Weird Fender decal issue

audiomitch · #1 12-01-2010, 07:27 PM

So I bought an MIM Fender Jazz bass off of Craigslist. It's a little beat, but the price is right. I get it home and notice the decal is lifting. There's no clear coat on the headstock!

I just glanced at it when I was checking it out. Teach me to look more carefully! It's torn because I scraped it a little when I noticed something weird.

This is a "Made in Mexico" decal, so I don't think it's fake. Who would counterfeit something like that? It has unaltered CTS pots. IMHO, the neck heel and pocket look right to be a genuine MIM Jazz Bass (as opposed to a re-badged Squier). I could be wrong.

My theory is somebody was going to put an MIA decal on it, but changed their mind? It's weird. Anybody ever hear of a decal lifting by itself on a 2000 MIM Fender Jazz Bass? It was exposed to moisture - all the PG screws were rusted and spots on the bridge.

fenderhutz · #2 12-01-2010, 07:35 PM

Could be just my imagination but that headstock/neck looks like it got hit by a fire hose. That bass may have been in a fire. That discoloration looks like smoke/water damage. Can you get better pics in the light?

danomite64 · #3 12-01-2010, 07:36 PM

I've never seen that color on anything other than MIM's from around that time. The body, the neck, and hardware look quite authentic to me.

fenderhutz · #4 12-01-2010, 07:37 PM

Also, not to sound funny, do the pickups or neck joint smell if mold or wood smoke?

audiomitch · #5 12-01-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

Could be just my imagination but that headstock/neck looks like it got hit by a fire hose. That bass may have been in a fire. That discoloration looks like smoke/water damage. Can you get better pics in the light?

You may be right. The discoloration is there, but fairly subtle. I don't think I could get a better pic, but I'll try.

I may be imagining things now, but I think there's a tiny trace of smoke smell by the bridge pickup. Hmmm... This would explain a lot.

fenderhutz · #6 12-01-2010, 07:47 PM

The problem with smoke damage is that the particles will eat at the finish and metal. Is the bridge, tuners, or pole pieces in the pickups pock marked?

They probably used an abrasive cleaner on the finish. Would explain the headstock at least.

audiomitch · #7 12-01-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenderhutz

The problem with smoke damage is that the particles will eat at the finish and metal. Is the bridge, tuners, or pole pieces in the pickups pock marked?

They probably used an abrasive cleaner on the finish. Would explain the headstock at least.

No pockmarks, but definitely rust. The finish is pretty much perfect except for the usual playing dings. No corrosion or pockmarks. No signs of abrasives. The back of the neck has the slight discoloration, but no signs of abrasives either.

The front of the headstock definitely looks like it was worked over. Heat damage? Except the nut isn't melted. Actually, none of the plastic parts have any melt damage.

I think you may have hit on it. I asked about the rust, but he mumbled something about it being left in storage. I guess being in a fire isn't a great selling point.

A-Step-Towards · #8 12-01-2010, 07:55 PM

That is all legit,its all MIM except maybe the bridge.I have had like 10 MIM fender basses and one identical. As you said its a beat up mexican fender no biggie. i would have paid 200$ or less.

audiomitch · #9 12-01-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

That is all legit,its all MIM except maybe the bridge.I have had like 10 MIM fender basses and one identical. As you said its a beat up mexican fender no biggie. i would have paid 200$ or less.

Thanks for confirming. I paid $100 for it, so all is well.

endy_y_p · #10 12-01-2010, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

Thanks for confirming. I paid $100 for it, so all is well.

NICE SCORE then!!!.....

just put new decal, swap some rusty parts and you have some great bass...well maybe new bridge and new pickup wouldn't hurt....

A-Step-Towards · #11 12-01-2010, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

Thanks for confirming. I paid $100 for it, so all is well.

Thats a great price.Its worth 200$ on craigs easy.ALl the routes are correct, correct color and all that. The neck probably just has sun damage, MIM have a cheap clear satin an i have had 2 or 3 where the headstock saw so much sunlight it started to get a flaking decal.

audiomitch · #12 12-01-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endy_y_p

NICE SCORE then!!!.....

just put new decal, swap some rusty parts and you have some great bass...well maybe new bridge and new pickup wouldn't hurt....

Thanks! It was one of those late night Craigslist ads.

I have some leftover MIA Jazz pickups (that kind of suck to be honest) and new PG screws. The bridge isn't rusted bad enough to replace. I'll probably throw it together and use it as a backup bass.

The decal thing kind of sucks. It's probably not worth the hassle of jumping through Fender's hoops to get a new one. I may have to do one of those custom decals on my inkjet printer. I saw a funny one that said "Cease and Desist" in Fender logo script. I might just steal that idea.

audiomitch · #13 12-01-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Step-Towards

Thats a great price.Its worth 200$ on craigs easy.ALl the routes are correct, correct color and all that. The neck probably just has sun damage, MIM have a cheap clear satin an i have had 2 or 3 where the headstock saw so much sunlight it started to get a flaking decal.

That's another answer that makes a lot of sense. The headstock could have been in a patch of light while sitting in storage. That would explain a lot too.

Thanks for all the help!

A-Step-Towards · #14 12-01-2010, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

That's another answer that makes a lot of sense. The headstock could have been in a patch of light while sitting in storage. That would explain a lot too.

Thanks for all the help!

No prob

Fender4Me · #15 12-01-2010, 08:53 PM

I'll bet it was left in a hot car . He said it was instorage. Could have been a hot storage building. I wonder of the label got left off at the factory and then applied after it was finished?? Im sure stranger things have happend in Mexico.

bound'n'blocked · #16 12-01-2010, 09:19 PM

I had a MIM decal do the same thing. On mine there was a hairline crack on the headstock that caused it to lift up. The crack never affected the playablity but it ran right under the decal.

BnB

Jeff K · #17 12-01-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiomitch

The decal thing kind of sucks. It's probably not worth the hassle of jumping through Fender's hoops to get a new one. I may have to do one of those custom decals on my inkjet printer. I saw a funny one that said "Cease and Desist" in Fender logo script. I might just steal that idea.

I don't think it's a big hassle to get one from Fender. You just have to prove to them that it's a Fender (pics, S/N, etc.). They just want to make sure you're not trying to get a Fender decal to put on a Squier or something else. As long as it's a legit Fender, you shouldn't have any problem.

audiomitch · #18 12-01-2010, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff K

I don't think it's a big hassle to get one from Fender. You just have to prove to them that it's a Fender (pics, S/N, etc.). They just want to make sure you're not trying to get a Fender decal to put on a Squier or something else. As long as it's a legit Fender, you shouldn't have any problem.

AFAIK, I have to send them pics, serial numbers and take it to a Fender qualified service center to be inspected. To be honest, I'm not sure if a $100 bass is worth that much effort. It might be interesting to find out, though.

P. Aaron · #19 12-02-2010, 12:19 AM

A buddy of mine owns a '71 Fender that's been re-finished. When I borrowed it and posted pics & details here, he'd been in the habit of leaving it out of its case in his musty basement.

In the pics, I took it apart to get an idea of build date, but I also scrubbed tons 'o' gunk from that exposure in the moist basement off of every square inch of that instrument. Pock marking on some of the metal parts was evident and some did not come off. I used soft cloths to not mar or scratch...as if...but it ain't mine!

What I am getting at it is, this bass was stored more than likely without being in a case or gig bag. Exposure can do so much more damage beyond killin' strings prematurely.