Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='889147' date='Jul 8 2010, 12:08 AM']Just goes to show that the odd bargain still happens...

The Very Blue CSB-380 with case topped out at 65 Spons (probably due to the horrible colour) & the oddball lefty SB-600 (again with a case) fetched a mere 102 of your Earth Pounds.[/quote]

Over on some of the forums like the Westone Forums, there have been quite a few bargains recently. Someone said that a (six-string alert!) Westone Spectrum ST for £80 BIN was overpriced. It did have amazing mojo-style wear of the finish to the side of the neck though.

[Bassclef]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='885676' date='Jul 4 2010, 06:58 PM']Thanks for that - very interesting, what's the book?[/quote]

"The Complete Guitar Guide" by David Lawrenson, publ Virgin books. Well worth a read. Bought my copy in 1983 (he sighs).

Some other basses reviewed which might be suitable for this thread are

Hohner MB-010
Hondo Longhorn
Maya EB 2000
Vantage Devil
Vantage Witch
Westone Concord Bass One
Westone Thunder I
Westone Thunder II Active

G

[Mr. Foxen]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-1983-Westone-Thunder-II-Passive-Bass-Pearl-Silver-/320559190035?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aa2d11013"]Uncommon Thunder variant.[/url]

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='890042' date='Jul 9 2010, 01:28 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-1983-Westone-Thunder-II-Passive-Bass-Pearl-Silver-/320559190035?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aa2d11013"]Uncommon Thunder variant.[/url][/quote]

I just saw that, and I was thinking to myself that I was sure that the Thunder IIs I've seen on ebay before had two precision style pickups.

[Bassassin]

Here it is:

[url="http://www.westone.info/cats/83/p9.html"]http://www.westone.info/cats/83/p9.html[/url]

I remember reading that the only difference between the II & III, initially at least, was the pup arrangement. Interesting to see these have the round-end J pups common on a lot of 70s JapCraps.

J.

[Dave Vader]

I would say this was a massive bargain. Sadly I don't have £150 about me at the minute, enjoy
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150465304122&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

79 Roadster, or so it says.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Dave Vader' post='890644' date='Jul 9 2010, 05:57 PM']I would say this was a massive bargain. Sadly I don't have £150 about me at the minute, enjoy
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150465304122&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

79 Roadster, or so it says.[/quote]

Is a bargain, was more so before he came & researched it here!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93928"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93928[/url]

J.

[Annoying Twit]

Roadster sold!

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='890715' date='Jul 9 2010, 07:26 PM']Is a bargain, was more so before he came & researched it here!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93928"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=93928[/url]

J.[/quote]

Damn you helpful people, should have told him it was firewood, and offered to take it off his hands for the price of a pint.

[Annoying Twit]

Is this Squier really worth £949?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-Fender-Squier-JV-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-made-Japan-/260630459896?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3caec935f8"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-Fender-Squier-J...=item3caec935f8[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='892207' date='Jul 11 2010, 07:46 PM']Is this Squier really worth £949?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-Fender-Squier-JV-Jazz-Bass-Guitar-made-Japan-/260630459896?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3caec935f8"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-Fender-Squier-J...=item3caec935f8[/url][/quote]
Depends how you define "worth". I don't imagine anyone's going to pay that much (and obviously he doesn't expect it as he's taking offers!) but JV Squiers are collectable & that's what defines what they're worth. Quality-wise they're no better or worse than any other 80s Fujigen-built Fender/Squier.

As far as a realistic price is concerned, it's all comparative and JV Jazzes don't turn up enough for me to have much of an idea, but I'd probably guess £600-odd might be ballpark for a decent one. This one does look like it's in fine condition but nearly a grand's pretty demented, considering it's not even an early "big Fender" logo one.

[LukeFRC]

Yeah it's a pretty late one by the look of it. So no i doubt it's worth that much. Having said that I would quite like it! A local music shop it trying to sell a E series Jap Squier jazz for £450 or something so maybe they jap squier jazzes do sell for a lot?

[LukeFRC]

oh and there is [url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/84/62043084.html"]this precision copy on the edinburgh gumtree[/url] at the moment for £15

[Bassassin]

[quote name='LukeFRC' post='893337' date='Jul 13 2010, 12:17 AM']oh and there is [url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/84/62043084.html"]this precision copy on the edinburgh gumtree[/url] at the moment for £15[/quote]
I saw that earlier, almost had a knee jerk reaction to just buy it & ask questions later. Almost.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

Thanks everybody for the JPN Squier info.

