Bobkat Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Hi guys, I am eager to learn bass during these difficult time but have a dilemma. At the moment, I am considering a used MIJ in Olympic White. Tell me, is there any reason not to go for this one seen today. How does it compare to a Squier 60 Vibe? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124402895942 PS I am UK based... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 Nice bass but courier and import duties/VAT will make it expensive 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hooky_lowdown Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 If you want a good bass, have a look in the For Sale section of this site. There's a G&L bass just listed at a bargain price, better than any Squier 60s vibe at same money. 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobkat Posted October 26, 2020 Author Share Posted October 26, 2020 11 minutes ago, hooky_lowdown said: If you want a good bass, have a look in the For Sale section of this site. There's a G&L bass just listed at a bargain price, better than any Squier 60s vibe at same money. 😃 Thanks, will definitely do that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
booboo Posted October 26, 2020 Share Posted October 26, 2020 2 hours ago, Bobkat said: Hi guys, I am eager to learn bass during these difficult time but have a dilemma. At the moment, I am considering a used MIJ in Olympic White. Tell me, is there any reason not to go for this one seen today. How does it compare to a Squier 60 Vibe? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/124402895942 PS I am UK based... Not sure how the £ is doing against the yen at present, but looking at those figures you could get something the same from ishibashi in Japan for a bit less. I got a 2nd hand P from there (Japan built but to US AVRI alder/maple & neck spec) a few years ago and I rate it as better built than the US AVRI62 I used to own. Hardware not as nice and i swapped out the electrics for a kiogon loom and a standard Fender 'Original' 62 PU. All in all probably cost me £700 for something that is as good as any other p bass I've played. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 First off, Beedster is quite right about the impact of delivery and VAT/Duty. Secondly, I have had a number of Fender Japan basses and they have all been excellent. Good choice for buying 'blind'. Similarly, buying second hand will mean you won't lose if/when you sell on to upgrade/give up!! 🙂 But, what is it that leads you to a Precision? My bass of choice, so nothing wrong there but I wonder if your choice is based on looks alone? If you haven't tried one then you may find the neck uncomfortable etc. We are all different so what suits one may not suit all. Ignore me if you have done this but if you have an opportunity to go to a shop and try some different basses (for feel) I would recommend you do that. Find the bass that's comfortable, then come home and browse the classified ads here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Have you seen the PB70US in the classifieds section? It is sunburst not white... it is in Nottingham priced at £700... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bloke_zero Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Worth checking something like this: https://www.simplyduty.com/import-calculator/ I was looking at getting a neck from the US and it was 20% VAT + 3.5% import duty on shipping and item cost. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reggaebass Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 I’ve got my eye on a couple of really nice jazzes for sale in Japan, but by the time I added on approximately 25% for fees it works out a bit pricey does anyone know, do you get the import duty and vat bill separately after Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 17 minutes ago, Reggaebass said: I’ve got my eye on a couple of really nice jazzes for sale in Japan, but by the time I added on approximately 25% for fees it works out a bit pricey does anyone know, do you get the import duty and vat bill separately after Yes, the carrier will bring the items in and then you pay them the VAT etc before they deliver. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Bear in mind that VAT is charged on the total cost of importing the goods which includes the cost of the bass PLUS the cost of shipping PLUS the duty. If the package passes through Parcel Force for final delivery (as some shipping agents such as USPS do) they also add on a handling fee of £12. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobkat Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 Hi Ian... I saw the sunburst PB70US a few days ago; amongst other things, it seems that the seller is reluctant to post (I sold my car)... ... Steve, I am not dead set on a Precision, I tried a few lower tiered basses in Manchester last year and that day my long boney fingers prefered the neck profile of the Precision over the Jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Browning Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 15 minutes ago, Bobkat said: Hi Ian... I saw the sunburst PB70US a few days ago; amongst other things, it seems that the seller is reluctant to post (I sold my car)... ... Steve, I am not dead set on a Precision, I tried a few lower tiered basses in Manchester last year and that day my long boney fingers prefered the neck profile of the Precision over the Jazz. Ok. I just wanted to be sure you weren't buying one without seeing if the neck suited your hand. The US-suffixed models are better ones because they have alder bodies (not that there's anything wrong with basswood) and US spec pickups and hardware. Anther option is the Tokai Hardpuncher which is just as good as a Fender Japan. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobkat Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 These are the one's I am looking at currently...so far option 1 appeals most.. 1. https://www.ishibashi-music.jp/category/select/cid/190/pid/25771 (fret remaining 80%, 3.95kg, rw, DiMarzio pickups) 2. https://www.ishibashi-music.jp/category/select/cid/190/pid/26916 (fret remaining 60-70%, 3.75kg, rw, ? pickups) 2. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tokai-1014077-Hard-Pancher-Jazz-Bass-Type/184429548366?