Vintage MIJ (formerly J@pCr@p) Spotting

[silentbob]

Another Matsumoku here. These are fitted with great DiMarzio pickups.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110620479386&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

[chaypup]

I like this [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Quantum-bass-X850-black-/330506572418?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cf3ba1282#ht_500wt_951"][b]Westone[/b][/url] - little too pricey for me, people seem to be asking a lot for westones recently.

[tauzero]

[quote name='chaypup' post='1053793' date='Dec 10 2010, 10:18 AM']I like this [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-Quantum-bass-X850-black-/330506572418?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4cf3ba1282#ht_500wt_951"][b]Westone[/b][/url] - little too pricey for me, people seem to be asking a lot for westones recently. [/quote]
I had one of those, bought and sold it for about £75. It was the one I took when I travelled to a party by motorcycle complete with bass, amp (GK 200MB), leads, effects, and sleeping bag. Not bad, not worth £250.

[The Admiral]

Couple of Thunder 1A's on the bay currently, as you may well have noticed - (not me selling BTW).

This one needs some TLC by the look of it :http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160515382899&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

But this looks in nice nick - early headstock logo too I think isn't it? : [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180596999867&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

One in Manchester, t'other in Chorley. Clealry a hotbed of Westone action here in the North West.

A

[pete.young]

Not crap. But with less than a day to go, this is way too cheap!

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190476474705&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT[/url]

[Annoying Twit]

SB Elite. I presume this is Matsumoku as claimed.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300503664041&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...atchlink:top:en[/url]

And a cardinal series at what I think is a rather high price. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Cardinal-Series-CSB380-/160517643617?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item255f98dd61"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Cardinal-...=item255f98dd61[/url]

Edited December 11, 2010 by Annoying Twit

[paul_5]

My current 'project' is a 'Yamato' maple neck and fingerboard (which I defretted) frankenfitted onto a Hondo P bass body (I think it's ash, it's bloody heavy) that I pickey up from thievebay for £25. I've bought all new hardware and pickups (GFS) and have a really playable, smooth sounding bass for a smidge over £100. Really quite pleased with it. Pictures to follow.

[noelk27]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1055386' date='Dec 11 2010, 08:33 PM']SB Elite. I presume this is Matsumoku as claimed.
[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300503664041&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...atchlink:top:en[/url][/quote]
Still no idea what he means when he says the neck is slimmer than an SB1000 - it's narrower at the nut but wider at the 12th. And trans black isn't a rare finish either - a standard finish available for the eleven years the SB Elite II/SB-ELT was in production. Being five-piece neck, and manufactured in '84 in one of the stain/trans finishes it will be Matsumoku.

[Musky]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1055386' date='Dec 11 2010, 08:33 PM']SB Elite. I presume this is Matsumoku as claimed.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300503664041&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie...atchlink:top:en[/url]

And a cardinal series at what I think is a rather high price. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Cardinal-Series-CSB380-/160517643617?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item255f98dd61"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Aria-Pro-2-Cardinal-...=item255f98dd61[/url][/quote]
Whoa! That Cardinal is waaay overpriced. Even at half that I'd be thinking twice.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='Musky' post='1055585' date='Dec 12 2010, 12:32 AM']Whoa! That Cardinal is waaay overpriced. Even at half that I'd be thinking twice.[/quote]

And in the same vein: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-RAIL-Bass-Guitar-Minimalist-Sliding-Pickup-/260707619225?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cb3629199"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-RAIL-Bass-Gu...=item3cb3629199[/url]

Edit: The same person selling a Westone Rail bass for £695 offers a "Guitar/Bass Valuation Service" for £9.95. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GET-YOUR-GUITAR-BASS-VALUED-VALUATION-APPRAISAL-SERVICE-/250602335748?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a59102e04"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GET-YOUR-GUITAR-BASS...=item3a59102e04[/url]

Edited December 13, 2010 by Annoying Twit

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1057012' date='Dec 13 2010, 10:20 AM']And in the same vein: [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-RAIL-Bass-Guitar-Minimalist-Sliding-Pickup-/260707619225?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cb3629199"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Westone-RAIL-Bass-Gu...=item3cb3629199[/url]

Edit: The same person selling a Westone Rail bass for £695 offers a "Guitar/Bass Valuation Service" for £9.95. [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GET-YOUR-GUITAR-BASS-VALUED-VALUATION-APPRAISAL-SERVICE-/250602335748?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3a59102e04"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GET-YOUR-GUITAR-BASS...=item3a59102e04[/url][/quote]

That £695 for a Rail is right up there with our German friend for ludicrous over-valuations ... the highest price one of those has realised in 2010 (and yes, I have been watching) is £305.

[Bassassin]

How much???

Have to say I've been aghast, dumbfounded and in stitches over that particular Ebayer's spectacularly misinformed listings for a good few years now. I think he might well be that German fella's Scouser cousin.

Jon.

[chaypup]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1057329' date='Dec 13 2010, 02:25 PM']How much???

Have to say I've been aghast, dumbfounded and in stitches over that particular Ebayer's spectacularly misinformed listings for a good few years now. I think he might well be that German fella's Scouser cousin.

Jon.[/quote]

Have you noticed him sell any though? Or do you think he puts the price up high to take the nearest offer?

[spinynorman]

So now we can add "valued by Simon Catherall Curlsgirls of FabGroovy" to the list of things that add credibility to your eBay ads.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='spinynorman' post='1057397' date='Dec 13 2010, 03:15 PM']So now we can add "valued by Simon Catherall Curlsgirls of FabGroovy" to the list of things that add credibility to your eBay ads.[/quote]
Anyone a bit concerned that an Ebay secondhand guitar dealer offering a valuation service is a system potentially open to a little bit of abuse? Wonder where he gets his stock?

