Fender P Bass question....

[DanontheBass]

I am thinking of purchasing a used 2000 Fender P Bass MiM and I'm looking for some advice. It is in mostly good shape, there are some scratches on the top of the body and on the pickguard. It also has a small gap (about 1/4" or so) between the top of the neck and where it attaches to the body. The neck is in good shape and has no dings. Looking down the neck it appears to be straight. I played it and it felt good. I couldn't hear or find any "dead" spots. The action looks good. It might have to be adjusted some but it is playable for sure.

I'm thinking of purchasing it but I'm weary of:
1) The small gap between the neck and where it attaches to the body (like it is not quite angled right as you neck to the headstock) Can this be easily adjusted/fixed?

2) How do I know if the pickups are good? Is there a way to test them?

3) The asking price is $280. Which from my research sounds fair but I want to make sure it sounds good.

Any feedback you could provide me with would be helpful, thanks.

[Biggbass]

pictures would help. $280 is a good price if it plays and sounds good.
Test the Pickups? Have you plugged it into an amp?

[gigslut]

ask if you can takes some pics, get some closeups of the neck joint, and with the pick guard removed.
A 1/4" gap suggests this may be a Frankenbass. I've seen some slop before, but this sounds like a complete misfit.

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by gigslut

ask if you can takes some pics, get some closeups of the neck joint, and with the pick guard removed.
A 1/4" gap suggests this may be a Frankenbass. I've seen some slop before, but this sounds like a complete misfit.

The thought of it like that indicates possibly either the body is not Fender or the neck is not Fender. Or both.

You can test pickups with a multimeter or obviously via playing. You aren't able to play it?

Some would say a gap will change the sound but as long as it is bolted and secure IMHO it wouldn't make much a difference. I wouldn't pay $280 for a MIM in that state though. Maybe $175-$200. And if it's a frankenbass even less of course.

[DanontheBass]

Originally Posted by Biggbass

pictures would help. $280 is a good price if it plays and sounds good.
Test the Pickups? Have you plugged it into an amp?

I did not get to plug it in but I played it for about 10 minutes. I was thinking I'd plug it in next time I get to play it. Would I just listen for any crakeling or weird sounds when I'm playing? In the past I've turned the Volume and TOne controls While I'm playing to help hear anything out of the ordinary.

Any other suggestions?

[gigslut]

On my '98 MIM P bass, I can slip a business card snugly between the neck and neck pocket. That's maybe 1/32". I've never seen a 1/4" gap on any legit stock Fender.

[gigslut]

Originally Posted by DanontheBass

I did not get to plug it in but I played it for about 10 minutes. I was thinking I'd plug it in next time I get to play it. Would I just listen for any crakeling or weird sounds when I'm playing? In the past I've turned the Volume and TOne controls While I'm playing to help hear anything out of the ordinary.

Any other suggestions?

Play all the way up and down the neck and listen for dead spots and fret buzz, especially on the G string. Here is waht a dead spot sounds like, courtesy of TBer Dan Atkinson

http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/storage/deadspot.mp3

But that gap would be a deal breaker for me, unless I was looking for parts and the price was right.

[LucienBel]

Originally Posted by gigslut

On my '98 MIM P bass, I can slip a business card snugly between the neck and neck pocket. That's maybe 1/32". I've never seen a 1/4" gap on any legit stock Fender.

This. That would be a serious screw up if it was out of the factory like that. A gap that big you'll lose some sustain too (I'm going to drop an IMO in here because this is can turn into a pretty hot debate).

[DanontheBass]

Originally Posted by gigslut

On my '98 MIM P bass, I can slip a business card snugly between the neck and neck pocket. That's maybe 1/32". I've never seen a 1/4" gap on any legit stock Fender.

The headstock has a Fender serial # on it I wrote it down...MZ0163324. I did not question if it was a legit Fender or not. SHould I? Can I check it to make sure?

Is there a serial # on the body too?

[DanontheBass]

Originally Posted by gigslut

Play all the way up and down the neck and listen for dead spots and fret buzz, especially on the G string. Here is waht a dead spot sounds like, courtesy of TBer Dan Atkinson

http://www.atkinsonbasses.com/storage/deadspot.mp3

But that gap would be a deal breaker for me, unless I was looking for parts and the price was right.

I did test out the neck for dead spots but i didn't hear any. I had thought it but it is probably true... the gap should be a deal breaker.... I'm not looking for parts... I'm looking to upgrate to a nicer bass...

[gigslut]

Sounds like the neck is legit, but i would have doubts about the body. There's not much more to say without pictures to go by.

[tdub0199]

Would really need to see pic's specially the neck pocket and heel of the neck.... I paid $300.00 for an almost perfect condition 2006 MIM P last year.....

[bassgod76]

I'm no expert, but isn't 1/4" gap kinda big?

[DanontheBass]

Here is the link to a page with photos of it. The bottom picture of the bass kind of shows the gap I mentioned. Look at the bottom picture; you can see the gap between black colored body and the neck. ???

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/msg/2854476319.html

[bassgod76]

Originally Posted by DanontheBass

Here is the link to a page with photos of it. The bottom picture of the bass kind of shows the gap I mentioned. Look at the bottom picture; you can see the gap between black colored body and the neck. ???

http://chicago.craigslist.org/wcl/msg/2854476319.html

It's too hard to tell. Have the seller email you the pics. Sometimes CL brings down the quality of the uploaded pic so it fits their parameters.

[gigslut]

That looks more like 1/16"

[DanontheBass]

Originally Posted by bassgod76

It's too hard to tell. Have the seller email you the pics. Sometimes CL brings down the quality of the uploaded pic so it fits their parameters.

I did get to play the bass and look at the gap first hand. The neck does come out of the body at a slight angle. Is this adjustable or not?

[Marty Forrer]

Walk away.

[michael_atw]

Ohhh...the gap is on the side of the neck pocket? Thought it was on the butt. hmm...

[michael_atw]

Originally Posted by gigslut

Sounds like the neck is legit, but i would have doubts about the body. There's not much more to say without pictures to go by.

Definitely. That's the easiest way to fake something.