FT: Fender Fullerton 62 Reissue Jazz Bass - Lots of Pictures

[Johnny Alien]

OK. I picked this up because it was a good deal but knowing I would trade it off as I am a Precision guy not a Jazz guy. So I am going to be looking for a Precision bass of some kind.

Overview: This is an early Fullerton era 62 Jazz Bass reissue in a custom color. I have included lots of photos but ask me if there is anything you need to know. In the early 80's black was a custom color and I have seen very few 62 reissues in this color. When I took it apart I could not find a neck date. It does look like there may have been a stamped date but if so it is not easy to read. Likewise with the body. Although the pickups were replaced I believe the pots to be original and I believe that they date to 1981. Because of the solder they are hard to make out as well. The router hump, serial number and pepperoni guard all prove it to be Fullerton era. In fact I believe it to be very early thus an 81 date on the pots and possible lack of neck date. It is in very good shape overall. The frets have very little wear and tons of life in them. There is some player wear here and there but nothing major. I bought it from the second owner and he said it bought it from a store in 1982. Like I said while there is no date to show that all of the signs point to that being true.

The bad news: The pickups were replaced. Because they were replaced with barts the original owner routed it at some point for the battery. It is not a pretty route. It could be repaired OR if it was mine I would just change the route cover to black and leave it at that. Some of the wiring is the original wiring but additional wiring was needed for the bart pickups so that is not original.

So basically....everything is original including neck, body, guard, tuners, strap pegs, bridge, screws etc. The replaced parts are the the pickup and there are three new pickguard screws on it. I believe that the original screws are holding the route cover on the back.

The truss rod works fine and is not buried like many Fullertons are. I threw on new strings and gave it a setup.

One last thing: It has the original tweed case (but no case candy). The case has lots of wear but is still in usable shape. The cases for Fullertons are pretty tough to find and most people don't have them anymore. Be prepared for lots of photos.

Items i am interested in:
1. US Precision Reissues - Olympic White, LPB or Sunburst in that order.
2. A players grade Fullerton Precision Reissue
3. LPB Lakland Glaub plus/minus cash depending on country of origin.

[Johnny Alien]

The headstock:



Tuners:



Pots:



Caps:



Neck Heel:

[Johnny Alien]

Another neck heel:



Neck Pocket:



Serial number (orignal owner etched G-202 on the plate but it is not real easy to see)



Full body (note: the lighting makes the checking look more prominent):



Back of Neck:



The ugly route :



Full view of the back:



The whole bass:



The case:



The handle:

[TDR1138]

Did the guy route that battery box with a pocket knife???

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by TDR1138

Did the guy route that battery box with a pocket knife???

Well he wasn't a pro that's for sure. It would be possible to repair this and refinish which is why I would value this at around the price of a refinished bass. Or like I said you could just replace the cover to make it less noticeable. It is a stellar bass beyond that and fairly rare overall.

I have been looking around tonight and it seems like lack of a neck date on early Fullerton reissues is not uncommon. Some have neck dates but are very tough to see so maybe that is what happening as well.

Here is an example:

http://www.joesguitarshop.com/1982%2...eck%20heel.htm

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Interesting story. I have never heard of Fullerton basses that have MIJ parts.

Neither have I. I think that some of the mid 80s basses were made totally in Japan -- before Fender got a new factory, after leaving Fullerton, CA -- but AFAIK 82-84 reissues (Fullertons) were made totally in the US.

Regarding the bass in this thread, besides what Johnny has already said, several other things show it to indeed be a Fullerton reissue: the fretboard is rounded at the headstock (non-Fullertons are pretty straight), and the tuners are closer to the top edge of the headstock (non-Fullertons saw the tuners moved further down). Also, that route could be fixed and spot painted without refinishing the entire bass.

Johnny, can you post a photo of the leading edge of the belly contour because these are cut noticeably deeper on Fullertons than non-Fullertons.

Also maybe Mike (Caca de Kick) will weigh in on this bass -- he is an expert on Fullerton reissues.

