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Official Fernandes Club

I reckon just the headstocks are different—pointy on the MHB and traditional on the FPM.
The construction is different to a degree. With the MHB-110, the body wings are a three-layer sandwich with the top/back woods being variable from bass to bass. The one I had had a more present attack, acoustically, than an FPM. The FPM is more mid-forward and the attack isn’t nearly as spiky as the MHB. As for the pickups, they are so hi-fi-sounding that they will just accentuate the bass strengths. If you put FPM-100 and MHB-110 on a spectrum between a P-bass and an Alembic Series I, the FPM will be 60% Alembic whereas the MHB is more like 85% Alembic, tonally.
 
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The construction is different to a degree. With the MHB-110, the body wings are a three-layer sandwich with the top/back woods being variable from bass to bass. The one I had had a more present attack, acoustically, than an FPM. The FPM is more mid-forward and the attack isn’t nearly as spiky as the MHB. As for the pickups, they are so hi-fi-sounding that they will just accentuate the bass strengths. If you put FPM-100 and MHB-110 on a spectrum between a P-bass and an Alembic Series I, the FPM will be 60% Alembic whereas the MHB is more like 85% Alembic, tonally.
Neat! Is this one correctly advertised? I ask because it looks identical to the one I bought, an FPM, and is missing that identifying MHB truss rod cover.

Fernandes 1979-1981 FPM-100 | Reverb Canada

I just bought this one … https://reverb.com/ca/item/89979697-fernandes-mhb-110-sunburst-sn-90511-05-14 … the Gakki pics lack a back view and are obscured somewhat by the company logo, but what I can see looks the same as the pricey Ishabishi one.
 
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A past Gakki ad, this one has the rounded FPM headstock and no apparent top wood, but it, too, was listed as an MHB. The only MHB ever listed in the TB Classifieds is as you say: hippie sandwich and streamlined headstock, plus snazzy white pickups and ornately-lettered truss-rod plate. I’m sure mine is an FPM as advertised.
 

A past Gakki ad, this one has the rounded FPM headstock and no apparent top wood, but it, too, was listed as an MHB. The only MHB ever listed in the TB Classifieds is as you say: hippie sandwich and streamlined headstock, plus snazzy white pickups and ornately-lettered truss-rod plate. I’m sure mine is an FPM as advertised.
That MHB-110 in the classifieds is the one I owned up until last year after buying from the original seller. Still might be the best bass I have ever owned had I made a decision to keep basses that I could easily source parts for and stuff breaks

The sunburst in an FPM, but they didn’t list the 100 in catalogs that I can find.
 
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Finally … one step-up converter, one stereo-to-mono cable, and one trip to the electronics store to get the connector pins straightened later, and I have achieved stereo! I was momentarily flummoxed by all the gimmicks I needed.
IMG_1204.jpeg
 
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Hey all, I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about this Vertigo. It was my first bass and I bought it new back in 98, but really didn't know much about it then and don't know much about it now. I was in the school jazz band and wanted my own bass, so I took what little lawn mowing money I had and went to the local shop to get a cheap Squier and walked out with this made in Taiwan Vertigo. It's a great bass and still my main gigging jazz style, but as I was about to take the strings off today for a change I realized I don't really know anything about it.
PXL_20250725_153952414.jpg
 
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It's quirky but I like it. It's a bit under 8 lbs and very nicely balanced, even if the design pushes it out a bit to the left on a strap. It has a fairly thin neck with a 42mm nut and flatter fingerboard, so it doesn't really play or feel like jazz even if it sounds pretty similar. The carved body makes for a really comfortable spot to place my right forearm, and it has a smooth carved neck joint which is great because the upper fret access is atrocious. I've had a few different jazzes over the years but I always end up back on this one. It plays really similar to my Fender Aerodyne P-bass, but with a completely different sound, which might be why it works for me so well.
 
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It's quirky but I like it. It's a bit under 8 lbs and very nicely balanced, even if the design pushes it out a bit to the left on a strap. It has a fairly thin neck with a 42mm nut and flatter fingerboard, so it doesn't really play or feel like jazz even if it sounds pretty similar. The carved body makes for a really comfortable spot to place my right forearm, and it has a smooth carved neck joint which is great because the upper fret access is atrocious. I've had a few different jazzes over the years but I always end up back on this one. It plays really similar to my Fender Aerodyne P-bass, but with a completely different sound, which might be why it works for me so well.
I can’t tell whether the pickguard has a smile or smirk..but wondered whether it sounded like a jazz does. Is it passive or active?
 
Hello everyone, I am new here on Talkbass!

I add to this thread a question about my Fernandes Precision (Stone Logo), I hope someone can help me.

As you can see in the pictures, the code below the neck (reverse Showa, right?) says that the neck comes from the 1981 production...but the double series of holes made me rise some suspicion about the body. In your opinion, is it of the same age?
In the picture of the neck pocket a dark stamp is clearily visible, to the top-left of the red sign (it seems to be a japanese ideogram or something like that), maybe it can give a clue. The body is old, for sure. I attach also some pictures ot the electronic...maybe they can help too.

Any ideas or opinion?

Thank you!
 

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