'75-style Jazz Bass identification - please help
 

I think I might have a tough one for you to identify. There are only very few information yet.

I'm in the market for a Jazz Bass and thought I had to sell my '89 Thumb NT off to get a good one ( I liked a Sandberg TT4) until I stumbled across this .. eh beauty ;) It's is sold as a Fender Jazz Bass with not much more information provided. Currently only the bridge PU is wired in (and switchable to active/passive), neck PU is silent, so this obviously suggests modifications in the electronics department. The decals seems to have been rubbed off, I am waiting for the seller to clarify this. So..how to identify this?

This is how far I got: I think the holes for the thumbrest on the pickguard point towards a 75 RI MIA. Would the number of screws used for the pickguard tell me something? No clue about its age. What are other signs? The nut looks odd..like a brass replacement. I thought about asking him to measure the distance between the PUs (given they're still at the same position) as this should help to distinguish between US/Japan-non-export and Japan-export models afaik. I'll try to talk him into screwing off the neck, as this should provide more evidence? He is selling it with a gig bag, could that tell me something given it's the original one? Could this be a Squier or Fender MIM?

The body+neck look like they belong together and this is probably what makes me still consider this deal. I'd use this thing to build my own Miller-type of bass and would probably swap electronics anyways (originals PUs would be nice though..) - what would be a fair price in europe, considering that it'll probably be impossible to really clarify what kind of bass this is? I'm glad for any help on this one!
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c'mon fender freaks, I know you're hiding here somewhere :)

The reason I would avoid this bass is because the decal along with the serial number had been sanded off. These decals don't "rub off" because they are buried under the clear coat on that era Fender. So someone went through the task of completely removing it.

they are too many questionable things about it.

need lots more detailed pics.. could any number of bits and bobs stuck together.. notice no holes for the four hole neck plate, ( this is a tell tale sign that its a Fender body) so this might suggest that the body is a fender 75 ri of some sort...? with different control plate... i think this may be the case and the neck has been replaced.. with the brass nut... and no decals, tuners look like MIA, but you need more info for sure.. but if its cheap enough..? see if the pickups are 70's spacing also, this might suggest that the body is MIA or non export MIJ

Brass nuts were a very common modification in the 70s. Active pickups were a common modification in the early 80s. Removing the sticker and serial number is a common modification if a bass is stolen. Without having the bass in my hands, it's difficult to be certain, but the evidence points to a 70s bass that has been modified over the years. But I would be very cautious about buying this bass. If it is authentic, I would not pay premium dollar.

I'm pretty sure that it is a real Fender - both neck and body. If the decal is rubbed off, it could be because: a) it's a '75 reissue but at some point in the bass' life someone wanted to pass it off as an original 70s bass. b) it was stolen and someone wanted to get rid of the serial number. c) someone took it off for whatever cosmetic reasons. The brass nut and p style knobs show someone's already messed with the thing a bit. Maybe someone planned to paint it.

Whatever the real story, that's no Squier or SX, or mim neck. The bass is either a '75 reissue or a real 70s Fender.

presuming hes seen the price of the instrument, and hes talking about 75 RI's im thinking it possibly isnt an original 75.. could be wrong.. the only way to tell is to get him to take off the neck, even then its not a sure fire way of telling if the whole bass is original it definately no squire or mim.. i personally think even by holding it and seeing it up close knowone will know if its all Fender


edit.. does look like a one piece body though.. as there is no wood line at the heel

How much does he want ? How does it play? Are you buying an "investment" or a bass? The body looks legit to me, either original or a reissue. I'm speculating this is so, because there aren't many knock offs using a three bolt neck plate w/micro tilt adjustment. Necks get replaced for a number of reasons like warping or damage, even an after market bound and block neck will set you back 300+. Pots and pick-ups can be replaced for reasonable money. I'd pull off the neck and make sure the micro tilt adjustment parts are there on the body and neck and some factory "looking" markings are visible.

Switchable A/P? Confused.
3 button maple pearl blocks points to mij 75RI. He must've changed the plate as well as the nut.

No one in their right mind would remove the serial from an o.g. USA 75. Unless it was hot.

notice there is no made in japan on the back of the neck by the heel though, unless that was rubbed off too.. you very rarely see an MIJ one peice body also.. very confusing... also all 75 jazz basses have three controls if that what you meant.?

ahh there you are :) thanks a lot folks.

I know this is a risk and will stay one. I am looking for a player, not a collectors item. I asked for the pick up spacing, he said original PU's are still in there. I wonder why he knows that, given that he seems to know almost nothing else about it.
The Decal has been removed, he just clarified that. I agree, red flag, but there are a range of motivations and given his communication style and mods (he set the neck pu silent and implanted a 3-way switch somewhere to switch between active/passive.....) that make me think this guy gives a **** about the decal and didn't remove it for some shady reason.

I asked him to measure PU distance and to screw off the neck and offered 320€ if his responses will make me happy.

Will come back with more details as soon as I have them, there are no more pictures unfortunately.

the body is definitely one piece, for which of the 3(?) possibilities does this increase the odds?

It reminds me of all of the early 80s Jazz basses that I could not afford as a senior in high school. I built my own, as a result. That way I also avoided that insane bullet truss rod adjuster and that crazy 3 bolt neck. It definately wreaks of 1978 to 1982 authentic Fender Jazz bass. But to be clear, I am no Fender bass expert.

cricman