Is this Fender Telecaster Bass a Squier?

[GlennW]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Sunburst-Fender...yZ156025QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks a little fishy to me.

 

[crack-boom]

i dunno, but id buy it haha. just change that bridge to a more traditional fender style and it'll be all goods for me

 

[mongo2]

Looks like a refinished/reliced Squier with a bogus Fender decal.

 

[GlennW]

That's what I was thinking, with a F neck plate.

I don't think I've ever seen a Fender Tele Bass with that body finish.

 

[bass-flyer]

Well, .... it's made in Mexico.

Ahhhh..... sorry the NECK was made in Mexico.
"Neck Serial No. MN9146563 - "made in Mexico""

The guitar was assembled in the USA with Fender parts.

 

[Dark Horse]

Yes.

Scotchbrite the body, respray the neck (over the nut!), add decals and neck plate, and you'll have that bass.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=537958

 

[bass-flyer]

I'm sure it probably started as one of these.
And what Dark Horse said.

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[GlennW]

The neck is supposedly a '99 MIM. Did Fender even make MIM Tele Basses in '99?

 

[bass-flyer]

The neck is supposedly a '99 MIM. Did Fender even make MIM Tele Basses in '99?

I'm wondering about that neck too.

 

[Rathead123]

I think it gives a description of what it is.. Parts bass..mim neck.

 

[Dark Horse]

The neck is supposedly a '99 MIM. Did Fender even make MIM Tele Basses in '99?

It isn't. Notice he just quotes the serial number and what the decal says, but never actually "states" that the neck is made in Mexico.


I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is a Squier VM that has been refinned. I just did one myself about 2 weeks ago.

Notice the transition from the back of the neck to the headstock ? Sharp edges like a Squier.

Notice that Fender has not offered a "Mudbucker" for many years EXCEPT in the Squier VM.

Notice the 3 ply guard ? Notice that the 3 ply guard doesn't have a screw ABOVE the tone knob ? Neither did mine - I had to drill and add it. It's funny, because the "press shots" show the screw, but the actual bass (at least mine and this one) don't have it.

Notice the brass saddles like on the Squier ?

He says the body is "solid ash", but in fact it is ash veneers on a basswood body.

EDIT: Images from Bass Emporium added to illustrate my point - right click "view image" to see them full size

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Don;t get me wrong, it's a nice bass. I personally would have (and AM in my auction) disclosed the origins of the bass.

 

[stylonpilson]

This thread is talking about the same bass on eBay.

S.P.

 

[GlennW]

Thanks. I was 99% sure the body was from a recent Squier; a scale would probably prove it's basswood with ash veneers.

 

[Dark Horse]

Only semi-related, but a very cool bass for the money if you love Tele basses but need a 5 string -

SCHECTER MODEL T 5 STRING BASS

 

[GlennW]

Fake MIM's...the times they are a-changin'. That seller is definately scamming.

 

[Dark Horse]

Fake MIM's...the times they are a-changin'. That seller is definately scamming.

I don't know if I would say he's "scamming". He's definitely "omitting" information about the details, and using some clever wordplay. Certainly some work went into the refin on the neck, aging the parts, adding decals and neck plate, etc. He has also offered a "best offer" option on his auction, so the $800 is just the price he'd like in a "perfect world".

If he was scamming, I would think he'd try to pass it off as a true 70's Tele bass.

Just my opinion.

 

[bh2]

Well, I think he's done a neat job on the refin.

 

[jumbosilverette]

The guys states pretty unequivocally in the auction that it's a reliced bass made from Fender-licensed parts. Don't you guys read?

 

[Dark Horse]

Well, I think he's done a neat job on the refin.

So do I. I think it looks pretty darn good. Only the neck was refinned, but I like the tasteful relic work he did overall.

 

[Dark Horse]

The guys states pretty unequivocally in the auction that it's a reliced bass made from Fender-licensed parts. Don't you guys read?

We all read it just fine. What was being discussed was the ORIGIN OF THOSE PARTS. It was asked "is this a Squier" in the original post. It is.