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Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 8:34 pm
by GreenCustom24
Hey dudes!
Was wondering if anyone had any insight on this.
Found a lefty Mustang at a pawn shop near me. Been offered a great price on it (WAY less than what the sticker in the picture says. It's been sitting there for a while), but I'm a little leery of it. I looked up the serial number and it comes back to a 2011 Marcus Miller Jazz Bass... It looks pretty legit, but without maybe taking the neck off and possibly getting a look under the pickguard, I can't exactly tell.
In my cautious optimism I'm thinking maybe the serial could be off because it's a 90s Japanese model, but I dunno. It could just be one of those Chinese knockoffs with a BS serial. I tried to take some pictures on the sly at the shop so this is the best I could do in about 15 seconds while not being watched. Can anyone see anything I might be missing that could be an obvious indicator of it being a fake?
The strap buttons have been changed to Schaller (i believe) strap lock buttons, and a black neck plate pad was added. Otherwise, it looks stock.
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Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2025 9:25 pm
by plopswagon
The serial number is consistent with a 90’s CIJ Mustang. I would look at how it plays and sounds. If it’s janky let it go, or should I say Nevermind.
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 4:16 am
by MattK
Looks perfectly legit to me - the tort, serial number, logos, tuners etc all check out.
T serial numbers are a mess even with Fender Japan, they used them in the 90s (a la this one) and again around 2009 (different typeface, MADE IN JAPAN rather than Crafted). Buy with confidence.
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 19, 2025 5:34 pm
by NickS
http://support.fender.com/en-us/knowle ... e/KA-01874
How can I find out when my Japanese-made instrument was manufactured?
► Show Spoiler
DATING JAPANESE-MADE FENDER INSTRUMENTS
Records on early Japanese-made Fender instruments are not complete and are therefore not completely definitive for dating purposes. As always, serial numbers should only be used as a guide for dating and should be used in combination with known age-related specifications to help identify the production year of an instrument.
SERIAL NUMBERS CIRCA
JV + 5 digits 1982-1984
SQ + 5 digits 1983-1984
E + 6 digits 1984-1987
A + 6 digits 1985-1986
B + 6 digits 1985-1986
C + 6 digits 1985-1986
F + 6 digits 1986-1987
G + 6 digits 1987-1988
H + 6 digits 1988-1989
I + 6 digits 1989-1990
J + 6 digits 1989-1990
K + 6 digits 1990-1991
L + 6 digits 1991-1992
M + 6 digits 1992-1993
N + 6 digits 1993-1994
O + 6 digits 1993-1994
P + 6 digits 1993-1994
Q + 6 digits 1993-1994
S + 6 digits 1994-1995
T + 6 digits 1994-1995
U + 6 digits 1995-1996
N + 5 digits 1995-1996
V + 6 digits 1996-1997
In 1997, Fender transitioned to a serial number decal that included the words “Crafted in Japan” above the serial number.
Crafted in Japan A + 6 digits 1997-1998
Crafted in Japan O + 6 digits 1997-2000
Crafted in Japan P + 6 digits 1999-2002
Crafted in Japan Q + 6 digits 2002-2004
Crafted in Japan R + 6 digits 2004-2005
Crafted in Japan S + 6 digits 2006-2008
Crafted in Japan T + 6 digits 2007-2008
2007 was another transitional year for Japanese-made Fender instruments, with the return to the “Made in Japan” country-of-origin identifier on the serial number decal. This was a running change, and both “Made in Japan” and “Crafted in Japan” decals appear on instruments from 2007 and 2008.
Made in Japan T + 6 digits 2007-2010
Made in Japan U + 6 digits 2010-2011
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 2:09 am
by Nick
We need to know you went back for it!
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 4:48 am
by GreenCustom24
Awesome. Thanks dudes! I'm gonna go grab it tomorrow if I can.
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Tue Jan 21, 2025 2:58 pm
by Ankhanu
Beauty
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2025 11:50 pm
by GreenCustom24
Picked it up (well... layaway. Haha Still) for $600. Came with a TKL hard case. Not a bad deal, i don't think. Needs a little cleaning up, but i think it'll be a total banger.
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2025 12:04 am
by BearBoy
Sweeeeet
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 1:25 am
by hotrodperlmutter
damg cool
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 12:47 pm
by Nick
Great deal, congrats!
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 2:23 pm
by rahbro
MIJ T is a 1995
CIJ T is a 2007
Nice score for a lefty.
Either the shop doesn't know what the internet is and how to sell using it orrrrrrrrr.......and this is what I really hope.....prices are coming down
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2025 2:25 pm
by rahbro
Just noticed NickS posted a hidden chart. How did the dates locked up in my brain look on the chart?
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2025 12:35 pm
by GreenCustom24
They knew what they had. I know these guys and have a long working relationship with them. They got bought out by some corporate overlords last year and aren't allowed to sell anywhere but in-store. Drives them nuts cuz they know they could use Reverb to sell some of the stuff they've had in the past for way more than they end up getting, but corporate won't allow it. I got my near-mint condition PRS CE24 from them for like $1200 with one of those $500 paisley hard cases. Turned around and sold the case for $375 (because they're ridiculously unnecessary) and made a ton of my money back. At least they're cool about it and know corporate are getting idiots, so they don't care much anymore. Haha
Re: Help figuring out of this is real
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2025 7:57 pm
by Thom
I used to have an almost identical Mustang (lefty too), but swapped out the tort pick guard for pearl and the pups for JB Jrs. I think it was a CIJ R serial, probably should never have traded it. Great guitars.