Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBANEZ-BLAZER-SERIES-CUSTOM-FRETLESS-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ150321946839QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150321946839&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]fretless blazer[/url]

Wooulda had this if it had frets and I had a job.

Edited January 19, 2009 by Mr. Foxen

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='384631' date='Jan 19 2009, 02:36 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IBANEZ-BLAZER-SERIES-CUSTOM-FRETLESS-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ150321946839QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item150321946839&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]fretless blazer[/url]

Wooulda had this if it had frets and I had a job.[/quote]
Woulda had that if I'd seen it in time!

£80 BIN for an Ibby Blazer? Madness.

J.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Columbus-Bass-Guitar-in-velvet-hardcase_W0QQitemZ110340645432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110340645432&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Pricey looking Columbus[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='386584' date='Jan 20 2009, 07:19 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Columbus-Bass-Guitar-in-velvet-hardcase_W0QQitemZ110340645432QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110340645432&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Pricey looking Columbus[/url][/quote]
"Brand new", too. DeLorean?

As far as Columbuses go, this less-plywood, maple boarded & less expensive example looks much better:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130281767884"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130281767884[/url]

It's not [i]new[/i], though.

J.

[Musky]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='387056' date='Jan 21 2009, 12:48 AM']"Brand new", too. DeLorean?

As far as Columbuses go, this less-plywood, maple boarded & less expensive example looks much better:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130281767884"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130281767884[/url]

It's not [i]new[/i], though.

J.[/quote]

I'm not sure if that ad was just badly writen or very cleverly worded. I think he's talking about the case being brand new.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Musky' post='387206' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:55 AM']I'm not sure if that ad was just badly writen or very cleverly worded. I think he's talking about the case being brand new. [/quote]

Well, the exact text of the ad is this:
[quote]columbas base guitar brand new in velvet hard case never used[/quote]
And I'm struggling to see anything I'd describe as "clever" there - is it just too sophisticated for my walnut of a brain?

J

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Spectrum-DX-bass-an-80s-Japanese-rarity_W0QQitemZ120367090750QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item120367090750&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Westone Spectrum[/url]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Matsumoku-MIJ-Through-Neck-TSB-660-Bass1981-Japan_W0QQitemZ160311399389QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item160311399389&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Expensive Aria[/url]

[Happy Jack]

Kinell ... I thought the RickenFakers were getting a bit pricey until I saw this:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Greco-Pre-1976-Precision-Bass-Fujigen-Vintage-MIJ_W0QQitemZ250361229594QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250361229594&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Greco-Pre-1976-Preci...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url]

Did somebody mention a Credit Crunch? Maybe something about a recession?

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='388008' date='Jan 21 2009, 09:53 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Matsumoku-MIJ-Through-Neck-TSB-660-Bass1981-Japan_W0QQitemZ160311399389QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item160311399389&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Expensive Aria[/url][/quote]

That's lexlutheir again. He had a TSB550 up last week at a similar price. It failed to get any bids, and hasn't yet been re-listed.

It has to be said that he has some BLOODY nice basses, mind.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='388050' date='Jan 21 2009, 10:38 PM']Kinell ... I thought the RickenFakers were getting a bit pricey until I saw this:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Greco-Pre-1976-Precision-Bass-Fujigen-Vintage-MIJ_W0QQitemZ250361229594QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250361229594&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Greco-Pre-1976-Preci...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url]

Did somebody mention a Credit Crunch? Maybe something about a recession?[/quote]
This one's up there with the dodgy vintage "Fenders". Everything about this is wrong.

I will need to check my facts but the early style "Gneco" logo he mentions disappeared around 1973/74, not 76, like he says. This would make this a very early 70s Greco, if it were authentic. However, this bass looks to me like a parts-box special with a home-made transfer, the only things that I'd be confident in saying look correct for the description are the control knobs!

The body & neck do not appear to share the same mother - this body looks identical to the slab sarnie straight-grain things those old Kays had, like this old one of mine:

[attachment=19057:psandwich.jpg]

These were Taiwanese - whereas Grecos were built by Fujigen & Matsumoku at that point. Speaking of which, apart from the fact the neck looks about 20 years younger than the body, early 70s Grecos were not "replica" level copies and shared many of the same eccentricities as other JapCrap. So I'd expect to see a 3-piece neck, Gibson style nut & head-end truss adjustment under either a large chrome, or small white plastic cover.

It's also interesting that this bass has a bridge cover - but the scratchplate isn't even drilled for a pup ashtray or thumbrest. Early 70s JapCrap came with the full kit.

I could go on but I suspect you get the picture. Not that anyone in their right mind should be considering spending that sort of money on an old P copy, anyway.

J.

[Musky]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='387589' date='Jan 21 2009, 03:03 PM']Well, the exact text of the ad is this:

And I'm struggling to see anything I'd describe as "clever" there - is it just too sophisticated for my walnut of a brain?

J[/quote]

I think it's my walnut sized brain Jon.

