Story of Unknown Maker

[Doc Kurt]

I have had this particular bass for a few years. It was gifted to me because the original owner dug it except for one thing... it's a lefty.

I asked him the brand and he had no idea because he bought it at a pawn shop for $100. So my quest to find a manufacturer leads me here. There are no numbers, badges, it other identifying markers. It screams Ibanez except for pickups and body.

Would anyone be able to point me in a direction to find the maker? I have been calling her Jane Doe for years. I appreciate the help.

 

[charlie monroe]

Is it set neck?

You should post more pics from more viewpoints.

 

[arbiterusa]

Not an Ibanez. Gotta feeling somebody made that - and did a nice job of it - in their garage/backyard workshop.

 

[Doc Kurt]

Sure. Here are a few more. Let me know if there others that may help.

 

[arbiterusa]

Looks like a Wishbass, but built by some someone with access to tools and decent wood, instead of a pocketknife and garbage.

That bridge is really unusual. I wonder if this thing is Japanese.

 

[Doc Kurt]

Looks like a Wishbass, but built by some someone with access to tools and decent wood, instead of a pocketknife and garbage.

That bridge is really unusual. I wonder if this thing is Japanese.

With no badges or numbers it is hard to tell.

 

[Reedt2000]

I also tend to think is was home made, though it looks like it's well done. If there are no distinguishing marks on the neck or body, what about inside the control cavity?

 

[arbiterusa]

With no badges or numbers it is hard to tell.

Impossible and I suspect it will always be a mystery. I would pull out the pickups and have a look inside the control cavity to at least see if there's any numbers or country of origin markings on anything. I suspect that's as close as you're going to get to figuring out what it is. Best of luck.

 

[A9X]

Possibly an Ibanez neck adopted to a one off body.

 

[Doc Kurt]

Some cavity shots and a couple of the bridge as well.

 

[abarson]

Absolutely not Ibanez. And it looks too "factory" to be a garage build.
There used to be a bunch of those on ebay from a very low-cost Chinese manufacturer, like those you find on Aliexpress. Hence, no name, serial number, etc.
I believe the hardware is Wilkinson (or Song-Il, same manufacturer) but the pickups are generic humbucking soapbars. Looks like it's passive, 1-volume 1-tone for each pickup.
Is it heavy?

 

[Doc Kurt]

 

[Doc Kurt]

Absolutely not Ibanez. And it looks too "factory" to be a garage build.
There used to be a bunch of those on ebay from a very low-cost Chinese manufacturer, like those you find on Aliexpress. Hence, no name, serial number, etc.
I believe the hardware is Wilkinson (or Song-Il, same manufacturer) but the pickups are generic humbucking soapbars. Looks like it's passive, 1-volume 1-tone for each pickup.
Is it heavy?

 

[Doc Kurt]

Super heavy

 

[Doc Kurt]

Impossible and I suspect it will always be a mystery. I would pull out the pickups and have a look inside the control cavity to at least see if there's any numbers or country of origin markings on anything. I suspect that's as close as you're going to get to figuring out what it is. Best of luck.

That's cool. I appreciate it.

 

[arbiterusa]

All I can tell you after seeing that control cavity: not Japanese. For a certainty.

 

[abarson]

Yep, Chinese manufacture.
Tiny pots, questionable wiring, no shielding, sloppy finish in the cavity.
I take back my comment about the hardware being Wilkinson, as I think this isn't at that level.

But don't let me discourage you. If it is solid and feels good, that's most of the way there. Upgrading electronics and/or hardware can be done at any time and for a reasonable investment. The body looks solid, could be oak or a variety of ash. The real tell is going to be the neck.

 

[mmbongo]

The cavity makes it clearer: homemade.

 

[Doc Kurt]

Yep, Chinese manufacture.
Tiny pots, questionable wiring, no shielding, sloppy finish in the cavity.
I take back my comment about the hardware being Wilkinson, as I think this isn't at that level.

But don't let me discourage you. If it is solid and feels good, that's most of the way there. Upgrading electronics and/or hardware can be done at any time and for a reasonable investment. The body looks solid, and the real tell is going to be the neck.

The neck is straight. I put up some pictures of it previously

 

[abarson]

The neck is straight. I put up some pictures of it previously

Missed those while I was typing.
I'd say in all it's a good platform that is worth better controls, wiring and possibly pickups. Or play the snot out of it the way it is. But I'm 100% certain it came from a Chinese factory and isn't handmade at all.