"The neck is almost straight."

[Double E]

Aria Pro2 TSB-650 beutiful JAPAN rare useful EMS F/S* | eBay

Seller is Japanese... the description translation is priceless.

I would not make this purchase for many reasons no matter how much I wanted it or how great of a deal it may be.

Here is the ad copy posted here for posterity.

Description

*************************************************************************

Aria Pro 2 TSB-650
I adopted a through-neck for the ash body
It is luxurious making.
There are scratch marks associated with use.

If I played such a base in a live house
Significant attention! What?
The neck is almost straight.
Fret is over 9 minutes.
It is unused after rubbing.

Of course there is no such freaky beater or fret clogging
It weighs about 3.7 kg.
The serial number is 1090xxxx.

Original soft case is included.
I will ship it wrapped in bubble wrap.

BODY ash
NECK Maple + Walnut Through Neck
PEG original
FRETBOARD ROSEWOOD
PICKUPS 1 VOL 1 TONE
0-12 F 45.7-52.9 mm
TREMOLO -
COLOR NAT

*************************************************************************

 

[AboutSweetSue]

I think the seller thought that if he ships a bass with the neck "straight", it could arrive at destination with a back-bow, and that it's safer to put a bit of relief in it. Just a guess.

That’s a very positive outlook. I’m more pessimistic, often getting tired of my own brooding. I think the seller is trying to pull the veil over the face.

 

[Vinny_G]

That’s a very positive outlook. I’m more pessimistic, often getting tired of my own brooding. I think the seller is trying to pull the veil over the face.

Maybe, but about what? I mean, if the neck has a functional truss rod, I don't really see the problem.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

You're assuming the bend isn't laterally to the left or right

 

[AboutSweetSue]

Maybe, but about what? I mean, if the neck has a functional truss rod, I don't really see the problem.

It’s the wording. Worded as though they are trying to cover an issue, as if the truss is maxed, yet functional, and the neck is almost straight. You wouldn’t say that unless you couldn’t tighten the rod further. It’s a bad choice of words.

BUT, the whole translation is a mess. The ad states, “It is unused after rubbing.” Which, before this statement, the ad states that it is “luxurious making”. From my experience, when you rub something it is then used, especially when the rub was for want of luxurious making. All seems a bit sketchy to me, but, strangely, I feel that this seller truly loved this bass.

I’m sure the bass is fine, seriously. But, I’d also consider a little disinfecting upon arrival.

 

[Ross W. Lovell]

That's like advertising a car for sale and saying it almost runs. If you cannot inspect the bass and the truss rod prior to purchasing it, find something else. There are plenty of used basses for sale.

Like seeing, " it just needs carb work" and knowing its fuel injected.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

Like seeing, " it just needs carb work" and knowing its fuel injected.

For me its "it's good to go, all it needs is....."

 

[Green Knight]

This thread has turned unexpectedly hilarious. What!

 

[higain617]

No, most would agree, and then do it anyway.

Most jam bands would also agree. After 9 minutes with some prog bands, you’re not even past the first mellotron solo.

 

[Green Knight]

I'll post pics in this thread when my "neck is fine" TSB 650 arrives via EMS from Japan, hopefully without significant rubbing.

 

[Groove Doctor]

I'll post pics in this thread when my "neck is fine" TSB 650 arrives via EMS from Japan, hopefully without significant rubbing.

Let’s hope “there is no such freaky beater or fret clogging”

 

[Topkat13]

If it was horse shoes or hand grenades almost would be ok.

 

[Huw Phillips]

If it’s in a large city you could ask for an expert opinion from a music shop, I worked for the Japanese gov for ten years and would be able to hook you up with a good translation from a musician if this helps, Japanese people are pretty honest in my experience

 

[kumimajava]

Coming from someone who's currently living in Japan - and (like the seller in that listing), have often had to use Google Translate on instrument sales:

- Japanese sellers are, on average, very cautious, in most listings. In the majority of cases the sellers who make it onto eBay have considerable experience with instruments, so will have checked the truss-rod. Perfectly fine to ask whether Truss-rod works, or not - usually you'll get an answer. Usually if it is maxed-out, there will be a note, and the instrument will be labelled as "Junk condition".

- Saying that something is "almost straight" gets them out of the awkward situation where the buyer doesn't know how to adjust truss-rods, and returns an item with a "slight" amount of relief. Keep in mind that in Japan, humidity differences across the country are massive, so occasionally an instrument that is sent with a straight neck arrives slightly bowed (forward or back).

- The "minutes" comment comes from auto-translating the Japanese character "分"... which can be translated as "parts of ..." or in a different context, "minutes". So, "9 minutes" = "there's about 90% frets left"

Hope this doesn't kill all of the hilarity on the thread, and is of some practical use if you're buying something from Japan.

Rock on

 

[Auspuff]

I too am keen to add an Aria to my collection.

Issue I face: About all of them are in Japan.

 

[LowRick]

imho, you should almost buy it

 

[Auspuff]

imho, you should almost buy it

Is that like a Definite Maybe?

 

[interp]

My girlfriend is almost pregnant.

 

[Vinny_G]

My girlfriend is almost pregnant.

You may be almost the father.

 

[jamro217]

Although the translation is sketchy, the pics of the bass look pretty good. The one of the whole instrument shows the edges of the neck and the line of the strings look almost (<had to ) right. The rubbing thing, luxurious making, scratch marks, and the intriguing nine minutes reference from a seller called Japanese treasurebox is provocative enough. There is near the end of the description what appears to be measurements of the action at the nut and twelfth fret. Not too bad. I'd be worried about the fact that it is a neck through in the event it was damaged, but getting the cheap perfume smell out of the case may be even more of a problem.