NBD: Lawsuit era P Bass

[JiJ]

Just picked up this P bass for £100 ($130). Guy I bought it off said the pickups had been replaced with ones from an old hohner as the originals were dead, but sounds huge, and plays like buttah.

The sticker seems to have dissolved into the finish, giving a cool effect, but it definitely looks like a paint stain from a distance.

 

[GretschWretch]

The sticker also suggests the bass once was owned by an RAF airman.

 

[P. Aaron]

Good looking bass. If it has tone & is playable, you gotta good deal.

Congrats.

 

[Bass V]

yup, you nailed a sweetheart, the only thing missing is the cigarette burn on the headstock

 

[RobTheRiot]

Is that an old Ibanez?

Really looks like one to me...mid 70’s or so?

If so you got a STEAL of a deal...those are easily going for 4x what you paid...

Nice score! Enjoy it!

 

[JiJ]

No manufacturer markings anywhere on the headstock, bridge or under the pickguard, so I don't know who made it. There's the remains of a headstock decal, but it's impossible to make out. I haven't checked the neck pocket yet.

The finish feels like nitrocellulose, the truss rod adjustment is at the neck heel with a channel in the body for adjustment, and the pots are full size, so it's clearly old. Interestingly the red of the burst continues under the pickguard (unlike most that you see)

The guy I bought it off sells a lot of old Japanese stuff, he had a jazz bass with mini humbuckers a few weeks ago, and before that, another jazz bass with a mudbucker in the middle position and mini humbuckers at the neck and bridge positions with a two saddle bridge.

 

[ajkula66]

Is that an old Ibanez?

No.

Ibanez basses from that era had truss rod adjustment at the headstock.

Nevertheless, for a hundred quid - if it plays OK and the truss rod is functional - it's still a very good deal IMO.

 

[RobTheRiot]

Ibanez basses from that era had truss rod adjustment at the headstock.

Nevertheless, for a hundred quid - if it plays OK and the truss rod is functional - it's still a very good deal IMO.

Before posting I actually hesitated because I thought the same thing.

However, when I went to check online, I found plenty of images like the one below, showing that all Ibanezes did not have TR access at the headstock. Image clearly shows the walnut plug in the headstock.

Very likely not an Ibanez, but with the shape of headstock, the shape of the pick-guard with upper horn swooping up slightly, and just the overall appearance, it wouldn’t surprise me if it was.

Either way - if it’s a player, play it and enjoy!!

 

[Bill Whitehurst]

It looks like they did a far job of copying a P.
If it plays and sounds like one you did good.