Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[elom]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='223503' date='Jun 21 2008, 11:46 AM']£60?

Sixty flippin' quid!

Christ! I thought [b][i]I[/i][/b] was a bit of a chancer ...

[/quote]

Well I'm skint and it was all I could afford! Plus it's a bit beat up and you never know... always worth a punt!

[paul, the]

Christ, look at it go.


"I can see it, Paul."

[spinynorman]

Yamaki P copy, selling from Switzerland, and £489 BIN. The seller copied the description from one review on Harmony Central. Looks like quite a nice bass, but surely not worth paying that for it.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320265065011&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting"]Yamaki P copy[/url]

I was really only wondering if the Yamaki/Yamaha story is just another lawsuit legend. Can't find any support for it, but it's difficult to check out as a lot of the sites are in Japanese. Does anyone know any more?

[url="http://www.acousticguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=6261"]acousticguitar.com[/url]
[url="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdreamworks.fc2web.com%2Fyamaki_daion%2Fframe.html&hl=en&ie=UTF8&sl=ja&tl=en"]Yamaki site[/url]

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='spinynorman' post='224614' date='Jun 22 2008, 11:46 PM']Yamaki P copy, selling from Switzerland, and £489 BIN. The seller copied the description from one review on Harmony Central. Looks like quite a nice bass, but surely not worth paying that for it.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320265065011&indexURL=0#ebayphotohosting"]Yamaki P copy[/url][/quote]
It does look in superb nick tho. Loving the black.
What's with the unusual truss rod adjuster (I presume that's what that is in the neck plate) I've not seen owt like that before.

[spinynorman]

I assumed that was like the 3 bolt Fender necks with micro-tilt, but looking at it again it does look like it's the truss rod adjuster. No idea how that would work.

Here's the same bass badged Daion.

[url="http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=1673104"]Harmony Central Forums[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='spinynorman' post='224614' date='Jun 22 2008, 11:46 PM']I was really only wondering if the Yamaki/Yamaha story is just another lawsuit legend. Can't find any support for it, but it's difficult to check out as a lot of the sites are in Japanese. Does anyone know any more?[/quote]
Utter fabricated Ebay bullsh!t, about as ludicrous as the price being asked for a good-but-nothing-special JapCrap P copy. What exactly would Yamaha sue over? The fact that the phonetic transcription of two Japanese names into Western characters happened to share a few letters? Yamaha themselves were punting as many copies as all the other MIJ manufacturers in the 70s - so it's hardly going to be designs!

A couple of Daion Jazz copies have gone through in the last few weeks - the most recent today, sold for about £65. This is no reflection on the quality - Ebay prices seldom are, they're just not very well known. The Joodee brand ( I think there's a BC-er with Joodee P copy) is from the same stable as Yamaki & Daion too. I think all of these were made by Dyna Gakki - who are best-known for current CIJ Fenders.

J.

[SJA]

I've seen that trussrod adjuster design somewhere else-
it works using a worm gear (that you insert the allen key in) to turn a geared nut on the end of the trussrod. (in effect like how a machinehead works)

"low hiss"- why should there be any hiss on a passive bass?

Edited June 23, 2008 by SJA

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='SJA' post='224865' date='Jun 23 2008, 11:33 AM']I've seen that trussrod adjuster design somewhere else-
it works using a worm gear (that you insert the allen key in) to turn a geared nut on the end of the trussrod. (in effect like how a machinehead works)

"low hiss"- why should there be any hiss on a passive bass?[/quote]

Is it the worm, perhaps?

[spinynorman]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='224665' date='Jun 23 2008, 01:24 AM']Utter fabricated Ebay bullsh!t, about as ludicrous as the price being asked for a good-but-nothing-special JapCrap P copy. What exactly would Yamaha sue over? The fact that the phonetic transcription of two Japanese names into Western characters happened to share a few letters? Yamaha themselves were punting as many copies as all the other MIJ manufacturers in the 70s - so it's hardly going to be designs!

J.[/quote]

I've seen some Yamaki acoustic guitar headstock logos that could possibly be mistaken for Yamaha, so if there was any legal stuff it would have been for that. Nothing to do with the quality of this bass of course. I love these lawsuit stories, there really should be an eBay prize for fiction.

[tauzero]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='224665' date='Jun 23 2008, 01:24 AM']Utter fabricated Ebay bullsh!t, about as ludicrous as the price being asked for a good-but-nothing-special JapCrap P copy. What exactly would Yamaha sue over? The fact that the phonetic transcription of two Japanese names into Western characters happened to share a few letters?[/quote]
Indeed, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vester_Guitars"]surely no big company would sue a small one on such a tenuous basis, would they?[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='tauzero' post='226651' date='Jun 25 2008, 01:07 PM']Indeed, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vester_Guitars"]surely no big company would sue a small one on such a tenuous basis, would they?[/url][/quote]

That's litigation, American-style, of course! Remember Status was originally Strata? Not for long, they weren't!

J.

[SJA]

[quote name='tauzero' post='226651' date='Jun 25 2008, 01:07 PM']Indeed, [url="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vester_Guitars"]surely no big company would sue a small one on such a tenuous basis, would they?[/url][/quote]

the irony is that most of Vester's basses were rip-off's of Warwick, Ibanez and Tune-
only a couple were Fender style. I've got an old Vester catalogue.

I remember there was also a brand "Fenix" that made strat/tele/p-bass/j-bass copies.
wonder how long that lasted?

Edited June 25, 2008 by SJA

[Bassassin]

[quote name='SJA' post='226770' date='Jun 25 2008, 03:56 PM']the irony is that most of Vester's basses were rip-off's of Warwick, Ibanez and Tune-
only a couple were Fender style. I've got an old Vester catalogue.

