Relic or Genuine?

That looks like added wear to me. I may be wrong but I don't think Fender does scratches as part of their relic package.

 

Looks like buckle rash to me. I don't know what the white stuff is, but if you are going to do a fake, why would you just do the fake mostly on the back?

 

My vote is natural wear. Most fake relics are way way overdone

 

I vote mostly fake. I bet some of it is original but some of those scratches on the back look like they were deliberate.

The "whiteness" of the finish on the front looks like a combination of sweat and maybe polishing the other areas.
On the back looks to be just the lighting on the lower left. The scratches in the lower middle are what I think are fake, along with the X's

 

to me.. It looks like they cleaned the bass prior to taking picks but did not run the rag under the strings. And on the back.That looks like completely normal wear to me of somebody that wears a motorcycle jacket and a rodeo belt buckle.

So I suppose if you asked what kind of band they were in the answer may give you the answers. If it's country band or a Ramones thing, you have your answer.

 

Looks normal to me. I have never seen anyone only relic the back of a bass before. It's just buckle rash.

 

Sure, back in the 70's, but who wears a belt buckle that could do that kind of damage anymore?

 

If it was a relic, odds are you would see most of it from the front (or what bother to do a cosmetic relic?). Someone likes big belt buckles, or studs on their belt.

 

I would point to the OP's Avatar.. That I just noticed.
Perfect example of how this happened. And I still see plenty of punk and biker type bands playing while wearing the jackets..

 

Fake relicing the back of a bass? Get real people.

 

My Precision has wear in exactly the same place on the back from when I used a long strap. Strap is shorter now, because the long strap doesn't work with Fender ergos. So, there are now two nasty looking places on the back. It's from the rivets Levis puts in jeans pockets. Swing the bass around to the side and that's what you get. You don't even need a bunch of spiky stuff to make a mess of you instrument like that. Plus it's a Fender. If you don't abuse a Fender, you are doing it wrong.

 

I have a 2004 Hwy 1 Strat that is my main guitar and it has similar wear. I've played it on countless gigs and the finish wears easily.

 

The wear I see on the back, and the filth under the strings looks genuine. I'd be embarrassed to leave my instruments in such a poor state of repair.

My 2011 American Special started to accumulate scratches on the back of the body in the same places (only a bit more towards the middle) as the OP's pics. It was indeed my belt buckle that was causing the damage. And, it's not a Chevy hub cap by any means.

I polished the back to feather out the scratches and now wear the bass a bit more towards my right hip. Akin to carrying a rifle at the ready.

 

I vote poorly handled bass. I've had bases for over 30 years with no real buckle rash. Offer less than if it were in good condition. If you even want it (I don't).

 

That looks real, just abused. Even if it is fake, it doesn't matter. I have a 2006 hwy one P and it has a killer neck. Unless it's a steal, offer him less because of the condition.

 

My Jazz Bass looks way worse than that, but it's real road wear. The headstock is rough too. I don't know if anyone relics a headstock. I bet if its mint up there, the wear is fake, but it looks about right to me for a bass that has gigged a lot

 

Been to Texas?

 

Looks like legit wear and tear to me. I don't see why anyone would add fake wear in the areas that are worn on this bass.