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225113%26meid%3D530ef5d92a164020909ec3c399e514f3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D184429548364%26itm%3D184429548366%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DTokai&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 (fret remaining ?, maple, ? pickups, no returns) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 2 for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 12 minutes ago, Bobkat said: These are the one's I am looking at currently...so far option 1 appeals most.. 1. https://www.ishibashi-music.jp/category/select/cid/190/pid/25771 (fret remaining 80%, 3.95kg, rw, DiMarzio pickups) 2. https://www.ishibashi-music.jp/category/select/cid/190/pid/26916 (fret remaining 60-70%, 3.75kg, rw, ? pickups) 2. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tokai-1014077-Hard-Pancher-Jazz-Bass-Type/184429548366?_trkparms=aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D225113%26meid%3D530ef5d92a164020909ec3c399e514f3%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D184429548364%26itm%3D184429548366%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganic%26brand%3DTokai&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851 (fret remaining ?, maple, ? pickups, no returns) Assuming you're in London, I don't understand why you want to buy from Japan, it's expensive, very slow at the moment (Covid has slowed international deliveries to a snail's pace), and if there's an issue with the bass you will not be able to recover any of the VAT/import duty, at least not without a huge amount of hassle (and the fact that some of those sellers indicate no returns would make buying a complete no-no for me, plus the frets at 60-70% given seller hyperbole......?). There are always good Precisions for sale on this site, and none would - or at least should - come with any of those problems. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrixn1 Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 If you want to buy from a store, I see they have three currently at Bass Direct: https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_Black.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_CAR.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_2_TSB.html It will arrive within a couple of days, and if you change your mind for whatever reason you can send it back within seven days for a refund. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 6 minutes ago, jrixn1 said: If you want to buy from a store, I see they have three currently at Bass Direct: https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_Black.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_CAR.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_2_TSB.html It will arrive within a couple of days, and if you change your mind for whatever reason you can send it back within seven days for a refund. Absolutely, I've bought several basses from Mark over the years and they have all been 100% as advertised, delivered quickly, and really competitively priced, by which I mean Bass Direct often sell instruments at prices that aren't much higher than you'd find in a private sale, but of course you have a whole lot more peace of mind and protection 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanA Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 17 minutes ago, jrixn1 said: If you want to buy from a store, I see they have three currently at Bass Direct: https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_Black.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_CAR.html https://bassdirect.co.uk/bass_guitar_specialists/Fender_Precision_CIJ_2_TSB.html It will arrive within a couple of days, and if you change your mind for whatever reason you can send it back within seven days for a refund. I had a play on the black one a few weeks ago and it felt quite nice... Pearl scratch plate looked good, it is certainly no minter but very decent and it felt pretty light as well... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 (As usual) I agree with both Beedster and AndyTravis To be honest I think that PB62-70 on here would be the pick of the bunch. I'm trying work out how you figure considering buying from Japan, currency transfers, shipping, VAT, Import duty, fees and the like; will be simpler than working out with a fella in Nottingham possible ways of getting a bass.... return London to Nottingham as low as £26... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobkat Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 2 minutes ago, IanA said: I had a play on the black one a few weeks ago and it felt quite nice... Pearl scratch plate looked good, it is certainly no minter but very decent and it felt pretty light as well... I'm going to have to think about all this... the initial reason for thinking about a CIJ/MIJ was that I couldn't afford a 60s Precision and that I see more rosewood and body colour options available.. yes I agree there is more risk...but the prices aren't that different really. i'm in no rush so willing to hold out for one that's to my liking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 If you’re set on getting a P bass to learn on - and has to be white / rosewood / tort - the Squier 60s Classic Vibe will be pretty much exactly the same look and feel. I’d wager if you got this you would love it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobkat Posted October 27, 2020 Author Share Posted October 27, 2020 9 minutes ago, LukeFRC said: (As usual) I agree with both Beedster and AndyTravis To be honest I think that PB62-70 on here would be the pick of the bunch. I'm trying work out how you figure considering buying from Japan, currency transfers, shipping, VAT, Import duty, fees and the like; will be simpler than working out with a fella in Nottingham possible ways of getting a bass.... return London to Nottingham as low as £ No I imagine it could easily be a PITA. Will be adding BassDirect to ever growing radar. Thanks Jedis! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 Gentlemen, many of the usual suspects are here, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that Bobkat gets the best possible bass at lowest cost and risk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted October 27, 2020 Share Posted October 27, 2020 The bass @malbass has for sale is the one. Looks great, and is in great overall shape. Every bit the part of a good looking reissue. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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