Found this on Marketplace
1970’s Japanese Kingston bass
I know what Howard will say
My better half didn’t help she said- you can afford it, you seem to want it…
$520 
dollarydoos , just reduced by $100, I may be able to get it down 
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For $100?
Sure, why not.
I’m not sure about the playability and tone, but…
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That looks really sweet. Looks to be in good condition. Price seems reasonable.
I can’t answer your question though.
Why do YOU want THIS bass? What will you do with it?
Is there a reason why you wouldn’t get use out of it?
If you buy this, what will you have to skip on spending money on?
If you don’t buy this, what will you do with that money?
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Reduced by $100
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Why do I want it? Because it looks different and has panache.
What would I do with it? Play it, no danger of it not being played.
I can afford it but I really don’t need another.
It does look purty tho
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If you’ve got the money, space, and blessing from your wife…
This one excites you in ways that others you see don’t…
There isn’t another bass out there that you’d rather spend the money, space, and blessing from your wife on…
You are comfortable potentially doing some soldering work to replace old components…
Then go for it.
Or… the one thing I’d want to check first, is what the bridge looks like. Ask if they can take off the bridge cover and give you a photo of that. (Or just inspect it yourself when picking up.) A lot of old bridges are fidly to adjust. I want ones that are all independently adjustable sadles. Otherwise, I’d want to be sure that I’d be able to easily replace the bridge.
Probably needs strings and setup. Whatever.
May need some new pots or something. Easy soldering.
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A quick search says these are budget, entry level department store instruments.
I would vote no on this.
The 1970s Japanese Kingston bass shown in the forum post falls into the category of vintage, entry-level department store instruments.
Here is a detailed breakdown of its quality level, history, and build characteristics:
Quality Level: Entry-Level “Budget Vintage”
Historically, Kingston was a brand name utilized by U.S. importer Jack Westheimer to market low-cost instruments imported from Japan. While the 1970s is often called the “Golden Era” of high-end Japanese craftsmanship (from legendary factories like Matsumoku or FujiGen that built incredible Fender and Gibson replicas), Kingston instruments sat firmly on the budget/department store end of that spectrum.
They were built to a price point, frequently featuring multi-piece laminate or plywood bodies and budget hardware. However, today they are highly sought after by collectors for their unique retro aesthetic, historic “mojo,” and distinct lo-fi tonal character.
Key Details & Characteristics
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Manufacturing Origins: Most electric Kingston guitars and basses from this era were built by Japanese manufacturers like Teisco or Kawai before production eventually shifted to Korea. The specific model in the photo carries classic Teisco-era design cues, such as the distinct micro-fretted chrome hardware, tortoise-shell style pickguard overlays, and unique multi-pickup configurations.
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Electronics & Sound: These basses are famous for their gold-foil style or oversized single-coil pickups. While they can be quite noisy by modern standards, they possess a ton of unique vintage character. Players often describe their sound as “swampy,” clear, and exceptionally warm—perfect for recreating classic 1960s and '70s Motown or garage-rock thud, especially when paired with flatwound or black nylon tapewound strings.
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Construction Quirks:
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Necks: The necks on these instruments are often quite slim and comfortable (resembling a Jazz bass profile), but because of the wood quality used on budget lines, they can be prone to bowing over time. Keeping light-gauge strings on them is generally recommended to preserve playability.
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Bodies: They typically feature laminate or block-wood body construction rather than a premium solid center-cut piece of tone wood.
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Pricing Context
The forum post lists the bass at $520 AUD (roughly $350 USD), down from $620 AUD. For a Japanese Kingston bass in clean, original cosmetic condition with the chrome bridge cover intact (which is rare, as they are often lost), this is a fairly standard market price for a vintage novelty instrument. If you are looking for a reliable, modern, everyday workhorse, a modern budget bass will outperform it structurally. But if you want a unique studio tool with vintage vibe, it has a lot of charm.
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Yeah I’m with @John_E on this. My vote would be no especially for the asking price.
More from google: A 1970s Japanese Kingston bass is an entry-level “lawsuit-era” vintage instrument manufactured in the Teisco or Kawai factories. These short-scale basses are highly collectible for their quirky, retro aesthetic but generally have lower market values, typically selling for between $150 and $300 (USD) depending on the exact condition and originality.
Neckplate looks wonky
All good points, I likely won’t get it but thought it was worth sharing.
A lot of the points listed above as possible cons are the things that attract it to me- in the way I am attracted to the ugly/attractive Soviet basses,
I suspected it had gold foils from the pic and that is a plus too.
Anyway $500ish is a little too rich to tempt me on this-I still have my eye on a DB.
I didn’t even think of running the info through AI - I am still a cave-dwelling Luddite in many ways and always keep a sabot handy (next to my towel)
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But they were nice enough to put a full log for the grab bar instead of just a small wood block!
Yeah, that would go 
Gold foil style pickups and and funky looks is my jam, I like basses that do the narrowest function, versatility and maximize character. If you are the do it all in one bass type this is not for you, but if you want “that” bass that only do one thing well then you’ll love this.
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I kind of dig it. I bet it sounds gnarly.
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I am attracted to basses that don’t cost too many Rubles, Comrade! 