FS ONLY: TUNE Zi-II 6 string (Japanese)

MoonDoggy · #1 02-04-2010, 02:48 PM

EDIT: I just got a JOB offer!!!! So starting at the end of this month, I will no longer be a jobless mooch!!! This also means I am no longer 'forced' to sell this bass. However, I will leave the ad up and bump it occasionally, mainly because this doesn't get the playing time it deserves next to my Yam TRB-6P w/ LPs. It deserves to be played and be heard.

I am now jobless again. This time, I may not be collecting unemployment. No paycheck = bye bye basses. So lets start with my beloved Tune and Modulus Q5.

Specs:

- 34" scale 4-piece maple neck-thru
- Compact tilt headstock w/ reverse tuners (Ibanez Willis style buttons shown in pics are NOT included. The originals are currently on the bass)
- The top and back is either Walnut or Macassar Ebony with an Ash core
- Macassar Ebony fretboard w/ 24 excellent frets
- Black hardware with slanted bridge (I measured 18-19mm spacing)
- 3 1/2" at 24th fret, 2 1/4" at the nut (Brass nut)
- Tune Guitar Technology humbuckers (logos are worn)
- Bartolini NTBT 9V preamp (T, B, BLEND, VOL setup. Not V, Blend, B, T. It's odd, but it's also oddly comfortable!)
- Recessed/Flush-mount strap locks
- Upward facing jack (awesome for live stuff, although I've never had the chance)
- Bathroom scale weight is 11lbs. (There's some heavy hardwoods in this one!)

I believe this is from 1992. This makes sense because Les Claypool was using this model bass around the same time frame (Check the first pic!). The build quality, feel, and tone are second to none. There is just NO comparison to the older Japanese Tunes. I've had the Korean ones; they look great, feel good, and sound ok, but they aren't Japanese. For those not familiar with Tunes, the Japanese Tunes are NOT an 'import' bass. They are a high-end manufacturer for the Japanese market, which is why they're rare here. (Kinda like Bossa and Moon I guess.) That being said, I am no expert myself, so if you know anything about this bass that I forgot to mention, please give your input.

The condition is excellent, especially for being approx 20 years old. There is a scratch in the back of the neck behind the 11th fret on the treble side (will not be felt while playing). Small indent on top edge of fingerborad at 5th fret. Small dent on lower side below 2nd pot. Small impressions on side above bottom strap lock. A few other hard-to-find flaws. I am being pretty picky about these flaws here! Overall, for as old as it is and having a softer tung oil finish, it's in great condition.

Price: $1500 + shipping anywhere. I have a sweet heavy duty Body Glove gigbag that I can add for $30.

I don't have sound clips at the moment, but if that's the determining factor of you buying the bass or not, I'll try to get some.

More pics:

http://s27.photobucket.com/albums/c1...Tune%20ZiII-6/

MoonDoggy · #2 02-06-2010, 07:49 AM

I just got some education on Japanese vs. Korean Tune instruments from TBer alsendk. Apparently there is no relation between the companies. And the new Japanese tunes are different than these as well. Here's the text from alsendk's post on The Official TUNE Club page:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showth...71#post8655771

"Hello Allan,

Thanks for your email, it is always a pleasure to become acquainted with another pro bassist. I checked out your website and the MP3's of your band. I like it.....nice work!

I get a lot of emails from other Tune owners like you, asking for information about this mysterious bass company in the Far East! They really are outstanding instruments, it's a shame that they never became very well known. The original company, Tune Guitar Technology, was started by Hatsukazu Fujitani in 1983 and the first and most famous model was the Bass Maniac. It's a little difficult to tell from the pictures on your website, but your bass looks like an old one from the '80s. Did you buy it used? The extended fingerboard is cool.....looks like a special custom model.

T.G.T. expanded to build more interesting and adventurous basses in the '90s (when I lived in Japan) but then they got into financial trouble and Fujitani san disappeared with a lot of money and the company collapsed! For a while, you couldn't buy Tunes, but then a couple of years ago, they began to reappear. As it turns out, there are now at least TWO rival companies making "Tune" basses. The new Japanese company, Tune Guitar Maniac, still makes very high quality instruments virtually identical to the original T.G.T. basses. But unfortunately, there is also a Korean company making cheap copies, and the Korean company has the Tune trademark registered in the U.S.A.

Because I speak Japanese and I am friends with one of their long time endorsers, I have established a relationship directly with the Japanese company and I can get basses directly from them. In fact, I just got another wonderful fretted Bass Maniac 5 string from them! They asked me to be their U.S. distributor, but because of the trademark problem, I can't sell their basses here. It's a funny coincidence that you have a fretless, because they are making a custom fretless Bass Maniac 5 for me right now! If it turns out nicely, I might sell the five string I just bought and order a fretted custom 5 string to match my fretless! It's an addiction!

