Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[FlatEric]

[quote name='megallica' timestamp='1416898196' post='2614734']
I was wondering is this a Hamer neck transplanted onto an Ibanez Studio bass?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1980s-Ibanez-Studio-ST924WN-924-Walnut-MIJ-Electric-Active-Bass-Guitar-/111516493771?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19f6e6a7cb"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item19f6e6a7cb[/url]

Quite a distinctive headstock....
[/quote]

These are great basses but this one has been mucked around with.

It's the original neck, IMO - fashioned to look like a Jaydee.

Shame but each to their own.

[Bassassin]

Odd one that. I'm inclined to think it's the original neck modified, though, if you look closely at the "V" shape, it's not perfectly symmetrical. The whole neck's been painted, including the fingerboard, and the inlays replaced with the brass ring types used on early 80s Washburns. It's still got the original brass/bone nut, tuners & trc.

Interesting, but I'd think pretty dear for a highly modded & beat-up example.

J.

Edited November 26, 2014 by Bassassin

[chaypup]

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/151489321854
Early Aria Pro II P bass. Bit grotty but could end up being a bargain especially as it's collection only.

[Annoying Twit]

<fast show voice>Nice!</fast show voice>

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-Pro-II-SB600-Matsumoko-Bass-Guitar-In-Hard-Case-/331396644434?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d28c77e52

[kodiakblair]

Couple of SGC/Nanyo on Edinburgh Gumtree.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/-sgc-nanyo-bass-collection-5-string-bass./1091595483

http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/sgc-nanyo-bass-collection-4-string-bass/1091594561

[alyctes]

Never heard of these. Kawai Sleekline, £185 BIN:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Kawai-Sleekline-bass-/161507871168?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item259a9e89c0

[Bassassin]

Very uncommon bass, there are a couple of people on here who own them, & I'm one of 'em. These are from about 1980, basically a funny-looking Jazz with a P-shaped neck. This one looks pretty scabby, all the hardware's been changed and I'd expect the electronics too. There's no real way of guaging value (mine cost £60 about 5 years ago) but I think this is a little bit optimistic!

My (reversibly hotrodded) one:

[sharedmedia=core:attachments:46249]

j.

[alyctes]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1417781137' post='2623920']
Very uncommon bass, there are a couple of people on here who own them, & I'm one of 'em. These are from about 1980, basically a funny-looking Jazz with a P-shaped neck. This one looks pretty scabby, all the hardware's been changed and I'd expect the electronics too. There's no real way of guaging value (mine cost £60 about 5 years ago) but I think this is a little bit optimistic!

My (reversibly hotrodded) one:



j.
[/quote]

Thanks Jon - a fount of interesting info as usual.

[Paul S]

Washburn Force 40 - I think these are ok aren't they? [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washburn-Force-40-bass-guitar-/321612815116?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae19e1b0c"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4ae19e1b0c[/url] currently £40

Same seller Westone fretless Thunder 1A, start at £40 [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1-A-fretless-bass-guitar-/321612782237?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae19d9a9d"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1-A-fretless-bass-guitar-/321612782237?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae19d9a9d[/url] this is the lightweight version 3. I have one of these and I think it is unbeatable value as a fretless goes - got rid of my Squier VM Jazz to keep it.

Both collection only from Witney, could end up as bargains!

Edited December 10, 2014 by Paul S

[allighatt0r]

"Matsumoku" Thunderbird anyone?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970s-Japanese-Made-MIJ-Matsumoku-Through-Neck-Thunderbird-Bass-Guitar-/291321517744

[BigRedX]

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1418213190' post='2627978']
"Matsumoku" Thunderbird anyone?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970s-Japanese-Made-MIJ-Matsumoku-Through-Neck-Thunderbird-Bass-Guitar-/291321517744"]http://www.ebay.co.u...r-/291321517744[/url]
[/quote]

IME 70s Thunderbird copies were a lot more accurate than that.

[Annoying Twit]

There are a lot of Japanese basses on t'bay at the moment. Here's a Westbury Track 4 bass.

