Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Bassassin]

A thread to try & keep all those vintage Japanese & other Far Eastern copies, originals & oddities in the one place - post those Avons, Columbuses, Antorias, Satellites, Kays, Eroses & any other disreputable planks you may come across - and the good ones too - here.

Just to get things started, a few Jazz copies-

A Maya:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230185659529

Two Columbuses (Columbii?):
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190167175500
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=180172916580

And a couple of EB-0 alikes:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Columbus-SG-Bass-Gui...emZ300163665084
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AVON-ROSE-MORRIS-VIN...emZ280166034673

2 P's:

Kay:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150175378140

Avon:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/AVON-Electric-4-Stri...emZ140171386040

Kawai Aquarius:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320173904915

A Mosrite-ish thing - a MosWrong, perhaps:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320172295256

And an Ibanez twin-neck (well, half of it's a bass )
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270178838061


And there's plenty more out there...


Jon.

Edited July 16, 2019 by Bassassin
Political Correctess Gone Maaaaad!

[nick]

Top idea, though not good for my wallet!
Watching a few of those myself

[Musky]

[quote name='nick' post='80124' date='Oct 27 2007, 02:13 PM']Top idea, though not good for my wallet!
Watching a few of those myself[/quote]

If you were thinking about the Kay P bass or the Avon SG, I'd seriously reconsider. Both were very lowly instruments that beginners were very happy to move on from.

[nick]

[quote name='Musky' post='80166' date='Oct 27 2007, 04:35 PM']If you were thinking about the Kay P bass or the Avon SG, I'd seriously reconsider. Both were very lowly instruments that beginners were very happy to move on from.[/quote]

I agree with you on these brands, Kay especially. However, most Maya whilst not being in the same league as Tokai/Greco etc (IMHO) are still worth considering, as are Kawai.

[kevbass]

I wouldnt touch the one with the bent neck and the duff pickup

[Bassassin]

[quote name='kevbass' post='80215' date='Oct 27 2007, 07:37 PM']I wouldnt touch the one with the bent neck and the duff pickup[/quote]

Neither would I with bidding starting at £50. However I'd happily pay a project price for (ie less than £50!) for something that might simply need the truss rod adjusting and a couple of leads re-soldering.

J.

[Bassassin]

Update-me-do:

An '81 Ibby Blazer, hideously overpriced, less desirable later version, terrible pics but I thought I'd post it anyway:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290173566279"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290173566279[/url]

Columbus Precision copy - quite pretty & fairly uncommon - you see lots of Jazzes but not too many P's. Undisclosed reserve & piss-ripping postage, though. And rust & fret buzz, apparently.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170163173144"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170163173144[/url]

'83 Ibanez Roadstar II - bottom of the range P-clone version, pretty much identical to the Blazer apart from the 2-a-side headstock. Crazy postage, but fair enough start price if it doesn't get many bids.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320176177372"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320176177372[/url]

Aria Pro Cardinal, 1981. Very pretty blue!
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230181443141"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230181443141[/url]

And that's it.

J.

[Bloodaxe]

A rare bird - Aria's version of the Steinberger [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Headless-Bass-Black-with-Hard-Case_W0QQitemZ260174464491QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]The Wedge[/url]

[King Tut]

Anybody heard of an 'Asama'? There's one in my local crack converters - original body shape - looks like mahogany, and a P pckup with maple board - The neck is a bit bowed - but should tweak out OK - very unique looking bass! Tempted!

[ahpook]

hmmm...that's interesting.

i bought a bashed up jazz bass a while back with the intention of stripping it and doing it up (not got too far on that....but that's another story...) and i reckon it must be a maya looking at the pics above.

it was painted really badly with house paint, so the logo wasn't visible.


nice to know what it is though...

[Bassassin]

[quote name='King Tut' post='82023' date='Nov 1 2007, 12:37 AM']Anybody heard of an 'Asama'? There's one in my local crack converters - original body shape - looks like mahogany, and a P pckup with maple board - The neck is a bit bowed - but should tweak out OK - very unique looking bass! Tempted![/quote]

Asama are best-known for their range of guitars & basses with built-in effects & electronics - I remember seeing an Asama Jazz like this on German Ebay, and a Google image search turns up effects-laden LP & Strat copies.

The [i]Blue Book[/i] says this:

[quote]Instruments previously built in Japan during the early 1980s. Guitars with this trademark are generally medium to good quality copies of American design as well as some original designs.[/quote]

Anyway, the Crack Converters bass certainly sounds interesting - how much are they asking? Do you think they'd break your legs if you went back with a camera & got a picture?

J.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='81991' date='Oct 31 2007, 10:43 PM']A rare bird - Aria's version of the Steinberger [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Headless-Bass-Black-with-Hard-Case_W0QQitemZ260174464491QQihZ016QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]The Wedge[/url][/quote]
I have never seen one of those before, outside of a catalogue! That's bizarre - and somehow very, very wrong.

Wish I could afford it.

J.

[pete.young]

Hey Jon,

What do you make of this: Grantson (Maya) EBO ??

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-SG-bass-copy-70s-vintage-Japan-MIJ_W0QQitemZ120176176731QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-S...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[beerdragon]

[quote name='pete.young' post='83125' date='Nov 3 2007, 01:20 PM']Hey Jon,

What do you make of this: Grantson (Maya) EBO ??

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-SG-bass-copy-70s-vintage-Japan-MIJ_W0QQitemZ120176176731QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-S...1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-S...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/url][/quote]

I'm bidding on this, it took my fancy. i'm not sure how much it will go for though.

