‘78 Or Not?

[blastoff]

its cool that it has two tone pots! exxxxxxtra tone

 

[FranF]

I’ve never seen a Fender bass in the 70’s with those cheap 80’s style volume/tone knobs. Always hated those knobs!

All Jazzes and Mustang Basses had the numbered knobs from '77 on... ;-)

 

[micguy]

I wouldn't buy it based on that neck pocket. It looks like a huge gap to me.

Maybe it is a 70’s Fender. ;-)

 

[Sparky Mark]

I just don't understand where this dealer gets its valuation? It's a very average bass from Fender's least desirable vintage period in neglected condition. It's like one of those opportunist ebay listings.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

its cool that it has two tone pots! exxxxxxtra tone

Good eye...

 

[Ace Of Bass]

I just don't understand where this dealer gets its valuation? It's a very average bass from Fender's least desirable vintage period in neglected condition. It's like one of those opportunist ebay postings.

Kinda seems like it to me..I haven’t seen anything of its ilk price similarly...rare international series colors and all...they all seem to have sold for less than $3k...it seems like it’s priced more for the collector who want a clean example from that era in a rare color more so than the player who cares less about the color and worry more about playability and tone..maybe they’re just getting that much harder to find..

 

[Sparky Mark]

Kinda seems like it to me...it seems like it’s priced more for the collector who want a clean example from that era in a rare color more so than the player who cares less about the color and worry more about playability and tone..

Doesn't say much for this dealer's credibility.

 

[Ace Of Bass]

Doesn't say much for this dealer's credibility.

I guess they’re just trying to make money...the price is what he’d like to get for it...how much of a deal he’s trying to make is a whole ‘nother basket of potatoes...

 

[devnulljp]

Not sure if this is the one you’re looking at..

1978 Fender Jazz Bass Maui Blue International Series Vintage Bass Guitar w/OHSC | Imperial Vintage Guitars | Reverb

this is the first I’ve heard of the International Series. Looks cool and seems pretty rare.
I’m not sure I’d spend that much money on a 78-81 jazz...might be better to go CS at that point...

That's daylight robbery. I bought a 64 P and a 65 J each for less than that just a few years ago.
You can still pick up 70s fenders for ~2 grand and a bit and 80s for less than that.

I have a (admittedly beat to a pulp) 1977 Jazz. Didn't cost anywhere near that.

 

[DavC]

i bought a ' S9 ' P bass a few years back ... when i took it apart , the newest dated part was 1981 ( pots ) ... previous owner never took it apart , ... so selling it as a 1979 was kinda OK ... i bought it as such ... but as i earned more about how they were built in that era , it didn't bother me ... i sold it as a ' S9 ' , 1981 Pbass ... being a late 70's or early 80's model did not affect my pricing ..!!?? to be honest , my 1985 ' MIJ 75 RI ' Jbass was quite a bit nicer !??! during the last several years , i prefer to build my own from parts .!

 

[80jazz]

All Jazzes and Mustang Basses had the numbered knobs from '77 on... ;-)

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that the change happened in late 1977. I thought I have seen listings for '77 Jazz basses with the bakelite knobs.

 

[groooooove]

it's a cool bass - but that's too much money...

 

[Londo Molari]

I rarely play my 78's anymore. It's such a pain to change the cartridge on the tonearm.

Oh, nevermind.

 

[james condino]

The only thing that makes a 1978 Fender cool or "vintage" is if you were not born yet.

Everyone who lived through those years wanted anything but a new Fender.....

 

[80jazz]

The only thing that makes a 1978 Fender cool or "vintage" is if you were not born yet.

Everyone who lived through those years wanted anything but a new Fender.....

Count me in that group. I was probably born shortly after this bass was built.

 

[FranF]

Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that the change happened in late 1977. I thought I have seen listings for '77 Jazz basses with the bakelite knobs.

Pretty sure I said '77 on... ;-)

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I had a sunburst & rosewood S8 Jazz for a while. I think mine was an ‘80 model. I wish it would have weighed 11 lbs. Mine was probably 13 lbs. The sunburst on mine was an odd looking greenish brown for the darkest color. It wasn’t all that attractive.

I put the block & bound neck on an Edenhause body for a while. Those necks from that era were the best thing about those basses as far as I’m concerned. I could get the action lower with no buzz than about anything I’ve ever owned. The frets on mine were big and wide, and look like those on the bass you are checking out. I mounted the neck off mine on the other body with the 3 bolt hardware as not to alter the neck. It was solid, but the Edenhause body had a lot tighter neck pocket than the original body.

About the one at which you are looking; Not OHSC, or at least nothing like the one I had, which I thought was original. Mine was a vinyl covered plywood.

Mine had the round ended pickup rout for the neck pickup. Mine did not have anywhere near as much paint in the bottom of the neck pocket as that one. Not sure that means anything.

For what it is, the price seems steep to me, but it is a rare color for the time period. If it didn’t have all the rusty screws, but those can be replaced.

 

[DJ Bebop]

Yo..I need my vintage Fender guys to come through on this one..I’ve found a Jazz bass that is a part of the Fender International Series that I’m considering buying....the owner says that the bass is a ‘78 even thought the series didn’t really start until 80-81(?)....He seems to want a price for it that reflects it”s ‘70s Jazz designation as I’ve seen early ‘80s Basses prices far lower... Do you guys think that the pricing is higher because of the color alone or can this technically be called a ‘78 Jazz Bass because the parts probably came from ‘78 even though assembly and sale didn’t happen for a couple of years..?

1978 Fender Jazz Bass Maui Blue International Series Vintage Bass Guitar w/OHSC

First, it's not a 78. Second, that price. Third, it's a...

I'd get a neck and body and some parts and a bucket of paint.

Graceys Vintage Finishes Offers Nitrocellulose Finishes

Maui Blue

$21.95

Quantity: 1

Introduced in the late 1970's as an International color. Very cool rare color, sure to please!

 

[Playbyear]

$3400. for that? ... you’ve got to be kidding.

 

[Brad Johnson]

It looks relatively lightly played (not normally a good sign) possibly because of its weight. Leaving a bass in a case long term can lead to the corrosion of all the nickel plated parts as it reacts with chemicals leaching from the case materials; chrome tends to be a thicker more durable plating (hence automotive use). The corrosion also leads me to think it's been in a loft unused for many years and isn't the result of playing. The neck pocket isn't a great fit and whilst this might not affect how it plays, it doesn't add anything positive. The only positive for me is the colour. Almost every thread selling a bass gets asked the weight and 12lbs is significant. I reckon it's worth no more than half the asking price and even then I wouldn't touch it. YMMV.

Considering a natural 78 in nice condition easily tops $2,500, I'd seriously disagree with your valuation. My guess is it being a 40+ year old Fender in a rare color wasn't part of your calculation... and not worth $1800? Okay... I'd be looking at other opinions. Some people think they know this market.


Lightly damaged does not equal lightly played. Some people aren't careless with their instruments AND play them. Couple that with the fact that the much maligned heavier 70's finishes are far more durable than the 60's.

11.5 lbs. is within the normal range of these basses. They aren't Alder, which IMO IME is a good thing for people who want what they do.