constant mesh
New member
Hi guys, need a little help here. I came across a Fender Jazz Bass, it's a 5-string, but it has an unusual tuning pegs layout (besides other "interesting features"), they are 5 in line, instead of 4+1. The headstock is a bit elongated version of a standard JB course. The logo says Fender Jazz Bass etc. but it does not say where it was made and no serial number. The neckplate is plain, 4-bolt. There's a gold/red sticker on the back of the headstock, the one Fender/Squier put on guitars in 1996 I believe that was Fender's 50th anniversary? Tuners are diecast, Y-shaped, very similar to those Ibanez uses for their basses, no brand whatsoever. Again, I'd expect traditional clover leaf pegs.
Overall the guitar meets what we are used to from Fender JB's, the electronics are good, everything is crafted nicely, the neck profile and radius is "correct" or at least it immediately feels like a Fender.
Searching the net I could indeed find a couple of Fender branded similar 5-string JB's, but the majority of them are Squiers. Also, the one I was playing has two string discs instead of a one-piece solid retainer like the rest of the "5-inline" family had.
I'm at risk here, I am not sure if this is a genuine Fender or not. If everything stands true, this should be made around 1996, but owner claims he bought it new somewhere in 2004 and that it's a Deluxe model, but from the looks of it it's not (no abalone/perloid etc etc.). After all he's selling it for 300 EUR, not a very typical price for a used mint Deluxe, is it?
My guesses are either this is a complete fake, a frankenbass and lastly a true genuine Fender with some strange parts collage.
I'd gladly appreciate any info on this one. Not that the price is not right from my stand-point, but I just don't feel comfortable buying fake sh*t.
Usually I'm very good at spotting fakes, I'm the only guitar-tech around here so I go through a lot of gear in my time, but this one really takes the cake.
Thank you.
Overall the guitar meets what we are used to from Fender JB's, the electronics are good, everything is crafted nicely, the neck profile and radius is "correct" or at least it immediately feels like a Fender.
Searching the net I could indeed find a couple of Fender branded similar 5-string JB's, but the majority of them are Squiers. Also, the one I was playing has two string discs instead of a one-piece solid retainer like the rest of the "5-inline" family had.
I'm at risk here, I am not sure if this is a genuine Fender or not. If everything stands true, this should be made around 1996, but owner claims he bought it new somewhere in 2004 and that it's a Deluxe model, but from the looks of it it's not (no abalone/perloid etc etc.). After all he's selling it for 300 EUR, not a very typical price for a used mint Deluxe, is it?
My guesses are either this is a complete fake, a frankenbass and lastly a true genuine Fender with some strange parts collage.
I'd gladly appreciate any info on this one. Not that the price is not right from my stand-point, but I just don't feel comfortable buying fake sh*t.
Usually I'm very good at spotting fakes, I'm the only guitar-tech around here so I go through a lot of gear in my time, but this one really takes the cake.
Thank you.
