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For sale FS and possibly FT - Kawai FIIB Neck-through 4-string. Beautiful "poor man's Alembic"

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For sale is a phenomenal 1985 Japanese Kawai FIIB bass. I bought this last month from squarewave here on TB and, while it a killer bass, it just isn't "me." This bass looks great, plays great and sounds great, but I'm just a classic Fender-style bass guy at heart. So, I'm putting it out there for sale.

From the original ad:

It's in excellent condition, with only a few minor dings that can be seen up close -nothing major at all. Take a look at the photos. The most notable flaw is a few small dings in the mile-thick clear finish below the neck pickup. You can see them in the photos if you look really closely.

The frets are in excellent condition, showing only minimal wear. Overall, the bass is quite beautiful and in amazing condition for its age.

The through-neck is 5 pc. laminated Maple and Mahogany with a 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard. The body is 3 pc. laminated Zebrano/Maple/Zebrano (zebra wood).

This early example has the heavy brass bridge and strings through the body. Original Japanese Gotoh tuners. All original active electronics.

The pickups are a Kawai design P-Bass type with built-in pre-amps and require a 9 volt battery for each. The pre-amps control the tone character. There are switches for each pickup. In the center position the bass is essentially flat. The other two switch positions provide combinations of cut and boost at various frequencies.

It weighs 9.5 lbs. Full 34" scale. 1-5/8" at the nut (halfway between most P and J basses). Just under 3/4 string spacing at the bridge- let's call it 18.5 mm (very comfortable spacing).
Click to expand...

I can't take any better pictures than squarewave's, so please see them in the original thread: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=661213

I will include a non-original gig bag. I'm asking [DEL]$800[/DEL] $750 shipped CONUS. I may be willing to ship outside of CONUS, so shoot me a PM.

As far as trades, I am looking for a Fender (or Fender-style) Jazz bass. I am willing to add money if need be. I tend to like sunburst with rosewood, or a matching headstock. I am particularly interested in a Fender '64 RI Jazz (hopefully D Bopp's LPB one...:D), a Nash or a Lakland JO4 (or maybe DJ4). I already have 3 P-Basses, so I'm not looking for those.

Thanks so much! :hyper:
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Comments

PopaWoody

PopaWoody

The major rager
May 28, 2009
683
56
Tampa, FL
I had one of these in the early 90's great tone. I paid $200 used or so in a Pawn shop. Sounded so much like a piano.
 
kjpollo

kjpollo

Mar 17, 2008
3,456
87
CT
Too bad the only LPB Jazz w/matching headstock I have is an SX (but it DOES have the old headstock!)

Bump for a beauty!
 
B

BobbyMcP

Sep 4, 2010
4
0
I have a late 80's Signature Guitar Company 4-string passive J-Bass that I could trade you. It's got nearly new black Rotosound flatwounds, and it's in great shape. In case you're not familiar with Signature Guitar Co. it was a Canadian company that only lasted a few years (Fender lawsuits put em out of business). Alex Lifeson designed and developed most their stuff . This bass is a kind-of "Geddy Lee" knock-off, but plays and sounds better IMHO. Let me know if you might be interested. & I can send a few picts along.
Take Good Care, Bob
 
krovx

krovx

Thump or Bust
Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2003
2,649
613
Michigan, USA
With the neck pup solo'd what does she sound like?

I am trying to find a P on roids kind of thing...
 
TwoGearGeeks

TwoGearGeeks

Sep 25, 2009
347
13
Seattle
krovx said:
With the neck pup solo'd what does she sound like?

I am trying to find a P on roids kind of thing...
Click to expand...

This bass sounds pretty beefy (but articulate). The sound is full range, like when the tone knob on a P is all the way up. Plus, there are different switches that emphasize certain frequencies. So, it has more tone shaping than a standard P.
 
krovx

krovx

Thump or Bust
Supporting Member
Mar 11, 2003
2,649
613
Michigan, USA
Looks so cool...I wonder how it would sound with flats

Wish I could see/hear it first :(
 

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TwoGearGeeks
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For Sale: Bass Guitars
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