J.

[Annoying Twit]

[quote name='chaypup' post='1057368' date='Dec 13 2010, 02:49 PM']Have you noticed him sell any though? Or do you think he puts the price up high to take the nearest offer?[/quote]

He sold this Kramer six string for £650 after previously having it on sale for £1295.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-Rare-KRAMER-Aluminium-Neck-Electric-Guitar-/260702416014?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cb3132c8e"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Original-Rare-KRAMER...=item3cb3132c8e[/url]

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1014216' date='Nov 6 2010, 01:15 PM']OK, it's not JapCrap but it can claim close kinship.

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Gherson-1960-70s-Italian-Jazz-Bass-Nitro-NICE-/320605596157?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item4aa59529fd"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Gherson-1960...=item4aa59529fd[/url]

I bought this bass recently, and I've just posted some soundclips.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=109672&pid=1014201&st=0&#entry1014201"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...p;#entry1014201[/url][/quote]

You may (or may not) remember this from six weeks ago. Messing about with the set-up again today, I finally noticed something I really should have spotted ages ago - the two pickups are in the wrong positions!

[url="http://tinypic.com/m/dn0xw1/3"]http://tinypic.com/m/dn0xw1/3[/url]

The combination of perspective and the black oval "extra" pickguard around the neck pickup make this look OK ... but actually the neck and bridge pickups have been reversed, which means that the strings are WAY off the pole-pieces in places.

That then leads me to think about the very tight fit of the neck pickup in the bridge position, and it's immediately obvious that these pickups have been retrofitted, but only the incoming neck pickup would fit the existing bridge routing!

That in turn then sort-of explains the black oval. I'm guessing our master retro-fitter tried to re-rout the neck position to take the far-too-big bridge pickup, got it hideously wrong, and decided to disguise his handiwork.

Despite all this, everything works & sounds great. Seeing as I bought it for its weight, I'm still very happy with it.

This is Sherlock Jack signing off. Play safely now.

[Annoying Twit]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KAY-KJP-1B-Bass-1970s-Time-Capsule-Condition-orig-box-/190481747221?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c5998cd15"]Weird looking Taiwanese Kay[/url]

Edited December 20, 2010 by Annoying Twit

[noelk27]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' post='1065194' date='Dec 20 2010, 09:48 PM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KAY-KJP-1B-Bass-1970s-Time-Capsule-Condition-orig-box-/190481747221?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2c5998cd15"]Weird looking Taiwanese Kay[/url][/quote]
If this plays anything like the guitar version my mate was using late 70s/early 80s it's best avoided. Truly horrendous.

[Bassassin]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280603733834"]Somewhat ambitiously-priced Ibanez RS824 Roadster.[/url]

This is the slightly less-common passive version.

J.

[Ou7shined]

[quote name='Bassassin' post='1065344' date='Dec 21 2010, 02:07 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280603733834"]Somewhat ambitiously-priced Ibanez RS824 Roadster.[/url]

This is the slightly less-common passive version.

J.[/quote]
Oh my, but she purdy.

[Bassassin]

RS824s had veneered bodies rather than the solid ash of the active RS924. Don't think they were ply, probably the butcher-block sarnie that most 70s Jap copies (including Ibbys) had. There were some absolute stunners - I nearly swapped my 924 for an 824BB like this:



Ibby catalogues reckon this has a mahogany laminate body, so I presume this one (Brazilian Brown) is a paint finish. Sadly the fella was in the States and the cost of shipping & import duties would have made it stupidly expensive.

Given a choice I'd have an 824 - the active on the 9 doesn't add much apart from volume, and there's no way to blend between the pickups, which I find quite limiting. Plus Steve Harris played a black 824.

J.

[tauzero]

[quote name='noelk27' post='1065260' date='Dec 20 2010, 10:54 PM']If this plays anything like the guitar version my mate was using late 70s/early 80s it's best avoided. Truly horrendous.[/quote]
That would account for it being under the bed for 35-40 years.

[razze06]

[url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/47/70592947.html"]http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/47/70592947.html[/url]


"Grant" jazz copy with hardcase, near edinburgh, for very little dosh.

I am leaving tomorrow morning for holidays, so I'm going to miss this, otherwise I would have had it.

I understand Grant was the importer's name of the usual 70's JapCrap. Some say that Grant was infact the name of a Glasgow music shop in the 70's and 80's, and that they were the original importers of these.

[Bassassin]

[quote name='razze06' post='1065786' date='Dec 21 2010, 03:37 PM'][url="http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/47/70592947.html"]http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/47/70592947.html[/url]


"Grant" jazz copy with hardcase, near edinburgh, for very little dosh.

I am leaving tomorrow morning for holidays, so I'm going to miss this, otherwise I would have had it.

I understand Grant was the importer's name of the usual 70's JapCrap. Some say that Grant was infact the name of a Glasgow music shop in the 70's and 80's, and that they were the original importers of these.[/quote]
Sold at the weekend unfortunately - and not to me! I missed it - but that's what you get for wasting an entire freezing Saturday playing Red Dead Undead Nightmare.

Shame, this looks really nice, complete & original & a steal for £70. I did read somewhere that Grant was Grant Music in Byres Road's own brand. Apparently there was also an Edinburgh Grants music shop, dunno if the two were related. Seen/owned a few Grant brand instruments (including my first-ever bass, which was dire!) and they are generic MIJ stuff, same as Columbus & a lot of CMI, Avon etc copies. No identified manufacturer and available in a range of quality from cheapo plywood starter stuff to decent-looking mid-range gear like this J.

Jon.