Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390073014' post='2341224']
By the way - anyone here bid on this?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/34-Electric-Bass-Guitar-/201017111061"]http://www.ebay.co.u...r-/201017111061[/url]

Interesting looking thing a few miles up the road from me - my satanic punt of £66.66 was beaten by £2 - anyone on here? If so, let's see some good pics when you get it!

J.
[/quote]

What is it? The headstock looks vaguely similar to a roadstar bass, and 'Artist' has Ibanez connotations. It looks quite nice, a P J with a nice finish and some original (or copied from somewhere I'm not familiar with) touches.

Edited January 18, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[Bassassin]

I honestly don't know what it is! I've come across "Artist" as a brand, with that logo, a couple of times and in fact used a very similar "Artist" neck on my see-through boat-anchor P project:

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:71956]

To be honest this neck (which originally had a standard Fender shape headstock) wasn't particularly good and was one reason why I was a bit dubious about the quality of the Ebay bass & wasn't prepared to drop much on it. The neck on this bass looks suspiciously similar to mine apart from the headstock.

Based on the neck I had, pics of this bass and a few others I've seen, I'm inclined to think "Artist" might have been a short-lived Korean brand, maybe early/mid 80s and likely not particularly great quality. I did like the look of this (especially that edge-binding) and I was bidding on it really out of curiosity - never seen anything quite like that before and quite likely won't see another.

Anyway, saved me £60 and a trip!

J.

[randythoades]

Nice looking Aria here. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-TSB-650-Bass-Guitar-/121257151823?hash=item1c3b7d4d4f
Been looking for one of these in good condition for a few years so i may be tempted to have a punt if it stays at this level, but quite a big starting price, not worth any more than this i wouldn't say. It is a bit of a drive for me to collect though for not really a bargain.

[Bassassin]

Undisclosed reserve on that TSB so unfortunately it's not going to go for any £250. Ask him what his reserve is, for a laugh - chances are he won't tell you.

J.

[randythoades]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390128570' post='2341647']
Undisclosed reserve on that TSB so unfortunately it's not going to go for any £250. Ask him what his reserve is, for a laugh - chances are he won't tell you.

J.
[/quote]

I didn't notice that, doing it on my phone. Very true, too much for me. I am only interested out of curiosity, i prefer single pickup instruments but interested to see how the through neck has an effect on the instrument compare to a bolt on or set neck. I am really looking for the single pickup TSB 350 or 550 models which are single pickups.

[Musky]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390073014' post='2341224']
The Jedson's a Matsumoku Jazz, likely the same bass as the Aria Pro J copies of the mid/late 70s. The pickups, which are "normal" J types only with height adjusters at the ends, only seem to appear on Matsumoku Jazzes. Aside from that it's very similar to most decent quality later Jazz copies ie pretty accurate - soilid timber body, full-size tuners etc.
[/quote]

I'd assumed the Jedson couldn't have been a Mat because a has a single piece of wood making up the neck. I thought all Mats had three piece quarter sawn necks since the early sixties? Isn't that right, or were my eyes playing me up?

[Bassassin]

A lot of them do but by no means all. Japanese manufacturers started doing this when early export instruments were plagued by badly warped necks, when unseasoned timbers reacted with a change of climate. The quick solution to this was the 3-piece quarter sawn necks seen on many Mats and also on a lot of other 60s/70s MIJ instruments, including Teiscos, Fujigens & Kasugas. I guess as manufacturing became more sophisticated, better quality woods were used & it became less of a necessity - I'm sure I've read about imported maple being used for necks.

I'd say you see 3-piece necks more often on Fujigen Fender copies than Matsumoku - most of the pre-serial Ibanez & Antoria Ps & Js have them.

J.

[Musky]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390177694' post='2342403']
A lot of them do but by no means all. Japanese manufacturers started doing this when early export instruments were plagued by badly warped necks, when unseasoned timbers reacted with a change of climate. The quick solution to this was the 3-piece quarter sawn necks seen on many Mats and also on a lot of other 60s/70s MIJ instruments, including Teiscos, Fujigens & Kasugas. I guess as manufacturing became more sophisticated, better quality woods were used & it became less of a necessity - I'm sure I've read about imported maple being used for necks.

I'd say you see 3-piece necks more often on Fujigen Fender copies than Matsumoku - most of the pre-serial Ibanez & Antoria Ps & Js have them.

J.
[/quote]
Oh well, that's my one tell for a genuine Mat out the window.

I knew Mat weren't the only ones using this construction method but I was sure I'd read somewhere that all Mats had used this since the early sixties. Probably on Ebay .

[Bassassin]

Best way to spot a Mat is the "Steel Adjustable" neckplate. These disappeared on later ones (late 70s-ish) but as far as is known, no other factory used them. Helpfully, a lot of the later Matsumokus had "Product Of Matsumoku" plates - if only they'd thought of that 15 years earlier!

J.

[noelk27]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390077893' post='2341286']I'm inclined to think "Artist" might have been a short-lived Korean brand, maybe early/mid 80s and likely not particularly great quality. I did like the look of this (especially that edge-binding) and I was bidding on it really out of curiosity - never seen anything quite like that before and quite likely won't see another.[/quote]
Certainly more than a passing resemblance between the Artist model on eBay and some Samick output.

My first bass was an MIJ Columbus precision. My second was an MIJ Artist jazz. Purchased new from a music store in (I want to say) Troon (but it may have been Ayr) in (I think) '82. (If anyone remembers the music stores on the west coast of the time, it was the one where the bass department was on the first floor, with all the amps.) Lighter than the Columbus, the body was satin finished, in a mocha brown, and the neck was lightly glossed maple, with a maple touchboard and black binding/block inlays. Scratchplate was three ply, B/W/B. It was well made, and had a tight neck/body pocket. The pickups were the weak link - lacking real punch - but better than some of the other MIJ/MIK stuff of the time. Store had it priced at £125, which is what i paid (cash), but got a vinyl carry case and two sets of strings thrown in.

