Who can help me ID this bass?

[brlottermann]

Hey TBers,

I seek the knowledge of the Talkbass Hive Mind yet again in identifying this bass (pics below). Seems that some stickers or tags have been removed from the back of the headstock, but the Watson decal is still there. All the basses I could find by Watson looked very high end/boutique, and my roommate picked up this bass on my recommendation for $180 from Facebook Marketplace.
Very surprised with the build quality on such a cheap instrument, fretwork was done nicely, no dead spots on the neck, good set up, and the pickups sounded great. Is this indeed a hand-made Watson bass? If so, what model?

Thanks!
Brian

 

[DWBass]

It says Watson but the headstock is of Washburn origin.

 

[B-Mac]

Hey TBers,

I seek the knowledge of the Talkbass Hive Mind yet again in identifying this bass (pics below). Seems that some stickers or tags have been removed from the back of the headstock, but the Watson decal is still there. All the basses I could find by Watson looked very high end/boutique, and my roommate picked up this bass on my recommendation for $180 from Facebook Marketplace.
Very surprised with the build quality on such a cheap instrument, fretwork was done nicely, no dead spots on the neck, good set up, and the pickups sounded great. Is this indeed a hand-made Watson bass? If so, what model?

Thanks!
Brian

I don’t see that model here:
Watson Guitars Gallery of Basses and Guitars


Don’t see it here either

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My dear Watson

I think I’ve got it!?!?!?

https://www.watsonbasses.co.uk/

or not.

Alex Watson

Brian Watson

How many luthiers are there with this same last name?

 

[LBS-bass]

Not the same Watson logo as the high end stuff, from the looks of it. Maybe a bargain brand, but I don't know.

 

[Thundar]

Its a 5 string reverse P/J? BUY IT! Throw some active EMGs in it and stand back!

 

[brlottermann]

From what I've seen the logo doesnt seem to match that of other brands named "Watson"... Must be a knock off brand, maybe then a Japanese one from the 80s? Either way, 5-string P/J at that price is worth it imo!

 

[FranF]

Not a luthier-built bass. Most likely an entry level far East bass.

 

[cdef]

Not a luthier-built bass. Most likely an entry level far East bass.

Agree. There were some Japanese-made Watson basses around in the early '70s (see pic). This is much more recent, of course, and more probably made in Indonesia, maybe China.

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