Soloshchenko

Looks absolutely stunning but I think £3000 for a bass is insane personally.

Cheers for the replies. How would buying second hand change this if anything?

I'm thinking of purchasing a beautiful big fat Rick 4003 bass when I'm over in Canada during Christmas time but was wondering about whether I'll get any hefty charges when coming back through customs. Anyone have any experience of doing this kind of thing? Any experience with bringing basses back from over the other side of the pond welcome.

Anyone know of anyone who manufactors affordable (as in cheaper than SD) 50s style single coil precision pickups? I suppose the title was fine on it's own really. I'm doing up a cheap project and don't wanna stretch to paying SD prices. Seems the world and his mother make P Bass 2 part hb pickups but nobody does the vintage single coil style.

Hahaaha That's awesome.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1030692' date='Nov 20 2010, 06:25 PM']So is a luthier building the bass for the OP, using the Jap Faker he got here? Just trying to clarify what's going on, having missed this when the first post was up. Although I don't know why he doesn't just come on the thread & tell us! J.[/quote] Pretty much yeah. It was my old CMI rickenfaker with the two body wings removed and a new body created by the luthier. Have to say it looked excellent tbh.

[quote name='Gust0o' post='1030343' date='Nov 20 2010, 12:43 PM']Did he specifically say [i]why[/i] he didn't enjoy playing them? Growing up listening to Motorhead, they always seemed like the Holy Grail of basses - something utterly untouchable, both in terms of sound and price (let's face it, my 13 year-old paper round salary was never going to cut it). I guess they still do seem so, as a hangover from my youth. I read a lot about them being utterly unpredictable in terms of playing style. Of course, I still want one before I get too old to have fun.[/quote] I think most fingerstyle players have a bit of a battle on their hands with Ricks. I know he doesn't rest his hand when he's playing but still...it's hard going. In fact if I keep my horrible Hondo 4003 copy I'm adding a thumb rest. I think every step he's taken towards comfort and practicality though I(Jazz bass, straight into the PA, etc), he's lost tons of tone.

Very, very cool bass mate. Nearly did pulled the ebay trigger on a black LP bass recently although I don't think it was half as nice as yours.

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='1023289' date='Nov 14 2010, 11:55 AM']My local Crack Converters (Lewisham) has a fairly tidy-looking bound 'n' blocked Sunburst Columbus Jazz for £65. Some wear to the finish on the neck, but looked quite well set up. Usual black-edged sunburst to hide the plywood. Good deal? Par for the course? Rip Off?[/quote] I'd say that's a good deal mate. I've seen plenty of them go on the bay for twice as much.

This is weird. That's one of the most interesting threads I've seen on BC for some time, especially given that I used to own the original faker! Please Mods, bring it back or explain the issue! Just thought, did the luthier take exception to being mentioned on the forum? Watton mentioned a few had said "that's illegal" when he'd asked for someone to take the project on and I had to say my eye brown raised a bit when he posted a link to the luthier who'd do it knowing what nut job detective types Rickenbacker are.

[quote name='watton_earth' post='1020190' date='Nov 11 2010, 03:00 PM'][b]Step 2: Buy a fake rickenbacker from ebay and potentially alienate your self from other forum fakenbacker fans[/b] I found a bass on this forum, it had been passed between other forum members and they rated it, although not enough to keep the bass longer than a few months each. It was advertised as imaculate condition. CMI Bass - £400 Courier + insurance - £60 PS: To the former owners, I know you'll probably be reading this post in a few hours so I have a few things to say. I have the upmost respect for you and the other basschat rickenbacker fake fans. I only joined this forum recently but have read your posts for months and enjoyed it. No offence intended but this bass is now mine. It's going to be modified. That said feel free to flame away. Many thanks.[/quote] As one of the ex owners of this rather nice CMI I'd just like to wish you luck mate. It's a mental idea, I have no idea how the logistics of it are going to work but hey, it's interesting! Like you say, it's your bass,if I'dhave been precious about her I'd never have sold her in the first place. Good luck!

I think the final Rockinbetter looks really good mate. I don't think the Hondo is beyond saving (wood filler and get a large jack socket cover made somewhere). I'm doing a cheap and cheerful Hondo mod myself. BTW what is happening with the SD pickups? PM if they are for sale.

