Bass ID? 70s?

[overit]

Does this look like a 70s Japanese era P-Bass? Never saw a neck lamination like that. The heel does look like that era.

 

[elgranluis]

I've seen tha lamination before , yes it's a 60s or 70s Japanese bass.

 

[Lo-E]

I've also seen early '80s Korean instruments with laminated necks like that one.

 

[cdef]

Japanese manufacturers such as Kawai picked up that type of neck construction from late '50s/early '60s German makers like Hoyer, Framus, Klira, &c. It's very rigid and will hardly twist, almost like a composite.

 

[overit]

Japanese manufacturers such as Kawai picked up that type of neck construction from late '50s/early '60s European makers like Hoyer, Framus, Klira, &c. It's very rigid and will hardly twist, almost like a composite.

Very cool - do you know what woods were typically used?

 

[Fender_Bender]

Very cool - do you know what woods were typically used?

Luan, aka Philippine mahogany.

 

[Reedt2000]

Needs some tlc, but probably a cool bass. Body may be plywood, dark part of the burst covers anyplace you might see plywood layers. That doesn't mean its bad, but might mean its heavy (if that sorta thing bothers you)

 

[Lo-E]

Japanese manufacturers such as Kawai picked up that type of neck construction from late '50s/early '60s German makers like Hoyer, Framus, Klira, &c. It's very rigid and will hardly twist, almost like a composite.

I have a Hoyer 12-string acoustic built that way. I was going to mention the earlier German necks but didn't since the OP's is Asian.

Very cool - do you know what woods were typically used?

Luan, aka Philippine mahogany.

In the OP's case, almost certainly yes.

In the case of the older German necks I believe birch was typical.

 

[Five or Six]

Everything looked (s) so much like Fender forever its hard to tell one from another. I'd love to have that Hoyer bass "cdef" has posted!

 

[micguy]

Japanese manufacturers such as Kawai picked up that type of neck construction from late '50s/early '60s German makers like Hoyer, Framus, Klira, &c. It's very rigid and will hardly twist, almost like a composite.

View attachment 7442222

A composite is made up of fibers and a glue that sticks the fibers together. Wood by itself is a composite material - cellulose fibers held together by lignin. Laminating a bunch of those together helps fight warps, by "averaging out" the twists inherent in the various laminations. If the glue is a better glue than lignin, AND it wicks in between the fibers better, it can add some stiffness, at the expense of higher density. If the laminations are relatively thick (much thicker then the glue penetration), it will help some with cancelling warps, but it doesn't add to the stiffness.

 

[DanAdams]

It could be cool, it could be terrible.
Based on the pics, my main concern would be the string alignment and neck-warp-condition.
The G-string looks too far from the edge of the neck, and the lack of a strings / incorrect tension potential means that it there could have been very bad pressure / warping conditions for years, torturing the neck..
The neck plate can sometimes be a good indicator of era or region. include it if possible.
I would say that the two saddle bridge is a sign that this bass is quite old and likely MIJ. Old and MIJ doesn't always mean good.
Tiesco factory made necks with a laminate technique. Tiesco has their fans, but I've never found one that felt good. (they also mostly made wild original designs, so I dont know if this could a Teisco)
Can you play it first?

 

[overit]

I picked it up last night. It's definitely old and original. Plywood body, interesting 6-bolt neck plate and deep round neck profile. It needs work, I was able to remove the stripped truss rod nut and ordered a new one so we'll see if I can get the neck sorted when it arrives.