Let me make this as simple as possible. Is there any true advantage to exporting a Fender bass guitar From Japan as suppose to buying a American one from your local shop? Are the Japanese Fenders that much better than the ones being made here in the US? Do they sound better?? What do you gain buy a bass guitar you've never tried before? What are the clear advantage to purchasing new a Japanese Fender over a new American Fender?
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Fender Japan Vs. Fender American (What's The Real Deal?)
- Thread starter Philly Stress
- Start date
Fenders made in the USA are usually of high quality.
Fenders made in Japan are usually of high quality.
Fender Japan is much cheaper.
Now, easy decision for me
Some people say that the pickups of the US made are better or sound better. I only had and played japanese stuff with "US pickups" or "US vintage pickups" and never heard a real difference.
Of course you're on the safe side if you play an instrument before buying it. But with a Fender JB oder PB, you know what it feels like, right?
Besides that - it is always right to support your local dealers, no matter where on planet earth you live
Fenders made in Japan are usually of high quality.
Fender Japan is much cheaper.
Now, easy decision for me
Some people say that the pickups of the US made are better or sound better. I only had and played japanese stuff with "US pickups" or "US vintage pickups" and never heard a real difference.
Of course you're on the safe side if you play an instrument before buying it. But with a Fender JB oder PB, you know what it feels like, right?
Besides that - it is always right to support your local dealers, no matter where on planet earth you live
' Is there any true advantage to exporting a Fender bass guitar From Japan as suppose to buying a American one from your local shop? '
Yeah there are savings to be had because they cost less.
'Are the Japanese Fenders that much better than the ones being made here in the US? '
IMHO I would say quality wise they are similar. I think where the Japan products may have an edge is in the fit and finish.
'Do they sound better?? '
No they sound the same to me.
What do you gain buy a bass guitar you've never tried before?
'Nothing. Actually you run the risk of not liking it and then severe dissapointment sets in.'
'What are the clear advantage to purchasing new a Japanese Fender over a new American Fender?'
Lower cost.
Yeah there are savings to be had because they cost less.
'Are the Japanese Fenders that much better than the ones being made here in the US? '
IMHO I would say quality wise they are similar. I think where the Japan products may have an edge is in the fit and finish.
'Do they sound better?? '
No they sound the same to me.
What do you gain buy a bass guitar you've never tried before?
'Nothing. Actually you run the risk of not liking it and then severe dissapointment sets in.'
'What are the clear advantage to purchasing new a Japanese Fender over a new American Fender?'
Lower cost.
I'm a luthier/bass tech...I'm also lefty with a current fetish for custom colored Fender reissue basses. I cannot get an American '62 reissue lefty bass in a custom color- or at all actually, unless I order one from the Custom Shop and pay about $1500-$2,000. I have 3 Japanese made '62 re-issues, one I bought used in 9+ condition, from 1987- a sunburst Jazz bass. I also have a candy apple red 2003 P-bass, and a brand new lake placid blue 2007 P-bass. Both from The Ishibashi Web Shop in Japan. The '87 Jazz had better tuners than the new ones. They were '70's style- and wrong for the re-issue vintage year. The 2k3 and 2k7 had equivalent of Mexican made ones, probably imported from China, likely Ping's. Didn't matter to me, I removed the tuners and bridges from all 3 basses, and replaced the them with 'vintage' reverse Klusons made by Gotoh- as used on the American reissue basses. I've replaced the bridges with 'allthread' vintage style, and a mint green guard on my blue p-bass, with full tin ground plates underneath. The pots and jack were also swapped out for American Fender parts. All these upgrades, including the labor cost FAR less than the price of an American bass that can't even be bought off the line anymore. My recent total for my precision was about $850. They're about $650 new, imported direct to your post office.There is a slight bump on the both the jazz and precision bass body near the treble side of the neck pocket that makes it slightly different from an American bass body, aside from that, they look so close to a 'real' vintage bass, it's amazing. The fit, and finish is indeed excellent, all the paint work is beautiful...my sunburst is done better than any I've ever seen. The playability, feel and sound are perfect reproductions of that era basses. The pickup bobbins look a little weird when you remove the covers- unlike an American pickup. Who really cares about that? These p-basses can sound like anything from Motown Jamerson/Babbitt, to Entwistle Live @ Leeds with just a string swap, setup and a technique adjustment! P.S. My blue Japanese bass was recently stolen and recovered, you can see it in that thread...and also pics of a real '66 that inspired me to build it! You can see just how nice the Japanese basses really are.
Interested -- so where to get them? Imported from a particular dealer, direct from Fender, or what?
dcr
dcr
www.ishibashi.co.jp
I ordered one from them last Friday, and they were really helpful. They take a day or two to answer emails, so you'll have to have a little patience.
