Ideas for 1979 YOB bass

[ianrendall]

Next Feb is my 40th. I had the idea of either getting a cheap project 125 Honda bike to fix up or a YOB bass. Obviously, the motorbike idea got nixed, so it’s a ‘79 YOB bass.

I have an idea of what I’d like ideally budgeted around £400. 

A nice Aria perhaps or an Ibanez. Fretless would be nice. Maybe Westone? Something Japanese of quality, Fujigen or Matsumoku IIRC. 

I’m quite a way off from a purchase so just looking for ideas really.

Any thoughts?

[Paddy515]

Hey - if I could bump you in the right direction!!! Hope you dont mind.

 

Regards, Paddy.

 

https://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/fresher-1970s-jazz-bass-guitar-collectable-vintage-piece-original-hard-case/1297777465

 

http://brochures.yokochou.com/guitar-and-amp/fresher/197x/en_index.html

Edited May 12, 2018 by Paddy515

[Grahambythesea]

There’s a cool looking black 79 Yamaha Superbass 500S on Reverb at present for £356 + postage from Poland. At least you won’t have to to pay import duty until next year when we leave Europe so may be get in early!

[dannybuoy]

Peavey T40?

[Happy Jack]

Rickenfaker ...

[TheGreek]

Was 1979 really 39 years ago??? 

Thanks....I'm now feeling so much older...

[Skybone]

I'd vote for something MIJ, be it Matsumoku or FujiGen. Had a few really nice MIJ guitars from that era, no basses though unfortunately.

[Bass Fumbler]

Blimey, 39 years ago, that’s when I picked up my first bass, a Jedson shortscale Tele style, closely followed by a Honda Precision with a neck like telegraph pole and an action you could limbo under!

I then upscaled to an Aria SB600, what a difference!

[Bigwan]

Yamaha every day of the week for that money. SB, BB or, as I did, Pulser 400.

[pmjos]

Has to be a PEB Ray - if that's your thing of course.

 

[Sibob]

1 hour ago, pmjos said:

Has to be a PEB Ray - if that's your thing of course.

 

For £400? Good luck with that!

For the year and budget, I’d definitely go Peavey T-40.

Si

[ianrendall]

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. How could I have missed the Peavey T40!

[pmjos]

17 hours ago, Sibob said:

For £400? Good luck with that!

For the year and budget, I’d definitely go Peavey T-40.

Si

Oops, that's what happens when you don't read the whole post :-/ I'll get me coat.

[Grahambythesea]

Just remembered the Ibanez Roadster. Had one of these in the past and it was excellent. Mansons have this one for sale.

Edited May 14, 2018 by Grahambythesea

[pmjos]

Thats sweet, my first ever bass a really nice sounding instrument and well sought after too, you won't loose on this.

[MOSCOWBASS]

It's got to be a P bass of sorts....79 was full of great disco hits, I remember playing them! and then there was punk...also P bass territory.

[Marc S]

I agree with Grahambythesea
I think an Ibanez Roadster would be a great YOB bass

Or could you opt for something like a HondoII - I recently restored one of their P bass copies|
And it was a really nice bass. Good luck with your search - and let us know what you go for

[tall_martin]

 I turn 40 next year. Fortunately I have my yob ( almost) as it was the first bass I ever bought. 

A 1978 music master.

It sounds great, and as it is a short scale it its easy to play.

I've seen them on eBay for 400 and a shop in Nottingham had one for £1000.

As they are much less sought after than a p bass you would have more choice/ chance of getting a £400 one.

I started refurbing it when I was 17, got stuck and left it as a mess until last year when I put some time into respraying it with nitro rattle cans.

You could treat the bass as a project if the bike is off the cards?

[Grahambythesea]

1 hour ago, tall_martin said:

 I turn 40 next year. Fortunately I have my yob ( almost) as it was the first bass I ever bought. 

A 1978 music master.

It sounds great, and as it is a short scale it its easy to play.

I've seen them on eBay for 400 and a shop in Nottingham had one for £1000.

As they are much less sought after than a p bass you would have more choice/ chance of getting a £400 one.

I started refurbing it when I was 17, got stuck and left it as a mess until last year when I put some time into respraying it with nitro rattle cans.

You could treat the bass as a project if the bike is off the cards?

I bought a new Musicmaster sometime around ‘78, black - cost £99. Should ha e kept it if they are selling for 4 times as much! Sold it for £75 to part fund a ‘73 Precision from a friend for £150. 

[tall_martin]

I think mine was £100 in 1995.

Thought I had a brilliant instrument at an excellent price- my bass teacher looked at it in horror and sent me to a more reputable shop to have a fret dress. It had had a hard life before me :-) 

 

One sold for just over £400 recently...

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Musicmaster-bass-guitar/323154998957?hash=item4b3d89f6ad:g:1CwAAOSwC6har5eP#vi__app-cvip-panel

Edited May 17, 2018 by tall_martin

[police squad]

I paid £110 for my music master in 1983. Sold it a year later for £70.

I'd love it back, it was my first fender bass