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Attn: MIJ Fender Xperts: Need help I.D.-ing this late 80's P

XtraLongScale

XtraLongScale

Oct 6, 2005
1,452
8
Holyoke, MA
www.facebook.com
#1
I just put a deposit on this MIJ Precision @ one of the Daddy's Junky Music locations here in the Northeast. It's located at their Portland, Maine store, so I'll be waiting for it to arrive in my local West Springfield, MA store in about a week or so (they have an inter store transfer system). I've never seen a model like this:

FEN2300_1.gif


It looks similar in appearance to the Power Jazz/Special models of the late 80's, just minus the Jazz bridge P/U. I'm really digging the look of the copper body with the black headstock & hardware. The only info I have on the bass is that it's been modded with a Bart P and a Hipshot detuner. There's not much to discern with this pic from the Daddy's website. I did some searching through the TB archives with no success and was just wondering if any of you MIJ fanatics could enlighten me on this unique P.
 
#2
The body is not quite the same. Pictured is my mid/late '80's Power Z Jazz Bass Special. Notice that the cutaway areas are somewhat scalloped, but not on the bass that you pictured.

The hardware looks similar, and keep in mind that my electronics have been modified with Seymour Duncan pickups, and a different control configuration. The original P pickup in mine looked similar enough to yours, at least for this kind of picture, but the Power Z came with standard active electronics, I'm willing to bet the one you pictured is passive in its stock format.

PZJazzFauto.jpg
 
#3
That's why I said "similar in appearance" as opposed to "just like". It has a similar (pearl body-black neck) paint scheme as yours, for sure, so i'm assuming this P came from the same era. I was also guessing passive, judging by the # of pots. I've tried the Power Jazz on a few occasions & always walked away impressed. I've seen them around on a fairly steady basis, but this is the first P that I've seen with (mostly) the same aesthetics & I'm really intrigued.
 
#6
It looks like a MIJ P from the mid 80s. I used to have a Jazz Special from that time period - not a "Power" Jazz Special (which had the extra bevels around the horns) - and the body looked about like that. I swear I saw that color around the shops at that time, too.

Is the back of the neck painted?
 
#10
It's called A Precision bass special,, Made for about three or 4 years. I have two Jazz bass specials and I have seen the P bass version a few times, There are a few different versions of these through the late 80's and 90's...
Link Removed

I love Daddy's Junky Music, if you don't buy it let me know I'll take it!!
 
#11
So it IS called a Precision Special. Pretty liberal use of the name seeing as I've always associated the model name with the more traditional(ish) pickguarded model w/the P/J configutration, but I'm not much of a Fender expert, so I digress. I love Daddy's too. about 1/2 of my bass gear is from there. Well, I've been looking for a P to mod for a while & this one already comes modded :bassist: If it turns out not to my liking, I'll keep you in the know, Funkster. I'll bet it would look real good sandwiched between your Jazz Specials ;) mimaz, thanks for the lowdown on the tuners. This P has the same lineup - three stock tuners & a Hipshot detuner (maybe this was stock @ the time?). A Fathead, huh? You must get sustain for days with that.
 
#15
Yes mine are both passive although I do have a set of old Lace sensors in the fretless, It's Candy Apple Red,, Really Stunning I wish I had a better Camera. The Toggle is Front and rear pup's with a Detent whatever that means I think it roll's off some of the high's and or mids, I keep em all the way up!!! lol
 
#16
The toggle is a pickup selector(front/both/rear).

Edit: The passive electronics on these basses are very cool- the TBX circuitry somewhat mimics active preamps w/o a battery. Google for more info, but IIRC the tone knob acts like a typical passive treble rolloff in one direction, but cuts mids in the other, giving a slight scoop. Nice-sounding bass- I definitely remember that.
 
#17
Thanks for the info, guys. This MIJ G.A.S. is real sudden (I did have an MIJ Squier Jazz back in the day, though. I still curse the day I sold it). Just spotted an HMT fretless. Couldn't have happened at a worse time of year ;) I'd better back off, though. This P will hopefully be enough for now. 'Specially w/the Barts.
 

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