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Is my jazz a fake?

J

Johnny6string

Jan 28, 2009
21
1
Birmingham UK
#1
I got this about a year ago, as a trade for an old acoustic guitar.
( i got the acoustic as thanks for fitting a friends tv ariel, so if it turns out it is a fake im not out any money )

The guy I got it from payed full book price for it as a 'new' Fender mim, But im not sure, nothing has any fender logos at all, only the headstock and the varnish around the edges of the headstock is flaking very slightly.

The logo seems to close to the string tree and the tuners seems to far away from the edge of the head stock..
The routing around the pickups is a joke, and the fit between the scratchplate and control panel is awfull.
So what do you guys think.? Fake or awfull quality control?
I havent played that many fender basses, but I have a mid 80s korean Squire strat that is better finished than this, and has fender logos on the hardware.

hopefully the photos will tell a better tale..

RIMG0757.jpg


RIMG0760.jpg


RIMG0761.jpg


Thanks guys, John.
 
#6
i have a MIM Jazz myself and from what i can see that looks the same as mine.. the same holes under the pick guard and the same font/postioning of the logo and serial on the headstock..im no expert though just calling it as i see it!
oh and zooberwerx makes a point about faking a MIM
 
#7
Routing looks like a real MIM Fender.

They always have that tell tale random dowel hole under the pickguard.

Edit: Also, you could try loosening and repositioning the control plate/adjusting the pickguard position to get them to join before you screw it all back together. I had a slight gap between the pickguard and control plate on my Jazz and fixed it that way.
 
#9
"I see you are in the UK...MIM Fenders sold for about $250.00 or less new when they first came out"

Yeah, dont rub it in, they are double that over here. : )

Thanks for all the replys though guys, makes me feel alot better for the friend i got it from as he paid full price for it.

As to why anyone would fake an mim. Becauce for about £100 you could make a fake MIM to sell for £300 on ebay, thats a good profit for little work.

Mostly beginers would be buying them and would not be as likely to spot a fake before its too late.
Fakieng a pre CBS takes more time money and skill than a simple logo swap on a cheep
bass.
Lots of small quick profit, same reason ppl fake £5 notes as well as £50s to be less likely to be caught as no one checks smaller value things as well as they would a large value thing.

Ive been in retail for years, never seen a fake £50. Seen dozens of fake £5s though.
Cheers guys. John.
 
#19
"Isn't that because the £50 fakes (and the pre-CBS fakes) are too well done for most of us to catch?"

Could be. Begs an interesting question thought. maybe for another thread...

If my jazz had of turned out to be fake, im not affected, it plays well and cost me nothing. so even if it was fake I still have a bass I like. no loss either way, the reason i wanted to get you guys opinin is because i was so shocked how low quality the finishing was, ok so its not a £1000+ bass but still..

"Looks like a Fender in a boat!!! But yes, it's definitely a Fender"

Yep it is a boat, a 60ft Narrow boat. Anyone know if im the only floating bassist on TB?

And as to the Steinberger as a padle, i had one that cost me next to nothing and like a fool traded it for a guitar! was such a great little bass, and would have been a prefect practice bass on the boat.

Oh well live and learn.
 

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