noelk27

[quote name='Bill-R' timestamp='1355591635' post='1900337']My bass came in two plain brown box with the model RG4003. and the S/n started Cn1006, it had i sticker on the box saying Tokai guitars UK. like i said they have nothing to do with Tokai Japan and Tokai uk have only been importing Rockinbetter since 2002, i have no idea who imported them since 1994 to 2002 when they moved to China. if you check you will see that the Tokai Rg43 was only branded for just over a year with the Tokai name and then it changed to Rockinbetter or rebelrocker if you live in the in Aus. it is very hard to find a Tokai rg43 anywhere. easy to get a rockinbetter rg43. not being able to find one dont mean there not around. who is mot making them i do not know but do think its Cort. it not east to find a picture of a bass made over 20 years ago and only imported in 100s and only made for a few years, its east to find rockinbetters, if I come across one i'll post it,[/quote] Something telling me my bottom Yen is safe and sound, and about to go back into my pocket.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1355590074' post='1900307']But can you supply us with photos of an actual Tokai-badged 4001/3 ... ?[/quote] Got my bottom Yen right here.

[quote name='Bill-R' timestamp='1355583599' post='1900207']i have a picture of a ric copy 330 with a tokai TRC[/quote] You're correct. Tokai Gakki has previously manufactured Rickenbacker 330 copies. These can be seen in Tokai Gakki catalogues of the time. People are known to own these (myself included). [quote name='Bill-R' timestamp='1355583599' post='1900207']i belive that the ric copy RG43 was only made for two years, the 4003 bass was made for about 4 or 5 years with the Tokai TRC. after the its like it was contracted out and made in China, Rockinbetters have not been made by Tokai since around 1994. the ric copy RG43 and the Bass 4003 were not exported and only sold only in Japan[/quote] Show me the proof. Show me a Tokai Gakki catalogue with Rickenbacker 4001 or 4003 copies pictured, or referred to. Show me a photograph of one as owned by someone. In fact, if any member of the forum has a photograph of, or better still owns, a Tokai badged 4001 or 4003 copy feel free to jump in here and post the photographs. I'm betting my bottom Yen it's not going to happen. All I'm seeing in your posts are the same assertions rehashed with no evidence, other than links to retailers, and you can't tell me it's not in the interests of those retailers to connect what they're trying to sell to the legacy and heritage of Tokai Gakki, even if what it is they are selling has absolutely nothing to do with Tokai Gakki.

With reference to Mr BRX's comments above, I'll second his observations, and find myself in total agreement with everything said.

[quote name='Bill-R' timestamp='1355528413' post='1899755']I belive the first Rockinbetters were made by Tokai but then switched from Japan to China in the 80s its said that Tokai sent over some of there top staff to set up plants in China.[/quote] Where in China in the 80s was Tokai Japan operating production facilities? Sure this would come as news to Adachi San. Even today, the Tokai branded instruments manufactured in China have only the most tenuous connection to Tokai Japan, as those instruments are manufactured by a Chinese conglomerate that purchased a license from Tokai Japan, allowing use of the classic Tokai name and graphics, and some designs from previous product lines. Tokai Japan took no involvement in setting up or subsequently supervising production in China. Anyway, in the 80s, it was South Korea that Tokai Japan leased and operated additional production facilities.

It can't.

Own two Washburn "Wing" guitars with serials within six digits, bought ten or so years apart.

"I can not authenticate this pickguard for certain." Says it all.

Tokai Japan have no connection with Rockinbetter.

Nope. Serial numbers less than 30 units apart.

No more than for one without an MM autograph. Which, assuming 10/10 condition, case and all candy, would be no more than two-thirds current street price.

[quote name='4StringFortress' timestamp='1354978643' post='1892558']I really like the passive sound but I also like the versatility in having an active bass. Any suggestions?[/quote] BB1100

http://www.professorstring.com/index.php#.UL_uSo5y_Hg

[quote name='Sibob' timestamp='1354723952' post='1889618'][H]ow do people cope with the difference in size difference of the P pickup compared with the J. By that I mean the distance your anchored thumb is from the strings.[/quote] With the older variants, such as the original 2000, if you ignore the pickup surround, then the P and J pickup bodies are at, approximately, the same distance from the "E" string. With the current 2000, again ignoring the surround, there's a ridge on the P pickup body, which is quite pronounced, and this and the J pickup body, again, are approximately the same distance from the "E" string.

"Kay P bass thought perhaps 1968, with ebony fingerboard." No expert when it comes to Kay, but wasn't the KB24 first introduced in the mid/late 70s? Wouldn't mind his idiocy and ineptitude so much if the bullshit he spouts was accurate, but it never is.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1354383606' post='1885444']Is it modified? That looks like a knob where the switch should be.[/quote] No. Standard controls (Vol P, Vol J, Tone). No pickup selector on this model.

[quote name='Kongo' timestamp='1354412792' post='1885769']I take it they are real high end models?[/quote] No. After Yamaha introduced the standard neck-through 3000 ('82), as the top of the BB 4-string range, it went on to introduce a narrow neck version of the 3000 ('83), alongside the bolt-on X (aka 1600, outside Asia) ('83) and humbucking 1300 ('85). The X and 1300 were both less expensive than the 3000 (around two-thirds). The bolt-on X24 ('84) was introduced as an alternative to the standard X, given the popularity/success of the revised BB range.

[quote name='Kongo' timestamp='1354405360' post='1885721']Do any of the classic body BB's come with 24 frets?[/quote] Yes, BB-X24 (introduced at the same time as the 3000), as did the 1300.

Have suspended selling outside Japan at certain times, but still sell/ship internationally [url="http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/eng/howtoorder.html"]http://www.ishibashi...howtoorder.html[/url] Edit: Also worth noting the minimum order amount (Y50,000) is circa £380, and that the minimum excludes shipping charges.

Agree with Mr BRX, that unless what you're looking at isn't available in the UK/Europe then buying from Japan doesn't make economic sense these days. Back in 06/07 £1 would get you around Y250, these days it gets around Y130. It means that the used Yamaha BB1024 (priced at Y73,143, minus Japanese Sales Tax, which works out around £550/£560), including shipping, duties and VAT, works out around £830/£840. You can buy a new example here for around £700, and even the full list price is circa £890.

It's as if you've clicked the "navigate this site" button, instead of browsing the full-fat version.

[quote name='MB1' timestamp='1352369652' post='1862174']Why turn a seven string into a six string?[/quote] He'll be converting five-string basses into four-strings next.

[quote name='MB1' timestamp='1352332418' post='1861980']'Blademan_98' No photo no sale..... MB1. I'll second that emotion![/quote] Not like you to miss an 80s pun, Martin. "I'll second that emoticon" maybe? As for the OP's question: A stock photo tells me nothing about condition. If the seller won't, or can't, supply recent photos then I've no interest in their listing.

[quote name='mickthebass' timestamp='1352310837' post='1861483'][color=#000000]Talk about fake rickies[/color][/quote] Fake? There's a massive difference between Shine building a bass influenced by/borrowing from the styling of Rickenbacker and an individual pass off instrument "A" as instrument "B". In the first instance it is for Rickenbacker to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the relevant courts that it holds appropriate design protections in its designs in its own, and worldwide territories; and, the second, a matter for the criminal investigatory authorities, as passing off is a crime. It would also be wise of you to familiarise yourself with the laws of verbal injury/libel, as your comments could be regarded as defamatory of Shine.

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' timestamp='1352115180' post='1858797']And claim he's set the locks in such a way the tuners still work.[/quote] Mostly as the string is sitting in the equivalent of the Mariana Trench. He's a muppet.