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Rick bass copy! I wish I had some extra funds.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=251526345872&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123
I’ve been watching ebay for a while and have seen many CMI LPs, an acoustic jumbo, and a few other models come us. I hadn’t seen a banjo, however.
If anyone’s still following this thread – this came up today.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280893897612&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:US:1123Thanks for posting! Looks like there isn’t much activity here now, and 1bassleft seems to have completely disappeared (which is very unfortunate in terms of his knowledge. I’ve PM’ed and have heard nothing in the past year.)
I’ve been watching numerous ebay listings here in the US and in the UK to see what’s out there. There is an ES-335 (the first 335 I’ve come across, and for that matter only the second hollow-body, my ES-175 being the first) that I’d love to own but just can’t afford right now:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280747394094There have been some amps, a Tele (the one you may have bought- if so I’m jealous!) and I think I remember a Strat that was up a while back. They’re few and far between, however.
I know nothing other than what is in this thread and that my ES-175 is a great playing guitar. Good luck finding more out about yours! Post anything if you do find info! Seems the “Artist Model” may just be a standard- IIRC most everything I’ve seen in the way of Fender copies has that on it.
I have been meaning to get around to this for months, and after moving and remodeling a new house for the last 5 months, it’s finally out of the case and on display. Probably bought (in Boston, UK) around the late 70s or early 80s, and probably sat in a closet for its entire life. I ended up with it after my father-in-law passed away last fall. Nobody in the family recalls him ever playing it.
Very low action and very light feel. For something that sat for around 30 years with no attention (and not in a case) it plays well and sounds good (there’s a little static when switching the pickups.)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3635/5816875204_dc8ac58f5d.jpg
Just found this auction with some extra info attached (please excuse if it’s been posted before- I’ve read the thread and don’t remember it.)
http://cgi.ebay.com/CMI-Presicion-bass-VINTAGE-MADE-JAPAN-1980s-/120631084281?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item1c162c44f9In the UK, CMI was Cleartone Musical Instruments, an offshoot of Marshall Amplification – and this guitar is from Big Jim’s CMI.
The first CMI guitars were made in the UK by Ned Callan (actually a pseudonym for luthier Peter Cook), but unsurprisingly, later guitars were sourced from Japanese manufacturers. And of course, the question is which ones?
Many early Japanese CMIs feature 6-bolt neckplates – it’s not a positive ID, but these are associated with the Moridaira factory, frequently appearing on their Morris house brand. This guitar doesn’t have a 6-bolt plate, but the plain plate it has doesn’t suggest a particular maker.
If it was a Fujigen, however, it would be reasonable to expect it to have a typical Fujigen-style plate, with the “Made In Japan” stamp on the lower part, and possibly a serial number if it was ’75 or later. Likewise if it was from Matsumoku, you’d expect a “Steel Adjustable Neck” plate, or a Matsumoku-stamped one.
What it does have is a white plastic TRC, of the sort that often appear on Fujigen & Matsumoku Fender clones. However, the neck doesn’t have the quarter-sawn 3-piece construction that you’d also expect to find.
If I had to name the possible maker, I’d go for Moridaira – I don’t think it’s a Mat or a Fujigen, and it looks most likely that earlier CMIs were Mori. Is it any good? Probably. I have a Moridaira-built Washburn Wing series copy (branded as Hohner, of all things – it’s really odd!) and it is simply excellent – had it from new & it was pretty much the only guitar I needed for nearly 20 years.