I remember there was also a brand "Fenix" that made strat/tele/p-bass/j-bass copies.
wonder how long that lasted?[/quote]
Fenix was even more dodgy - it was a Korean manufacturer called Young Chang, who were actually contracted to Fender to make MIK Squiers in the mid 80s. Looks like they just changed the headstock shape & the logo (a bit) and sold their own "Fenders" until Leo's boys found out!

Fenix are now pretty collectable - and good - so worth a look if you spot one.

Interesting point about Vester - although Ibanez's SoundGears were a knockoff of Tune's Bass Maniac range in the first place. Old habits die hard, I guess!

J.

[Bassassin]

Speak of the devil - Vester-tastic!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ruby-red-bass-guitar-vester-stage-series-free-gift_W0QQitemZ280240052013"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Ruby-red-bass-guitar...emZ280240052013[/url]

And you get a free gift as well! Woo!!

J.

[Happy Jack]

OK, I know it's not JapCrap but it gets a mention if only for the desperately misleading title:

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1965-DYNELECTRON-LONGHORN-FRETLESS-BASS_W0QQitemZ250263743010QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item250263743010&_trkparms=39%3A1%7C65%3A10&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1965-DYNELECTRON-LON...id=p3286.c0.m14[/url]

[Bassassin]

Bit quiet in here!

Here's a few:

Antoria J with those strange little square pickups:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=280240383714"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=280240383714[/url]

Maya J with an oddly mutated headstock:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160256025773"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160256025773[/url]

Columbus J with nothing remotely remarkable about it, other than an absence of strings:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=130234714957"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=130234714957[/url]

Tidy-looking Epi ET280. High start.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=220252181210"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=220252181210[/url]

Westone Raider - pointy [i]and[/i] glittery. Want.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170234126125"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170234126125[/url]

Nice-looking Aria Pro Laser Heritage:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160253717900"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160253717900[/url]

And this - I really don't know what to say...
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=110266400999"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=110266400999[/url]

There's more, out there.

J.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='230211' date='Jul 1 2008, 12:12 AM']Westone Raider - pointy [i]and[/i] glittery. Want.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170234126125"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=170234126125[/url][/quote]
I quite fancy that too (sadly Mrs. Ou7shined has definitely put a stop to any more purchases)
I could be way wrong but having just read [url="http://www.westone.info/raiderbass.html"]this[/url] it kinda looks like a Raider I neck (dot markers) on a Raider II body (red non-2-tone finish).. but what are the chances of that?

That Ace of Spades is mad but the guy shouldn't really say it's in great condition just in need of 2 strings (like they come in 2's) it's a bit beat up and has a guitar machine head on the G. Having said that someone (a Motörhead fan?) has asked for a BIN already.

[beerdragon]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='230244' date='Jul 1 2008, 01:31 AM']I quite fancy that too (sadly Mrs. Ou7shined has definitely put a stop to any more purchases)
I could be way wrong but having just read [url="http://www.westone.info/raiderbass.html"]this[/url] it kinda looks like a Raider I neck (dot markers) on a Raider II body (red non-2-tone finish).. but what are the chances of that?

That Ace of Spades is mad but the guy shouldn't really say it's in great condition just in need of 2 strings (like they come in 2's) it's a bit beat up and has a guitar machine head on the G. Having said that someone (a Motörhead fan?) has asked for a BIN already.[/quote]

And he answers. How much do you think its worth?.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='beerdragon' post='230417' date='Jul 1 2008, 11:40 AM']And he answers. How much do you think its worth?. [/quote]
I may have found a buyer for him.
I've got a mate who's in a band called the Wildcards and their logo is the ace of spades. I've told him I'll do the work on it to get it up to spec. That scratchplate has to go for a start.

Edited July 1, 2008 by Ou7shined

[Bassassin]

[quote name='beerdragon' post='230417' date='Jul 1 2008, 11:40 AM']And he answers. How much do you think its worth?. [/quote]
Scruffy Satellite P-Bass with a novelty hatchet-job body? In real terms, about thirty quid. However, as a "unique" piece of "art" - depends how much you [i]want[/i] it...

It won't get too much attention - "base" doesn't come up in very many searches. Unless you specifically look for it.

Doubt I'll actually go for the Raider (although if it stays nice & cheap...) & I'd guess the neck/body paradox is down to what was lying around in the factory that day. A dealer would call it "transitional".

J.

[neepheid]

[quote name='Ou7shined' post='230447' date='Jul 1 2008, 12:20 PM']I may have found a buyer for him.
I've got a mate who's in a band called the Wildcards and their logo is the ace of spades. [b]I've told him I'll do the work on it to get it up to spec[/b]. That scratchplate has to go for a start.[/quote]

Well, you can add a new neck, looks a bit twisted doesn't it?

[Bassassin]

If anyone's seriously interested in that Arse Of Spades thing - go & have a good look at the pics of the neck - it looks really badly twisted to me. It might be the photos, or a symptom of only having 2 strings - but I don't think so. The strings would pull the other way to the direction it looks twisted.

I don't think I'd touch it, tbh. :ph34r:

J.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='neepheid' post='230541' date='Jul 1 2008, 02:11 PM']Well, you can add a new neck, looks a bit twisted doesn't it?[/quote]
Snap!

J.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='neepheid' post='230541' date='Jul 1 2008, 02:11 PM']Well, you can add a new neck, looks a bit twisted doesn't it?[/quote]
As you know I've got one (or 2) sitting here doing nowt.

[nick]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='230211' date='Jul 1 2008, 12:12 AM']Bit quiet in here!

Nice-looking Aria Pro Laser Heritage:
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=160253717900"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=160253717900[/url]

J.[/quote]

That is a lovely bass!