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Post subject: strange model Fender Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:00 am
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Because this is soo long I'm putting my bottom line question here at the top.
I'm wondering if there were ever any American-made (or any other for that matter) Fender Jazz basses built with a full one-piece pickguard and NO chrome control plate?
Around 1987(I think) I went with a buddy to Rythm City(rip) In Atlanta to buy a new Fender Jazz bass. The bass he chose was a brand spankin' new American-made Jazz with hang tags still intact. It had an attractive but unusual sunburst (kind of a tannish center fading to a dark reddish-brown on the edges. It was more muted than the more common yellow to black sunburst). It had a maple neck/fretboard. I witnessed this purchase with my own eyes and played in a band with this fellow(and this bass) for the next 20 years...until he dropped out a couple years ago.
Anyway, two weeks ago I was suprised to learn from another friend that the bass was for sale at a local pawn shop. So, I went to investigate and sure enough..there it was. It still had the same silly stickers on the pickguard that my buddy had put on many years ago. I tried not to act too shocked when the pawn shop owner told me he needed 250 bucks for it. Needless to say I brought it home. Very happy.
Okay, I said all that to say this. In all those years of being around the bass, I never really thought about the fact that unlike all other Fender Jazz basses with the chrome control plate, this bass has a one piece pickguard that covers the body as well as the controls. In other words, theres no chrome control plate cover. Also, the knobs are the non-set screw white skirted knobs. I thought those came only on import models.
I'm confused, because i witnessed this bass purchased brand new with tags. The label clearly reads "made in USA" on the headstock. I remember being excited for my buddy 'cause he bought the "real" deal...an American made Fender. To my knowledge no mods or swaps have ever been done to it. However, I can find no pictures or reference to a fender Jazz bass like this one.
So...my bottom line question is...We're there ever any American-made (or any other for that matter) Fender Jazz basses built with a one-piece pickguard and NO chrome control plate?
The bass still looks great and plays terrific. I bought it more for the sentimental value... because it was such a big part of our group for so long. I'm just curious.


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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 2:53 pm
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Location: Rock Hill, S. Carolina, USA
yes - I will need to look in the Fender Bass story book. I think I have that book at home. The picture inspired me to do the same on a MIM I owned at one time (I used tortoise shell) 8)
Aah, yes. Here in Hal Leonards Publishing Corp. " The Fender Bass" by Klaus Blasquiz (Fender still sells this book at the merchandise store at Fender.com)
page 37. "Jazz Bass Standard no more control plate. The great novelty on the Jazz Bass Standard 1983 was that it no longer had a control plate, the white pickguard being now in one piece and the white buttons mounted directly on it. ... it is fitted with white cover pickups, visible pole pieces and a maple neck with a maple or rosewood fretboard."
There you go and now you know. :)


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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:51 am
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I own one and it is one of the best Jazz basses that I have ever played.
Unfortunately the original owner decided to make tha bass fretless and he use a belt sander on the original neck and ruined it.

I bought the bass used for the body and I put a Bullet bass neck on it. It fits perfectly and now it is a great bass. the bass was made in July of 1983 and it is a USA made Fender Jazz Standard.

The finish is now aged white with a single piece non-laminated white pickguard and white pickups.
THe bridge pickup is the most hum-free single coild bridge pu of any Jazz bass that I have heard.

Bill

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Last edited by BCbassman on Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 2:43 pm
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Have you considered buying a different coloured pickguard? :?:

I'm getting an Amer. Deluxe V in a week or so, and I bought a bright red pickguard to put on it. (I know that I'll have to cut it down some, I have tools for that.)

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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:02 pm
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I did put on a new brown tortoise pickguard. I also had to get the chrome control cover w/ new black pickup covers and new knobs. It looks fantastic...it completely changed the look for the better in my opinion. Very striking.
Regarding my original post...I was just trying to clear up my confusion as to why this American made Fender Jazz that I know for a fact never had any mods, contained features that I've never seen on a Fender Jazz bass. Specifically, a one piece single ply white pickgaurd....which also covers the controls. There was no chrome control plate cover. I was present when my buddy bought this bass brand new (complete with hang tags). I never thought anything about it until I ended up owning it recently, but I have yet to see another one like it. I'm just trying to figure out what I have...and if it's some kind of forgery....or perhaps fender had a American budget/economy model around 83 or so.


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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:43 pm
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In 1983, Fender introduced the Elite and Standard Series Guitars and Basses. The Standard Series Jazz Bass had the one piece pickguard/control plate you mentioned. The other unique features of these basses (and their P-Bass counterparts) were the die cast cloverleaf tuners and the three screw bridge.


Last edited by SWRBassman on Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:40 pm
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Thanks SWR Bassman and Davidgodsbassman! That is the exact model that I have. In fact now that you mention it....I remember the Elite and Standard series name. Mine happens to be Sienna Sunburst..which I don't think is real common. I took a chance and replaced the white pickguard with a brown tortoise one. It looks great....I'm shocked at the difference it makes and how well the new guard matches the finish.


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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:46 am
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I did not read all posts but i believe your bass was made in Fullerton. Sienna Burst is a great colour for a JB!


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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:59 pm
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I've owned one since it was new. Just replaced the white pickguard with a tortoise shell from Pickguard heaven. My whit bass has mellowed to that great light yellow and my set up guy thought I should think about changing the pickup covers and knobs until he put the pickguard on. He called me told me to come pick it up and that he was blown away by the way it looked and wouldn't change a thing. It is one of the best looking basses I have seen. And I've owned a bunch of them. Still have a '77 Rick and a Squire Vintage modified fretless. It has a great neck an sounds great too. Not too many of them around any more I don't think.


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Post subject: someone post a pic of this Mutant J bass???
Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:35 am
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Hey,
can someone post a pic of this "mutant" J bass. Would like to see what it looks like


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Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 4:59 pm
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I recently went to a Cash Converter Store & purchased this exact bass. Mine is a black 1983 with a full sized all white pick guard, rosewood fretboard. It came with a hardshell case. Plays nice, I used it on a few gigs.


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Posted: Wed Jul 08, 2009 3:17 pm
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i will try to post up a picture of my 83 Jazz soon. Sorry I've been slacking. working hard. will try to get my wife who is a great photographer to take a picture of it with the new pickguard I Had made for it.


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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:53 pm
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Tell me how to get the picture and I'll post a picture of my 83 Fullerton 1piece Pickguard Model.


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Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 11:15 pm
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you could well upload the photos to photobucket and paste the link of the photo or [img]"url"[/img]

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Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 1:56 pm
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eyecandy wrote:
you could well upload the photos to photobucket and paste the link of the photo or [img]"url"[/img]

+1

Been waiting over 2 years for pics. :lol:


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