Trying to ID a bass

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by averykess, Jan 12, 2009.

  1. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    I tried posting this in the G&L forum, but I thought I'd widen my audience a bit by posting here...

    I am trying to identify the bass I have but haven't been able to do so yet. I know that it was bought through either Sears, Montgomery Ward, or JC Penney in the late 80s (I can't remember which). It is a double cutaway strat-style. It has both P and J style pickups, 2 volume knobs, 1 tone knob, and the jack is on the face. This is all covered by a plastic pick guard. The neck is a 4 bolt model with a micro-tilt. The truss rod is adjustable from the headstock end, there is no cover for the truss rod. The face of the headstock is painted the same black as the body and lacks any kind of logo. The headstock looks like an SB-1 (no pointy bit on the opposite side from the tuning knobs). I have taken the neck off and found no serial numbers anywhere on it. The body is plywood. It is probably nothing special, I'd just like to know.

    3193006814_4bdfc6387d_o.jpg

    3193006734_c44a010c3c.jpg

    3193006786_d9f1e190e6.jpg

    3192160373_92d07893e2.jpg

    What do you guys think?
     
  2. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    no help?
     
  3. Vinci, maybe? The headstock looks a little off for a Vinci though.
     
  4. excane

    excane Inactive

    Aug 23, 2005
    New York, NY
    I swear I have seen this bass before...let me do some research on the web and I'll get back to you. I'm curious myself now as to what this is.
     
  5. brothernewt

    brothernewt Some people call me the stormtrooper of love...

    Apr 13, 2004
    Gladstone, OR
    I'm goin' Kramer Focus...
     
  6. martyman5000

    martyman5000 Guest

    Sep 12, 2004
    Toronto Canada
    looks like someone stuck an old neck on a new bass.
     
  7. heavyhitter

    heavyhitter

    Jan 24, 2008
    +1 I think they are kinda rare too.
     
  8. iriegnome

    iriegnome Bassstar style Supporting Member

    Nov 23, 2001
    Kenosha, WI 53140
    Looks like a Lotus headstock to me... Or even an Aria.
     
  9. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    Heh, exactly the problem I've been having; everyone says it kinda looks like this or that... :)
     
  10. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    Hasn't been altered in any way from when I got it except for the yellow sticker. :)

    I'd take that off, except I am worried the color would be much different underneath.
     
  11. I'm the only Vinci owner here. (That's not pride speaking)

    Vinci.gif
     
  12. stflbn

    stflbn

    May 10, 2007
    Nashville
    Cort?
     
  13. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    I looked at the stuff on the Cort website. The headstock on the GB34A is the closest I've seen so far, but the tail is more assymetrical.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Dont think its an Aria. Headstock looks wrong, I've got a couple..
     
  15. cdef

    cdef

    Jul 18, 2003
    It looks very much like the Cort PJ bass here.
     
  16. JTE

    JTE Gold Supporting Member

    Mar 12, 2008
    Central Illinois, USA
    The actual "name" on the bass could be anything. It looks like a Cort, but that just means it was built in that particular factory. Does it really matter? It ain't a Kramer Focus, especially if you got it at Sears or JCP, nor an Aria, etc. But it could be identical in all respects except the headstock shape.

    The lowest level for marketing from the orient at the time was a generic instrument with nothing on the headstock. Next level up was the same thing with different headstock shapes, perhaps paint, and decals. You order enough of them and you got yourself a bass line, exclusively yours- except the guy next door who ordered the same number has the exact same instrument with a different headstock and decal on it.

    That's what it looks like to me.

    jte
     
  17. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    It does, in certain ways. I need to have the nut replaced, as the E has bottomed out. I thought if I could find who made it, I could find some technical info on it and get a better replacement.
     
  18. averykess

    averykess Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    :eek: Wow, that is pretty much it. The machines mounting plates are even the same shape. The only difference is mine has the micro-tilt adjuster.

    Thanks!
     
  19. Any decent tech can make a new nut for it. I'd forget trying to find an authentic replacement part-they probably don't exist. It's really no big deal at all.
     
  20. Kemet09

    Kemet09

    Oct 29, 2004
    Chi-Ca-Go
    Endorsements: Sire Basses
    Or you could just get the nut 'shimmed' & not worry about replacing it... ;-)