Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[nick]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='203368' date='May 20 2008, 11:35 PM']Aaaargh!

When I posted, it had a BiN of just £120! I hoped someone here would snap it up ...[/quote]

It's back on, for some reason(?!)
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Commodore-Semi-Acoustic-Bass-Guitar-MIJ-Vintage-60s-70s_W0QQitemZ140234671202QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Commodore-Semi-Acous...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='nick' post='205230' date='May 23 2008, 08:45 PM']It's back on, for some reason(?!)
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Commodore-Semi-Acoustic-Bass-Guitar-MIJ-Vintage-60s-70s_W0QQitemZ140234671202QQihZ004QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Commodore-Semi-Acous...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote]

It's the same listing - I've been noticing quite a few appearing as newly listed when the've been up for a few days already - no idea why.

Anyway this bass - and the seller - should be starting to look familiar:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110249724859"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110249724859[/url]

At least when I do that I have the decency to wait until the old listing's expired - and fix anything wrong with the instrument!

J.

[Bassassin]

A Westone frenzy going on at the moment:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220237999474"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220237999474[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190224255310"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190224255310[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220238644021"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220238644021[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290233216571"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290233216571[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280229650821"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280229650821[/url]

Plus a Washburn Bantam headless:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=260243882234"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=260243882234[/url]

Plus a couple of Aria left-hookers, a Laser (seller seems confused about the difference between right & left!):
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320253823443"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=320253823443[/url]

And a TSB Standard:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290231812474"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=290231812474[/url]

J.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='205769' date='May 24 2008, 11:49 PM']A Westone frenzy going on at the moment:[/quote]
Missed this one!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTONE-THUNDER-III-ACTIVE-BASS-BLACK_W0QQitemZ280228946790"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTONE-THUNDER-III-...emZ280228946790[/url]

J.

[budget bassist]

someone got a good deal on [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230254081933&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013"]this[/url]!

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='budget bassist' post='205968' date='May 25 2008, 02:10 PM']someone got a good deal on [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230254081933&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=013"]this[/url]![/quote]
Woah, scoop!

[Musky]

I'd say it went for about what it's worth. It doesn't appear to be Matsumoku (no 3 piece neck and no mention of Mat or Japan on the plate) so it'll be a Korean model.

Matsumoku made Aria Cats sell for under £50 fairly regularly and rarely make over £70, to put it in some perspective.

[thedarxide]

Westbury Track 2, a very nice one:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-80s-Westbury-TRACK-2-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-JAPAN_W0QQitemZ120265745440QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-80s-Westbury-TR...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[thedarxide]

Was going to keep this to myself, but I missed the refret the first time I read it

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jazz-copy-bass-Japan-vintage-70s-Maya-Cimar-Columbus_W0QQitemZ120265872960QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jazz-copy-bass-Japan...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[thedarxide]

Westone Spectrum

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/westone-spectrum-gt-bass-1986_W0QQitemZ230256298000QQihZ013QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/westone-spectrum-gt-...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='thedarxide' post='207540' date='May 27 2008, 08:19 PM']Was going to keep this to myself, but I missed the refret the first time I read it

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jazz-copy-bass-Japan-vintage-70s-Maya-Cimar-Columbus_W0QQitemZ120265872960QQihZ002QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Jazz-copy-bass-Japan...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url][/quote]

That's mine. A real pity about the frets, because it's a lovely-looking & decent-sounding thing otherwise.

And no - I [i]didn't[/i] do the refret!

Jon.

Edited May 27, 2008 by Bassassin

[stewblack]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='207679' date='May 27 2008, 10:51 PM']That's mine. A real pity about the frets, because it's a lovely-looking & decent-sounding thing otherwise.

And no - I [i]didn't[/i] do the refret!

Jon.[/quote]
The frets are put in ok though? Just need dressing, or is there a problem with how they sit in the neck?

Edited May 28, 2008 by stewblack

[allighatt0r]

A short scale Teisco jazz/p hybrid: (me like.)
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150252223299"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=150252223299[/url]

Another tiny bass, this time a satellite:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120264189883"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120264189883[/url]

A les paul sort of Kay:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330239158792"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=330239158792[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='stewblack' post='207830' date='May 28 2008, 09:45 AM']The frets are put in ok though? Just need dressing, or is there a problem with how they sit in the neck?[/quote]

It looks like a fairly tidy job to me - the wood's fine, some of the fret ends are a bit ragged & some frets are very slightly too short. They all seem to be seated OK - maybe a couple are a bit proud.

I will admit to being slightly out of my depth here - I'm fine doing setups & adjustments when there aren't any actual problems (or they are slight, bodge-able ones!) but I have zero experience with jobs like re-fretting & dressing.

