Advanced cynicism is a terrible thing

[Happy Jack]

[url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-RARE-vintage-1962-63-Fender-Bass-VI-6-No-Reserve-/110694075593?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c5e18cc9"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-RARE-vintage-1...=item19c5e18cc9[/url]

I read this listing thinking "Must be a fake".

Apart from the tuners, I couldn't see anything that looked particularly convincing as being evidence of a 50-year-old bass, and I've been lucky enough to own a number of instruments from that period (mainly Hofners, rather than Fenders, mind).

The description provided seemed chiefly concerned with throwing the burden of proof (or otherwise) onto the buyer.

Yet, for all I know, this is an entirely genuine auction of a very rare bass in truly superb condition.

Sad, isn't it?

[karlfer]

Even if money wasn't an issue, the days of buying a vintage Fender are over for me.
Below are just some of the reasons.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=132313&st=0&start=0"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=...t=0&start=0[/url]

[KiOgon]

Looks genuine & original except the strings to me & very rare - in superb condition not even a re-fin IMO

[waynepunkdude]

It was at £104 when I went to bed my dreams were dashed as I awoke.

[chaypup]

[quote name='Happy Jack' post='1248824' date='May 29 2011, 12:45 AM'][url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-RARE-vintage-1962-63-Fender-Bass-VI-6-No-Reserve-/110694075593?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item19c5e18cc9"]http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SUPER-RARE-vintage-1...=item19c5e18cc9[/url]

I read this listing thinking "Must be a fake".

Apart from the tuners, I couldn't see anything that looked particularly convincing as being evidence of a 50-year-old bass, and I've been lucky enough to own a number of instruments from that period (mainly Hofners, rather than Fenders, mind).

The description provided seemed chiefly concerned with throwing the burden of proof (or otherwise) onto the buyer.

Yet, for all I know, this is an entirely genuine auction of a very rare bass in truly superb condition.

Sad, isn't it?[/quote]

You didn't think the wiring looked 50 years old?

[BigRedX]

Compare and contrast with [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/370514082930?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp5197.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D370514082930%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_26274wt_1426"]this '63 Bass VI[/url]?

[gareth]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1248941' date='May 29 2011, 09:44 AM']Compare and contrast with [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/370514082930?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp5197.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D370514082930%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_26274wt_1426"]this '63 Bass VI[/url]?[/quote]


Yes interesting to contrast

Do you have any conclusions, observations or comments from making the comparison?

[Happy Jack]

[quote name='chaypup' post='1248933' date='May 29 2011, 09:39 AM']You didn't think the wiring looked 50 years old?[/quote]

Wiring is NOT my strong point, and I've seen wiring that looked exactly like that on modern replicas.

My point is that this bass may well be (probably IS) a genuine 1964 Fender Bass VI, but there are now so many excellent reasons to disbelieve and mistrust people who sell these instruments that my default position is to assume that it's a fake until proven otherwise.

The title of this topic is not intended to be ironic or sarcastic. It's really sad that this is where we've reached.

[mart]

[quote name='KiOgon' post='1248890' date='May 29 2011, 08:13 AM']Looks genuine & original except the strings ...[/quote]

Talking of the strings, whats with the B-string (assuming it's tuned EADGBE; I mean the 2nd highest string) - I bet the open string and the first fret don't sound good with all that fluff wrapped round the string!

[mikhay77]

Somethin not right abought the string spacing,if its a low E its nearly off the neck and as the strings get lower they are less in line with the pick up poles!

[steve-soar]

[quote name='BigRedX' post='1248941' date='May 29 2011, 09:44 AM']Compare and contrast with [url="http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/370514082930?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp5197.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D370514082930%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1#ht_26274wt_1426"]this '63 Bass VI[/url]?[/quote]That is quite possibly the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen.

[BigRedX]

[quote name='mart' post='1249306' date='May 29 2011, 03:36 PM']Talking of the strings, whats with the B-string (assuming it's tuned EADGBE; I mean the 2nd highest string) - I bet the open string and the first fret don't sound good with all that fluff wrapped round the string![/quote]
[quote name='mikhay77' post='1249408' date='May 29 2011, 05:11 PM']Somethin not right abought the string spacing,if its a low E its nearly off the neck and as the strings get lower they are less in line with the pick up poles![/quote]
The whole stringing is a bit of a mess. It looks as though there's at least 3 different brands of string and also whoever fitted them didn't realise that despite the bass being short scale you need to use long scale strings to allow for the vibrato mechanism.

Also looks as though the neck is on at a bit of an angle which is contributing to the strings not lining up with the pole pieces. Although having said that the CAR one also appears to suffer from the same problem.

The CAR version also appears to have a slightly different bridge with a muting mechanism?

[EssentialTension]

They both appear to have 1963 pot codes - at Guitar Dater Project that is.

Edited May 29, 2011 by EssentialTension

[Macko1968]

I've done business with the seller in the past, had no problems at all with him.