Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Bassassin]

[quote name='chriswareham' timestamp='1430778573' post='2764565']
While we're on the subject of possible Mat made basses, does anyone know if these were made by them:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Bass-Guitar-Hondo-70s-80s-/121638951728"]http://www.ebay.co.u...s-/121638951728[/url]

I see them quite often, and they look like an earlier incarnation of the Westone Thunder and Aria SB style basses.
[/quote]

Some of these have turned up with "Matsumoku" stamped neckplates, so evidently they were! The design echoes several 1980-ish Mat basses, all featuring symmetrical body, bolt neck, P pickup (frequently a DiMarzio) & a 3-point bridge. Washburn Scavenger, Westbury Track 2, Vantage VS & probably a few I can't remember.

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1430760117' post='2764355']
Concerning SB-ELT and SB-R80, they are very similar looking instruments. After some googling, I think the gold truss rod cover indicates an SB-ELT, does it not?

[/quote]

Sort of. I recently acquired a Matsumoku SB Elite Black & Gold, which should have a brass trc - mine doesn't but that's another story. So after consulting [url="http://gfyfe.com/aria.htm"]Graeme Fyfe's SB page[/url] we can conclude that Matsumoku SB Elites & post-Mat SB-ELTs have gold coloured trcs, whereas SB-Rs don't. It looks like SB-Rs were just re-designated as SB Elites from about '83, and the only difference is the brass cover, then post Mat, they became SB-ELTs.

J.,

[wotsy]

There's a project bass on eBay by 'Tune Electric'
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tune-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Made-In-Japan-Project-/221762632857?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item33a2153c99

It looks the same as this 'Tune Technology Bass Maniac'
http://basschat.co.uk/topic/260285-tune-technology-bass-maniac-price-reduction-again/page__p__2767123__hl__tune__fromsearch__1#entry2767123

[Paul S]

I think these are not crap? Vantage VS600B. Not for me at the moment but should put a smile on someone's face

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vantage-Bass-Guitar-VS600B-with-Brandon-custom-case-/321757639321?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aea3ff299"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vantage-Bass-Guitar-VS600B-with-Brandon-custom-case-/321757639321?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aea3ff299[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1431892086' post='2776016']
I think these are not crap? Vantage VS600B. Not for me at the moment but should put a smile on someone's face

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vantage-Bass-Guitar-VS600B-with-Brandon-custom-case-/321757639321?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4aea3ff299"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4aea3ff299[/url]
[/quote]

Yep - very nice & not too common on this side of the pond. Pretty generic early 80s Matsumoku build - symmetrical body, 3-piece neck, 3-point bridge, 1x P pup - might even be a DiMarzio but not 100% about that.

Interesting to see what it fetches.

J.

[kodiakblair]

Well it's Jap but definitely not crap,least I hope not

I've went and bought that Bass Maniac project wotsy posted a couple of weeks back. I'd saw it but passed as I always
wanted the fretless one reviewed in Guitarist mid 80s

[attachment=192216:Tune_fretless_Bass.jpg]

I was offered one this week but the asking price was shall we say unrealistic.30 years I waited then had to say no,was gutted
Anyway there's the Maniac project and a 770mm Wenge fingerboard on it's way to me.

Will I combine the two ? Chip in with any thoughts folks.

KB

[mattyb]

Anyone any idea what this is? I'm hankering for another fretless and this looks like it could tick all the boxes if it isn't made from cardboard! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111673920625?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Grangur]

[quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431938722' post='2776280']
Anyone any idea what this is? I'm hankering for another fretless and this looks like it could tick all the boxes if it isn't made from cardboard! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111673920625?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url]
[/quote]

How about this one?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-MAB-40-Magna-Series-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-with-Carry-Bag-/361291063934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541ea0227e

[mattyb]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1431938909' post='2776285']
How about this one?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-MAB-40-Magna-Series-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-with-Carry-Bag-/361291063934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541ea0227e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item541ea0227e[/url]
[/quote]

That looks good too! Are those Aria's decent? I've never personally played one

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431938722' post='2776280']Anyone any idea what this is? I'm hankering for another fretless and this looks like it could tick all the boxes if it isn't made from cardboard! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111673920625?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url][/quote]

No idea what it is, but the body shape & the maple/walnut laminated neck scream Matsumoku around 1980-82 to me. If it is, it won't be made from cardboard, but might come in handy if you have an ocean liner that you want to keep from wandering about in a light hurricane.
This thread by our very own Bassassin may enlighten further: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/93901-through-neck-mijmik-precision-thing-1980-ish/"]http://basschat.co.u...thing-1980-ish/[/url]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1431938909' post='2776285']
How about this one?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-MAB-40-Magna-Series-Fretless-Bass-Guitar-with-Carry-Bag-/361291063934?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item541ea0227e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item541ea0227e[/url]
[/quote]
[quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431940757' post='2776315']That looks good too! Are those Aria's decent? I've never personally played one[/quote]

I used to own a 5-string Magna series & sold it on. Sound-wise it was a lovely thing - very growly - but I found it an ergonomic mess, mainly because the body has almost square edges that dug in all over the place. The neck has a scarf joint around the third fret where the headstock is grafted on & that didn't fill me with confidence either. If it had a 'proper' neck, a rounded over body & a thumb rest I may well have kept it.