BTW: This, is Korean (I think). I hadn't seen this model before. I'd previously wondered why, when Matsumoku closed down, they didn't just move the popular models elsewhere. Seems that they did. Are these really humbucker pickups? They seem a bit narror. Otherwise, does this make the good poor man's SB, erm, SB600? that it looks like? Or, with an original price of £600, is it not exactly "poor man's"?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-SB-505-Bass-Guitar-/220633178342?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item335ec320e6"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-SB-505-Bass-Gui...=item335ec320e6[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='893449' date='Jul 13 2010, 09:27 AM']Thanks everybody for the JPN Squier info.

BTW: This, is Korean (I think). I hadn't seen this model before. I'd previously wondered why, when Matsumoku closed down, they didn't just move the popular models elsewhere. Seems that they did. Are these really humbucker pickups? They seem a bit narror. Otherwise, does this make the good poor man's SB, erm, SB600? that it looks like? Or, with an original price of £600, is it not exactly "poor man's"?

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-SB-505-Bass-Guitar-/220633178342?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item335ec320e6"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-SB-505-Bass-Gui...=item335ec320e6[/url][/quote]
These were quite recent sort-of reissues, I think in the last 10 years or so. I remember trying one in a local shop, very nicely put together like most modern Arias, but an awful setup. Nothing you couldn't sort out in half an hour, but it wouldn't exactly have sold the bass to Joe Punter. I think a few BCers have had these, I've seen a couple come up for sale on here.

Regarding Aria production, Matsumoku was the main factory used by Shiro Arai Co but they did use others, and it's not clear whether Matsumoku ceased guitar production as a result of losing its main contracts with the likes of Arai Co, but it would seem likely. Around the mid-80s, there is some crossover between MIJ & MIK Arias, and the general rule is that if there's no country of manufacture stated, then they're Korean.

J.

[tauzero]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='893357' date='Jul 13 2010, 01:30 AM']I saw that earlier, almost had a knee jerk reaction to just buy it & ask questions later. Almost. [/quote]
Gone now, did you succumb?

[Bassassin]

[quote name='tauzero' post='894667' date='Jul 14 2010, 01:19 PM']Gone now, did you succumb? [/quote]
Not me, squire. Luke?

J.

[LukeFRC]

nope, there's something else on there seriously tempting me though.....


it was the ply body that put me off, if it was a half decent bit of wood then maybe worth to mod but nahhh....

[Annoying Twit]

70s Antoria. Was a bit tempted but my gear buying budget has been going on catch-up items such as a hard case and a professional setup.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antoria-Soundmaster-semi-acoustic-bass-1970s-/200496391537?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eae842571"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antoria-Soundmaster-...=item2eae842571[/url]

[waynepunkdude]

That's a nice bass.

[Annoying Twit]

The seller of this says s/he was told that this is Japanese.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-precision-good-copy-Japanese-/330451608720?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cf0736490"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-precision-goo...=item4cf0736490[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='895945' date='Jul 15 2010, 08:27 PM']The seller of this says s/he was told that this is Japanese.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-precision-good-copy-Japanese-/330451608720?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cf0736490"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-precision-goo...=item4cf0736490[/url][/quote]This is pretty much a new bass, still has the plastic on the scratchplate, and regrettably Japan stopped producing budget no-name Fender clones some 33 years ago. So unless it gets delivered in a DeLorean, I call bullsh!t on that one.

The BIN on that "Antoria"'s probably a bit much for a refin with non-original parts. Oh, and nothing to confirm the suggestion it's an Antoria in the first place.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='896112' date='Jul 15 2010, 11:31 PM']The BIN on that "Antoria"'s probably a bit much for a refin with non-original parts. Oh, and nothing to confirm the suggestion it's an Antoria in the first place. [/quote]

After I posted here, I did peer closely at the headstock and noticed the lack of brand name on the headstock. It often happens that I'm initially over-optimistic about ebay listings, and it takes a bit of time for a healthy dose of cynicism to catch up.

[pete.young]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='895914' date='Jul 15 2010, 07:59 PM']70s Antoria. Was a bit tempted but my gear buying budget has been going on catch-up items such as a hard case and a professional setup.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antoria-Soundmaster-semi-acoustic-bass-1970s-/200496391537?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eae842571"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Antoria-Soundmaster-...=item2eae842571[/url][/quote]

Seller is Jacqui Smith. You don't think .... ?

Maybe offer to trade a few porn DVDs! Her old man might have a use for them :-)

Edited July 15, 2010 by pete.young