BassHappy
Supporting Member
Hey Tom
That would be great! Not to highjack the thread - but I am in contact with Fender Japan and I am sure you know - there have been a lot of changes over there. I have asked them to see if they can track down the craftsmen and executives who came up with the idea to build medium scale P's and J's back in the golden 1984-1987 period. That was when Fender Japan WAS Fender, because Fender US was re-tooling. They are currently in the process of trying to track a few folks down for me to interview. I am a bit of an amateur historian and I hope I get lucky enough to get some of these folks to interview. If I do, I will be writing a series of articles on the subject. The Japanese were so meticulous back then to scale the entire instruments down ever so slightly - including the bodies and the neck pockets. When you think about it, it was a pretty huge re-tooling job. As far as I am concerned they set the standard on how to make a proper medium scale instrument. Too many luthiers shorten the neck a fret, slap it on a full size body and move the bridge. Voila: a medium scale bass. Unfortunately, the ergonomics on these are not ideal, although I do have a couple built like this that are very respectable - and I love them.
I don't know if you are aware of the whole story - but when they built the first medium scale P basses, they asked Fender US if they could use the Fender imprint on them. Without even seeing them or playing them Fender US said "no" and asked them to use the "Squier" imprint only. Funny thing is, when the American contingent arrived in Japan a few months later - they played a few medium scale basses and they were so blown away they IMMEDIATELY gave them the right to use the Fender logo on them as well.
Could be the only instruments in Fender/Squier history to roll off the exact same assembly line, using the same exact craftspeople, same wood, same basic hardware and the same electronics. I am told by my friends in Japan that the only difference was - they ended up offering ash bodies as an option on some of the Fender medium scale models later - and they used the slightly more figured maple on the necks. Later on, they offered a couple of finishes that they didn't offer on the Squier's such as trans black over swamp ash. Other than that, the Fenders and Squier medium scale P basses from that early era were identical. So if you are lucky enough to find a Fender Japan medium scale P bass - don't hesitate to scoop it up if it's a Squier and truth be told - you will probably save a few bucks. If you have noticed there used to be a healthy listing of these on ebay, but they are few and far between lately. I am kicking myself every day for not scooping up one I saw a few months ago with a medium scale maple board. I have been looking through my friends in Japan since 1999 and this is only the second one with a maple board I have ever seen.
Sorry for the diversion - but like I have always said - few players care much about this medium scale bass issue until serious repetitive stress problems force them to "Go shorter or go home". I can't tell you the amazing stories all over TB from players who were able to take it down a notch and surprisingly continue their playing careers!
