1997? Deluxe Jazz made in USA or Mexico How Tell?
 

This is purported to be 1997 Deluxe Jazz. It's got American serial number (N7 plus 6 digits) but there is something scraped off the headstock where it would say Made in Mexico.
Is there anyway to verify this is American version and serial number hasn't been altered?

Many thanks

It's Mexican. MIA would have truss rod adjustment at the body, string through body and no skunk stripe on the neck.

Pickups also appear to be the Suhr-designed single-poles from around ‘97 on the MIM Deluxe Active Jazzes. If I’m not mistaken, an MIA of this vintage would likely still have the OEM dual-pole pickups.

I had a MIA delux active 5 and it had the single pole piece pickups in it, but those didn't last too long before they went back to the traditional design. I believe you are correct though zachbass02, the MIAs were string throughs and the MIMs were not.

I always love when a bass is purported

It's possible the neck is from a 97 as the tuners are period correct; so are the pickups. The body and bridge are NOT. In 97 the American Deluxe had a downsized body with string through ferrules and a bridge with "semi-threaded" saddles. Here's what they look like: http://www.elderly.com/vintage/items/55U-4799.htm

That is a '97 Active Deluxe MIM. I have the exact bass, same color, 2 tone brown sunburst. The American, as stated, would have the downsized body, this one is full size.

definitely Mexican. the US deluxs active basses had a 22 fret neck among the features mentioned by others

Would the finish on this have a veneered top & back too? Perhaps a bit too perfect matching?

There was a discussion in another thread about how MIM's had this feature.

The tuners are NOT correct for a 97 deluxe.

There is nothing right about this bass. Looks to be a parts bass. Beware.

Here's my 1997 that I sold last year. The pick guard and bridge were not original, but everything else was at it came from the factory.

For a Mexican bass, yes the tuners are correct. They're the same "Schaller Licensed" tuning machines used on all of Fender's lower priced offerings. G&L and MusicMan also uses them.