[Johnny Alien]

I just spent a bunch of time with this bass last night. I am going to leave it here awhile BUT I may end up keeping this one. I am NOT a jazz guy at all. I have played plenty of jazz basses including some vintage and I never really liked the necks compared to Precisions.

But this one has it. It's the first jazz neck that I absolutely love. It just feels better than any other jazz bass I have ever played. I am not sure if all Fullerton jazz necks are like this but I have played newer reissues and they do not have it like this one does. Amazing. (Although maybe being over 25 years old helps some but I don't always buy into that VooDoo)

[4Mal]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

I just spent a bunch of time with this bass last night. I am going to leave it here awhile BUT I may end up keeping this one. I am NOT a jazz guy at all. I have played plenty of jazz basses including some vintage and I never really liked the necks compared to Precisions.

But this one has it. It's the first jazz neck that I absolutely love. It just feels better than any other jazz bass I have ever played. I am not sure if all Fullerton jazz necks are like this but I have played newer reissues and they do not have it like this one does. Amazing. (Although maybe being over 25 years old helps some but I don't always buy into that VooDoo)

The 62 neck profile isn't your run of the mill J neck. A lot of what you like iis probably the vintage sized wire, rolled fingerboard and the slightly wider, shallower feel. One of the best neck profiles ever! if I had a P to offer up, I would have already done it. This looks like a great player to me!

Originally Posted by King Biscuit

Neither have I. I think that some of the mid 80s basses were made totally in Japan -- before Fender got a new factory, after leaving Fullerton, CA -- but AFAIK 82-84 reissues (Fullertons) were made totally in the US.

If that is true, I would consider it a plus ... back in those days Fender Japan was turing out some really, really fine instruments...

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

Like from the side of the bass looking down? Let me know and I will post it when I get home tonight.

Right, to show the depth of the cut.

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by 4Mal

The 62 neck profile isn't your run of the mill J neck. A lot of what you like iis probably the vintage sized wire, rolled fingerboard and the slightly wider, shallower feel. One of the best neck profiles ever! if I had a P to offer up, I would have already done it. This looks like a great player to me!



If that is true, I would consider it a plus ... back in those days Fender Japan was turing out some really, really fine instruments...

So was the Fullerton factory!

[One Drop]

FWIW the V00 serial numbers are only found on the earliest Fullertons- that doesn't mean they are strictly chronological, but I very much doubt you'll find an '85 with such a low serial number.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by One Drop

FWIW the V00 serial numbers are only found on the earliest Fullertons- that doesn't mean they are strictly chronological, but I very much doubt you'll find an '85 with such a low serial number.

Yeah that is what I read as well. That is why I think signs are pointing to this being a very early model. It seems like that might explain the neck date thing as well.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by king_biscuit

Johnny, can you post a photo of the leading edge of the belly contour because these are cut noticeably deeper on Fullertons than non-Fullertons.

I hope these are what you are looking for.

[JoshB]

Just a note here people...don't feed the trolls. Report and move on.

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by Johnny Alien

I hope these are what you are looking for.

That's exactly it. Anybody with a non-Fullerton Reissue should compare there bass at the same angle. The leading edge is thicker.

[Caca de Kick]

Yup that's a fullerton cut alright.

[Johnny Alien]

Bump.....Someone out there has a players Fullerton 63 Precision that they would like to trade for a great playing jazz with one of the nicest necks I have ever touched, I'm sure.

Also would be real into a late 80's 62 reissue with the mis-placed logo.

Or any era LPB or Fiesta 62 Precision Reissue.

[Eric Swaim]

The battery route looks like a 10 year old kid and a pocket knife met for the first time. Wow that is nasty. Other than that, it looks like a cool bass. I like Bartolini pickups.

[Johnny Alien]

Originally Posted by swaim

The battery route looks like a 10 year old kid and a pocket knife met for the first time. Wow that is nasty. Other than that, it looks like a cool bass. I like Bartolini pickups.

Yep but it would be very easy to clean up the route a bit and make it look better. If no one is interested I will not cry that much as this bass is amazing. If it were me (and if I keep it) I think the best solution would be clean up the route and get a black cover cut.

[THB_bassman]

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