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Need some advice before I check out a used P MIM

#23
On the body, the bass should have 13 screw holes in the pickguard. Most of the Affinitys have 14. Someone could have change the pickguard etc. but really... who would go to the trouble of faking a bass to sell it for $225? If someone put on an MIM neck, a 13 hole pickguard etc. onto an Affinity body they deserve to get $225 for it.
I recently went through exactly the same thing as you... guy traded me an MIM P-Bass for a Squier Jag SS. I was convinced the MIM must be fake but after having it a month and checking it out throughly it is definitely the real deal.
Grab it... $225 is a great deal.
FYI, my '93 MIM weighs 8.5 lbs.
I have the '93 P and a 2005 Affinity P-bass which is identical. The only way I can really tell the difference on the body is the Squier has 14 holes for the pickguard where the MIM has 13. The neck is where the big difference is... the MIM neck is more yellowed, thinner, faster and has open back tuners whereas the tuners on the Affinity are closed. Also the headstock says 'Fender' on it :-)
 
#25
Mako and petrus, thanks for the info. Don't know if I could take the pickguard off in fron of the guy. Don't know what you mean by the infamous 'hole', petrus.
My thread here has me wondering why there isn't already a thread about what to look for to understand authenticity. I guess in some instances it would be impossible.
Anyway, if the neck is in good shape, I'll probably take it.
You're right, Mako. It's worth $225 pretty much any way you look at it. I does say 'Fender' on the headstock.
 
#26
The plastic numbered knobs are pretty much a good indication that the body is also an MIM.
I can't see anything in your photo that looks incorrect... it literally looks exactly like my MIM Precision Bass. I'd say it's the real deal. For it to be a fake someone would have had to change the neck to an MIM, replace the pickguard with a 13-hole pickguard and change the Affinity metal barrel knobs to the plastic numbered ones. That's a lot of work to fake an MIM bass that is selling for about the same price as a used VM Squier.
I can't see anyone faking an MIM waterslide decal for the headstock. If it were an Affinity neck with a fake decal it would be much lighter colored than an MIM neck which is much more yellowed. If I were a crook and went to all that trouble to fake a bass, I would put an American waterslide fake decal on it and try to get some real money.
 
#28
Well, I took a bunch of allen wrenches with me and I felt they weren't going to turn the
rod. They all seemed too small. I know now that this thing takes a 3/16" allen wrench.
I bought the darn thing, despite my reservations about the rod, because the rest of the bass is in really nice condition, and doesn't look like it's been abused at all. The neck has a very slight bow; not real bad but it's not good enough for me. The rest of the neck is great...no nicks or other problems and the frets look new; not even any marks from playing.
I could see some shoulder left on the adjustment nut.
So now what? Do you think I could possibly use a 7/32" allen and tap it in there?
Maybe a 5.5mm metric?
I feel sick to my stomach right now.
Whadda you think?
Anybody?
 
#29
...tune it up, plug it in, AND (just) start playing that Bass! I can relate to the "Paralysis By Analysis Syndrome" (how 'bout "PBAS" over your "P-BASS")?

From all the info you've already provided, it doesn't seem that you got a "ringer". Try to relax and enjoy it, see if you aren't inspired to come up with a new bass line (or sit yourself down and learn the bass part of a favorite song...). I realize $225 is a decent chunk of change (not all of us can readily if ever afford $1,000-2,000 or more outlays for every up-the-quality-ladder instrument of affection), however, if after say another 2 weeks of solid time with it, you are still experiencing buyers regret, you could always sell it locally on CL for $200, probably even listing it for your original $225, maybe more (250?)! Bottom line is that in any case I'm more than fairly confident that you haven't "lost/burned" two-hundred and twenty-five dollars. Also in the meantime maybe you could have a more experienced bass "guru" or local shop tech give it a once-over for (hopefully) more affirming peace-of-mind.

In my less confident days, I once brought a bass I bought elsewhere to a local GC and asked the guitar tech (who was adjusting another guitar) if he wouldn't mind giving it just a quick visual inspection. I left it with him and walked over to browse the racks and much to my surprise just a few minutes later I looked back over to the set-up table and the guy had it on there and was making a couple quick/minor adjustments, then putting the bass up to his ear, etc. he's says: "looks good, sounds good". I plugged it in and while I can't say for sure the intonation sounded "drastically" different to my ears, it played a bit more easily/comfortable. I asked him if there was any charge per se, he just shook his head and was already onto another instrument. Granted that may not happen for you--and in no way was I expecting or asking for that myself, but the guy's rightgeousness is self-evident, and I felt more assured about my purchase at that time.

PS--I bought an instrument cable then and went back another time and bought a tuner (or vice-versa) just to try and hopefully "balance" the scale at least somewhat, and in any case I try to recommend to others I come into contact with locally to at least give that GC a try with their patronage and I certainly would consider buying either a used or new bass/amp/other gear if the right piece was there for me.

Anyway, sorry for the tangent. Onward, Ye Son: "Play That Bass"!!!
 
