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Post subject: Fender Jazz Bass?
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 3:52 pm
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Hey everyone. I have a fender jazz bass thats serial is MN3 and then six numbers which seems different than all their other basses.

I've seen a bunch of mexican jazz basses as MN3 and then five numbers, but never six.

Does anyone know what kind of bass this is, and from what year?


thanks guys!


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 5:30 pm
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come on... i know one of you guys is an expert!!!!!


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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:04 pm
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Does the word SQUIER appear anywhere on the front of the headstock?
Is there a Squier silk screen or decal?

If not, can you detect anywhere around the peg head that could indicate a decal or silk screen painted logo was removed? This would be where the little "DELUXE SERIES" logo appears on today's Fender Deluxe series.

In the early 90's Squier instruments had big FENDER logos silk screened onto the headstock in black and near the peghead tip was a smaller "SQUIER SERIES" decal. These are SQUIERS. The serial for these instruments had MN followed by SIX digits, such as the format on yours. I have seen these instruments where people have carefully removed the SQUIER SERIES logo before in such a manner that it was nearly impossible to tell other than by the extra digit in the serial.

Other than the MIM ones of the early 90's which were really pretty well made, there were also USA made Squiers in 1989 and 1990 before production moved to Mexico. Then some very desirable Japanese ones in the 90's. This was followed by a succession of other countries, some not as well made.


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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:29 pm
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Hey, no sign of "squier" anywhere.

Its MN and then 7 numbers...

MN3 and then 6 so we're still short a number!!!

its a fender!!!!


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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:21 am
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any ideas on what it could be???!!!


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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 12:42 pm
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Fender serials made for export to outside North America have different serial number schemes for warranty purposes. It could be one made for export. Or it could be a replacement neck maybe. Can't tell about a replacement neck without removing the neck and looking for hallmarks.

Perhaps I misspoke. Fender states MN + 6 numbers (first number indicates model year, in your case 93/94.) You have 7 numbers so this is not as easily authenticated just by serial and photos. That serial doesn't fit Fender's North American serial pattern, so something is different about it. Not sure what, but possibly an out of North America export.

I would not be so sure it is a full blown Fender yet. It is possible to completely remove the Squier logos that were silk screened onto the headstock and I am pretty sure that by now thousands of them have been removed without a trace. Just because you don't find a "SQUIER SERIES" logo does not mean it wasn't removed.

Two ways to tell: 1. Sometimes (BUT NOT ALWAYS) Squiers had 500k pots instead of 250k and the pickups were different internally and you have to put them on an ohm meter to check them relative to a known genuine MIM reading. Often the Squires will read higher. 2. The bridges and tuners were slightly inferior.

The fact you have an oddball serial that doesn't fit the Fender scheme for North American distribution could simply mean you have a full blown Fender made for export. Someone who knows the difference could probably tell by looking at it. Since the woods used were basically the same, the finishes the same and the large FENDER logos identical, the only way to tell is to inspect the hardware and electronics and compare what you have against known genuine Fender MIM specs.


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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:05 pm
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Hmmm, cool man.

Are Fenders made for export worth any more?

I'm trying to sell it LOL, mint and sounds great!


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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 10:00 am
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i had a friend who owns a music shop open it up, its definitely not a squier.


anyone else have any ideas?


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Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2010 10:02 pm
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does it have the one piece pick guard or two piece?


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