[pete.young]

[quote name='beerdragon' post='83150' date='Nov 3 2007, 02:34 PM']I'm bidding on this, it took my fancy. i'm not sure how much it will go for though.[/quote]

Good luck with your bid - I'm not your competition, I just thought it was unusual enough to be of interest to the japcrappers here!

[andy67]

the ibanez blazer is superb....i miss mine sooo much, best pbass I have ever owned!!

[The Burpster]

[quote name='andy67' post='83456' date='Nov 4 2007, 11:38 AM']the ibanez blazer is superb....i miss mine sooo much, best pbass I have ever owned!![/quote]


Indeed it is, that example above is a pig, and very overpriced! But if you get a nice one (which I have) then I agree with you... a wonderful P....

[King Tut]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='82129' date='Nov 1 2007, 10:24 AM']Asama are best-known for their range of guitars & basses with built-in effects & electronics - I remember seeing an Asama Jazz like this on German Ebay, and a Google image search turns up effects-laden LP & Strat copies.

The [i]Blue Book[/i] says this:



Anyway, the Crack Converters bass certainly sounds interesting - how much are they asking? Do you think they'd break your legs if you went back with a camera & got a picture?

J.[/quote]

I think it's going for about £80 which is maybe a bit steep. it's been in a couple of months now though, so I might see if they'll drop the price a bit - think I'll give it a go!

[Bassassin]

[quote name='pete.young' post='83125' date='Nov 3 2007, 01:20 PM']Hey Jon,

What do you make of this: Grantson (Maya) EBO ??

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-SG-bass-copy-70s-vintage-Japan-MIJ_W0QQitemZ120176176731QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-S...1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Grantson-Maya-EB-0-S...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/url][/quote]

Sorry about the late reply - been down to Brum for Music Live.

Suffice to say I believe every word the seller said about that one.



J.

[Bassassin]

Anyway - moving swiftly along....

Early 80s Washburn Force 42 headless/fretless, very unusual natural finish - they're usually black, covering up the trademark Matsumoku neck through & all that [i]wood[/i]. Gorgeous or what? Also, not attracting much attention, so some lucky barsteward might get it for a ton:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=250182363856"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=250182363856[/url]

Nice looking sunburst JapCrappy P copy, I'd say unbranded, with a sticker someone's stuck on the headstock. Upside down.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=200169233127"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=200169233127[/url]

Similarly tidy-looking natural P, little to go on, and the seller says "i no nothink about guitars" Is he from Barthelona?
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220167234021"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220167234021[/url]

And an Antoria Jazz. Some of you may know that 70s Antorias were exactly the same - down to the model number - as the equivalent Ibanezes of the era. This is a 2376, likely from around 1975, missing its ashtrays & thumbrest, but otherwise looks fine. High start price (£100) is putting off early bids, but it's easily worth that, so well worth a look.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220167018638"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220167018638[/url]


J.

[King Tut]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='82129' date='Nov 1 2007, 10:24 AM']Asama are best-known for their range of guitars & basses with built-in effects & electronics - I remember seeing an Asama Jazz like this on German Ebay, and a Google image search turns up effects-laden LP & Strat copies.

The [i]Blue Book[/i] says this:



Anyway, the Crack Converters bass certainly sounds interesting - how much are they asking? Do you think they'd break your legs if you went back with a camera & got a picture?

J.[/quote]

OK - I've bought it for £65. It's Mahogany, maybe 3 pieces. I've got most of the bow out of the neck and set it up and it's.................pretty darn good. I'm working nights at the mo, so I'm a bit knackered, but as soon as i get time I'll get some pics and maybe a soundclip up.

[paul, the]

There's a couple of 'Fenix' basses for sale near me.

Any experience anyone?

[Bassassin]

[quote name='paul, the' post='84676' date='Nov 6 2007, 11:21 PM']There's a couple of 'Fenix' basses for sale near me.

Any experience anyone?[/quote]
No personal experience, but they have a good reputation. The Fenix brand was built by Young Chang in Korea, alongside some very similar Squiers they were building for Fender. Understandably, Fender got a bit pissed by this & shut down the Fenix brand, which I guess makes them latter day "lawsuit" instruments. As a result, they can fetch some not bad prices on Ebay, and by all accounts are pretty decent instruments.

Edit: A couple of Fenixes on t'Bay at the mo:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fenix-Precision-Style-Bass-Guitar-Maple-Neck_W0QQitemZ180175371966"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fenix-Precision-Styl...emZ180175371966[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fenix-bass-jazz-copy_W0QQitemZ140176464179QQihZ004"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/fenix-bass-jazz-copy...6464179QQihZ004[/url]


King Tut - sounds like a good score on the Asama (which according to one website, means "Fat Bottom" in Japanese! ) & looking forward to seeing some pics.

J.

Edited November 7, 2007 by Bassassin

[doctor_of_the_bass]

Allo!

Just won the wonderful Washburn Force 42 fretless (as noted in this thrread) on Ebay - checked thru some old mags and its the actual bass that Guitarist Mag reviewed back in November '85 (ended up winning it for £170 - orginally retailed at £699) - I recently picked a white fretted version up too!

Cheers

Nick

[paul, the]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='84792' date='Nov 7 2007, 10:14 AM']No personal experience, but they have a good reputation. The Fenix brand was built by Young Chang in Korea, alongside some very similar Squiers they were building for Fender. Understandably, Fender got a bit pissed by this & shut down the Fenix brand, which I guess makes them latter day "lawsuit" instruments. As a result, they can fetch some not bad prices on Ebay, and by all accounts are pretty decent instruments.

J.[/quote]

Great response, Jon. Thanks for the info.

Edited November 7, 2007 by paul, the