#30
bumperbass said:
Well, I took a bunch of allen wrenches with me and I felt they weren't going to turn the
rod. They all seemed too small. I know now that this thing takes a 3/16" allen wrench.
I bought the darn thing, despite my reservations about the rod, because the rest of the bass is in really nice condition, and doesn't look like it's been abused at all. The neck has a very slight bow; not real bad but it's not good enough for me. The rest of the neck is great...no nicks or other problems and the frets look new; not even any marks from playing.
I could see some shoulder left on the adjustment nut.
So now what? Do you think I could possibly use a 7/32" allen and tap it in there?
Maybe a 5.5mm metric?
I feel sick to my stomach right now.
Whadda you think?
Anybody?
Click to expand...

Bumper, I'm not sure I understand the issue. Is the truss rod nut stripped, or do you mean it won't turn. Take no offense, but if the issue is that it won't turn, did you loosen the strings? I don't mean to be patronizing, but not everybody knows how to do this stuff, and it can get frustrating quickly! Just in case you haven't seen this yet:
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#31
I have a 2000 MIM P, it's my main player & gigging bass. It had a MIJ pickguard on it when I got it, I swapped it all out for a MIA tort guard, 62 RI p-up, and CTS pots. Strung with Chromes, it sounds very close to a vintage P for a lot less $$$. I use the truss rod tool for my Am. Std. basses to adjust the truss rod on my MIM.

My Am Std. basses were worth the extra coin, but the MIM is definitely a really decent instrument! :cool:
 
#32
MrRobert, I don't KNOW if it will turn. I can't get enough 'bite' on it to feel confident that I won't strip it out. Thanks for the link. I will read it.
Chuckster, I feel that if I can get the neck reasonably straight (it's not twisted) I will feel like I got a ringer. The poor thing hasn't had a chance to play with the other 'kids' on the playground. That will change. I appreciate the opinion that the Am. Standard basses are really a notch above in terms of quality. As a matter of fact, the seller told me he bought a new MIA Jazz and "there really is a difference". I am not the kind of guy that needs a new car or a new whatever to impress. I feel a MIM is a perfect gigging bass for the BARS I play in. More than good enough for me. I have owned a PBass before and really, after many years away from playing, wanted a REAL Fender. I'll tweek it up a bit and play that thang!
Treekiller, this one's the purple color. I saw a few cool shell type pickguards.....one even purple. I don't know if I'll do much to it or not. First order of business is to get it in playing condition and then make it earn its keep.
Thanks for all your help, guys!
Whadda I expect for $225? I got a Fender. Nuff said. HA HA.
 
#33
Disclaimer: I don't have much truss rod experience, but I have been studying the black art of stripped/broken fasteners for 20 years.
Have you tried turning the truss rod nut backwards? I'd try a "torx" driver before tapping in the oversize hex key - they'll sometimes grab a slightly rounded hex. good luck!
 
#34
Hey Marshall Dillon, I will have an arsenal of
1. odd size hexwrenches, torx and all.
2. collection of straight blade screwdrivers
3. anything that will grab.
I have my 'electronics room' and if there's not something in there to take it out, I'll be surprised.
Thanks!
 
#35
bumperbass said:
MrRobert, I don't KNOW if it will turn. I can't get enough 'bite' on it to feel confident that I won't strip it out.........

Treekiller, this one's the purple color. I saw a few cool shell type pickguards.....one even purple. I don't know if I'll do much to it or not. First order of business is to get it in playing condition and then make it earn its keep.
Thanks for all your help, guys!
Whadda I expect for $225? I got a Fender. Nuff said. HA HA.
Click to expand...

Purple with a purple tort guard??? That sounds like some real cool funky goodness going on there, good luck with the truss rod!!! :cool:
 
#37
Hey thanks for the advice. I also bought a MIM P; just an hour ago. My neck was just as the OP described. The guy at the pawn shop was cool, kept trying allen wrenches 'til he found one that fit. The truss screw head looked a little chewed up but we got a good fit and turned the allen wrench a bit less than a 1/4. Here's some pictures:

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#38
Hey, Sequimite, thanks for posting! Love the pics.
I checked the Fender site. Man, yours was made in '92-'93!
Looks like it's in great shape!
I found out for sure what I had figured all along.....the knobs are STRAT knobs. I was going to change mine to the chrome rounded ones, but ya know what? I just might leave them as they are. Thanks again. Can't wait to get my neck fixed up so I can post a pic. Should be ready by the weekend.
I also will probably buy a case. Mine came with a generic gig bag and I just don't know how people trust those things.
 
#39
bumperbass said:
Hey, Sequimite, thanks for posting! Love the pics.
I checked the Fender site. Man, yours was made in '92-'93!
Looks like it's in great shape!
Click to expand...

From what I've read as a general rule the MIM stuff got much better QC-wise over years. But I figure after 20 years the survivors have earned some respect. Aside from straightening the neck (which isn't bad, it's easily playable) the only problem is a funky output jack which I'll need to replace as it occasionally shorts if the plug isn't just right.
 
#40
At least that's an easy fix, Sequimite. My volume pot needs a squirt of De-oxit to get rid of some noise. I'll probably take the pickguard off and clean it up a little. I just might replace the jack. Switchcraft jacks are cheap. Just remember to get that washer (can't think of the proper name) to put underneath the pickguard so it won't come loose.
Yeah, I agree with you about the survivor theory. If it's stable now, it probably will remain stable unless you store it in a damp basement or let it sit beside a wood stove.
A friend of mine has a 4-guitar/bass stand with 4 instruments that he keeps in his basement all year round. It's damp in the summer and like an oven in the Winter. Apparently he is not very concerned with taking care of his stuff.
 

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