70's reissue Jazz Bass

[wildcard]

I should start this by first saying that I'm glad so many people have found Fenders they like. But what amazes me is that so many on here have bashed the MIA RI/hot rod fenders for being over priced(I admit they are getting out of hand) but you will except poor craftmanship and not even blink. A bridge that is not centered? And the general response is "it's an easy fix". Fix? FIX? Action/truss/saddle adjustment sure, that is to be expected on any new bass...but an off center bridge? Are you kidding? This is like bass building 101...and exactly the reasion why the slightly highter price of the MIA is worth it. And if it is truly off center send it back! It's their problem to fix, not yours. You just plunked down 700 + of your hard earned dollars for a bass that is sub-standard! Don't let you gas blind you. Would you except this on any other bass? I sure wouldnt. I own a MIA 75 RI and a 08 Hot Rod, and 2 vintage 70's USA Fenders(a 76 and a 73, both jazz). And I can tell you with out hesitation that if either of the USA Fenders had a bridge that was not centered I would have taken them back. Again I'm truly gald Fender has made a bass that so many of you are gassin' for but please don't buy a bass that is poorly made just for the sake of gas. Again just MO.

+1

 

[joel the bass player]

The Perfect Bass had 2 of them (sold now though I think) and both looked like the bridge was off or something. Looked like it was mainly the E string that was messed up so I thought it could be a saddle problem but it was hard to tell from pictues. Would need to see it in person to judge it better.

 

[jordacr]

Maybe it is something to do with the saddles or maybe even the pickups. Here is a pic of one for sale online and it looks just like mine did. As you can see, the G and D line up but the more you get towards the low E the sting alignment with the poles gets off. So maybe the bridge isn't off center.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I added a BAII to mine and the G and D are fine but I had to move the A and E into other slots on the saddle sot get them lined up with the poles.

Mine:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[RBrownBass]

I'm seriously considering one of these. I'm sure there's a way to safely darken that binding just a bit- one of the relicers here could probably recommend something. Where's Ibanezcollector when he's needed?

 

[joel the bass player]

Adding that bridge sure did take care of the problem though, whatever it is. Yours looks and sounds great!

 

[tarzanalog]

Did the BAII mount with the same bridge screw holes... or did it take new holes?!?

 

[jordacr]

same

 

[zenlowend]

I`d happily pay half for the mim and take 5 minutes to readjust the bridge. After all, the bass is completely made in the us, and put together in Mexico. BTW, i also own an original 72 JAzz, and the bridge is misaligned, so I guess fender got it right!

First of all your not paying half. It may be half of a MIA 75RI but they are two totally different basses.My Black and Maple MIA 60anv Jazz was only 789.99 brand new....no flaws. You are paying more and damn near close to a grand for a Made in Mexico Fender and make no mistake made in USA and assembled in Mexico = Made in Mexico, no matter how you slice it. Dont believe me? Just check the bass and see what it says?....AND you are willing to except flaws....ON A BRAND NEW BASS!!!!! This is the exact reason why entire lines of basses turn to crap over a few years! Why would Fender fix it when you are willing to do it for them? And the point is not how easy of a fix is it. The point is if they allowed something as obvious and freshman as missalligned bridge's to leave el shop-o what else did they overlook? Look, I don't care what you play.. MIM, MIA, MIJ what ever floats your bass-balls is all fine with me, truly. But by god dont let Fender or any other company get away with grabbing 800+ of your hard earned dollars and giving you a sub-par bass! And if you have not done so yet, you might want to try putting your 72's bride in proper allignment. I'm sure you will hear an improvement when the strings are played in the proper postion over the poles....and it's an easy fix, only about 5 minutes. BTW, I also own 5 USA Fender Jazz basses. And 2 of them are vintage 70's. A 76 jazz and a 73 jazz both all original and NONE have missaligned bridges...all those must have went to someone else.

 

[RBrownBass]

Why would Fender fix it when you are willing to do it for them? And the point is not how easy of a fix is it. The point is if they allowed something as obvious and freshman as missalligned bridge's to leave el shop-o what else did they overlook? Look, I don't care what you play.. MIM, MIA, MIJ what ever floats your bass-balls is all fine with me, truly. But by god dont let Fender or any other company get away with grabbing 800+ of your hard earned dollars and giving you a sub-par bass! And if you have not done so yet, you might want to try putting your 72's bride in proper allignment. I'm sure you will hear an improvement when the strings are played in the proper postion over the poles....and it's an easy fix, only about 5 minutes. BTW, I also own 5 USA Fender Jazz basses. And 2 of them are vintage 70's. A 76 jazz and a 73 jazz both all original and NONE have missaligned bridges...all those must have went to someone else.