I ordered one from them last Friday, and they were really helpful. They take a day or two to answer emails, so you'll have to have a little patience.
They are great basses, and to me a bit more traditional as well then the current mia fender line, and a whole lot cheaper.
However Fender has finally started learning, and you might want to check out the new mim "classic" series. all usa vintage hardware,pups,etc I have owned them all and I can honestly say that the new mim classic 50's precision is amazing, trumping my mij instruments and i like it better then my mia 57 reissue as well.
However Fender has finally started learning, and you might want to check out the new mim "classic" series. all usa vintage hardware,pups,etc I have owned them all and I can honestly say that the new mim classic 50's precision is amazing, trumping my mij instruments and i like it better then my mia 57 reissue as well.
http://www.ishibashi-music.com/
Read this page first, then scroll down to the link to their translated pages. It's auto-translated and a bit, well, strange to read, but you'll get it. See the bubble-help or the status line of your browser to see where the japanese links point to.
Read this page first, then scroll down to the link to their translated pages. It's auto-translated and a bit, well, strange to read, but you'll get it. See the bubble-help or the status line of your browser to see where the japanese links point to.
Ishibashi music is the place to go - I'm on a handheld otherwise I'd just give you the link - do a Google search for "Ishibashi Music"
One thing to consider, given where the dollar is right now, the Japanese import path isn't QUITE as good a deal as it used to be a few years ago. Still a good move, you just aren't "beating the system" like you used to be.
So Basically, the price of Japanese Fenders are cheaper. But are the odds of getting a crappy are less? Has anyone one gotten a crappy bass form fender Japan??
I've been watching this thread for awhile to see where it goes, this topic has been discussed soo many times. I own a Geddy, a Marcus and a unlined MIJ bass and while all nice basses they all have some sort of shortcoming that is inherent to that model bass. The geddy has crappy tuners with painted on blocks (has nothing to do with playability though). The fretless has a basswood body (ahh so what) and the Marcus bass is a heavier ash than any MIA ash basses. The Marcus bass also has an "average pre-amp". Mine has a particuly stiff trussrod! To me it seems MIJ basses take so sort of shortcut whether it's the wood, the electronics (yes there pots and pups are cheaper) or some other less than stellar part they use. That being said I am still happy with the MIJ basses I own but would NEVER say they where better than any of the six MIA basses I own. I think Lakland Skyline basses are awesome too! All but the 55-01 carry the same electronics as their MIA counterparts but cost maybe a thousand less than the MIA lakland bass! Is it worth it? ask a MIA lakland bass owner! When you start to gig alot and have to depend on something not only sounding good but feeling good as well as light and balanced then you will understand why most "gigging bassist" go for the MIA basses! Btw the Geddy bass has gone up in price, I payed $600 bucks for mine and they want $800 for them now! I payed $769-789 for my Marcus bass and now they want $1000!!! How many people will still pay that price when they can get a MIA NOS bass for $700 all day! Just my .02
If you live in the US, there's no big deal in buying MIJ basses.
MIA basses cost less than here in Europe (btw, greetings from italy!!) and there's plenty of them pretty much in every shop, so
you'll eventually find one that you like in no time.
BUT I've recently noticed that while MANY recent american fenders
don't sound like they should, I've still got to find a bad japanese one.
Now, think how it could be with a set of brand new fralin or custom shop pickups...and a BadAss bridge...I'd still pay it less than a MIA bass and there would not be a great difference...not one worth of 300$, to say the least.
Starting to figure out why fender japan ins't allowed to sell basses th European shops? What would happen if low-cost, good sounding japanese fenders could spread around?
The shining, premium MIA production would be told to get the f#@k out!!
...
...Sorry for the hurting post!! I Didn't want to offend anyone... Just want to underline how sometimes quality and label don't come together!!
Still love the '75 Reissue MIA jazz...THE jazz sound...no MIJ can reach that...but hey, that's 1600$
Funkytranky
MIA basses cost less than here in Europe (btw, greetings from italy!!) and there's plenty of them pretty much in every shop, so
you'll eventually find one that you like in no time.
BUT I've recently noticed that while MANY recent american fenders
don't sound like they should, I've still got to find a bad japanese one.
Now, think how it could be with a set of brand new fralin or custom shop pickups...and a BadAss bridge...I'd still pay it less than a MIA bass and there would not be a great difference...not one worth of 300$, to say the least.
Starting to figure out why fender japan ins't allowed to sell basses th European shops? What would happen if low-cost, good sounding japanese fenders could spread around?
The shining, premium MIA production would be told to get the f#@k out!!