I thought I remembered it as having the 'brand new' bit at the end.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Grantson-electric-bass-guitar-made-in-japan_W0QQitemZ250361836880QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250361836880&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Grantson[/url]

Doesn't say 'Lawsuit' and looking at the headstock, I think it could legitemately do so. Might bid a tenner just so they can't change it.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='389765' date='Jan 23 2009, 04:32 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Grantson-electric-bass-guitar-made-in-japan_W0QQitemZ250361836880QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item250361836880&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Grantson[/url]

Doesn't say 'Lawsuit' and looking at the headstock, I think it could legitemately do so. Might bid a tenner just so they can't change it.[/quote]
That's kinda cool in a retro-minimalist sort of way. I had a Grantson EB-0 copy a while back, a little more accurate than that one:

[attachment=19115:fronts.jpg]

Looked the part but it was a pretty generic ply-body cheapo, in reality. I'd expect the same of this one.

J.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Thunder-III-bass-classic-hard-case_W0QQitemZ290291355075QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item290291355075&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Thunder III[/url]

Not seeing these come up so often.

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-70s-Made-in-Japan-Rare-vintage_W0QQitemZ260352436336QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item260352436336&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]looks bit suck[/url]

[Musky]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Pearl-vintage-Bass-Guitar_W0QQitemZ330303317411"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Pearl-vintage-B...emZ330303317411[/url]

It's a Pearl, but is it Japanese or Taiwanese? Jon?

[Bassassin]

I've only ever seen JapCrap Pearls, some of which have been identifiable as Matsumoku. But that's not to say they weren't made elsewhere. Obviously there's not a lot you can tell from one indistinct pic of the front.

Anyhoo, I've asked him his reserve, no response as yet but I'll keep everyone posted...

J.

[nick]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='391354' date='Jan 26 2009, 12:07 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-70s-Made-in-Japan-Rare-vintage_W0QQitemZ260352436336QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item260352436336&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]looks bit suck[/url][/quote]

No...I had one of these. Should have kept it. They seem to be cropping up on Ebay quite a lot lately.
Good 'fun' short-scale basses, they're alright - if cheap!

[Kev]

il be watching this one very closely, never seen one before: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300289237138&_trksid=p2759.l1259"]Headless Westone[/url]

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-UNBRANDED-NOT-WORKING_W0QQitemZ110343223865QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110343223865&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Not sure its jap, guess the other part is lively.[/url]

Something familiar about it.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Kev' post='392243' date='Jan 26 2009, 10:54 PM']il be watching this one very closely, never seen one before: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300289237138&_trksid=p2759.l1259"]Headless Westone[/url][/quote]
There was somebody on here selling one last week, less red, more fingermarks:

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38827"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=38827[/url]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='392301' date='Jan 26 2009, 11:42 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-STRING-ELECTRIC-BASS-GUITAR-UNBRANDED-NOT-WORKING_W0QQitemZ110343223865QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item110343223865&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]Not sure its jap, guess the other part is lively.[/url]

Something familiar about it.[/quote]
I think it's JapCrap, there were some Mosrite-ish (or MosWrong, in this case?) Teiscos a lot like that.. Shame he won't post, I quite like it.

J.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='392326' date='Jan 27 2009, 12:17 AM']I think it's JapCrap, there were some Mosrite-ish (or MosWrong, in this case?) Teiscos a lot like that.. Shame he won't post, I quite like it.

J.[/quote]

By not posting it he's doing everyone a favour. Someone at my school had one of these any I used to borrow it before it got a bass of my own. Nasty in every way imaginable. Neck like a banana with unplayable action above the 7th fret. Tone a dull thud that lasted about a microsecond. It was crap when it was almost new back in the 70s and I can't imagine the years have been kind to it. Avoid unless you want to buy it to destroy it.

[Musky]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='392032' date='Jan 26 2009, 07:18 PM']I've only ever seen JapCrap Pearls, some of which have been identifiable as Matsumoku. But that's not to say they weren't made elsewhere. Obviously there's not a lot you can tell from one indistinct pic of the front.

Anyhoo, I've asked him his reserve, no response as yet but I'll keep everyone posted...

J.[/quote]

I was just going by [url="http://www.tokaiforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=2756&start=0"]this post[/url] really Jon. It's not a great photo, but I might have expected to see some sign of a 3 piece neck on there with a Mat.

Edited January 27, 2009 by Musky

[Adee]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='391354' date='Jan 26 2009, 12:07 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bass-Guitar-70s-Made-in-Japan-Rare-vintage_W0QQitemZ260352436336QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item260352436336&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A10|39%3A1|240%3A1318"]looks bit suck[/url][/quote]

Thats MY bit of suck ! (Also got a Maya 'Lawsuit' Les Paul Guitar on there too)
Got them for nowt and they've sat in the spare room for ages
Might get me a few bob and the bass has got a hard case too . . . Oooh errr missus

Edited January 28, 2009 by Adee

[Happy Jack]

I didn't know Shaftesbury basses were "Made In Britain".

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-COLLECTABLE-SHAFTESBURY-NED-CALLAN-BASS-GUITAR_W0QQitemZ260351430011QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item260351430011&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RARE-COLLECTABLE-SHA...A1%7C240%3A1318[/url]