• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Is this P-bass fake?

#41
Guys first of all thank you for your helpful insight and information regarding this p-bass..just to update you on the case,he never replied back after I asked him to send me clearer pictures(Ha!) and honestly I was really curious to see more pictures of this bass just to understand what the hell it is to be honest. He was asking $180 dollars for it claiming "He's had this bass for a long time and it belonged to a friend and his friend traveled so he wanted to sell it" and basically he either really knows nothing about the instrument/music in general OR he was obviously trying to scam. Anyways that's the end of it I guess. Thanks again!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#44
capnjim said:
Its kind of hard to say exactly. I might be wrong, but the font looks a bit off. The chrome tuners look way too shiny. The main thing.... I love maple and its grain. I notice lots of new Squiers and copies have brown flecks in them. Usually US made and even MIM have much tighter cleaner looking maple.
Pretty much a hunch, but if I was offered that bass to buy, based on those pics I would pass.
Click to expand...

Are you referring to the photos of the front and back of the headstock I posted ?
 
#45
It might also be that in a thread with an obvious fake, I have fakes on the brain and am seeing things that aren't there. Too bad it didn't have the truss adjust at the headstock. Thats a 100% dead giveaway if there is no brown sleeve.
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#46
capnjim said:
Yup. You can see where there are light brown streaks in the grain. But, l'm no expert. And, its only two pictures. There is a good chance I am wrong.
Click to expand...

Though there are no photos on the archived listing, here's the link to the MF FSR they offered.
Invalid Link Removed

Those photos show the headstock of one of those. Also, one of them sold here on TB this morning.

They are genuine MIA Fenders. Same as the American Special Precision Bass Fender offered. The exceptions being, satin nitro on the body of the FSR and sans the grease bucket circuit on the standard American Special.

The nitro finish is gorgeous and quite thin on the FSR models.

0530172242b.jpg
 
#47
Ali Jabakhanji said:
Guys first of all thank you for your helpful insight and information regarding this p-bass..just to update you on the case,he never replied back after I asked him to send me clearer pictures(Ha!) and honestly I was really curious to see more pictures of this bass just to understand what the hell it is to be honest. He was asking $180 dollars for it claiming "He's had this bass for a long time and it belonged to a friend and his friend traveled so he wanted to sell it" and basically he either really knows nothing about the instrument/music in general OR he was obviously trying to scam. Anyways that's the end of it I guess. Thanks again!!
Click to expand...

Congrats to sharp-eyed TBers for calling that one out. I'm duly impressed!:thumbsup:
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#49
The counterfeiters can find all the images online they need to fake a specific model. It's been that way for over 20 years.

Various forums have threads identifying fakes and showing the differences between fake and genuine instruments. Well over a decade on that as well.

Call these threads a playbook if you wish, but again the information to guide the counterfeiters has been available since Al Gore created the internet lol

Hundreds of fellow musicians have avoided being burned by these threads. And that's a good thing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Ali Jabakhanji, Fuzzbass and J-Bassomatic
#52
What the heck is the issue anyway. He just wants a good (fair) price for an instrument that he's gonna play and probably love. If he can get his hands on it and can really give it a close examination and it plays well, then why not buy it? If everything works..including that funny-looking truss rod, then that's really the 'bottom line', right? The only other obstacle seem to be the price.. Given that's low enough for his budget, then he's got himself a good-playing, affordable bass. I hope this will turn out very well for the OP.
. .
 
  • Like
Reactions: lowplaces
#53
Rattman said:
What the heck is the issue anyway. He just wants a good (fair) price for an instrument that he's gonna play and probably love. If he can get his hands on it and can really give it a close examination and it plays well, then why not buy it? If everything works..including that funny-looking truss rod, then that's really the 'bottom line', right? The only other obstacle seem to be the price.. Given that's low enough for his budget, then he's got himself a good-playing, affordable bass. I hope this will turn out very well for the OP.
. .
Click to expand...

True enough, but he did seem to be interested in whether it was fake or not. You know how we like to scrutinize stuff here.:)
EDIT: Good band name 'Scrutiny on the Bounty'
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rattman
#54
J-Bassomatic said:
True enough, but he did seem to be interested in whether it was fake or not. You know how we like to scrutinize stuff here.:) . . EDIT: Good band name 'Scrutiny on the Bounty'
Click to expand...

Yes, he sure did. Tell him it's fake, and then let him take the next step. He got his answer.. that should be good enough to move on or offer a lower price to the seller of said fake bass.
. .
 
  • Like
Reactions: J-Bassomatic
#55
Rabidhamster said:
Nope that is really fake, it isn't even a Squier. I hope you can get your money back! However much the price is its a bad deal. Well....I'd pay $20 for it for a stage prop to throw around or to give to a poor kid.


Some do. But you're correct about the truss rod being wrong anyway, the adjustments sure don't look like that lol
post-1067-1267654278.jpg
Click to expand...

I should have been more specific and said "Precision Bass". Those never got the bullet truss rod.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rabidhamster
#56
Ali Jabakhanji said:
Guys first of all thank you for your helpful insight and information regarding this p-bass..just to update you on the case,he never replied back after I asked him to send me clearer pictures(Ha!) and honestly I was really curious to see more pictures of this bass just to understand what the hell it is to be honest. He was asking $180 dollars for it claiming "He's had this bass for a long time and it belonged to a friend and his friend traveled so he wanted to sell it" and basically he either really knows nothing about the instrument/music in general OR he was obviously trying to scam. Anyways that's the end of it I guess. Thanks again!!
Click to expand...

For $180 or even much less, if you are patient you can find a MIA Peavey Fury on your local Craigslist.
 
#57
Could be fake. In fact most likely fake. But if you can get it for super super low low price, and it plays and sound great, than get it. After all, the bass looks good from far, but far from good.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back