eci0x Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Hello! This one guy is selling his Fender Jazz bass, which he bought in a commission shop (used guitar shop) in New Zealand two years ago. He is selling this bass for 650 dollars and he said that he bought it for 850 euros. From the serial number, which is seen in the photo below, I can tell that it has been made in USA in year 2009/2010 (the serial number is - Z9068288). My question is - how can I tell if it is a real Fender Jazz bass made in US? I'm going to try it out in a few days. Maybe you guys can tell me some things to look out for to know if it's the real deal and not a fake Bender made in China? Also, from the photo I can't really tell what exact model is this bass, maybe you can help me out with that. Thanks ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) I think this is a Squier Vintage Modified Jazz with a fake decal. The pics are very small. The tuners are cheap, US Jazz`s from 2010 have the truss rod adjuster at the body end but it has through body stringing which may have been done by someone after purchase. Edited November 14, 2016 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eci0x Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 You can see them bigger here. I don't know why they are so small here. https://www.ss.lv/msg/lv/entertainment/music/musical-instrument/el-guitars/fkeed.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) The bridge is all wrong as well. It looks like someone has drilled some holes through a BBOT (bent bit of tin) bridge. Engage reverse gear and run in the direction of away.. Edited November 14, 2016 by jezzaboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc S Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 (edited) It can be hard to spot a fake, if the person doing them has got everything as close as possible to the original. I don't think it's a Squier, as I'm sure they don't do an option for through body stringing, which is what this bass appears to have. Though I could be wrong there - someone on here will know whether that is correct..... It looks pretty much OK to me. But closely check those decals - run your finger over them, to see if they have been changed and oversprayed. Look for edges on the decals. Check the quality of the finishing on the neck binding and check for any sharp-ish edges to the frets..... Look for quality of finish in general; check pots are smooth, check quality of nut - is it straight + routs are clean & neat. Check pickguard screws are dead straight, and also not loose Most of all, good luck - looks a nice bass but of in any doubt - don't buy it.... something will come up EDIT: I didn't spot the additional holes in the bridge - has the bridge been replaced? Are they holes? Is there a close-up photo of the headstock? (Front) EDIT2: Should this model of bass have the newer, lightweight style tuning pegs? Edited November 14, 2016 by Marc S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubinga5 Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 [quote name='jezzaboy' timestamp='1479141376' post='3174267'] The bridge is all wrong as well. It looks like someone has drilled some holes through a BBOT (bent bit of tin) bridge. Engage reverse gear and run in the direction of away.. [/quote]Walk away from that one. It's not a USA Jazz. The tuners are wrong. Standard USA Jazz basses dont have blocks. If it's a RI 75 where are the big Fender tuner bases.? If it's MIJ why is the serial number saying it's American.? It's without doubt a fake and he's trying to rip you off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FelixGubbins Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Shouldn't an MIA have a high mass bridge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jezzaboy Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 There are so many things wrong with this bass to make it a US Standard. Maybe the guy who is selling it bought it in it`s current guise (or disguise?) but there is no need for you to be taken in as well. If you were buying this s/hand in the UK it would be worth about £140 ish if it is in good condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eci0x Posted November 14, 2016 Author Share Posted November 14, 2016 Thank you guys very much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebassist Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Definitely not an American Jazz Bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trueno Posted November 14, 2016 Share Posted November 14, 2016 Bought my Fender Jazz MIA about 2008... predates this one any way. Don't know if it's supposed to be a std, but mine has dot markers, not blocks, a more obvious three tone sunburst... that looks like two tone... And a high mass bridge which looks very different from that one. And lightweight tuners which are not the same. (And a huge oblong flight case, but not all flight cases are original) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlfer Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 eci0x Delete anything you have re this bass. It's a bitsa of fairly dubious origins. At best, there's an outside chance the body is US, but I'd need all the hardware off and a good look at the neck pocket and cavities. Certainly not 2010 USA Standard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thunderbird Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The guys speak the truth it is a bitsa piece of crap runaway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) I doubt it's a USA body either. Alder has a wider grain than that usually, that's more likely basswood, plus the sunburst on the USA is 3-tone with a bit of red in there and has a bit more depth to it, that looks more like the cheap 2-tone burst you see on the Squier VMs. Fender on the left: Edited November 15, 2016 by dannybuoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Doesn't look like a bad bass to me. If the action is good and the electronics are sound offer him $200.00 which according to the experts here might be closer to what it's worth Blue Edited November 15, 2016 by blue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The shape of the headstock is completely wrong to boot. Is this on Ebay, or a local sale? I'd hate to think of someone else getting ripped off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eci0x Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 No, it's a local sale. The guy who sells it doesn't know anything much about bass guitars , so he got ripped off when he was in New Zealand. I doubt anyone will buy it for 650-800 euros and not check if it's real before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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