Help, please! Fake Precision??

[fakeneckplate'65]

The pickup cover looks slightly crooked, bridge showing under bridge cover

Mystery solved! Clearly it was built by Rickenbacker..

 

[JaredBT]

The words "PRECISION BASS" look to be set by a graphic artist. In Adobe Illustrator I could match exactly what they did, that arch is symmetrical. The original words were arched but skewed also... and nothing about the arch was symmetrical. No worries though, seller seems honest about it / transparent. If it sounds / feels good and what you're trading isn't worth more than 300 bones sounds like a good deal. Could in fact be a wonderful instrument. Throw some bass lines in there and turn it into a growl monster, YEAH!

 

[bassrich]

Only Fender Telecaster Basses have squared neck heels.

and Squier CV50's but in maple

 

[nerkoids]

I think he should have traded it. Because, why not?

 

[mojomike001]

and Squier CV50's but in maple

...And the various Mike Dirnt models. They all fall into the general "Tele" category.

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

DIM - you were successful in getting the Fake Fodera thread shut down with your instance on constantly bringing the discussion back to a China vs USA bash fest.

Bottom line, the government of any country is perfectly capable of encouraging or discouraging counterfeiting within its borders. Likewise the people of any country are perfectly capable of encouraging or discouraging the demand for import of those cheap counterfeits. It takes two to tango. If demand goes away the counterfeit market collapses and if counterfeiting goes away then the demand turns to more legitimate sources.

So as bass players, if we put our focus on discouraging other bass players from purchasing known counterfeit instruments we're doing about the most we can. We can only hope that various governments around the globe (of which China is an undisputed significant offender) crack down on counterfeit builders as well.

I did not make my peers my culturally ignorant and insensitive comments, I merely called out their ignorance. This discussion is important and good to have but there is no need to toss out offensive statements in an intelligent discussion. Every single time this discussion comes up some members decide it is their chance to unleash Sinophobic sentiments like it is perfectly acceptable. Talkbass is supposed to be a welcoming place for all, I try to keep it that way.

Counterfeiting is a global issue that is perpetrated by counterfeiters and those looking to get something for nothing, it is not perpetrated by one particular race or nation. Statements like "a lot of counterfeiters operate in China" and "another IP theft from the good people of the PRC" are worlds apart and if you cannot recognize the difference than I (or any stranger on the internet) will not be the person to explain it to you.

 

[GBassNorth]

I did not make my peers my culturally ignorant and insensitive comments, I merely called out their ignorance. This discussion is important and good to have but there is no need to toss out offensive statements in an intelligent discussion. Every single time this discussion comes up some members decide it is their chance to unleash Sinophobic sentiments like it is perfectly acceptable. Talkbass is supposed to be a welcoming place for all, I try to keep it that way.

Counterfeiting is a global issue that is perpetrated by counterfeiters and those looking to get something for nothing, it is not perpetrated by one particular race or nation. Statements like "a lot of counterfeiters operate in China" and "another IP theft from the good people of the PRC" are worlds apart and if you cannot recognize the difference than I (or any stranger on the internet) will not be the person to explain it to you.

Sorry bub, I'm not gonna get in a political discussion with you on this (TB has rules). I'll just leave it at - As players we need to stop buying known fakes and as a government China needs to come down hard and consistent on counterfeiting - end of discussion. If you don't get it, have somebody else explain it to you.

 

[christpncher]

I think these "is it real" threads are some of the more interesting posts. much better than "which bass should I buy?"

the only somewhat annoying part is when people come in with the inevitable "who cares, if it plays good" line when its very unlikely that any of these fakes will feel or sound good. if they were good basses then people wouldn't be trying to pass them off as something else

 

[DiabolusInMusic]

Sorry bub, I'm not gonna get in a political discussion with you on this (TB has rules). I'll just leave it at - As players we need to stop buying known fakes and as a government China needs to come down hard and consistent on counterfeiting - end of discussion. If you don't get it, have somebody else explain it to you.

I think we are all in agreement that the government of China should do more within their borders. Hell, every country could be doing more against counterfeits within their own borders in more than just musical instrument retail.

I am sorry if my post was not clear enough but my issue is with the prejudice, not with the discussion. Your post is worded exactly how the issue should be discussed. The issue is when people start tossing out racial/national-based comments. It shows a lack of respect, cultural sensitivity, and insight into the situation. The average Chinese buyer does not want counterfeits just as much as the average American buyer.

 

[mikeyjm2]

Hell, every country could be doing more against counterfeits within their own borders in more than just musical instrument retail.

Agree wholeheartedly. The problem is global and multi-faceted.

 

[MarkoYYZ]

In this case, the bass was very likely a made-in-China knockoff product - but those waterslides were not put on at the factory. I've seen those exact decals (with the same notable mistakes) for sale here in the classifieds and on eBay.

