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No-Name Short Scale


D.I. Joe
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I have here a mysterious no-name, narrow-necked, short scale bass which was gifted to me a few years ago in working but rough condition. I've had the whole thing apart to clean up the hardware and couldn't find any marks of identification at all so I have no idea of the make/model/history of the instrument. I would guess that it's some kind of catalogue/Woolworths style deal from the 60s or possibly early 70s, judging by the general design and features (including flat head screws all around, except the machine heads). 

Do any Basschat resident experts recognise this or have any idea what it could be? 

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Restrung with Picato flats and ready to go! The edges of the bridge are pretty sharp, making the bridge cover "ashtray" something of a necessity...

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... Complete with homemade weatherstrip mute

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Of course I had a little help as well

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42 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

Calling @Bassassin...

J'arrive!

Aaaaand - dunno what that is.

Would say it's possibly MIJ, mid/late 60s or possibly a little later & Korean. Pretty sure the scratchplate, pickup, jack, knob & bridge cover aren't original. The skinny headstock does have a Teisco-y look to it but the neckplate & tuners aren't right. Those tuners are typical 70s MIJ or MIK, so if it is 60s, mightn't be original either.

Actually, wondering if the tuners etc aren't a bit of a red herring. It has a bit of an Eastern European, Iron Curtain era look about it. Am I right in thinking it doesn't have an adjustable truss rod? can't see any access.

Off to CheesyGuitars.com to have a dig around...

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12 minutes ago, Bassassin said:

J'arrive!

Aaaaand - dunno what that is.

Would say it's possibly MIJ, mid/late 60s or possibly a little later & Korean. Pretty sure the scratchplate, pickup, jack, knob & bridge cover aren't original. The skinny headstock does have a Teisco-y look to it but the neckplate & tuners aren't right. Those tuners are typical 70s MIJ or MIK, so if it is 60s, mightn't be original either.

Actually, wondering if the tuners etc aren't a bit of a red herring. It has a bit of an Eastern European, Iron Curtain era look about it. Am I right in thinking it doesn't have an adjustable truss rod? can't see any access.

Off to CheesyGuitars.com to have a dig around...

The bridge cover is the same dimensions as the Fender P bridge cover, and you're correct about the truss rod - no access to adjust. The neck is quite deep in profile as well.

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I think that's because it is a Fender (or Fender style) cover. No dice on Cheesyguitars, which is a great quick reference guide for Soviet-era stuff & other weirdness. Still leaning that way - no adjustable truss rod would be very odd on a Japanese/Korean instrument.

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7 hours ago, Bassassin said:

I think that's because it is a Fender (or Fender style) cover. No dice on Cheesyguitars, which is a great quick reference guide for Soviet-era stuff & other weirdness. Still leaning that way - no adjustable truss rod would be very odd on a Japanese/Korean instrument.

I didn't want to proclaim that it was a Fender part in case you could tell that it wasn't :lol:

Do you think there is a possibility that it could be a home build?

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5 hours ago, D.I. Joe said:

I didn't want to proclaim that it was a Fender part in case you could tell that it wasn't :lol:

Do you think there is a possibility that it could be a home build?

Maybe - looks like the body could be (although that shape feels familiar) but the neck looks manufactured. I think that elongated Fender-type headstock will be what IDs it - if someone recognises it, that is!

Wondering now if it could be Italian...

https://www.fetishguitars.com/

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 12/06/2021 at 18:05, Jus Lukin said:

I was going to say the same! There's some fine quality punnage in amongst the names, but that's a real cracker!

:biggrin:

On 12/06/2021 at 18:05, Jus Lukin said:

The bass looks lovely, seems as though an origin has already been found, but I did wonder whether the 'MADE' scratched into the neckplate identified a home-build. Perhaps more of a home-bodge, but a very cool one never the less!

I wondered the same, and in my mind that was the most puzzling part. Why would someone take the time to begin engraving and stop at "MADE"? Or perhaps it was that person's initials... Guess we'll never know! It's a neat little player and, in my opinion, quite an unassuming tone machine!

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