Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='771789' date='Mar 11 2010, 04:34 PM']It's gone up quite a bit now, but another one has been listed. And there's someone selling a Westone Rail over in the basses for sale forum.

I was thinking very, very, seriously about this: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Thunder-1A-bass-guitar_W0QQitemZ180479402531QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2a05692223"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Thunder-1A-b...=item2a05692223[/url]

I'd already checked where the seller's house was in relation to the 127 bus stop. But I won't be bidding now I have my Rickenfaker. Though, I'm a bit worried about the bid I still have outstanding on another Westone. It is quite low though, so I don't think I have anything to worry about. I.e. if I win I can probably sell it on for a profit [/quote]

If push comes to shove I'll give you £50 over what you paid for the Cimar. Or maybe £40...

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='772077' date='Mar 11 2010, 08:37 PM']If push comes to shove I'll give you £50 over what you paid for the Cimar. Or maybe £40... [/quote]

'tis mine I tell you, ALL MINE.

If I won the Westone, that'd be my guitar buying budget zeroed until .... end of June!

Vantage ending in 22 hours or so here: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=390166039939&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

[Bassassin]

Surprised that Vantage hasn't shifted with a £135 BIN...

J.

[Annoying Twit]

Why do I get the impression that this bass is not going to get any bids. Again.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTBURY-TRACK-2-BASS-GUITAR-MATSUMOKU_W0QQitemZ170457901469QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item27b015299d"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/WESTBURY-TRACK-2-BAS...=item27b015299d[/url]

Westbury track 2 bass, starting bid £355, £375 BIN.

This one @£150 still has no bids. Again, this has been listed before.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/westbury-track-2-bass_W0QQitemZ250592099228QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3a5873fb9c"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/westbury-track-2-bas...=item3a5873fb9c[/url]

[Bassassin]

With the exception of Rickenfakers & Aria SBs it's really looking like JapCrap basses aren't shifting very quickly at present. The Westy (not the £375 one!) & Vantage are quite perplexing - both of those brands, with their Matsumoku heritage usually do very well. The same thing doesn't seem to be true of guitars though - a Westbury Standard will easily fetch £200 - £250, which is well up on what they were getting a little while ago.

Good if you're looking for Jap bass bargains & makes me glad I'm only selling guitars at the moment...

J.

[Clarky72]

Then again that Padouk Red SB1000 has been listed 4 times and gone to end of auction with no bids at £700, £650 and now £595. The Walnut SB1000 has also had no bids in the 10 days its been up there too for £850.

I think they're asking a a but much for them though... Would you really pay much over £550 for a SB1000??

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='772806' date='Mar 12 2010, 02:34 PM']Good if you're looking for Jap bass bargains & makes me glad I'm only selling guitars at the moment... [/quote]

But not good if you realise that you have an outstanding winning bid on a Thunder bass, and are the kind of person who considers their bid to be their word!

Look at the nice wood on this! And according to the Westone forum it has the "brass knobs" that people like. Bid, people, bid!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120540731724"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...em=120540731724[/url]

Edited March 12, 2010 by Annoying Twit

[Bassassin]

If that's the one you've had a punt on, you've got nowt to moan about if you end up getting it for £64! And if you do, I guarantee I'll buy it off you for what you paid for it.

J.

[Annoying Twit]

Yeah, I'm not too worried about winning it with my tiny bid. But, my life will be just a tiny bit simpler once I'm outbid.

[Annoying Twit]

Is this "Yoshi" bass Matsumoku? Is neck through and seems to have mystery switches. Doesn't look worth £280 to me, unless it's something special that I haven't recognised.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YOSHI-Bass-Made-in-Japan_W0QQitemZ180478595750QQcategoryZ4713QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D8%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8465310829701741283"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YOSHI-Bass-Made-in-J...310829701741283[/url]

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='773581' date='Mar 13 2010, 01:20 PM']Is this "Yoshi" bass Matsumoku? Is neck through and seems to have mystery switches. Doesn't look worth £280 to me, unless it's something special that I haven't recognised.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YOSHI-Bass-Made-in-Japan_W0QQitemZ180478595750QQcategoryZ4713QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BIEW%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D8%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8465310829701741283"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YOSHI-Bass-Made-in-J...310829701741283[/url][/quote]
I quite like that. Nothing says "Matsumoku" about it to me, never heard of Yoshi before (outside of Nintendo games) and I'm pretty sure I've not seen that same bass with a different brand. Them there mystery switches will probably be series/parallel for each pup like on passive Arias.