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westbury-Track-4-Bass-1980s-vintage-classic-/331411914221?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4d29b07ded"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item4d29b07ded[/url]

Early Greco.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Greco-Bass-70s-in-good-condition-very-very-unusual-and-very-collectable-/141503193163?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20f23f604b

Edited December 10, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[Musky]

A Jazz bass of unknown heritage. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-copy-70s-Jazz-Bass/321608530854

It's got those rounded pickups that popped up on 70's japcrap, though I'd imagine they were fairly generic.

[FlatEric]

[quote name='allighatt0r' timestamp='1418213190' post='2627978']
"Matsumoku" Thunderbird anyone?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970s-Japanese-Made-MIJ-Matsumoku-Through-Neck-Thunderbird-Bass-Guitar-/291321517744"]http://www.ebay.co.u...r-/291321517744[/url]
[/quote]

Doubt this even knows where Japan is!!!!

Jon?

Cheers.

[Bassassin]

Agree with you Eric. This T-bird thing's interesting, think this was on a few months ago for a bit less money, not sure if it was the same seller. Anyway - IMO certainly not MIJ, never mind Matsumoku, I don't really understand why the average Ebay pikey inevitably concludes that anything with a through-neck is a Matsumoku.

I'm inclined to think this is a one-off, quite a lot of shonky details you wouldn't find on a production instrument - scruffy pickup routes, wonky headstock shape, reversed single-side tuners, lumpy-looking finishing where neck meets headstock. That strip of marquetry would be odd on a factory-made bass too. I suppose it's possible it might be Eastern European - finishing on things like Jolanas wasn't quite up to MIJ standard - but I doubt it. That said it's interesting & fairly inexpensive - I'm pretty sure that's a set of DiMarzio Model Js, if so, there's half of your purchase cost.

On other matters - two proper Matsumoku basses. That Westbury Track 4's a stunner, these very seldom come up & when they do, they're usually butchered or wrecked. Likewise the Washburn Force 40, I have an SB-40 which is the same bass with a 2-a-side headstock & passive electronics, again you never see these, and I can't say enough good things about them. Hope someone on BC can get a bargain - I'm not buying anything at the moment & would like to see some of you lot taking advantage of currently low JapCrap values!

J.

[Annoying Twit]

Is this CSB a refinish? I've never seen one this colour. Most of them are red or blue aren't they?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/aria-pro-bass-guitar-/131375779085?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1e969b4d0d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e969b4d0d[/url]

Like this one:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Vintage-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-Series-Bass-Guitar-CSB-380-/221629919827?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item339a2c3253"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item339a2c3253[/url]

Is this an SB-900? I spent some time learning the different SB models some time ago, but unfortunately have forgotten it all now

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-pro-II-original-custom-body-bass-guitar-/171573079513?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f28d6dd9

Edited December 11, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[razze06]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1418300885' post='2628909']
Agree with you Eric. This T-bird thing's interesting, think this was on a few months ago for a bit less money, not sure if it was the same seller. Anyway - IMO certainly not MIJ, never mind Matsumoku, I don't really understand why the average Ebay pikey inevitably concludes that anything with a through-neck is a Matsumoku.

I'm inclined to think this is a one-off, quite a lot of shonky details you wouldn't find on a production instrument - scruffy pickup routes, wonky headstock shape, reversed single-side tuners, lumpy-looking finishing where neck meets headstock. That strip of marquetry would be odd on a factory-made bass too. I suppose it's possible it might be Eastern European - finishing on things like Jolanas wasn't quite up to MIJ standard - but I doubt it. That said it's interesting & fairly inexpensive - I'm pretty sure that's a set of DiMarzio Model Js, if so, there's half of your purchase cost.

On other matters - two proper Matsumoku basses. That Westbury Track 4's a stunner, these very seldom come up & when they do, they're usually butchered or wrecked. Likewise the Washburn Force 40, I have an SB-40 which is the same bass with a 2-a-side headstock & passive electronics, again you never see these, and I can't say enough good things about them. Hope someone on BC can get a bargain - I'm not buying anything at the moment & would like to see some of you lot taking advantage of currently low JapCrap values!