Of the two, I'd go for the 'Satellite' & a wide strap. The tuners aren't original, but that's an easy fix.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='mattyb' timestamp='1431938722' post='2776280']
Anyone any idea what this is? I'm hankering for another fretless and this looks like it could tick all the boxes if it isn't made from cardboard! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111673920625?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT"]http://www.ebay.co.u...K%3AMEBIDX%3AIT[/url]
[/quote]

Yes - it is/was a Satellite [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/93901-through-neck-mijmik-precision-thing-1980-ish/"]like my old one[/url]. These are from around 1980 and are now confirmed as Korean-made, so unfortunately nothing to do with Matsumoku or any other Japanese factory.

I'd say they're OK if you get a good 'un but I wouldn't recommend buying blind, or paying much more than the £85 this one's at - quality control on cheap stuff back then was non-existent and there were a lot of total dogs. The dark stain on these can hide a multitude of cut corners - the body of mine was largely made from random offcuts with knots & holes full of filler, all hidden by the stain.

However its neck was solid & made from quality timber, but the thin wood used for the fingerboard meant it had originally had a very high action, which a previous owner had rectified by roughly routing the body under the bridge. Can't tell what the string height's like on this example but I'd want a look. They're also very heavy, mine was the wrong side of 11lbs.

On this one, someone's tried to paint the headstock to match the body, wouldn't be surprised if the logo's still under the paint. The tuners are the originals, but I have no idea why someone's turned the "G" upside-down.

J.

[wotsy]

Ibanez Blazer for £150, not bad, I've decided I really want one of these, pity I'm skint atm. I will have one eventually though.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/ibanez-blazer-electric-bass-1980s/1116912740

Edited May 19, 2015 by wotsy

[Annoying Twit]

@KB - That Bass Maniac bass looks very nice. How is it?

This mid-80s Tokai MBX45 bass is on gumtree, and is located not too many miles from me. I don't know the model, how are these? Are they Japanese made, or perhaps Korean?

http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/bass-guitar-tokai-mbx-45/1117109763

£115 doesn't sound that expensive to me. But I don't know what these are worth.

[kodiakblair]

@AT

Hopefully the Tune will arrive by the weekend. Will get it bolted together and try it out.
Really interested to see how the A/B with the Bass Collection turns out.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1432156660' post='2778783']
@KB - That Bass Maniac bass looks very nice. How is it?

This mid-80s Tokai MBX45 bass is on gumtree, and is located not too many miles from me. I don't know the model, how are these? Are they Japanese made, or perhaps Korean?

[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/bass-guitar-tokai-mbx-45/1117109763"]http://www.gumtree.c...x-45/1117109763[/url]

£115 doesn't sound that expensive to me. But I don't know what these are worth.
[/quote]

These are MIJ as far as I know. Very uncommon basses - the 2-pickup version came up on Gumtree locally about 5 years back for really, really stupid cheap money, and I tried to dig up some info. Best I could do at the time was a catalogue on Tokai Register:

[url="http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/tokai_85-86_electric_p11.jpg"]http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/tokai_85-86_electric_p11.jpg[/url]

I think the Gumtree bass is an LBX60, rather than a 32" scale MBX. Anyway £115 does seem appealingly cheap - I'd definitely go & have a look at it.

J.

[wotsy]

[quote name='kodiakblair' timestamp='1432161867' post='2778848']
@AT

Hopefully the Tune will arrive by the weekend. Will get it bolted together and try it out.
Really interested to see how the A/B with the Bass Collection turns out.
[/quote]

Another Tune Bass Maniac has cropped up on Gumtree in pink! Ebony fretboard.
http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/tune-bass-guitar-maniac-4-string/1117150144

Edited May 21, 2015 by wotsy

[alyctes]

[quote name='wotsy' timestamp='1432166547' post='2778876']
Another Tune Bass Maniac has cropped up on Gumtree in pink! Ebony fretboard.
[url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/tune-bass-guitar-maniac-4-string/1117150144"]http://www.gumtree.c...ring/1117150144[/url]
[/quote]

Oooh... skint again

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1432164127' post='2778859']
These are MIJ as far as I know. Very uncommon basses - the 2-pickup version came up on Gumtree locally about 5 years back for really, really stupid cheap money, and I tried to dig up some info. Best I could do at the time was a catalogue on Tokai Register:

[url="http://www.tokairegistry.com/images/catalogs/tokai_85-86_electric_p11.jpg"]http://www.tokairegi...lectric_p11.jpg[/url]

I think the Gumtree bass is an LBX60, rather than a 32" scale MBX. Anyway £115 does seem appealingly cheap - I'd definitely go & have a look at it.