You're about 50 years late with this bit of encouragement. I've played at least 20 MIA Fenders -25% of them pre-CBS- with this very same problem, and of the dozens more I've seen I'd say about half of those had it.

Sure, we'd all like to think it's an MIM/MIJ-only thing, but it ain't. In fact, I've seen a much smaller percentage of MIJs (than MIAs) that were misaligned.

 

[zenlowend]

You're about 50 years late with this bit of encouragement. I've played at least 20 MIA Fenders -25% of them pre-CBS- with this very same problem, and of the dozens more I've seen I'd say about half of those had it.

Sure, we'd all like to think it's an MIM/MIJ-only thing, but it ain't. In fact, I've seen a much smaller percentage of MIJs (than MIAs) that were misaligned.

I wasn't saying it was a MIM, MIJ thing. I was saying don't buy a bass that is not made properly...no matter where it is made. Good info about Fender though. Maybe more will look a bit closer with they buy one from now on.

 

[JEDI BASS]

Maybe it is something to do with the saddles or maybe even the pickups. Here is a pic of one for sale online and it looks just like mine did. As you can see, the G and D line up but the more you get towards the low E the sting alignment with the poles gets off. So maybe the bridge isn't off center.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

I added a BAII to mine and the G and D are fine but I had to move the A and E into other slots on the saddle sot get them lined up with the poles.

Mine:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Judging from the first pic w/ stock bridge, the bridge doesn't look misaligned. The E and G appear to be equal distance from the edges of the fretboard, meaning that the bridge is centered over the midline of the body. I think it's the pups and/or their placement that's off. I've had a Squier jazz that had this prob. It had 2 bridge pups on it, cost saver I guess. The neck pup should be shorter than the bridge pup, and the pairs of pole pieces should be placed closer to the next pair in comparison to the bridge pup. Maybe Fender used NON-70's spacing pups on these basses, that might explain the bridge pup misalignment anyways.

 

[RBrownBass]

I wasn't saying it was a MIM, MIJ thing. I was saying don't buy a bass that is not made properly...no matter where it is made. Good info about Fender though. Maybe more will look a bit closer with they buy one from now on.

Fair enough- but since there isn't a period in the Fender history where this misalignment issue wasn't present, I'd be doubtful of their doing anything to solve the problem now. The new(ish) MIA bridges even offer a kludge -multiple slots in the bridge saddles- so that they don't have to get the pocket tight and right in the factory.

 

[Hamerguy]

Wow, I really like that bass. A pity if these won't be available in Europe. I like the 70's J with B'n'B (for those complaining about the decal, isn't this the style they used in the late-70s/early-80s? Of course, the serial number is still found on the back). I would like another passive one. Otherwise I am happy with my two American Deluxe J which are black and sunburst and alder/rosewood too.

 

[elgranluis]

First of all your not paying half. It may be half of a MIA 75RI but they are two totally different basses.My Black and Maple MIA 60anv Jazz was only 789.99 brand new....no flaws. You are paying more and damn near close to a grand for a Made in Mexico Fender and make no mistake made in USA and assembled in Mexico = Made in Mexico, no matter how you slice it. Dont believe me? Just check the bass and see what it says?....AND you are willing to except flaws....ON A BRAND NEW BASS!!!!! This is the exact reason why entire lines of basses turn to crap over a few years! Why would Fender fix it when you are willing to do it for them? And the point is not how easy of a fix is it. The point is if they allowed something as obvious and freshman as missalligned bridge's to leave el shop-o what else did they overlook? Look, I don't care what you play.. MIM, MIA, MIJ what ever floats your bass-balls is all fine with me, truly. But by god dont let Fender or any other company get away with grabbing 800+ of your hard earned dollars and giving you a sub-par bass! And if you have not done so yet, you might want to try putting your 72's bride in proper allignment. I'm sure you will hear an improvement when the strings are played in the proper postion over the poles....and it's an easy fix, only about 5 minutes. BTW, I also own 5 USA Fender Jazz basses. And 2 of them are vintage 70's. A 76 jazz and a 73 jazz both all original and NONE have missaligned bridges...all those must have went to someone else.

Buddy, Actually it`s the opposite way around. Made in the US means made in the US. Put together in Mexico is just semantics. If the exact same machine is cutting the exact same basses in the exact same place, it`s the same bass, right? if some of the parts are sent south, and some are kept in corona (either way a MIM guy is gonna put the guitar together..its california after all) then the bass is still made in the US. Like you said, no matter how you slice it.

BTW, you must be the luckiest guy on earth, not ever having owned a bass with a misaligned anything. Cheers to you!

 

[RMay]

The new(ish) MIA bridges even offer a kludge -multiple slots in the bridge saddles- so that they don't have to get the pocket tight and right in the factory.

Seriously, you believe? I'm without words.