The same seller had this up a couple of months ago for a lot more so maybe he'll keep dropping it if it doesn't shift.

OK - some wild speculation based on JapCrap geek trivia. There's an Aria sub-brand called Shiro which takes its name from Shiro Arai, president of Aria guitars. Yoshi just happens to be the first name of Yoshi Hoshino, president of Hoshino Gakki, owners of the Ibanez brand. Hoshino also have a brand called Starfield - which is a literal translation of Hoshino.

Makes you think. Or makes you want to smother me whilst I'm sleeping, for being sad enough to know this stuff.

J.

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='767240' date='Mar 7 2010, 07:54 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-70s-Cimar-Jazz-Bass-Copy-MIJ-Lawsuit-Japan_W0QQitemZ160411325776QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2559429550"]Cimar[/url]. With the added benefit of necessary mods already done.[/quote]

This one is on its last day and isn't too silly yet, was thinking it's like a VMJ, but actually old.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Mr. Foxen' post='773977' date='Mar 13 2010, 11:04 PM']This one is on its last day and isn't too silly yet, was thinking it's like a VMJ, but actually old.[/quote]

I suppose it is an old copy of something that was current at the time, rather than a current copy of something that is now old. Or something like that.

Going off topic, but I think Thomann are trying to tap into the Squier VMJ market with this: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbb1975_na.htm"]http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_hbb1975_na.htm[/url]

[Annoying Twit]

SB600. If they didn't say, I wouldn't have known it was in the SB range. Colour scheme (poss non-original) and different pickup from the others.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-SB-600-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-Matsumoku_W0QQitemZ180481338210QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2a0586ab62"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-SB-600-B...=item2a0586ab62[/url]

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='774911' date='Mar 15 2010, 08:04 AM']SB600. If they didn't say, I wouldn't have known it was in the SB range. Colour scheme (poss non-original) and different pickup from the others.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-SB-600-Bass-Guitar-Vintage-Matsumoku_W0QQitemZ180481338210QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2a0586ab62"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-SB-600-B...=item2a0586ab62[/url][/quote]

Bizarre!

It [i]could[/i] be a 600 - the early run did feature a bolt-on neck, but according to "popular wisdom" this became a set neck in 1981 - & this seems to be an '82. [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html"]Catalogue scans[/url] & [url="http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm"]various photos[/url] don't show the bevel & also seem to have the 16-pole fully-enclosed Humbucker. The "mystery" example does have the ser/par (or possibly coil tap) switch though.

I dunno if it's just me, but it looks as though it's got the wider bridge.

Definately an oddball, I reckon it's absolutely genuine - but the jury's out on the model.

Good price at the moment.

Pete.

[Clarky72]

[quote name='Bloodaxe' post='775289' date='Mar 15 2010, 03:05 PM']Bizarre!

It [i]could[/i] be a 600 - the early run did feature a bolt-on neck, but according to "popular wisdom" this became a set neck in 1981 - & this seems to be an '82. [url="http://www.matsumoku.org/models/ariaproii/bass/sb/sb.html"]Catalogue scans[/url] & [url="http://www.prog.rockers.co.uk/sb600.htm"]various photos[/url] don't show the bevel & also seem to have the 16-pole fully-enclosed Humbucker. The "mystery" example does have the ser/par (or possibly coil tap) switch though.

I dunno if it's just me, but it looks as though it's got the wider bridge.

Definately an oddball, I reckon it's absolutely genuine - but the jury's out on the model.

Good price at the moment.

Pete.[/quote]

Could it possibly be a TSB-550 though? They did have a thru-neck rather than bolt on, and didn't come in the solid black finish, but who knows with Aria...

