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Post subject: Fakes?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:23 am
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Hey,

I'm looking to purchase a Precision, and found one for a good price. But I've been thrown off because I think it might be a fake. Hoping you could help me out.

Its advertised as a Mexican Precision. It looks just like the black and gold Deluxe model, only thing is it only has 3 tone controls. It seems that this model is meant to have 4 tone controls after looking at the genuine ones on this site?

Not sure if this is just a Mexican thing, or if it actually is a fake.

Help!

Cheers guys,
Tommythecat89.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 1:07 pm
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Pictures help.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 2:47 pm
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Sorry, I have some pictures, not sure how to put them on here though... Bit of a novice...


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:28 pm
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Not saying you have one, but there were early Mexican Precision Bass Specials with a P/J pickup arrangement and 3 pots for a volume/volume/tone arrangement. They were passive. These are very similar to the the California Series P/J bass of approximately the same era. Both predate to the Precision Bass Special with active preamp and more than 3 knobs. The MIM passive P-Bass specials were pretty neat as were the California Series P/J's that were essentially the same design. Just good solid reliable basic instruments.

What is the serial number?

To post photos read the last section on the page in this link titled "HOW TO POST PHOTOS IN THE FENDER FORUM": http://brotherdave.com/add_comm.htm


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 7:30 pm
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Annnnd....if I was going to do a knock-off it wouldn't be a MIM from the 90's.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:14 am
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Ahhh, it does have the P/J pickup set up. Here's some pics.

Image
Image

Just waiting on the serial number, I shall post it when I get it.

Thank you so much for your help!


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2012 2:49 pm
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Either the decal or even the entire neck has been changed. At best I think it could be a parts bass, at worst a fake. I'm pretty sure the serial should appear under the FENDER logo on the headstock decal during this era and the serial should start MN. Careful here. Changing decals is sometimes done legitimately, but anytime the serial is removed I have to wonder why.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 1:18 pm
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Serial Number is

MZ0062988...


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 2:32 pm
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Ok, due to the serial it is probably OK. Where is the serial located? That is a 2000 serial you provided and the active version P-Bass Special came along in 2004. Here is a photo of a known legit 2000 Fender MIM P-Bass Special Deluxe Series and you will note the serial is not under the headstock logo on this one either.

Image

Lots of players prefer these to the current active models. I like them both. These passive ones were based on the California Series USA instruments, except for less select tonewoods naturally. Knowing the serial now I can say that it is possibly legit when compared to known legit ones. The anodized pickguard for example is a common feature on these and at that time they were sort of hard to get otherwise. Now of course they are everywhere.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 7:05 pm
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The serial is on the back of the headstock.

Wicked, reckon I'll go for it then!

Thanks so much.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2012 10:24 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
Either the decal or even the entire neck has been changed. At best I think it could be a parts bass, at worst a fake. I'm pretty sure the serial should appear under the FENDER logo on the headstock decal during this era and the serial should start MN. Careful here. Changing decals is sometimes done legitimately, but anytime the serial is removed I have to wonder why.


I disagree. There is no point on "faking" a Mexican made Precision. They are low in quality when compared to American made models. People who try to "fake" usually try to pass off their bass as made in the US. I would recommend that the OP keep looking. I recently found a used Amercian Standard Precision for $600. Yes, it is more than a Mexican or Squier but well worth the money.


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Post subject: Re: Fakes?
Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm
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Rockbassist wrote:
brotherdave wrote:
Either the decal or even the entire neck has been changed. At best I think it could be a parts bass, at worst a fake. I'm pretty sure the serial should appear under the FENDER logo on the headstock decal during this era and the serial should start MN. Careful here. Changing decals is sometimes done legitimately, but anytime the serial is removed I have to wonder why.


I disagree. There is no point on "faking" a Mexican made Precision. They are low in quality when compared to American made models. People who try to "fake" usually try to pass off their bass as made in the US. I would recommend that the OP keep looking. I recently found a used Amercian Standard Precision for $600. Yes, it is more than a Mexican or Squier but well worth the money.


I said precisely the same thing about faking a MIM bass too on another thread. The question was whether or not this one was real or fake. I wasn't convinced until I had a serial to work with due to the decal being out of step with the one I thought should be on there. Necks get swapped. It happens. Maybe not on purpose.

Actually I prefer a great MIM instrument to a sub-par USA one. Anyone who really knows anything about instruments knows that no two are alike. There are some very sucky USA made ones and of course by the same rule there are sucky MIM ones too.

So you can say that "all USA basses are superior to any MIM bass" if you want to, but I choose to face the reality that there are some really good MIM ones and some USA ones are quite frankly "disappointing" when compared to another instrument of the exact same model and vintage. The reverse is also true of course with some spectacular USA basses and some MIM basketcases.

I don't understand how people can categorically lump all basses made at one plant together as "BETTER" or "INFERIOR" and you should judge each instrument independently.

You might as well say, "Cadillacs are better than VW's." Everyone knows that now and then a VW turns over 1,000,000 miles and it makes the newspaper on a slow news day.


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