Custom Vibe squier every time from me. Lovely things. Or if you fancy something a bit older dip your toe into the world of Japcrap stuff. You can pick updecent Columbus basses for under £100 on t'bay. Keeo your eye on the Japcrap thread.

70s Jazz bass with Black hardware and silver scratchplate? Think not! Still, looks pretty good. As someone who is currently re finishing my Columbus Jazz black, this guy has stole my thunder a bit!

[quote name='gareth' post='1007359' date='Oct 31 2010, 02:13 PM']Why?[/quote] Can't you see the potential? I'd be lying if I said I hadn't asked myself the same question while looking at the this horror alongside what is fast becoming the battersea dog home of knackered guitars in my spare room but it should be fairly easy and very cheap to sort. The new cream scratchplate and metal bridge PU surround will cost me pennies courtesy of the rather wonderful technology department in the school I work at. The remaining parts I either have lying around or will buy. I've priced up my purchases at around £50 and will be a big improvement on what would originally have been on there (and, obviously what sits rather embarrassingly there now). Then I'll either sell it for more than the £156 it's cost me or keep it. I'm actually growing quite attached to it already I'm totally ashamed to admit. As for people wanting to hear it as is, I can't say I'm not tempted. Watch this space.

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1006715' date='Oct 30 2010, 09:25 PM']Ah - it was that one! Is it definitely a Hondo? If so the tuners are replacements & considerably better than the originals. Anyway that will be a reasonably cheap & easy fixer-upper, if you're not too precious about the authenticity of the parts you use - and assuming the neck/frets are all in good order. However - I concur with the prevailing opinion - string 'er up and find out what that sounds like, the opportunity will probably never present itself again. Do it for science! Jon.[/quote] Yeah the tuners feel very sturdy. Certainly a Hondo I'd say. I tried to show the TRC with the shadow of a "Hondo II" logo that has been scraped off but didn't showon the pic. It also has some original stickers on the back which give the H******** serial number. Also the body is certainly pure ply which is in keeping with the Horrible Hondo reputation.

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='1006639' date='Oct 30 2010, 08:00 PM']Lol the audacity of putting a clear pickguard on it [/quote] I know. I can kind of see why someone, in a moment of madness might do the pickup thing, as sh*t as it is but the clear pickguard is clinically insane.

[quote name='Johnston' post='1006593' date='Oct 30 2010, 07:13 PM']Oh go on string it up and let us hear how the pickup mods sound [/quote] Could you imagine if the weirdo who'd done this had actually stumbled across the perfect bass tone? Unfortunately (or perhaps thankfully) the bass doesn't work at the minute. Looking at the pickup he's not even gone to the trouble of using a decent precision replacement!

Just won this on Ebay for £106. It's horrible isn't it? It is a Hondo Rick Copy with some really odd mods where someone has replaced the original pickups with a precision humbucker of unknown origin split in half. The body, neck bridge and machines are fine so I'll be stripping all the electronic/clear plastic nonsense and sourcing some pickups off here (please PM me if you have any knocking about). Hopefully should get it back into a more useable condition, it looks a bit unhappy at the minute!

[quote name='Bassassin' post='999589' date='Oct 25 2010, 12:41 AM']Here's a no-brand project (might be a Kasuga bolt-neck but that's a wild guess) with some of the strangest mods I've seen on this or any other bass: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180578699320"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180578699320[/url] What the hell would that sound like? J.[/quote] Hopefully I'll find out this weekend. Just spent 107 of my hard earnt pounds on this monstrosity. Will be VERY interesting to see what I've actually bought there.

I've been a bit skint recently so picked up a £70 Columbus Jazz Copy from the 70s and am stripping/refinishing and upgrading the hardware. You're right, it's awesome fun. Not arsed about re sale value, as I have a number of the bits lying about it will barely get over the £100 mark in total cost and I'll have a cool bass for that. Get some pics on the build diary mate!

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='1004603' date='Oct 29 2010, 12:20 AM']I'd leave the whole face, it's the only way of doing it without it being obvious that you've sanded round it.[/quote] I'm heading that way but could do to see an example where someone has done so as I'm a bit worried about colouring differences which are noticable. Ou7shined, I think you've spent so long on the decal it's probably worth going the extra yard and re doing your decal. Your design looks totally spot on.