Identifying Bass

[Simpsoah]

Hey guys. I'm new to this forum and playing bass. I was hoping someone here could help me identify my old bass. Here's the backstory: I had a garbage Fender Squire guitar when I was younger. I really didn't want to play guitar though, I always had a thing for bass. Fortunately, my buddy wanted my POS guitar, so I traded it to him for an old bass. He said he knew nothing about the bass because he found it in a dumpster somewhere (which explains the rust, missing tuning machine, and probably some of the scratches).

The bass has no markings indicating a maker. From my research, I think it looks a lot like a Fender Jazz Bass. But some of the parts don't look quite right (ex: the knob styles look wrong, and one of the pickups looks like it is closer to the bridge assembly than it should be). I asked the dude at my local music shop and he said to "take off the body and verify the stamps, it would probably be way over your head" (condescending jerk).

My guess is that it is a Fender Jazz Bass with an aftermarket neck. But if anyone could help me figure this out, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

 

[GM60466]

Looks like late '60s or early '70 Tiesco from Japan maybe under the Kent or Kingston label

 

[smcd]

Absolutely not a Fender. Definitely a no-name Japanese Jazz copy.

 

[Simpsoah]

Hey, thanks for the quick response! Do you by chance have a link or something? I did a Google Image search for Tiesco, Kent, and Kingston, but I don't see anything like mine.

 

[geoff_in_nc]

I doubt its a Fender. The fit of the pickguard, what looks like a 2 barrel bridge, the longer horn extending up to about the 10th fret makes it look like a short scale, the placement of the bridge, etc... Probably just some cheap clone from some nondescript maker. But if you like it, fix it up and rock it! Nothing wrong with a cheap bass... I just don't think its a Fender.

 

[Simpsoah]

Thanks guys. Well, that's kind of a bummer. I thought I struck gold there, haha. I think I will end up just buying a new bass knowing this. I wanted to restore it if it was authentic, but by buying new pickups, a new bridge assembly, new tuning machines, and strings, I would spend more money on that than I would on an all new bass.

 

[smcd]

The bass itself has little value. Almost no value as it does appear to be short scale. This is something you would hang on the wall of a bar as a decoration. It's not wise to sink any money into it.