Old, odd bass guitar

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Oh no, I know what you're saying; its age alone should garner respect; but if it wound up being a fender or something rather valuable I'd fix it up and use/abuse another cheaper guitar, and use this one sparingly.Photos will be posted later, when I get home.

If I were you Id take it outside and smash it against a Harley. If the Harley howls in pain and the guitar howls in heat, restore it. The guitar shoudl bleed chuck berry red.

Here are some photos. The only ID is on the neck plate on the back..."Made In Japan". Sorry about the size of the photos.
[URL=http://img487.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0060dh4.jpg][IMG]http://img487.imageshack.us/img487/8848/pdr0060dh4.th.jpg
[URL=http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0063kt9.jpg][IMG]http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/9136/pdr0063kt9.th.jpg
[URL=http://img175.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0064sm5.jpg][IMG]http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/231/pdr0064sm5.th.jpg
[URL=http://img457.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0065if3.jpg][IMG]http://img457.imageshack.us/img457/5904/pdr0065if3.th.jpg

it looks like the thumb rest is in the wrong place. Do you know if ir was strung left handed at some point and had the rest added?

oops, never mind... just saw a pic of an old fender with the same configuration. I guess that would make it a finger rest? I've never played one like that.Does it look like it used to have a bridge guard on it?

There is one set of two thumb-screws on the bottom left and right hand side of the bridge. It doesn't LOOK like the bridge-cover hardware I've seen though...

well, it really looks like a knock-off of a telecaster bass but I'm at a loss as to determine the manufacturer other than my first guesses (Maya or Ibanez)

The pictures are kind of small, and there's no picture of the whole thing. In any case, I don't recognize it, but I wonder if the neck is newer than the body.

As far as I know, there were no high-quality guitars being made in Japan in the 60's, although, after CBS took over Fender, they were making better Fender guitars in Japan than they were in the U.S.

The bass doesn't look like a Telecaster bass (Schecter made one of those); it looks like Jazz Bass knockoff (body), with a Telecaster-ish neck. Does the finish on the headstock match the finish on the body?

I dunno... looks Tele, more so than Precision anyway.

But all that aside, what it looks like and who actually made it are two differnt things.
There are some Japanise knock-off items that have some historical value. I have a "Star" lighter that is an original Jap knock-off of a Zippo.

The question reamins; how the hell can we find out who made this thing? There were large manufacturers in Japan that had no desire to "brand" their export product back in those days so it'll be a challenge

You may be right about the Tele thing...it's hard (for me) to tell from the small picture. Here are some pictures of a 1972 Fender Tele bass. Here are some pictures of a 1973 model.I don't know, but I would be very surprised if the bass is valuable.

So would I, Steve.The thing was, my grandfather (the guy who bought it) was a professional musician (Played in 2 military bands, 'Big-Band' professionally, as well as another civilian band) He favored wood-winds and brass, and those instruments are very high quality, and worth a good penny (One is worth about $25,000...my parents currently have it placed in a GARAGE OUTSIDE...that's another project)The mystery is, why would he buy a string instrument? Knowing his musical talent, I couldn't see him buying a POS; but ya never know.I think in the end, it will literally be unsolved unless someone owns the exact same thing and knows its history.

God damnit you prick, why did ya havta go and do that?
Before I was a casual observer, if it got solved good, if not it didnt mean shit. But then you had to go and give it a fucking a history and now I give a fuck. The fact that its likely noone will ever know, only makes it worse, God damned son of a bitch.

Good to see I can be of service...here are some better photos; You'll notice missing strings (3 broken), missing pots and outputs (broken), and missing screws; I just put the minimum amount in to hold it together for the photos. [img]http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0063pz0.jpg[/img] [img]http://img299.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0060ub9.jpg[/img] [img]http://img176.imageshack.us/my.php?image=pdr0064tg4.jpg[/img]

i have no idea what kind of bass it is. all i know is that its pretty sweet looking. i looove old guitars.

I got a couple buddies thta work in a guitar shop, repair.Now that i HAVE to know, Ill print these out and take them to them this weekend, see if they can turn anything up.

To answer you Steve, the neck is the same finish and material as the body.

I'm going to visit a couple music stores around me too...but they all have hours like 9-5. How does one make money with those hours anymore? Regardless, we'll see what we can't all find

My buddy works there on saturdays, and te other one works there fulltime but Im not driving an huor away to find out what they know if anything. If the bastards would get out fo the dark ages Id email them the pics and the questions.I have to be about 20 minutes from there saturday evening anyways, Ill swing by then and see what they know if anything.9 to 5 is shit, most peopel work those hours so its impossible to get to some other business that is onyl open the hours you work or is far enough away that you cant get there before they close.Around here I dont think ther is anythign that isnt open till atleast 6, and most places here are open till 9 or 10.

Thanks...as for the hours; apparently only music stores are cocky/stupid enough to close that early around here. Everyone else appears to like making money and having customers.

Okay, so I went to two music stores today. No one there (young or old, repair tech, bass players etc) could tell me what it was; only ONE guy had actually ever seen a pickup like that before either.Regardless, I bought the pots and output; I just need to grab some wire and I'll solder this SOB up and give her life again!