...
...Sorry for the hurting post!! I Didn't want to offend anyone... Just want to underline how sometimes quality and label don't come together!!
Still love the '75 Reissue MIA jazz...THE jazz sound...no MIJ can reach that...but hey, that's 1600$
Funkytranky
If your gonna buy a bass just to change pups, bridges and God knows what else it then becomes a "modded bass" Heck just get a good MIM bass, mod it and save MORE money! A modded bass doesn't sound like the original bass once you change the electronics, this is one of MIJ's shortcomings i've mentioned. Fralin pups mimick old Fender vintage MIA pups ($170 bucks), you might as well change out all pots while you're at it! while a badassII (approx $50 bucks) can alter the sound (not necessarily for the better).
When I compare the MIA bass and the MIJ bass value wise I choose the MIA bass because it's a plug in and play bass and needs nothing from the start, no upfront compromises.
'When I compare the MIA bass and the MIJ bass value wise I choose the MIA bass because it's a plug in and play bass and needs nothing from the start, no upfront compromises.'
I own three MIJ basses, two of them purchased sight unseen and they have always been plug and play in my books. Value for money they can't be beat imho.
I own three MIJ basses, two of them purchased sight unseen and they have always been plug and play in my books. Value for money they can't be beat imho.
When I read your profile it's obvious you and I are working with two different budgets, thus I stand by my statement about value for the money!
Btw i've purchased a Victor Bailey and a MIA FMT V sight unseen and couldn't be happier!
Again, I got a MIA 2000 NOS natural/maple necked jazz (bought in 2001)w/hsc and case candy that I payed $750 for new! It's my staple bass! How's that for value for your money!
"If your gonna buy a bass just to change pups, bridges and God knows what else it then becomes a "modded bass" Heck just get a good MIM bass, mod it and save MORE money! A modded bass doesn't sound like the original bass once you change the electronics, this is one of MIJ's shortcomings i've mentioned. Fralin pups mimick old Fender vintage MIA pups ($170 bucks), you might as well change out all pots while you're at it! while a badassII (approx $50 bucks) can alter the sound (not necessarily for the better).
When I compare the MIA bass and the MIJ bass value wise I choose the MIA bass because it's a plug in and play bass and needs nothing from the start, no upfront compromises."
thus I stand by my statement about value for the money!
I think you are missing my point. You seem to be under the impression that Fender Japan basses have to be modified in order to sound/play as good as American ones. If that was really the case do you think all of the TB ers lining up to give Ishibashi Guitarshop their money are planning on sinking 600 to 1000 on a bass only to have to mod it once it arrives? Do you also think Fender Japan would be banned from commercially exporting their non signature models to North America if every one had to be modded? I respectfully disagree. By the way, I would put the stock sound of my Geddy Lee up against a US made stock Fender jazz anyday....crappy painted blocks n all .....lol . Regarding my budget for basses, I don't earn a living playing bass nor do I collect them. I simply bought three great value for money basses that deliver the sound and playability I need.
When I compare the MIA bass and the MIJ bass value wise I choose the MIA bass because it's a plug in and play bass and needs nothing from the start, no upfront compromises."
thus I stand by my statement about value for the money!
I think you are missing my point. You seem to be under the impression that Fender Japan basses have to be modified in order to sound/play as good as American ones. If that was really the case do you think all of the TB ers lining up to give Ishibashi Guitarshop their money are planning on sinking 600 to 1000 on a bass only to have to mod it once it arrives? Do you also think Fender Japan would be banned from commercially exporting their non signature models to North America if every one had to be modded? I respectfully disagree. By the way, I would put the stock sound of my Geddy Lee up against a US made stock Fender jazz anyday....crappy painted blocks n all .....lol . Regarding my budget for basses, I don't earn a living playing bass nor do I collect them. I simply bought three great value for money basses that deliver the sound and playability I need.
I recently had this dilemma. I had just bought a used MIJ P-bass from GC for $499. It was very nice and I liked it. Over thanksgiving, the same GC had a new Highway One P bass reduced to $570. I decided to bring in my MIJ and A/B them at GC. If the Highway One was significantly better, I'd return the MIJ.
Long story short, The Highway One had a nicer sound, a Quan II bridge and was new. I ended up with the Highway One, because it was only $70 more than a used MIJ. IF the Highway One was at it's normal $799, I'd have kept the MIJ, upgraded the bridge and the PU and been just as happy.
Long story short, The Highway One had a nicer sound, a Quan II bridge and was new. I ended up with the Highway One, because it was only $70 more than a used MIJ. IF the Highway One was at it's normal $799, I'd have kept the MIJ, upgraded the bridge and the PU and been just as happy.