J.

[allighatt0r]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270239659653"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270239659653[/url]

I really like that, can i ask you what you think of that please Jon?

Is it worth a pop at? i think i would be prepared to stretch to about £75-80

How serious is that body split? would it affect the sound?

EDIT: It looks like the first fret is missing...

Edited May 30, 2008 by allighatt0r

[Musky]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='209663' date='May 30 2008, 02:56 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270239659653"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270239659653[/url]

I really like that, can i ask you what you think of that please Jon?

Is it worth a pop at? i think i would be prepared to stretch to about £75-80

How serious is that body split? would it affect the sound?

EDIT: It looks like the first fret is missing... [/quote]

Judging by the way the forearm and rib contours are painted in I'd bet the body is plywood as well.

[Bassassin]

I wouldn't go that high for it. Don't know where he's getting the Teisco thing from - it ain't one, & if I know my JapCrap, the neck, at least, isn't even Japanese!

The neck's from a Kay P copy, it's made from a weird sort of ply that's sometimes called "strip mahogany" by Japcrap geeks. These old Kay P's are thought to be Taiwanese, from the early 70s. I had one of these, the neck was very hefty, & the fret job wasn't great. Not the worst thing I've played, though.

I don't know if the body's from the same bass originally - I've never seen one of these with that sort of pickup, although these appear often on early JapCrap basses, from Precisions to Rickenfakers. Btw despite the double row of pole pieces, these pups are actually single-coil.

The body's probably ply (although I do have a "proper" wood JapCrap P with the same finish) and I really don't like the look of that split. If it is properly fixed though (which the seller reckons it is) it shouldn't be a worry or affect the sound. If you're not bothered, it'll certainly help keep the price down.

And speaking of price (and taking postage into account) I personally wouldn't pay more than £35 - £40 for it - you'll get a way better vintage JapCrap/KoreaDiarrhoea P than that for your £80.

Jon.

[Bassassin]

Been a bit quiet in JapCrapLand for a week or two - but now we have a whole bunch of mostly 70s Fender copies. A couple of folk have been asking after Precisions, so there might be something of interest.

The P's:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130227711784"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130227711784[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230258498618"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=230258498618[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-bass-copy-by-Aria-Japan-Matsumoku-1977_W0QQitemZ330241577152"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Fender-Precision-bas...emZ330241577152[/url]

And the Q's - sorry, J's:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110258305970"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110258305970[/url] (seller is confused by the difference between "German" & "sold by a shop in Germany")
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=190226076714"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=190226076714[/url]
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170225226959"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170225226959[/url]

And an 80s rarity, a Kasuga Scorpion, rebranded as Pro Martin:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160246305432"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160246305432[/url]

You might think the BIN's just a little optimistic - but before some kind soul who knows about JapCrap had a word in the seller's shell-like, it was originally [b]£2300[/b]! He might - just - stand a chance of getting the start price if he changed the listing title to include "Kasuga". Well, you can tell 'em...

J.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='209663' date='May 30 2008, 02:56 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270239659653"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=270239659653[/url]

I really like that, can i ask you what you think of that please Jon?[/quote]

Did you go for it? Probably OK for £41 delivered.

J.

[beerdragon]

The Aria pbass and the "German" look nice. i'll keep an eye on the prices.

[allighatt0r]

Nope i didn't, i set myself a limit of £40, and um-ed and ah-ed for too long about trying another fiver

[Bassassin]

[quote name='allighatt0r' post='213356' date='Jun 5 2008, 05:22 PM']Nope i didn't, i set myself a limit of £40, and um-ed and ah-ed for too long about trying another fiver [/quote]
Don't think you missed much, tbh - the body looked like someone had done a Pete Townshend on it.

Plenty better out there...

J.

[Ou7shined]

198* Aria Pro II TSB-550
It's very shiny.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pre-87-Aria-Matsumoku-Through-Neck-Bass-MIJ-Awesome_W0QQitemZ200225810489QQihZ010QQcategoryZ112668QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]linky[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='217334' date='Jun 12 2008, 02:10 AM']198* Aria Pro II TSB-550
It's very shiny.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pre-87-Aria-Matsumoku-Through-Neck-Bass-MIJ-Awesome_W0QQitemZ200225810489QQihZ010QQcategoryZ112668QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]linky[/url][/quote]
Very nice - you don't see too many of them. Very expensive, too at £400!!

Wonder why he says it's an SB-R60 in the text?

J.

[thedarxide]

Columbus P:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-Columbus-Fender-P-Bass-guitar_W0QQitemZ330243676950QQihZ014QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1970s-Columbus-Fende...1QQcmdZViewItem[/url]