craigslist '58 fender... real or fake?

ishouldbeking · #1 07-01-2010, 04:48 PM

i literally know nothing about what a vintage fender should look like, but i know lots of you do. bear in mind, i am not in the market for something like this (at all, i'm flat broke) so i have no vested interest other than entertainment value.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...821464074.html

coming from a place of complete ignorance that looks like a beat up vintage reissue to me. color of the neck, logo on the headstock, none of it screams "authentic '58", but what do i know. thoughts?

Aspidites · #2 07-01-2010, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishouldbeking

i literally know nothing about what a vintage fender should look like, but i know lots of you do. bear in mind, i am not in the market for something like this (at all, i'm flat broke) so i have no vested interest other than entertainment value.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...821464074.html

coming from a place of complete ignorance that looks like a beat up vintage reissue to me. color of the neck, logo on the headstock, none of it screams "authentic '58", but what do i know. thoughts?

It is really hard do anything more than a very cursory look with the pictures in the ad.

GeneralElectric · #3 07-01-2010, 05:28 PM

The tuners from back then were nickel not chrome for starters...

poorbassist15 · #4 07-01-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishouldbeking

i literally know nothing about what a vintage fender should look like, but i know lots of you do. bear in mind, i am not in the market for something like this (at all, i'm flat broke) so i have no vested interest other than entertainment value.

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv...821464074.html

coming from a place of complete ignorance that looks like a beat up vintage reissue to me. color of the neck, logo on the headstock, none of it screams "authentic '58", but what do i know. thoughts?

I sat staring at a pic of a '57 and compared it to this for about 15 min now. Something says not right to me, not sure what yet.

**ExaltBass** · #5 07-01-2010, 05:33 PM

Headstock is too wide... sorry (that would stop me right there)

My '59s headstock (note distance from tuner holes to top edge.

godofthunder59 · #6 07-01-2010, 05:39 PM

Really hard to say from those pictures. Those tuners look right and nickel but not aged enough.......................no patina. makes me wonder. The wear on the guard tells a compelling story, played at the butt of the neck................or is it fake wear? The cover over the pickup is WRONG not a Fender part. You need to see the end of the neck to check the date and look at the neck pocket for the mark form the paint stick. I bet some other real experts will know what else to look for. I don't believe it is real.

millsbass5 · #7 07-01-2010, 05:46 PM

I'm not really a P-Bass kinda guy. But that thing just screams,"PLAY ME!!!"

JimmyKickButt · #8 07-01-2010, 06:01 PM

Truss rod adjustment on the headstock? I don't think they had those then...

ishouldbeking · #9 07-01-2010, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyKickButt

Truss rod adjustment on the headstock? I don't think they had those then...

yeah, that was one of the things that looked funny to me. the general lack of color on the neck too, but who knows, i play a relic'd P with a tinted neck, my starting point is probably tainted to begin with.

Aspidites · #10 07-01-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyKickButt

Truss rod adjustment on the headstock? I don't think they had those then...

I can't tell if that is the truss adjustment or the plug at the end of the truss rod for a heel adjustment.

artdrtr · #11 07-01-2010, 06:27 PM

I know nothing about vintage Fenders, but this link shows that headstock adjustment hole: http://www.vintageoneguitars.com/58PB.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyKickButt

Truss rod adjustment on the headstock? I don't think they had those then...

Aspidites · #12 07-01-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artdrtr

I know nothing about vintage Fenders, but this link shows that headstock adjustment hole: http://www.vintageoneguitars.com/58PB.html

That is just a plug.

ishouldbeking · #13 07-01-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by artdrtr

I know nothing about vintage Fenders, but this link shows that headstock adjustment hole: http://www.vintageoneguitars.com/58PB.html

actually that one looks quite a bit like this... maybe it is real.

spaz21387 · #14 07-01-2010, 07:19 PM

its hard to tell parts look off. the ashtray isnt the right one. im pretty sure the ashtray had a fender f on it. the tuners look right but they had to have been replaced sometime or something since they really dont look that aged. The pickup cover looks too square i thought the fender ones were more rounded. I wish he posted more pics so we could see what the bridge looks like... but im guessing this is a parts bass that someone built out of a few vintage basses

GeneralElectric · #15 07-01-2010, 07:25 PM

The old pickup covers were squared off instead of rounded. They've only been round since the 70s. The ashtray NEVER had the Fender F on it, unless you're thinking of the Fender Jazz bass.

Tuners look wrong! Fender tuners were brushed nickel and weren't shiny at all! You can see the chrome in the pictures.

blipndub · #16 07-02-2010, 01:12 AM

chrome looks too new to me. the ashtray is okay shape wise/no logo but unless uninstalled for 50 years...gotta see the neck heel to be sure. At a glance it looks like a relic to me, although he pick guard is indeed interesting.

blipndub · #17 07-02-2010, 01:15 AM

Google search image for 58 p

CL Ad

basmicke · #18 07-02-2010, 01:20 AM

I agree with most people here, tuners look too nickel-y and shiny. In any case the bass should be checked out more closely before spending that amount. Even if it's a somewhat original old p-bass it's a lot of money and there might some be part of it's that's old and some newer. Head and logo doesn't look right either to me.

johnk_10 · #19 07-02-2010, 01:55 AM

it actually looks pretty darn correct to me. they often did have a chrome string retainer. the heads may have been polished, and i have seen some '58's that actually had chrome barrels on the tuners with nickel plated clover leaf reverse tuners. the chrome pickup and bridge covers look absolutely correct to me. personally, judging by the pics, i think that it's the real thing, but i would of course, disassemble it and inspect everything before i would buy a bass like that.

if you're really were interested in buying it, and wanted to look at it, i would meet you there. i can easily tell the difference between the real thing and a relic'd fake, or a parts bass when it comes to vintage fenders. i've owned, restored and repaired 100's of 50's ones.

trunkshope6 · #20 07-02-2010, 02:14 AM

hey the sfv is where i live,how about we pool together the 5 grand,i buy it and see for myself if its real,im down!