Counterfeit Music Man JP6?

[G0NZO]

Hello,

i have come into possession of an old JP6 model. It's a weird one, with Piezo but no custom inlays on the neck and the headstock colour doesn't match the paint of the body. I was doing my due diligence and checked the serial number and saw with great surprise that this guitar (that i didn't buy, it was a gift from a relative who don't use it and bought it around 2008 brand new) is only 4 digits (which is really really weird cause others models i saw were 6 digits length starting with a letter). The serial number is on the plate connecting the neck to the body and is just 56 88.

The guitar seems good (even though it needs to be restored completely), i mean the pick ups looks original, the bridge looks good, nothing seems counterfeit. The only thing that seems odd is the painting that is literally falling into solid pieces (maybe because of the poor conservation of the instruments) but i've never seen anything like that from a guitar of this level.

i'm just trying to understand if my relative got a counterfeit guitar for years without knowing or if it is a real Music Man. I will attach some pictures of the details i found interesting.

Thank you in advance,

Eugenio

 

[Tollywood]

To my eye, it looks real but the serial number seems to have been removed and the four digit number stamped poorly. So, probably a stolen guitar.

 

[racerx]

Agreed with Tolly. A lot of the parts look right but I suspect it might’ve been refinished poorly and that’s why you’re seeing the strange behavior. The serial number is curious and probably not a good reason for it. Looks like with some TLC it could be a nice player assuming the neck is okay.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Looks real to me also but it might have been stolen and restamped. Is there another serial number under the pickups?

 

[DrKev]

Looks legit, except as the others say the serial number has been removed. Are there traces of the original number on there? It looks like there might even be. Anyway, there is a *lot* of corrosion, including the brass trem block, which suggests high humidity or even a flood victim. I think that's why the finish is such poor shape.

 

[GWDavis28]

Looks like it needs some serious loving that's for sure. The serial number on the plate appears to have been machined off and a fake on stamped in it's place. Other than that the guitar looks to be totally legit.

Give that thing some love.

Glenn |B)

 

[beej]

Good call Tollie- that makes sense.

Wow- that is in quite a state. Given the corrosion, I wonder how the electronics fared. Or, for that matter, how the neck is doing (how playable it is).

Would make for an interesting restoration project.

 

[Musikron]

That thing was either in a fire or flood as that is some serious water damage there, that's not from humidity but actually sitting submerged or soaking wet. Does it smell like smoke or anything?
I don't think it's fake, but maybe a parts build/salvage after the flood waters receded or whatever, hence the weird neck plate.
That would also explain the mismatched neck, the original neck did not survive the after the water damage, and this was bolted on to make a playable instrument again.
If your friend bought this new in 08, why can't he tell you the back story on it?

 

[Rbg]

They finish is pretty thick!