It's one thing for it to be a knockoff, but it became an actual counterfeit at the hands of someone on this side of the ocean. IMO.
.

 

[FranF]

Marko just nailed it. This bass, in China, was whatever it was, Squier, SX, Penco, you name it. Someone HERE made that bass a "Fender".

 

[GBassNorth]

I think... Your post is worded exactly how the issue should be discussed. The issue is when people start tossing out racial/national-based comments. The average Chinese buyer does not want counterfeits just as much as the average American buyer.

Exactly!
As a business professional that spent the last 15 years of my career managing hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars in construction projects and equipment purchases in China, I can easily say that the locals are as weary of counterfeits as the foreigners are. Everyone there that I dealt with on a professional level acknowledged there was a serious counterfeit problem that has crept into virtually every aspect of life, from the smallest of purchases to some of the most major purchases. The government does crack down on it ruthlessly when it wants to, unfortunately they also ignore it when they want to. You're guess is as good as mine where it will end up. But in the meantime if we stop buying the crap knockoffs (and the good knockoffs as well) maybe the offending companies will find a more lucrative market.

 

[PortlandBass77]

OK. Suspend your disbelief for a second. There is a world.... wait, you have to keep this under wraps, OK?.... OK, there is a world that exists outside of TB. These poor unfortunates do not understand the price points, breeds, variants and quality levels of Fender and Squier instruments. They do not understand carrots. They do not know that they may in fact Burn In Hell if they like relic'd instruments or refuse to put flats on their P Bass, or use (or do not use) effects in their signal chain. They do not know a neck pocket from a Hot Pocket. In short, these lower humans are clueless. We hope they do not procreate, much less peruse Craigslist with an untrained eye, but we have no control over such things. These proto-humans may impulsively buy a bass for their kid/husband from a knowledgeable-sounding fellow (Satan) who lists a convincing-looking bass on Craigslist (Satan) for a steal of a price, not realizing they could probably get a better guitar for the same or less money at Guitar Center (Satan). It happens.

And...scene.

No, but seriously, you'd think people would know better, but I have seen some stupid stuff sold on CL locally, for some stupid prices. And I'm sure it's being bought. Hell, I've seen some stupid stuff that definitely sold on eBay. It happens a lot more than you'd think. For every 'stupid' guy with an angle who does something like this guy apparently did, there are people who will fall for it. Just be thankful you drink from the river of True Knowledge that is TalkBass (and/or have common sense and critical thinking and comparative shopping skills).

Consider this quote pirated

 

[Larry McQueary]

Now, just in time to illustrate some of the points made thus far in this thread, comes this:

1952 Re issue Fender Precision/Telecaster Bass With Maple Telecaster neck

Without seeing more detail, this looks like a pre-2013 Squier Mike Dirnt Sig body with a maple Warmoth tele bass neck and a slightly mis-applied water slide decal. All for the low, low price of 700 clams(!?!). Ouch.

I am beginning to understand why some of us/you are very much against putting Fender water slide decals on Warmoth necks. It's all fun and games until the next guy starts identifying it as something that it isn't (through innocent confusion or less-than-innocent design). Caveat emptor!

EDIT: It appears the seller removed the listing after I questioned him about it. Good on him (I think).

 

[SonOfLiberty]

EDIT: It appears the seller removed the listing after I questioned him about it. Good on him (I think).

Nope still for sale, still calling it a Fender.

 

[GBassNorth]

This cracks me up! The eBay ad says...
"There are a few scratches here and there but nothing to write home about."

I'd call accidentally drilling tuner mounting screw holes clear through the headstock a little more than "a scratch here or there".
This obvious fake is being pushed by an obvious schmuck that doesn't have a drop of honesty in his body and was called on the carpet in the past for selling fake Fenders.
Steer clear of this one.

 

[mikeyjm2]

Now, just in time to illustrate some of the points made thus far in this thread, comes this:

1952 Re issue Fender Precision/Telecaster Bass With Maple Telecaster neck

Without seeing more detail, this looks like a pre-2013 Squier Mike Dirnt Sig body with a maple Warmoth tele bass neck and a slightly mis-applied water slide decal. All for the low, low price of 700 clams(!?!). Ouch.

I am beginning to understand why some of us/you are very much against putting Fender water slide decals on Warmoth necks. It's all fun and games until the next guy starts identifying it as something that it isn't (through innocent confusion or less-than-innocent design). Caveat emptor!

Reported item via the "counterfeit" category of complaint on ebay. We'll see where that goes.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I didn't look at the feedback before reporting, but seems this is not the first time:

 

[Larry McQueary]

I'd call accidentally drilling tuner mounting screw holes clear through the headstock a little more than "a scratch here or there".

Yeah, pretty amateur. I didn't even point that out to him, though, because I had already spent enough lines on talking about the other obvious problems in my message.