Please Help ID this veteran

[lobster57]

Hey!

First post here and I'm already asking for help

I recently picked up this bass cheap off Craigslist. It was advertised as a Gibson, but considering what the guy wanted for it I knew it wasn't going to be genuine. But I was curious so I went to check it out. Its got a short scale neck and it feels and sounds great, the strings may be older than me and I haven't bothered to change them yet. Anyway, there are no identifying marks anywhere on it. I'm guessing the biggest clues are the faded area on the headstock and the serial number and the fact that its made in Japan.

Not really concerned about who made this thing, I quite like it and its totally worth the little bit of cash I paid. I'm just curious.

Thanks for any help.

 

[lobster57]

A couple more pics.

 

[ironrat]

looks nice!

 

[J. Crawford]

Yes it does, but it doesnt look like a legit Gibby, so Im agreeing with you.

I have no help though, sorry man!

 

[owiebassman]

It could be an Epiphone. Some of their basses from the 70s and 80s had the steel adjustable neck plate.

 

[cdef]

I know I've seen that model marketed under the DIA brand in the 70's. The natural finish on the front of the headstock makes it stand out in memory, and the spot where the logo has been scraped off would match my recollection of it.

The neck plate is typical of the Matsumoku factory. One of the brands they had was Aria Diamond, and DIA may have been a later variant of that. Does the bass have a small PCB in the control cavity rather than conventional wiring? That was a feature on some of the DIA guitars.

 

[lobster57]

I'll have a look in there tonight. Thanks for the info guys

 

[Bassamatic]

It is nice looking - probably decent.

I hope that you re-wind the bottom strings to the correct side of the tuners soon so that the tension to the side doesn't break the nut!

 

[T-Forty]

perhaps it's a givson!

 

[lobster57]

Ok, here is a pic of the control cavity.

I never even noticed the strings being wound the wrong way, new strings fixed that problem, and made this thing feel and sound even better. Best $75 ever.