need help identifying a bass

[Just J]

This is an "ebay special" so to speak. I had a Squier P Special as one of my first basses. It had the P/J setup, so I eventually upgraded the pickups, pots, and jack, and sheilded the cavity. Helped it sound much cleaner, but there was something off with the tone. So, I started hunting for a body with the same pickup configuration and found the body you see on the bass below. Only problem was the Squier neck didn't mount properly (wouldn't intonate). Come to find out the neck that was with the bass was 22 frets, and luckily managed to get ahold of the guy who won that auction.

So, I got it put together and partially setup, however I have absolutely no clue the specifc type of bass. Here's what I know. It's a MIM Fender, there was a packing slip with the neck that said it was a built in 2005 60s Jazz replica, it has 22 frets (I could not find a single Fender replacement that had more than 20 frets and wasn't a fingerboard extention), and a brass nut. The body is P/J as you can see, and active.

I didn't take any pics of the back, but if there's a specific thing that would be helpful (like the serial number) I can snap pics tonight.

Thx

Link Removed

 

[OhThePeacock]

Wow very interesting, the pickguard makes it look like its an evolution from a 51 style p-bass.

 

[Pilgrim]

I believe that's what is sometimes called a "Cowpoke" bass, because of the somewhat western-theme appearance of the pickguard. I saw them more than once over at the Fender Forum when I hung out there.

It's definitely not a Jazz body, regardless of what nomenclature Fender applied. I think its title included the words Precision Special, but that's about as far as I can take it.

A search for the term "cowpoke bass" at Link Removed might yield a thread that will include links to pictures.

Edit: went there, tried a search for Cowpoke. Yield: MIM Precision Bass Special, probably mid-90's. these are rather unusual but not high-priced basses. Owners generally like tham and hang onto them.

I can only search back one year at fenderforum, and most of the discussion I recall would have been earlier than that. Here's an archived thread, but the pictures are all outdated:

http://fenderforum.com/forum.html?db=2003&topic_number=325603

Try a general web search.

 

[Just J]

lol, did a google and look what I found:

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3485819&postcount=100

You nailed it Pilgrim, thx. (lol, funny how a user named "Pilgrim" helped me identify a "Cowpoke" bass)

From the link you posted: Link Removed

 

[Pags]

I have two of these. One I am the original owner and had not seen another for many years. This is the bass I learned on and the only bass guitar I like to play. I’ll play an upright but don’t feel comfortable with another guitar.

This is a “1995 MIM Deluxe P Bass”, it is very similar to today’s Deluxe P Bass Special Active, except for its distinct look. They were only made for about a year and discontinued. All of them were MIM, all of the serials I a have seen are N5 I’ve heard of N6 but still considered ‘95s. The signature is the pick guard, stacked pots, and the pickups mounted directly in the wood.

This guitar rivals most other fender basses, even American. Except for a few custom shops and vintage ones this the best fender bass I have played through. Definitely the best bang for the buck. My first one I paid $375 new. My second $400.

I understand what you were up to customizing your squire, I assume it was a deluxe P bass (the pickup configuration being the issue), but in my opinion you would have been better off keeping the MIM stock. The active setup and pickups are very high quality. This was the tail end of fender history where the Mexican guitars were as high of quality as the American and almost all of the same parts. There are late 80’s early 90’s Mexican Strats out there are just as good as today’s American Standard. Like I said I understand the upgrade and this is just my opinion.

This is the first I’ve heard it called a “cowpoke” but it makes sense, and if enough people say it, it must be true. I have seen people reference a ’51 before.

If you have any more info on them let me know, also feel free to correct me where I may be wrong. Because there is so little info out there on these this is all stuff I have researched and compiled on my own.