 

[Buster Brown]

Absolutely stunning. I've been gassin' ever since I first saw the post about a week ago. I've actually considered putting my beloved '75 MIA Reissue Jazz up for sale just so I can get one of these. I'm anxious to hear what you think of the tone, etc. after playing it for awhile.

In my heart, I know it wouldn't make sense to sell off a fine bass like my '75 RI, but I just can't get this one out of my mind. I've been without a Sunburst Fender for a few years now. Everything I have now is light (natural '75 P; natural '75 RI Jazz; Honey Blonde Hwy. One P; and Transparent White Sadowsky UV70). So I'm DUE for another burst, but I sure don't need it. I am a sick man...

Hold on there quick draw!!! Don't go off half cocked!! You (and I both have the MIA 75RI Jazz). Remember re-sale value!! I will tell you this, however, I currently have a MIA 57 RI P bass that I actually swapped the neck for a MIM 57 RI neck - best playing neck I have EVER had on a Precision! But I STILL kept my MIA neck.....

Shoot, if you DO sale the MIA 75 - you should be able to buy at least (2) of the MIM models!!

Luck to ya!!

 

[RBrownBass]

I'm without words.

Apparently you are not.

Don't take my word for it, man- look at the bridge saddles. You'll see multiple slots for each string. That way, you can "fix" a misaligned neck without doweling/redrilling or even using the "time-tested" Fender "fix"- unscrewing the neck, yanking it to one side or the other until it's aligned and then holding it in place with one hand while tightening the screws with the other until the next time your bass is bumped.

And please don't come back here and say something about allowances for different spacing preferences or any other such marketing crap. Its a kludge, period. Deal.

 

[jordacr]

I am not sure where my $699 total turned into"$800+" or "damn near close to a grand". All I am going to say is it was my money and I am happy with the bass. If you are so down on them, then do not buy one!!!! I don't see why you have to get your panties in such a wad about my bass. Stay out of this thread then. Do not come here and tell me that my bass is subpar. Youve never played it. I do not go to your "hot rod" thread and post about how I can't believe you paid so much for a Highway 1 with a matching headstock and POS tuners. I believe you even agreed that they should have used the US tuners on your "hot rod" bass. You even said it was an "easy fix". 16 new screw holes in the headstock is an easy fix????? I do not post crap like that on here. (well, until this)

Sorry to rant on like this but I am just at a breaking point. I am so sick of all the damn negativity on this board. I am happy with my bass and shouldn't have to put up with all the crap about it. I also agree that you should not have to put up with it about your bass either. You like it and are okay with what you paid and that should be the end of story.

Craig

First of all your not paying half. It may be half of a MIA 75RI but they are two totally different basses.My Black and Maple MIA 60anv Jazz was only 789.99 brand new....no flaws. You are paying more and damn near close to a grand for a Made in Mexico Fender and make no mistake made in USA and assembled in Mexico = Made in Mexico, no matter how you slice it. Dont believe me? Just check the bass and see what it says?....AND you are willing to except flaws....ON A BRAND NEW BASS!!!!! This is the exact reason why entire lines of basses turn to crap over a few years! Why would Fender fix it when you are willing to do it for them? And the point is not how easy of a fix is it. The point is if they allowed something as obvious and freshman as missalligned bridge's to leave el shop-o what else did they overlook? Look, I don't care what you play.. MIM, MIA, MIJ what ever floats your bass-balls is all fine with me, truly. But by god dont let Fender or any other company get away with grabbing 800+ of your hard earned dollars and giving you a sub-par bass! And if you have not done so yet, you might want to try putting your 72's bride in proper allignment. I'm sure you will hear an improvement when the strings are played in the proper postion over the poles....and it's an easy fix, only about 5 minutes. BTW, I also own 5 USA Fender Jazz basses. And 2 of them are vintage 70's. A 76 jazz and a 73 jazz both all original and NONE have missaligned bridges...all those must have went to someone else.

 

[EnderZ13]

I got one of these 70's Jazz. It is basically a Power Jazz, 60's Jazz bass body with a bound and block neck. The pups are Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single-coil pickups. It sounds very close to a (passive mode) Marcus Miller bass. The neck is flawless, but the body and setup have some issues. I have a neck pup that's very weak when soloed, the pup is to low, "easy fix" So, in conjunction with Jordacr's misaligned bridge I will say they might be some issues on this production line. Love the bass, but it has some issues, be them minor, in my case, but issues never less IMHO

 

[RBrownBass]

I got one of these 70's Jazz. It is basically a Power Jazz, 60's Jazz bass body with a bound and block neck. The pups are Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single-coil pickups. It sounds very close to a (passive mode) Marcus Miller bass.

It's definitely a 70s Jazz body. Look at your bridge pickup's location.