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Post subject: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:10 am
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Hi, first post here.

Just bought a Jazz Bass as at Guitar Center Las Vegas (the one in Durango with Charleston Blvd). The store tag said - 62' reissue MIJ Jazz Bass - no case for $599 (with a black Friday discount).

Serial number is V117283 which points for a 1996-1997 MIJ. I know that there are many versions of the MIJ 62' reissue, so I looked for a 1996 and a 1997 Fender Japan catalog and didn't find a 62' jazz with two Stacked Concentric Controls.

It also has reverse tunners and offset body. Went for a neck adjustment and the date in the neck is aug/2003.

Saw at the product dating that some american vintage series also have V+6 digits.
Starting to think it is a MIA bass.

What you guys think?

Another thing. Former owner replaced the brigde for a 4004 Rickenbacker bridge (odd!!!).
Wanna replace it for a Badass II or a standard Fender brigde. Don't know what to do about that... any suggestions?


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 11:17 am
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Some pics...

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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 3:05 pm
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I have some problems with what I'm seeing here.

It doesn't add up as a Japanese Reissue. Thanks for the large photos, even if a little fuzzy they help.

Where is the country of origin marking? It should be a decal on the back of the neck just above where the neck joins the body. This was true in all years except 82, 83 and 84 when "Made In Japan" appeared in lettering on the head stock decal just beneath the FENDER logo, and I don't see it there either. Strange.

The V+6 Digits = 1996+1997 formula only works for mass production Fender Japan instruments and does not work for Fender Japan Vintage Reissues. Fender Japan Vintage Reissue serials should start "JV" not "V" so this is really puzzling.

It is setup like a 62 Fender Japan Jazz Bass reissue but the serial isn't a Japan Vintage Reissue serial and yes it could be a USA Reissue except for a couple of things which rules that out.

I would like to know if there is a pencil date on the neck butt. (Sometimes the JV basses have pencil dates and almost all the Fullerton RI's do.) That definitely looks like the Japanese pickguard though. It has more black in it than the Fullerton one and there is no finger rest/tugbar installed. The pickguard has holes drilled on the G string side that I can see, but I can't tell if they go into the body wood or not. I'd like to know that too.

The Japanese RI's were not drilled for a finger rest while the USA RI's were and then a finger rest installed on the USA ones only. A Fullerton RI would have those holes not only in the pickguard but also on the body even if the rest was removed. Most of the Fullerton RI's I've seen still hae the finger rest/tugbar still on them.

Congratulations, you stumped the band. I'll give this some more study.

As for the bridge, I'd definitely sell that one and by a vintage Fender screw grooved one. Even if this was a parts bass a Rickie bridge has no business on it. I'd use Fender part number 099-0804-100 which is $22 on Amazon dot com right now. The current bridge being used on the American 62 Jazz RI is 0019657000 if you want to try ordering one of those. Pretty bass, and pretty baffling.


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 4:21 pm
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brotherdave wrote:
I have some problems with what I'm seeing here.

Where is the country of origin marking? It should be a decal on the back of the neck just above where the neck joins the body.
...
I would like to know if there is a pencil date on the neck butt. (Sometimes the JV basses have pencil dates and almost all the Fullerton RI's do.) That definitely looks like the Japanese pickguard though. It has more black in it than the Fullerton one and there is no finger rest/tugbar installed. The pickguard has holes drilled on the G string side that I can see, but I can't tell if they go into the body wood or not. I'd like to know that too.
...
The Japanese RI's were not drilled for a finger rest while the USA RI's were and then a finger rest installed on the USA ones only. A Fullerton RI would have those holes not only in the pickguard but also on the body even if the rest was removed. Most of the Fullerton RI's I've seen still hae the finger rest/tugbar still on them.


There's no marking for country of origin... no fender logo on the tunners also.
(more pics below). The finish on the neck plate is cracking and really thin looking, but I don't have an expertise to tell if it's nitro or poly. There's also a custom shop sticker on the bridge pickup. The finger rest holes go on throught the body.

Regarding the dating marking on the neck, it wasn't pencil. It was like a red dating stamp.

I ended up installing a Badass II that I had here although I wanted the Fender one to keep it original.

Thanks for the help and the compliment.

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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 5:34 pm
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two more...

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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:44 pm
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Hi
I actually saw that bass in GC at Charleston/Durango in Vegas (live in LV also!). I was considering it and wondering about the low price. I think there was a similar looking Fender(sunburst) next to it. Anyway..