J.
[/quote]

Thanks. I must admit that I am tempted, but my thought was how many Japanese four string fretted basses do I need? Compared to you and others, my set of two of them is a woefully small number, but my gut feeling is saying that I don't want to give up my swim technique lesson this evening to go and have a look at it. And if it's still there on Friday or the weekend... This is one of those situations where I was hoping that someone else would want it, and go and grab it, meaning that my post has contributed to the greater good of the forum. I have personal budget for spending on myself, and if I just don't spend it, it builds up. Then it might get to the point where I have enough to guilt-free buy an Ibanez artist 77 or 78 model, if one comes up at their normal prices. The price of the Tokai is probably less than a third, but more than a quarter, of what the artists used to sell for when they turned up. (Haven't seen one for yonks). I wonder if Kirby Muxloe is far enough outside Leicester that like Ibstock it appears to be a bad place to sell Japanese basses collection only (I presume that gumtree functions like eBay collection only in terms of attracting buyers).

I'm going to leave it for a few days, and might decide to see if it's still for sale when I have more time (e.g. weekend). If it sells before then, then it's gone.

Apologies for not being more enthusiastic, but I can't buy every bargain.

Edited May 21, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1432202245' post='2779063']
Apologies for not being more enthusiastic, but I can't buy every bargain.
[/quote]

I passed up the one that came up locally to me - if I remember I had a pm correspondence with Razze06 (who's just down the road form me) over who should have first dibs. I was happy to let Marco go for it, as I have a house full of crap already, but it was gone already.

I think it's quite understandable for you to hold out for an Ibby Artist - more interesting bass, plus it has personal significance for you.

J.

[Grangur]

I Just bought a Westone Thunder 1a. It's amazing.

2 days later I've found this one. I'm SO pleased I don't live near Bath. Someone buy it NOW please!

http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/bass-guitar-westone-not-used-for-a-year-natural-wood-design-one-string-loose/1115992703

[Annoying Twit]

I didn't know that there are bolt-on Westone Thunder II basses. Or black ones. But, it has got two pickups.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-II-Bass-Guitar-Matsumoku-Aria-Westone-THUNDER-2-BASS-/291477794851?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43dd6e3023"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item43dd6e3023[/url]

Edited May 29, 2015 by Annoying Twit

[Bassassin]

That's really odd - never seen one like this before.

Shame the pics show so little detail, but there apears to be no serial number & the headstock sticker looks suspiciously like it says "Made In Korea". Post-Matsumoku?

J.

[Bloodaxe]

Cardie in need of a bit of TLC:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/bass-guitar/131519712772?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3Dfe6160acb78e4a18849046242740d6cf%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D5%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D291477794851&rt=nc

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1432928268' post='2786382']
That's really odd - never seen one like this before.

Shame the pics show so little detail, but there apears to be no serial number & the headstock sticker looks suspiciously like it says "Made In Korea". Post-Matsumoku?

J.
[/quote]

This page shows a Korean bolt-neck Thunder II guitar, with three pickups! It's black and bolt-on like the bass in the ebay advertisement. Looks like your "Made in Korea" conclusion is bang on.

http://www.westone.info/thunder2.html

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1432931868' post='2786438']
This page shows a Korean bolt-neck Thunder II guitar, with three pickups! It's black and bolt-on like the bass in the ebay advertisement. Looks like your "Made in Korea" conclusion is bang on.

[url="http://www.westone.info/thunder2.html"]http://www.westone.info/thunder2.html[/url]

[/quote]

Good work! That's it, same neck with dark stringers too, don't think any Mat bolt-ons had these.

I've seen a few MIM Westone acoustics before but don't remember seeing electrics. What's interesting is that as far as I know, Westone was (initially at least) Matsumoku's own factory brand, so I wonder how come production continued at all after Mat closed.

J.

[chaypup]

Pretty sure this is a Satellite, though the bridge is the same used on Yamaki-made basses (were Satellites made there?)
2 Hours to go and £50 - might make a good doer-upper! [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-guitar/321764881514?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140122125356%26meid%3D53ad2ba3273b4427a35ac8faee3f2ae9%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D161715767861&rt=nc"]http://www.ebay.co.u...715767861&rt=nc[/url]

Edit: Brass nut, strung-through and through neck? Might make a really nice bass!

Edited June 1, 2015 by chaypup