1983 Squier JV Jazz Bass

[hardtwister]

Originally Posted by bassbully

I disagree. The JV's and SQ's are great basses and are gretting harder to find. The price is not too crazy and that makes them a steal for some.
As they get more rare I see the prices going up. IMO the only way to get the same quality of bass today is to pay well over a grand ($1000 dollar US) I bought my last SQ this summer on CL for $140.00 (US dollars)

I feel the MIJ Squiers are as good if not better than MIA Fenders of that period, even some before and beyond it.
I own 3 SQ's and they are my go to basses. I hope to add a JV if I could find one at a price like the OP got his for I would pay that hands down.
I sold off both my 70's Fender basses for the SQ's and it was a great move since I got all three dirt cheap.

I would have to agree (and nice score on the SQ!). I like this bass better than the 77 Jazz I had. It is more neutral weighted, more balanced that is, and the fit & finish.. This things plays very easily, just feels friendly, hard to explain but when it's in your hands you know you found a player..

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by hardtwister

I would have to agree (and nice score on the SQ!). I like this bass better than the 77 Jazz I had. It is more neutral weighted, more balanced that is, and the fit & finish.. This things plays very easily, just feels friendly, hard to explain but when it's in your hands you know you found a player..

IMO the fit,finish,weight and neck of the SQ's are way better than the misd to late 70's MIA Fenders. The early MIA's are closer to them the late ones are not close.

The Sen Ash 3TS (have 2) are one of the deepest finishes on any Fender I have ever seen and these basses play and sound like a dream with a fairly wide but slim neck. I need to quit talking about them...there are more to buy out there.....hopefully.

[bassbully]

BTW my 3 SQ's were all deals and I am lucky.

3TS-SQ 83' -Sen/Ash P bass - $180.00 with a few trade ins. Was selling for $499.00 in a guitar store.

3TS- SQ 83'- Sen/Ash P bass- $140.00 like new bought off CL.

Black SQ 84" Bullet P bass- $150.00 from an area music store. Light weight with a sick maple board wide but slim...grindy tone even with flats.

Still looking for more

[AlastairWatts]

Originally Posted by bassbully

BTW my 3 SQ's were all deals and I am lucky.

3TS-SQ 83' -Sen/Ash P bass - $180.00 with a few trade ins. Was selling for $499.00 in a guitar store.

3TS- SQ 83'- Sen/Ash P bass- $140.00 like new bought off CL.

Black SQ 84" Bullet P bass- $150.00 from an area music store. Light weight with a sick maple board wide but slim...grindy tone even with flats.

Still looking for more

How do you rate the early MIJ Fenders please? Do have an opinion on the 70s Grecos?
Those basses of yours are excellent finds!!!
A student of mine picked one up for $100AUS from a friend of his who we later worked out didn't really know what they had... Heck! I didn't know immediately... He's super happy about it now!

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by AlastairWatts

How do you rate the early MIJ Fenders please? Do have an opinion on the 70s Grecos?
Those basses of yours are excellent finds!!!
A student of mine picked one up for $100AUS from a friend of his who we later worked out didn't really know what they had... Heck! I didn't know immediately... He's super happy about it now!

I rate all the JV and SQ Squiers as good as any CBS Fender and Fenders I have played and owned to this date. As I said I sold off both my MIA Fenders to only use MIJ Squiers.

I would also rate them as good and in some cases better than a few pre-CBS since the weight and neck profiles on my 83's SQ are so great. The necks are to die for to me. The necks are Flat fairly wide but with a slim profile.
All of my SQ's are stock except for the 84' Bullet which needed a pot replaced.

As for the Greco's, Arias, Tokai's form that time they are all great MIJ basses. I think allot were made at the same plant like the Squiers. They play feel allot like the SQ's although I have not played allot of them. I had a 70's Aria jazz that looked, played and felt like any early 70's Fender jazz to the tee but sold it when I went from jazz basses to P basses.

There are still some out there and some people see the name Squier and think they are cheap. I'm still looking all the time and if the right deal drops will scoop it up like the person you know did.