J.
[/quote]

Jolana made a number of copies of gibson basses (i remember an interesting RD copy), but never seen one with DiMarzios

[Bassassin]

[quote name='razze06' timestamp='1418317781' post='2629141']
Jolana made a number of copies of gibson basses (i remember an interesting RD copy), but never seen one with DiMarzios
[/quote]
That one & the through-neck Rick copy are what I was thinking about - but you're right about the pickups, I'm pretty sure it's not a Jolana.

J.

[Musky]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1418316051' post='2629124']
Is this CSB a refinish? I've never seen one this colour. Most of them are red or blue aren't they?

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/aria-pro-bass-guitar-/131375779085?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1e969b4d0d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1e969b4d0d[/url]

Like this one:

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Vintage-Aria-Pro-II-Cardinal-Series-Bass-Guitar-CSB-380-/221629919827?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item339a2c3253"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item339a2c3253[/url]

[/quote]
That's a CSB300 and they only came in walnut. However I don't think that's walnut.

It looks like it's been stained as it's way too dull and the colour isn't right - just compare with the headstock. The CSB380 did come in red and blue (and also apparently black, which I've never seen on any 380) and they had high gloss finishes, unlike the 300 (and definitely unlike the one in the auction). His starting price would be at the top end for a CSB300, so his BIN price is definitely optimistic.

[Annoying Twit]

Thanks. I usually like oil finishes, but it doesn't look right to me on that bass. The glossy red CSB looks fantastic, IMHO.

EDIT: Fretless Westone Thunder. So many of these turning up on ebay at low starting prices just when I'd finally given in and bought a non-Japanese fretless bass.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-1-A-fretless-bass-guitar-/321612782237?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4ae19d9a9d

Edited December 11, 2014 by Annoying Twit

[Musky]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1418339362' post='2629439']
Thanks. I usually like oil finishes, but it doesn't look right to me on that bass. The glossy red CSB looks fantastic, IMHO.

[/quote]
The finish on the 380s is a bit strange, in that it seems to chip quite easily. The weird thing is that the wood seems to be stained by colour coat, if that's possible. Although you lose the lacquer the wood retains a rather powdery looking colour, and as a result still looks quite tidy. My 380 looks fairly presentable apart from the obvious chip on the upper bout - the reality is that there are lots of small circular chips all over the thing.
[attachment=178355:CSB380.png]

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1418316051' post='2629124']Is this an SB-900? I spent some time learning the different SB models some time ago, but unfortunately have forgotten it all now

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Aria-pro-II-original-custom-body-bass-guitar-/171573079513?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item27f28d6dd9"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item27f28d6dd9[/url]
[/quote]

Yup. It's a Series II from Feb 1981. The stacked pots, recessed jack & one piece cover plate give it away, not to mention the open-book headstock.

Good price at the moment, be interesting to see where it finishes. These are absolute tone monsters - by rights they ought to go for more than an SB-1000 (IMO), but thankfully they don't.

[razze06]

[quote name='Bassassin' timestamp='1418318928' post='2629163']
That one & the through-neck Rick copy are what I was thinking about - but you're right about the pickups, I'm pretty sure it's not a Jolana.

J.
[/quote]

Perhaps a late 70's/early 80's Italian copy? Factories in the centre of italy were producing pretty believable versions of various instruments, and they would have had access to DiMarzios or other similar pieces of kit. I have a spine-bendingly heavy strat copy in natural finish which looks to be finished in the same style.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='razze06' timestamp='1418379107' post='2629650']
Perhaps a late 70's/early 80's Italian copy? Factories in the centre of italy were producing pretty believable versions of various instruments, and they would have had access to DiMarzios or other similar pieces of kit. I have a spine-bendingly heavy strat copy in natural finish which looks to be finished in the same style.
[/quote]
I did wonder about that, thinking about those nice original design Eko through-necks. Still thought the finishing looked a bit too rough & ready, though. Still might be worth asking on the Fetishguitars FB page...

J.

[alyctes]

Westone Thunder 2a, not that far from me.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Westone-Thunder-2a-4-String-Bass-/291325178027?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item43d45570ab

It looks as if it's had two extra screws added to the cavity cover. I might ask for info.