If you want to contact the Japanese company directly, you can try to email them from their website: http://www.cc.rim.or.jp/~tune/ I believe that they will ship to anywhere in the world, but they don't speak much English, so communication might be a problem. Let me know if you need my help, and I can contact them for you. Good luck, and let's stay in touch!

Doug
www.dougross.net"

allexcosta · #3 02-09-2010, 09:19 PM

Hmmmmm... Japanese TUNE... Yummyyyyy...

It's been 13 years since I sold mine and I still regret that day...

MoonDoggy · #4 05-06-2010, 10:45 AM

NO LONGER FOR SALE...

I just spent over an hour playing this bass trying to get decent sound clips recorded using the worthless Windows sound recorder. While I was playing it, it occurred to me that I'd be absolutely crazy to get rid of the bass. It's everything I could ever want in a bass- 34", 19mm, perfect neck shape, crystal clear growl, and good looks to boot! The only reason I'm selling this particular bass is because it doesn't get much play time over my main 6 string, and I could use the cash. But I don't want to deal with the regret of losing this right now!

I may change my mind again next month, next year, whenever. It's just not happening now!

RickC · #5 05-06-2010, 12:52 PM

A wise decision, I think. I had that same bass in padauk; my first 6 and just a wonderful instrument. They are special.

/rick

MoonDoggy · #6 06-29-2010, 08:05 PM

For sale again.

Please buy it before I change my mind again. I'm getting sick of this on again off again relationship!

MoonDoggy · #7 07-07-2010, 07:59 PM

New plan.... I have two of my greatest 6 string bass loves up for sale- this Tune and my amazing orangy Yamaha TRB-6P with Lane Poor slims. Whichever one sell first, the other will stay. Take your pick!

MoonDoggy · #8 07-18-2010, 09:16 PM

UPDATE:

Make offers! Prices are (slightly) negotiable.

MoonDoggy · #9 08-01-2010, 06:38 AM

I'm getting married on the 7th and gone for the first half of August. So I'll be unable watch my emails like a hawk as usual and box up & ship an instrument. If you were about to pull the trigger.....it will have to wait.

pedulla1 · #10 08-01-2010, 07:16 AM

DON'T DO IT MAN (get married, that is LOL). Congrats dude. Enjoy.

Jon_West · #11 08-06-2010, 06:24 AM

Man, that bass is delicious.

MoonDoggy · #12 08-21-2010, 10:47 AM

Surely there's someone out there that knows how amazing these basses are and that's in the market!!!!

Help!!!

Dan Knowlton · #13 08-21-2010, 11:00 AM

If it were a 5'er I would have bought it a LONG time ago... I just can't handle 6's.

Felicitations on your wedding! (Congrats sounds like "I can't believe she would marry you so I never say that) Today is my 34th anniversary and she is still my best friend! Hope your marriage is as good as mine has been.

Dan K.

MoonDoggy · #14 08-21-2010, 11:15 AM

Thank you so much for the kind words. And felicitations on your anniversary. It's good to hear guys saying something good about marriage! I know I did the right thing marrying this woman. I hope to be able to say exactly what you said after 34 years. Now get off TB and go take your lady out to a nice dinner.

Also consider that hi C string! It has a lot of good uses. I'm hooked on 6 strings!

Dan Knowlton · #15 08-21-2010, 06:33 PM

We can't - she is a teacher and is getting her classroom ready for the kids next week. And no, she did not want my help....

So our 6-year-old and I have been doing fun stuff - he had rehearsal for a musical, we went to Munji's gig and watched and then scoped out the Harley's, went to a bookstore (he was happy!), In-N-Out Burger for lunch, went to a big pet store and he just finished up watching a new video... Hope my wife gets home before dark!

Dan K.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoonDoggy

Thank you so much for the kind words. And felicitations on your anniversary. It's good to hear guys saying something good about marriage! I know I did the right thing marrying this woman. I hope to be able to say exactly what you said after 34 years. Now get off TB and go take your lady out to a nice dinner.

Also consider that hi C string! It has a lot of good uses. I'm hooked on 6 strings!

MoonDoggy · #16 08-26-2010, 10:15 AM

Last chance before I try some other outlets....dare I say.....EBAY!

\m/cliffB\m/ · #17 08-26-2010, 10:23 AM

dont evilbay it please!! i wish i had cash iv been gasing for a 6er

wassup1711 · #18 08-31-2010, 08:07 AM

still available?

MoonDoggy · #19 08-31-2010, 10:43 AM

Yessir it is. I was planning on listing this Tune, my Yamaha, and all 4 Andreas instruments on eBay this weekend. If you want this baby, it's your last chance.

Thanks

Dan

MoonDoggy · #20 09-04-2010, 07:19 PM

There's another Tune Zi 6 string on eBay now. It's from user KentKline, who is a great eBayer and a stand-up guy. I've bought from him before and his prices are always fair.

His is the more common model which does not have the slanted angled bridge. He's asking $1800 obo. I doubt he'd take $1500 (what I'm asking). What more do I have to do to get you to buy mine?!?! Do I literally have to let you steal it?