[hardtwister]

Originally Posted by bassbully

I rate all the JV and SQ Squiers as good as any CBS Fender and Fenders I have played and owned to this date. As I said I sold off both my MIA Fenders to only use MIJ Squiers.

I would also rate them as good and in some cases better than a few pre-CBS since the weight and neck profiles on my 83's SQ are so great. The necks are to die for to me. The necks are Flat fairly wide but with a slim profile.
All of my SQ's are stock except for the 84' Bullet which needed a pot replaced.

As for the Greco's, Arias, Tokai's form that time they are all great MIJ basses. I think allot were made at the same plant like the Squiers. They play feel allot like the SQ's although I have not played allot of them. I had a 70's Aria jazz that looked, played and felt like any early 70's Fender jazz to the tee but sold it when I went from jazz basses to P basses.

There are still some out there and some people see the name Squier and think they are cheap. I'm still looking all the time and if the right deal drops will scoop it up like the person you know did.

Agreed. This is simular to my own experience. I prefer MIJ guitars and basses. I used to think the American stuff was the best. Now I know better. I just gave a really nice early 90's Fernandes in Sunburst w/rosewood to an old friend. He's Stoked! Just sold another early Fernandes on Ebay, have a 1978 Greco (very nice, and Grecos are what became Fender JV), 84-87 Fender Squier E series, and the Squier JV Jazz Bass that started this thread. Would love to add an SQ to the list! This stuff is lots of fun, they play great, and if you buy right are better than money in the bank. The rolled neck edges on my JV Jazz are a work of art.. I just keep picking it back up because I can't get over this bass.. It want to play itself. MIJ All The Way!

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by hardtwister

Agreed. This is simular to my own experience. I prefer MIJ guitars and basses. I used to think the American stuff was the best. Now I know better. I just gave a really nice early 90's Fernandes in Sunburst w/rosewood to an old friend. He's Stoked! Just sold another early Fernandes on Ebay, have a 1978 Greco (very nice, and Grecos are what became Fender JV), 84-87 Fender Squier E series, and the Squier JV Jazz Bass that started this thread. Would love to add an SQ to the list! This stuff is lots of fun, they play great, and if you buy right are better than money in the bank. The rolled neck edges on my JV Jazz are a work of art.. I just keep picking it back up because I can't get over this bass.. It want to play itself. MIJ All The Way!

Yeah all that Fugi Gen Gakki type stuff to me is some of the best guitars and basses ever made.
The nice thing is there are still some out there but the prices are climbing on some. You need to find someone who just does not know what they have or trade for it etc.

IMO I would give $4-500 bucks for a SQ or other good MIJ bass than a used MIM or even a used MIA P bass. My goal is to find a good JV p bass to add to the stable ..hopefully a very early one if possible. I won't buy a new bass unless it was a CV Squier.

I have an area dealer who turned me on to the MIJ Squiers and I bought my first one from his shop. He said they are getting hard to find on his end for a decent price that is.
He is looking for a SQ or JV gem for me all the time. I had to rub the $140.00 CL 3TS- ash P bass I scored this summer in his face thou

[wraub]

bassbully -Shhhhh already. You're releasing the satchel borne feline.

Seriously, I suppose the secret isn't really that secret anymore. The prices tell me that.

I have 2 SQ basses (which I also got crazy cheap) and agree that they are just well made instruments.

Congrats to the OP on the JV!

wraub

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by wraub

bassbully -Shhhhh already. You're releasing the satchel borne feline.

Seriously, I suppose the secret isn't really that secret anymore. The prices tell me that.

I have 2 SQ basses (which I also got crazy cheap) and agree that they are just well made instruments.

Congrats to the OP on the JV!

wraub

Yea... what was I thinking?? They are just Squiers and you all know what that means...starter bass junk so stay away

[hardtwister]

Originally Posted by bassbully

Yea... what was I thinking?? They are just Squiers and you all know what that means...starter bass junk so stay away