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Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the buck
http://leftybassist.com./viewtopic.php?f=3&t=4720		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  permafrost [ July 21st, 2013, 1:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the buck
...for lefties, that is.

My favorite go-to bass is an old Lotus with one of those peculiar mini-humbuckers also found on Lawsuit era Hondo IIs. Next in line are my Ibanez Roadstars (P and P/J). I also love Aria ThorSound basses, especially the bolt-neck 32" scale single P pup ones. Some of those older Kramers with Japanese ESP necks and double J humbucking pups are killer, too. Those older passive Korean-made ESP LTDs (B-50s and B-104s) are great value as well. Nice fret jobs and solid wood bodies. My B-104 is the only bass I know of with a PASSIVE midrange control. The sleeper of the class? Mahogany-bodied MIK Washburn XB-200s. I have a couple of custom-ordered Carvins but I fall back on my XB-200s most of the time. The Roadstars and the Lotus are for special occasions only. All of the above sound and play better than most of the expensive new gear at GC.

Old is Good. And affordable.
Author:  sovietbass [ July 29th, 2013, 2:23 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
damn right.
Author:  Jeroen [ July 29th, 2013, 6:36 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
I agree! I've owned (and still own) a couple of great old Japanese Ibanez basses and guitars and they are all excellent and great value. Two ATK's, two Musicians, a Roadster, one of the earliest Soundgears, and three Japanese RG guitars. I don't own the Soundgear and the RG's anymore but the rest of 'em are here to stay!
Author:  permafrost [ July 30th, 2013, 5:55 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
My Ibanez Roadstars and even my lowly MIJ Yamaha BB300 have shielding plates underneath the pickups. When was the last time you saw that on a sub-$1000 bass? 'Though the Roadstars have (solid) basswood bodies, they have a richer, more complex tone than all of the (solid alder?) MIM Fenders I tried. Especially my all-black rosewood fingerboard RSII feels like I have a tiger by the tail every time I play it. I almost feel intimidated by how powerful the sound is.

I'm looking for an Ibanez Musician to add to my collection. Those are real rare in a lefty.
Author:  Frenchy-Lefty [ July 30th, 2013, 12:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
Jeroen owns 99.9% of the left handed Ibanez Musicians available on earth.
Author:  Jeroen [ July 30th, 2013, 7:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
Nah, 40%. Carmine, pjmuck and Arni have the other 3 ;)

Oh, and there's this one for sale in Belgium, but it's rather expensive: link. I paid half that for each of my MC924's.
Author:  fivebass52 [ July 31st, 2013, 1:30 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Vintage Japanese basses represent the best bang for the
Jeroen wrote:
Oh, and there's this one for sale in Belgium, but it's rather expensive: link. I paid half that for each of my MC924's.


Jeroen, went to the link, then went back to your review of your MC924's (already a year by the way!)... interesting that the seller is asking for 800 euros, and in your review you mentioned how lucky you were to score two basses for about 400 euros (each of course!), when they should be selling for about 800 euros.... very prescient, my friend! 8-)
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