I am not completely sure about the US version but the Japanese 62 RI have absolutely no CNC or routed "trench" between neck PUP and electronics area(under the pick guard). They never have. I have seen a few US 62 RI Jazz bass bodies without the PG and they also did not but just not sure if that changed on different years. Maybe someone here knows more about the US 62 reissues.

I have seen that pickguard frequently on MIM Fender Classic 60's Jazz basses.
Considering the Rick bridge, the previous owner may have changed much more on it.

Possible Custom Shop 60's in there? I bet she plays and sounds awesome whatever its origins! Good luck in your qwest for answers.


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 7:13 pm
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I don't know much about basses, I've only recently become very interested in bass playing. I was just surprised to see a couple other Vegas musicians on here. I know that store pretty well. I live around the Charleston/ Decatur area.

I'll be looking for a bass amp in the near future. Hopefully you guys could help with some advice and ideas later. I tried out a Carvin Redline at that GC that sounded pretty decent (especially for the $150 price tag). But I didn't pull the trigger on it. First things first. My Samick JB copy needs new reggae sounding pickups.

Anyway, not looking to hijack your thread. Just wanted to say hi to some fellow Vegas forumites.

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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:25 pm
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Hey Jah
Agree it is nice to see fellow Vegas musicians on the forum. I will watch for your posts to give any advice I can give about amplification in the future.

As far as Lab's bass goes, my curiosity took me to that GC today and saw the other bass I thought was next to Lab's Jazz. As far as the tag said, it was also a 'made in Japan' JB. Oddly it did not look like the the typical MIJ Jazzes I have seen. I have been researching the MIJ/CIJ Jazz basses for a year or so and I have seen plenty! This one just did not look right. They are pretty consistant in their looks and manufacturing.
I did not have time to play it but Lab's looked nicer to me.

Still trying to come up with something to give Lab and watching for Brother D's replies.
Dave seems to have great knowledge of instruments and worthy opinions.


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:28 pm
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Just remembered this. The USA Reissues don't have a country of origin on them because the real thing didn't have one either since all Fenders were then made in the USA! Ta-dah! My brain isn't firing on all the synapses anymore!


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 5:44 am
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jazzbassjo:
Actually I'm from Brazil, just visiting Vegas (btw, love it!!!!!!!!!!). Regarding the amp choice, I would try to get some used gear from GK, Hartke or Ampeg. 4x10 speakers are my favorite cabinets.


brotherdave:
I'm starting to think it's a 60' classic MIM "dress up" as an AV, but not really sure (if so, someone took the serial number and country decal, changed the pups and inserted a fake serial in the neck plate). It would explain a lot, including the low price...
I think the answer is in the finish. Going to show a guy that paints guitar that I know and ask about this finish. If it's nitro I'm gonna assume it's a AV, If it's poly it's a MIM Classic 60'.

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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2012 7:39 am
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Wow. Just love a sunburst Jazz without the pick guard. Love the screw holes left also!
If it is a MIM Classic 60's..I have heard good things about them. Brother Dave has brought up a good point about the country of origin markings and I concur.
Is it a US 62 RI? Still unsolved...


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:32 pm
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What do the electronics look like on this bass?

Isn't there an obvious difference between the pots used in a Japanese reissue and the AV jazz bass?

Another troubling part of this is the finish cracking around the neck pocket. This neck or another one has been removed and re-installed a bunch of times.

It seems to me that something is up with this bass. :twisted:


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 2:38 pm
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I just thought of something.
If there is a ground wire under that Rick bridge, was the hole for it drilled after the body was finished or before?
If it is after, we know that this bass may be a modified USA body. If the ground wire is original to the bass,it has finish around the hole for the ground wire, then it is a Japanese body and not a USA vintage reissue.


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 5:28 pm
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I found out today that it has a nitro finish...Pretty late here in Brazil, tomorrow I'll post some pics of the pots...

Tks everyone for the Help!


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Post subject: Re: What bass is this? not a riddle, really don't know...
Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2012 3:09 am
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About the Rick bridge, it had 3 holes and the middle one (which had the groud wire) was in the same position of the original one... the other two were drilled after the body's finish. The Badass II fited fine in the original 5 holes.

Very happy with the new bridge. It is not an original bass but it let the string action really low. I'm loving the bass, regardless of the origin. Still curious though...

pots....

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