Does anyone know what this bass is?

[BenWhoPlaysBass]

So my friend has this bass. Or at least, I think it's a bass. It was found in one of his relative's closets and we have no idea where it came from. Here's the rundown: It's a VERY small bass with possibly the ugliest finish known to man. Really basic, body is probably plywood, and no markings other than a serial number 225 and a model number DEB60 (for this reason we affectionately named it "Debbie"). Here's the thing: It's a 25.5" scale. So even shorter than short scale. To me, it feels like a cheapo novelty kinda thing but I'm curious just to see if anyone has seen one like it. It actually sounds sorta decent. Pic attached of me playing it and him holding it.

 

[jlepre]

Might help to see the headstock

 

[MarkoYYZ]

My guess is that it started out life as an Ibanez GAX guitar, then someone did some work on it to make it into a bass.

 

[onefallinghope]

Reminds me of a late 80's washburn

 

[BenWhoPlaysBass]

Might help to see the headstock

Yeah, sorry. The headstock is shaped like a diamond but with the point flattened out. I couldn't go to his house today to get proper pictures, I just uploaded the ones on my phone.

 

[awilkie84]

It's an Ibanez Gio Series with goofy paint

 

[two fingers]

It's an Ibanez Gio Series with goofy paint

Negative. Not even close. (I sold a metric ton of Gio basses when I worked at a dealer and that is not one.)

Also, either the player is humongous, or that bass is TINY. Of course, I can't speak to the scale length because we haven't seen the entire neck. But the body is very small, like not a full-size bass small.

 

[bassteban]

Modded POS bass or perhaps guitar

Edit: No offense, I am not above playing a POS myself

 

[bravesaint5]

Reminds me of a late 80's washburn

I was thinking the exact same thing. I have a mid-80's Washburn Force II electric, the body is similar but more rounded.

 

[Feral Feline]

Early-to-mid-'80s style of finish...

 

[kdogg]

I think the finish is cool! But yeah, not nearly enough pics to identify make and model. Front and back of headstock would help. The size of the body is really irrelevant. I had a curt curbow 5 string that was similarly small.

 

[flynndsx]

It's an Ibanez Gio Series with goofy paint

 

[gustobassman]

Is it me or does there appear to be binding around the fretboard? That would rule out Ibanez right away. No knobs either.. hmmm

 

[BenWhoPlaysBass]

It did have knobs but the pots went out so my buddy wired the pickup to the jack so it'd still make sound. I'll try and get a pic of the headstock up later tonight. And btw, I'm not that big, two fingers. lol It's a REALLY tiny instrument.

 

[eldoryder]

How about an Axl Badwater "distressed" bass?

Just guessin'!

 

[BenWhoPlaysBass]

Okay, so it's a day or two late but here's the full body and headstock of the bass. Like I said, it's unlike anything I've ever seen.
(EDIT: There's also no markings on the back of the headstock, it's just the same ugly finish)

 

[awilkie84]

Negative. Not even close. (I sold a metric ton of Gio basses when I worked at a dealer and that is not one.)

Also, either the player is humongous, or that bass is TINY. Of course, I can't speak to the scale length because we haven't seen the entire neck. But the body is very small, like not a full-size bass small.

Really? Cuz I owned one just like (Save the paint job) that & there's another that's been refin'd in the rattle can club.

 

[Andy Sivyer]

I think its a kids bass hence the strat guitar scale length. Have seen something like it before about 25 years ago. Would think it might be Korean made. Or could be a guitar converted into a bass. But the bridge is same as I had on a Encore Korean made bass (precision copy) when I was 14 (28 years ago)

 

[smcd]

The headstock looks very similar to a Vantage or Westone.

 

[Runnerman]

The headstock looks very similar to a Vantage or Westone.

That's exactly what I thought.
Vantage Avenger bass maybe.