look at it as added mojo and just leave it and enjoy it. If you feel like "repairing" it, I'd be tempted to carefully sand off/sand back the surrounding amber coloured area to the outline of solid colour and then blend in the area with a light amber-tinted matt or satin coating. Trying to just "repair" the bare wood area could be tricky getting the colour match acceptable.

Might well happen. When Mike Pedulla closed his shop rather than selling the business, the second-hand asking prices of the classic Pedulla basses did increase significantly. No sign of any levelling on those asking prices.......so hang on to that Status bass(es).

^^ This. The problem with many generic polishes is that if there are any silicones in them it is extremely difficult to get rid of them if used unknowingly or in error. They persist for a long time on most any surface (including fingers!!) and often require quite aggressive solvents (e.g. acetone) and repeated treatments to effectively remove. Obviously this defeats the original objective, especially with nitro coatings. A careful screening of the polish contents label should show up the main silicone components, if present. Basically anything ending in "...cone" (like dimethicone) or "siloxane" (e.g. polydimethylsiloxane - PDMS) fall in the broad silicone family.

Glow-in-the-dark side markers fitted as standard to the neck. I favour Luminlay brand, but can be tricky to source in Europe. Some Japanese instruments fit this as standard.

Loving the banter, guys! Nowhere is quite like Basschat

That’s a good thought. Would mild acid also act in a similar way? Cola drinks, brown sauce, for example.

I guess that, without testing, you’ll never know. It could get ugly pretty quickly if the top coating is very thin though. I’d recommend starting with a light touch (e.g. kitchen sponge scourer) on a sacrificial example. Good luck.

All the very best in what comes next for you! It sounds like you have made the right decision, as losing sleep over it is never good. Any decision like that is a relief once made and you are staying around until the band can find a replacement. I wish some of the bands that I’ve played in over the years had musicians with an attitude like yours.