Edited January 22, 2014 by noelk27

[Paul S]

Anyone recognise this thing? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-guitar-made-in-Japan-/321304112158?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4acf37ac1e

Looks kind of nice. I wonder how heavy/how wide the neck is etc?

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Paul S' timestamp='1390398399' post='2344915']
Anyone recognise this thing? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bass-guitar-made-in-Japan-/321304112158?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4acf37ac1e"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4acf37ac1e[/url]

Looks kind of nice. I wonder how heavy/how wide the neck is etc?
[/quote]
Westbury Track 2, slightly modded & refinished. These are usually black with a DiMarzio pickup, they were Matsumoku-made and this one would appear to be from '81 assuming that's a known Mat serial. Tidier/more original ones don't tend to go for much more than £150 so I wouldn't drop too much on this.

Weight 4kg/8.75lbs, nut width 40mm.

Noel - do you remember if your Artist Jazz had the same logo as that Ebay thing? Really racking my brains to remember where else (and when) I've seen this brand.

J.

[Paul S]

Thanks for that Jon - I thought it looked 'familiar' but couldn't place the shape. I've asked about these before, maybe one to try if a real cheapie pops up...

[Bassassin]

Just thinking I quite like it in white - shows off the German carve much better than black. I can imagine mine in a sort of subtle pearl blue-white, with the neck stripped & lacquered and the headstock face painted to match the body... No! Stop!

J.

[noelk27]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390403197' post='2345019']Noel - do you remember if your Artist Jazz had the same logo as that Ebay thing? Really racking my brains to remember where else (and when) I've seen this brand.[/quote]
Exactly the same - including a black swoosh either side of the logo, which was in the place you'd expect to see a "Fender" logo on a 70s Jazz. Recall seeing copies of big headstock Strats in a few other stores, in both Kilmarnock and Glasgow.

[Beer of the Bass]

For forty quid with a nice ash body and a hard case, someone in Edinburgh needs to buy this: [url="http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/maya-electric-bass-guitar-fender-telecaster-bass-copy-with-hard-case/1046283537#photo-content"]http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/maya-electric-bass-guitar-fender-telecaster-bass-copy-with-hard-case/1046283537#photo-content[/url]
I don't need it myself and I'm trying not to fill the house with stuff, otherwise i'd have a punt...

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1390747814' post='2348910']
I don't need it myself and I'm trying not to fill the house with stuff
[/quote]
Likewise - but I've just sent him a message anyway...

£40? Rude not to...

J.

EDIT - Too late, its gorn.

That's the second ludicrous local Gumtree bargain I've missed in the last month or two. The previous one was more upsetting though - a Canadian Balogh Odyssey guitar for £30. Just ask Flat Eric about these...

Edited January 26, 2014 by Bassassin

[karlfer]

Was just gonna pm you this one Jon. Band always says my timing is sh*te

[Bassassin]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1390769284' post='2349343']
Was just gonna pm you this one Jon. Band always says my timing is sh*te
[/quote]
Never mind, too much firewood 'round the place anyway! Hope someone on here got it & it doesn't just pop up on FleaBay for £150.

J.

[Beer of the Bass]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1390763233' post='2349231']

That's the second ludicrous local Gumtree bargain I've missed in the last month or two. The previous one was more upsetting though - a Canadian Balogh Odyssey guitar for £30. Just ask Flat Eric about these...
[/quote]

Ah yes, I was fancying that one too. I had no idea what it was, but for £30 it would have been worth buying and then researching later! These things do always go fast though...

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Beer of the Bass' timestamp='1390814858' post='2349699']
Ah yes, I was fancying that one too. I had no idea what it was, but for £30 it would have been worth buying and then researching later! These things do always go fast though...
[/quote]
I think the sad thing about that Odyssey is that it's such an obscure instrument that chances are whoever bought it has no idea what it is, and will just treat it as a cheapsh!t beater, presumably like the seller did.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

There seem to be plenty of Cimars popping up.

[Guest]

This one's near me.
Not sure what he means by look after neck but hey, a bit rich for me.
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Cimar-Jazz-Bass-early-70er-/261365108973?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cda9310ed"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3cda9310ed[/url]

Edited January 28, 2014 by kennyrodg

[Bassassin]

[quote name='kennyrodg' timestamp='1390855808' post='2350565']
This one's near me.
Not sure what he means by look after neck but hey, a bit for me.
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Japan-Cimar-Jazz-Bass-early-70er-/261365108973?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cda9310ed"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item3cda9310ed[/url]
[/quote]
No reason to think it's a Cimar - there's nothing on the headstock. I suspect just he pulled the name Cimar out of [s]his arse[/s] thin air. I don't think this ever said Cimar on the headstock, more likely a Columbus, as they're far more common - I've had both and there are some differences, this looks more like the Columbus to me.

£300 for this is ridiculous, dunno what he means by "look after neck" but the neck does look like it's spent about a decade underwater.

J.

[chaypup]

Sexy looking Ibanez Silver Series - an hour to go!
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-IBANEZ-1977-LAWSUIT-SILVER-SERIES-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-SMOKED-NATURAL-SWAMP-ASH/181306696637?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D74%26meid%3D4434286781650943369%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1048%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D261365108973%26#ht_153wt_959"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/RARE-IBANEZ-1977-LAWSUIT-SILVER-SERIES-JAZZ-BASS-GUITAR-SMOKED-NATURAL-SWAMP-ASH/181306696637?rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222002%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D74%26meid%3D4434286781650943369%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D1048%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D261365108973%26#ht_153wt_959[/url]