Daion Washburn Matsumoku HELP!!

**iriegnome** · #1 01-30-2012, 09:21 AM

Out of the blue, a guy e-mails me about my Washburn Vulture II SB-40 bass. He describes it to a pinpoint accuracy including the color of the case! So, I'm thinking I bought a stolen bass from the net and this guy is fishing to find out if I will run or be straight. I was fully straight and sent pic's. This guy even described the electronics of the bass! OMG.. He then tells me he is a collector of sorts and saw a post of my bass on Facebook. He proceeds to tell me mine is a Super Rare 1978 Daion Prototype for Washburn and in fact it was not made by Matsumoku, but Daion. Anyone ever even heard of Daion making basses for Washburn? The model (so I am told) is a B-40.

Epidrake · #2 01-30-2012, 09:29 AM

Whatever it is, it's a beautiful bass. Good luck finding out about it.

Buster Brown · #3 01-30-2012, 09:29 AM

He could, indeed, be right. I endorsed Daion back in 1980 when they (more or less) first appeared. 2 Doctors (both Jazz lovers) in Waco Texas began building guitars and basses until they sold the company in the middle 80s to a company in Japan.

I recall the first prototype looking very similar to your bass, but it has been so damn many years ago that my memory is failing on the exact looks, so yes, it is indeed, possible. The body type, PUPS and controls do look identical to a Daion. I think the giveaway is the bridge. Daion used those exact saddles so I think it is entirely possible that you have an early Daion (perhaps an early Washburn Proto). The ONE major difference I see, however, is the toggle switch. Daion put their toggles (like the Gibson) on the top of the horn.

I can tell you that the Daion basses were OUTSTANDING for their time. Very well built and the attention to detail was second to none. I have seen them going for upwards of $1,000 on Ebay and they are becoming increasingly hard to find.

Try googling Daion. There used to be a site dedicated to Daion and (as I recall) the guy who ran the site was very knowledgable about the brand.

Good Luck and nice looking bass!!

Here's the site I was referring to: http://daionguitar.com/index.php

Cheers!!

**iriegnome** · #4 01-30-2012, 09:47 AM

I did find the Daion web site. However, the link for Vintage Daion is a bad link. So I am left with a ton of questions and no answers. This mistry guy also sent me a E-bay add for a Washburn B-40 to show me that the bass was the same as mine, however, it is no where near what I have. And from what you are saying, Buster, is that my bass might be a Made in America bass and not a MIJ?? Hmmm. The plot thickens.

perkidan · #5 01-30-2012, 09:55 AM

I remember trying out some Daion basses back in early 83 and thought they were outstanding. Wound up buying a G&L L-2000E though. Hope you find out what the history is on that beautiful bass.

RCCollins · #6 01-30-2012, 10:01 AM

This link may be of help (it is NOT dead). Daion Bass Guitars

The mystery collector's claim seems plausible. Is your "washburn" a neck-through?

Buster Brown · #7 01-30-2012, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriegnome

I did find the Daion web site. However, the link for Vintage Daion is a bad link. So I am left with a ton of questions and no answers. This mistry guy also sent me a E-bay add for a Washburn B-40 to show me that the bass was the same as mine, however, it is no where near what I have. And from what you are saying, Buster, is that my bass might be a Made in America bass and not a MIJ?? Hmmm. The plot thickens.

Well, if the gentleman that contacted you is correct, it was built in the US - Waco Texas. I don't remember the exact year that they sold the company, but I "believe" it was 1983.

Is there a serial number on the back of the headstock?

**iriegnome** · #8 01-30-2012, 10:40 AM

The guy said it was made in waco, TX. There is no serial number

cdef · #9 01-30-2012, 11:12 AM

Don't have much detail, but the Yamaki factory in Japan, known to have built most Daions, also built some of the Washburn 'Wing' series (the 'B-' models) in 1979-80, before Matsumoku. Yamaki was founded by the Teradaira brothers, formerly of Zen-On. The younger ran the factory, while the elder managed the Daion operation.

Dyna Gakki in Nagano also built some of the early Daions on commission, as well as Joodee for MCI of Texas.

**iriegnome** · #10 01-30-2012, 12:34 PM

So this story gets even muddier! Yikes. I never knew any of this

MEKer · #11 01-30-2012, 12:44 PM

Your bass there is not a Washburn SB-40. It does appear to be Daeon.
If it is after 1981, then it is COPYING the Matsumoku-made Washburn SB-40 which came out winter 1979 (I bought one then and still have it). The Daeon headstock is certainly Wing series-like you'll note. The SB-40 also has one more switch on it, a tiny toggle which seems to be a small phaser effect.
If before 1979 then I have a suspicion Washburn may have copied Daeon on this to make their SB-40.

All in all, keep that bass! Its a humdinger and I bet it plays wonderfully. Its a neck-through like the SB-40? Is it 18 volt active, yes?

kellyrojo · #12 01-30-2012, 12:45 PM

Interesting. Sorry I have no information for you but was wondering--was the guy just interested in your bass or is he claiming you bought it stolen? Good luck and cool bass

**iriegnome** · #13 01-30-2012, 12:55 PM

He was just interested in it. He said he one similar that he was going to put up on e-bay, but his had a serial number. Mine does not. He claimed to be a Daion collector. Man he really could describe my bass..

MEKer · #14 01-30-2012, 01:01 PM

These are SB-40 as I explained above

MEKer · #15 01-30-2012, 01:05 PM

Here is the one I bought in 1979 (they made SB-40 up to 1982). This one here is 100% original. You'll note the photos above with the black pickups have different knobs---they are not original but were changed by previous owner.

**iriegnome** · #16 01-30-2012, 01:17 PM

Wow. The switch is a phase switch. I have a 1981 Hondo Matsumoku that has the same switch. Mine most certainly does not have a phase switch and it does have 4 knobs and a pickup selector switch. All original equipment (look at pic 3).. Ok, still trying to wrap my head around this. I owned another bass back in 1984 exactly like this one and from what I am seeing, this one is not a Washburn (My 1984 one was). This bass is probably pre 1979 (or so) and made in the USA by Daion in Waco, TX. A company that soon sold out to a Japanese firm?? With mine not having a serial number, it may or may not be one of the earliest Daion's or even a prototype for them??? Hmmm. This is pretty exciting detective work. Thanks everyone. Anything else anyone can tell me would most certainly be of help!

**iriegnome** · #17 01-30-2012, 01:19 PM

You know, even the tuners and the bridge are way different than on your 1979 SB-40

ThudThudThud · #18 01-30-2012, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iriegnome

My early 80s Washburn B20 Stage has the same bridge, the same pickup spacing (odd, isn't it?), and came with the same configuration of speed knobs. Washburn were doing odd things back then...
Like how Bakithi Kumalo played a 'Washburn B20' which looks a lot like your bass, and my B20 is [somewhat] explorer shaped.

MEKer · #19 01-30-2012, 02:18 PM

Like this B-20, 3rd from the right which I sold to a good TB'er a couple years ago? A beauty in just 100% pristine shape!!!

left to right:
Langcaster guitar, Langcaster bass, Washburn B-20, Washburn 1984 Force 40, Washburn 1979 (80) SB-40, Washburn (1981 I think) SB-40 with a modded stacked knob

OP: I bet your '84 Washburn was a Force 40 huh?

ThudThudThud · #20 01-30-2012, 04:37 PM

Yes. Except mine was not pristine, and hasn't been since the 80s (half of which I don't care to remember).
Now it's fretless (with brass fret markers), has black dome knobs, and black p'up covers.