The Guitar Gallery Forums - The Guitar Legacy of Matsumoku

I found this bass on craigslist about a month ago and at the time didn't have the cash he was asking for it ($225). I did some handiwork for a few neighbors to come up with the cash and a month later, he still had the bass. I bought it from him on Friday and have been playing it nonstop ever since. It plays like a dream and no fender bass that I have touched has even come close to how this feels (minus the fact that they weigh the same). The seller indicated that it is a '77 p bass, but I would love to know more. It has holes near the bridge pickup for what must have been an ashtray cover, but when he bought the bass it was already missing that. Unfortunately, my images are huge and they can't be uploaded directly to the forum. Here are the links.
[Headstock Front] http://i.imgur.com/qILvKlch.jpg
[Body Front] http://i.imgur.com/o1oW8Odh.jpg
[Neck Inlay] http://i.imgur.com/jSA1DBvh.jpg
[Body Side view (you can see the holes)] http://i.imgur.com/tZ4nROnh.jpg
[Body Back] http://i.imgur.com/GPDgrGnh.jpg
[Serial Number] http://i.imgur.com/auJVcL1h.jpg
[Headstock Back] http://i.imgur.com/asXGENuh.jpg
Any help would be much appreciated; It's probably the best $225 I have ever spent on an instrument in my life.
-Alejandro

Hi Alejandro, and welcome!

1977 is the year of manufacture, and the model designation for your bass is Aria Pro II JB-500S.
....that's all i know.....

Nikki

500S? I can't seem to find that model listed o:

This way -> 1977 Aria Pro II - JB-Series
Unfortunately, my Japanese is not good

I would assume that that line had the option for a neck and bridge pickup, as mine has both yet the catalogue shows only the bridge

A J bass has one pickup in the pickguard and one under the bridge cover. Since yours doesn't have the cover, both are visible. The cat pics only show the front pickup because the cover hides the other.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday

Looks like an upgraded bridge, too, and that might have interfered with the old cover(s).

Nice bass, great deal.

je

_________________
...doing bad things to good Vantages since 1985...

1981 AV-320
1981 AV-320
1981 AV-325
1982 AV-320
1982 VS-695-12
1982 VSH-445
1983 AV-330
1995 VST 33 CE TBK

Yeah, it has the same.bridge.as the geddy lee signature.bass. the original bridge is.missing the g saddle

Now that I think about it, the J bass originally came with a cover over the other pickup too.
Did the AP2? Probably not.

_________________
Quality service since 3:00 last Tuesday