UFO: Unknown Fender Object

[ChickWithaRic]

Well hopefully this proves I'm not crazy: measured from the inside edge of the nut to the 12th fret 16.875". I put this into the stewmac calculator and got all the fret to fret measurements, which I double checked to confirm. No idea why on earth but that's what it is!

The neck most certainly sits closer into the body than a standard jazz. I tried putting my other jazz neck on and there was a gap in the neck pocket.

View attachment 4516079

Ok, that gives you a scale length of 857.25mm. This ties in with a very commonly used Japanese scale length of 860mm, allowing for cumulative measurement and/ or production errors and tolerances I'd say that's exactly what you have. You're 2.75mm short, which, when you think about it over 21, 22, whatever, frets is a minuscule error on each position, and they soon add up. So yeah, that's an 860mm scale. Not really so weird or uncommon at all. If I were forced at gunpoint to guess at a manufacturer, I'd go with Tokai, just on a hunch.

 

[GregT]

Michael Supe Granda (bassist and founding member of the Ozark Mountain Daredevils)

 

[ChickWithaRic]

ok, so what is it then?

I also eagerly await the definitive answer to this.

I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Ricky Rioli]

I don't think I've ever seen or heard of a 33.75" scale bass. You might have a unicorn on your hands

iirc, standard for late 70s / early 80s Yamaha basses

Edit: make that mid 70s

 

[Ricky Rioli]

iirc, standard for late 70s / early 80s Yamaha basses

Edit: make that mid 70s

Eg the SB-55

 

[mcrawfordmusic]

I also eagerly await the definitive answer to this.

I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, the way in which he articulated that we were wrong had assured me that he has the answer!

Merry Christmas Talkbass

 

[ChickWithaRic]

iirc, standard for late 70s / early 80s Yamaha basses

Edit: make that mid 70s

860mm. Japanese factories were tooled up for the metric system, they simply went to the nearest sensible number to 34 inches. It's still very widely used, in fact I'd say through sheer production volume it has become the de facto standard.

 

[Kirk Bryant]

Yup much ado about nothing. And to the person who claims to own a pre, or slightly later, CBS Fender; there are only 2 possibility's. A) the Fullerton hump was sanded off. (This is unusual, generally it would be only somewhat smoothed off but still noticeable. My pre CBS has been refin'd twice and it's STILL noticeable.) OR B) it's NOT a pre CBS bass, or (slightly later).

 

[Lujon]

This sure sparked a lot debate. I appreciate the info on the 860mm scale length, that helps make sense of it. So maybe one of the many Japanese Fender copies. Again, it's fun to plan and sounds sweet so even if I never figure it out I'm happy! Merry Christmas everyone!

 

[Lo-E]

I also eagerly await the definitive answer to this.

Aliens.