Just for the information, here is a response I got yesterday in a different forum:

"Thats a nice bass, and old, really old. One of the earlier LP shapes introduced by Japan. The "police badge" neckplate is an indicator for Teisco Gakki, Tokyo Electric Instument and Sound Company. That badge stopped ...

I'd love to find a pickguard like that one. Mine had one at one time...

Dweez it BOOMS. Louder than my Thunderchicken and a cool tone. Definitely worth the $25 investment.

I tool off the neckplate and..........................nothing! Nothing under the neck, on the plate, anywhere. No markings at all!!!
So, I say it's a rare one of a kind prototype non marked Fendibsonbacker More or Less Paul made in Japan!!

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s297/blenin/name.jpg

Interesting since Mann is my Grandmothers surname. I can't find any photos. Didn't they become Ibanez?

Closest in looks I have found so far is a Brice. Close...but not it.

It was a pretty lucky find. They wanted $50, I got it for $25. It's been played pretty hard, scratched up and dinged quite a bit...in other words....perfect! And I swear it's heavier than my Thunderbird!

Agreed $25 can't be beat. I haven't been able to find any pics of a short scale LP style bass with that bridge and tailpiece.

So I picked this up from a pawn shop today for $25 (including tax). No markings other than the made in Japan. Looks like it actually had a pickguard at one time as well, there are screw holes in it where one would mount. Been looking at pics for hours and I can't figure out what it is. Any help ...

Anyone have an idea of where I might pick up a headstock decal??

It looks like it used to be black w/black headstock

I have been looking for a squier vista decal, but no luck yet. You can actually see the old faintly through the yellow.

Here is my daughter Olivia with it. I bought it for her to learn on...and for me to play with! I'll post some more of the bass itself later.

Well, picked it up last night. What a great little bass! It is a Vista. Glad I got it.

I'll ask him. I was unaware of the Vista series but have been reading up on it. It seems that for $150, it would be a good deal either way.

It was actually painted yellow, as was the head stock so there is nothing to identify it. I read that the Vista's string through the back. Did the original Musicmasters??

Found this recently for a good deal, advertised as a Fender. It's been painted over but looks like a late 70's Musicmaster to me. Thoughts???