[url="http://www.ariausa.com/images/RS%20Series%201981/rsseries_10_sml.jpg"]Aria[/url]

Steve

[Bloodaxe]

[quote name='Clarky72' post='775323' date='Mar 15 2010, 03:37 PM']Could it possibly be a TSB-550 though? They did have a thru-neck rather than bolt on, and didn't come in the solid black finish, but who knows with Aria...

[url="http://www.ariausa.com/images/RS%20Series%201981/rsseries_10_sml.jpg"]Aria[/url]

Steve[/quote]

Don't think so. I've got a TSB-400 & the horn tips are much more rounded than the alleged SB-600.
Also, the TSB headstock is labelled "Thor Sound" in embarassingly large text, whereas our mystery item seems to have the "LAB" paragraph.
It puts me in mind of an RSB Special-1, but the neck & headstock are wrong for that.

I reckon it's an SB-Specificationsliabletochangewithoutnotice.

[Clarky72]

Maybe its a frankenstein then? It could have neck and body from two different Aria's?

[Clarky72]

Another new Jap has just surfaced on the bay....

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-II-SB1000-bass-guitar_W0QQitemZ270547615175QQ"]eBay[/url]

Its a SB1000, and its the 4th (or 5th) run on eBay, its dropped from £750 down to £595 now and as far as I know no-one has ever bid on this every time its been listed. He could be up for a good off-ebay offer if anyone wants a padouk one?!

[Jerry_B]

[quote name='Clarky72' post='775637' date='Mar 15 2010, 08:25 PM']Maybe its a frankenstein then? It could have neck and body from two different Aria's?[/quote]

The body shape is pretty darn similar to a Westone Spectrum DX - just slight differences in the length/pointyness of the horns. Not that I'm saying it's a DX body, but somtimes there seems to be design similarities across these different types. Pup shape is also similar, for example.

[Clarky72]

Aria Catalogues

Just found some great clearer scans of the early Aria catalogues.

[url="http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B81O_PQg1P-uMDBjYzFjNzAtZDY0Ny00MDRiLWEwNTMtYzJjY2ViYzUwNGI1&sort=name&layout=list&pid=0B81O_PQg1P-uNGY0NzhhMjYtNWY4Yi00ODdkLTg0OGMtYTVkMzI5ZTUyZWNk"]Aria Catalogs[/url]

[WarPig]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Kay-Precision-bass-guitar-Japan_W0QQitemZ190381063215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c53987c2f"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Kay-Pr...=item2c53987c2f[/url]

Is it just me or does something look.....abit crooked? The back shot of the neck? Might just be the grain.

Edited March 16, 2010 by WarPig

[Ou7shined]

Definitely wonky. I think it might just be the neck plate though.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='WarPig' post='776033' date='Mar 16 2010, 10:05 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Kay-Precision-bass-guitar-Japan_W0QQitemZ190381063215QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item2c53987c2f"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-1960s-Kay-Pr...=item2c53987c2f[/url]

Is it just me or does something look.....abit crooked? The back shot of the neck? Might just be the grain.[/quote]

It is just the neck plate. I've had 2 of these, they're Taiwanese, early/mid 70s and if you can get them to set up OK they're not bad. Admittedly I paid less than £20 for mine from the car boot so allowances can be made!

They are incredibly, ridiculously heavy and the necks (made from mahogany ply) are like fenceposts. Both of mine had very loud, & decent-sounding pups. This one looks pretty beat-up and £139 is just a bit ambitious, I think.

Interesting window full of JapCrap behind the bass...

J.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='Clarky72' post='776031' date='Mar 16 2010, 10:03 AM']Aria Catalogues

Just found some great clearer scans of the early Aria catalogues.

[url="http://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B81O_PQg1P-uMDBjYzFjNzAtZDY0Ny00MDRiLWEwNTMtYzJjY2ViYzUwNGI1&sort=name&layout=list&pid=0B81O_PQg1P-uNGY0NzhhMjYtNWY4Yi00ODdkLTg0OGMtYTVkMzI5ZTUyZWNk"]Aria Catalogs[/url][/quote]
Excellent resource - cheers for that!

J.