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Help with 2005 USA Jazz Bass Authenticity

acmeseed

acmeseed

Jun 15, 2009
243
205
Mission Viejo, CA
#1
I am wondering if you could give me some feedback to help me figure out if if this is an authentic 2005 USA Jazz Bass. I am considering buying it, I brought it home to try it out since the guy selling it is my neighbor, but I have some doubts, I have been searching on the Internet and what I found is mixed.

The bass sounds great, much better than my 2009 MIM Precission.

These are my thoughts:

The serial number is Z5 with 6 digits after it, this sounds like a 2005 model from the Fender web site.

The strings are not throgh the body, but the pictures I have seen for samples that are supposed to be from 2005 show it both ways.

The chrome plate for the body attachment does not say Fender and all the ones I have seen pictured show it with the Fender logo on it.

The body is split down the middle in two pieces, I read somewhere that at one point they started making them out of a single slab of wood.

The tuners do not show the Fender brand.

The finish is not glossy, I have seen some pictures that seem to indicate that this is the way it was in 2005.

I took the neck off and it does have a stamp with June 22, 2005 and the name of a person which I believe may be the way they are done.

I will greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide.

Mike.

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#3
Thank you, that makes sense. I'll look in that direction.

I sent an e-mail to Fender asking for information based on the serial number, they usually are very good and send you every little detail about the guitar.

I just don't want to end up with some worthless hybrid; nevertheless the bass sounds great.

Thanks again.
 
#5
DWBass said:
It may be a Highway 1/One
Click to expand...

It looks that way from everything I have found since you pointed me in that direction. I feel better, I though it might have been a genuine Fender neck slapped on some aftermarket body and parts.

Not that such a hybrid would not sound good, but I am trying to trade my way up to a new MIA Jazz; I figure I should be able to sell the Highway 1 when the time comes.

Blue Book value is $475 in its worst condition, he was asking $600, but brought it down to $450 once I showed him it was a HW1. I am comfortable because the bass is in pretty good shape and it sounds good.

Do you know of any good book that would help you identify Fender bass and guitar? I have the blue book from 2010, but that does not go into much detail or pictures.

Thanks again.
 
#6
Def. a Highway one neck.

The body, if actually two pieces , would be VERY unlikely a H1 body. They are normally more like four of five piece Alder. Don't think I've ever seen an actual 1 piece body on a Fender. The MIA Standard Ash are usually 2 piece, and the MIA Standard Alders are typically 3 piece.

More than likely a veneer that Fender uses on some less expensive 'burst models.

Looks to be a first generation highway one from the pic.

$450 would be a decent price for that bass IMO.
 
#8
First generation Hwy series is Hwy 1, latter is Hwy ONE ... the Hwy 1 looks like exactly what you have here ... take a look at the back of the body, if the upper contour is completely black on the sunburst color it is a veneer body, if the black of the sunburst color does not cover the entire countour, it is not veneer ... this should not be a veneer body
 

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