NBD 1983 Ibanez Fretless Musician

Rexylab

Rexylab

Commercial User
Mar 15, 2022
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Arnaudville, La
rexylab.net
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Rexylab, The Squishy Guitar Project, D’Addario Foundation
#1
What should have been a joyous occasion became a bit of a nightmare.

I had one of these in the late 80s and got rid of it because, well… I was a stupid kid.

oops

I had been looking for one for a long time and paid top dollar from a vintage guitar shop in Seattle. At first all seemed really cool but it took a dark turn quickly.

Gone through completely by a tech, yeah right!

I have no pics handy but here is a link to the unboxing video.

by the way, I won’t ever trust Mike and Mike’s Guitar Bar in Seattle, Washington to even tie their shoes. What a miserable customer service experience.

 
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#3
The electronics were filthy and didn’t work properly until cleaned out, the trussrod was frozen but I managed to free it up and lube it with some beeswax (there was a screw jammed in where the trussrod is lost in there by someone decades ago no doubt).

Most importantly the bridge screws were frozen and the saddles are pretty much useless.

Oh yeah, and one of the tuning machines barley worked to the point where it is unusable and unfixable. Plus one of the tuners was mismatched.

Mike and Mike’s Guitar Bar in Seattle, Washington wanted to send me parts for a geo to put on this vintage instrument. They wound up giving me $200 back and that wasn’t even close to cover the cost of even a replacement bridge that was correct. Let alone the tuners.

They claimed this thing had been gone through but there is just no way in the world that was true.

To be fair they offered me a refund but there was no way I would let them mangle this awesome vintage fretless anymore than it was. I keep it and took the $200.
 
#6
I used to have one very similar to that back in the 80's, though mine had been converted from fretted to fretless. Great bass.
Allegory.jpg


Re Mike & Mike's... I live in Seattle and so visit them every now and then. I've experienced multiple instances where basses were not cleaned or setup well, electronics were crapped out, etc., which is surprising considering they charge premium prices and they have some very good in-store techs.
 
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#8
P. Aaron said:
My first bass was an Ibanez Studio model. Wish I still had it.

'Hope you can get that bass right.
Click to expand...
DanTheQuaker said:
I used to have one very similar to that back in the 80's, though mine had been converted from fretted to fretless. Great bass.
View attachment 4704520

Re Mike & Mike's... I live in Seattle and so visit them every now and then. I've experienced multiple instances where basses were not setup well, electronics were crapped out, etc., which is surprising considering they charge premium prices and they have some very good in-store techs.
Click to expand...
Yeah, just wait for
Part 2 on YouTube. It’s the whole phone call where they promise to make it right. Spoiler alert, they don’t.
 
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#11
I watched your whole video. I have a 1982 MC924 so it was cool to see your disassemble and thorough cleaning. Great work!

I’m not surprised a shop doesn’t do the hours of meticulous work on each instrument as you. They probably took it in, made sure it made sound, and stuck it up for sale.

Mine came with only 3 tuners, 2 original. I replaced them all with Grover titans. Luckily, everything else works great.

congrats on your new old bass!
 
#12
Rexylab said:
To be fair they offered me a refund but there was no way I would let them mangle this awesome vintage fretless anymore than it was. I keep it and took the $200.
Click to expand...

So, what's the problem? I don't understand why you would disparage a store who's offering you a full refund. Take the money and try to find another one in the condition that you expect a nearly 40 year old instrument to be in.
 
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#13
Rexylab said:
What should have been a joyous occasion became a bit of a nightmare.

I had one of these in the late 80s and got rid of it because, well… I was a stupid kid.

oops

I had been looking for one for a long time and paid top dollar from a vintage guitar shop in Seattle. At first all seemed really cool but it took a dark turn quickly.

Gone through completely by a tech, yeah right!

I have no pics handy but here is a link to the unboxing video.

by the way, I won’t ever trust Mike and Mike’s Guitar Bar in Seattle, Washington to even tie their shoes. What a miserable customer service experience.

Click to expand...

Cool video. I just subscribed to your YouTube channel.
 
#14
LukeSlywalker said:
I watched your whole video. I have a 1982 MC924 so it was cool to see your disassemble and thorough cleaning. Great work!

I’m not surprised a shop doesn’t do the hours of meticulous work on each instrument as you. They probably took it in, made sure it made sound, and stuck it up for sale.

Mine came with only 3 tuners, 2 original. I replaced them all with Grover titans. Luckily, everything else works great.

congrats on your new old bass!
Click to expand...
This is as just part 1 of 3. The next one they promise to make it right and the last one I get it close with some black hardware.

They are amazing basses. Congrats on having one.
 
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