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An Often Ignored Gem!

Pep

Pep

Gold Supporting Member
Oct 5, 2010
4,843
11,454
Kentucky
#1
Even though I was playing in the 90s, I was completely unaware of this bass. If was a low dollar entry by Fender, a PJ configuration with a very thin neck and an ugly pick guard.
I’m speaking of the JP-90 which was built from 1990 to 1993 and never was a hit item mainly due to the “boomerang” pick guard. It can’t really be considered a pick guard because of where it’s located on the bass.
The very first ones had the truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. That was changed rather quickly in the first year of production when they moved it to the headstock location.
Colors were red with a white pick guard, white with a black pick guard, and black with a black pick guard.

A couple of months ago when I learned of them and decided to look for one. Pricing was $700 and up so I waited and located a black one for $599, not perfect cosmetically but a great player.
I went through it and cleaned it up. I wanted all black hardware so I bought tuners, string tree, knobs, strap buttons, a Hipshot bridge and a new pick guard.

I finished it up today and it looks a lot better, and it plays / sounds great. Here are some pics.
IMG_0412.jpeg
IMG_0414.jpeg
IMG_0413.jpeg
 
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#3
fhm555 said:
I looked at one of those pretty hard, but ultimately decided on another Fender model that dropped in 1990, a Jazz Plus. It has a dinky jazz body ultra slim neck, Schaller bridge and machine heads, and a Kubicki preamp with lace sensors. It remains my all time favorite bass to this day.
Click to expand...
Such a great bass. And still a good value.
 
#6
Back in the early 2000’s, I had a white one with an aftermarket white guard added by a prior owner. It was an excellent playing and sounding bass and lightweight with its poplar body. I’ve never loved white basses which is why I moved on from it but I agree that these are much better than their typical price point would indicate. Well bought!
 
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#10
Pep said:
Even though I was playing in the 90s, I was completely unaware of this bass. If was a low dollar entry by Fender, a PJ configuration with a very thin neck and an ugly pick guard.
I’m speaking of the JP-90 which was built from 1990 to 1993 and never was a hit item mainly due to the “boomerang” pick guard. It can’t really be considered a pick guard because of where it’s located on the bass.
The very first ones had the truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. That was changed rather quickly in the first year of production when they moved it to the headstock location.
Colors were red with a white pick guard, white with a black pick guard, and black with a black pick guard.

A couple of months ago when I learned of them and decided to look for one. Pricing was $700 and up so I waited and located a black one for $599, not perfect cosmetically but a great player.
I went through it and cleaned it up. I wanted all black hardware so I bought tuners, string tree, knobs, strap buttons, a Hipshot bridge and a new pick guard.

I finished it up today and it looks a lot better, and it plays / sounds great. Here are some pics.
View attachment 7254704View attachment 7254705View attachment 7254706
Click to expand...
i love JP and Pjs a lot. Congrats!

I have the next iteration. A N series MIA PBj with VVT controls, STD PB neck and body JB PU at the bridge. This has been my main player for the last 21 years. Thousands of performances and hundreds of recording sessions later, this is without a doubt the best series of Fender bass I’ve ever had my hands on. And that includes the 60’s and 70’s versions going for big bucks today.

Enjoy your find.
 
#11
fhm555 said:
I looked at one of those pretty hard, but ultimately decided on another Fender model that dropped in 1990, a Jazz Plus. It has a dinky jazz body ultra slim neck, Schaller bridge and machine heads, and a Kubicki preamp with lace sensors. It remains my all time favorite bass to this day.
Click to expand...
Great basses. One of the few basses I left 100% stock.

1750347772004.jpeg
 
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#12
Pep said:
Even though I was playing in the 90s, I was completely unaware of this bass. If was a low dollar entry by Fender, a PJ configuration with a very thin neck and an ugly pick guard.
I’m speaking of the JP-90 which was built from 1990 to 1993 and never was a hit item mainly due to the “boomerang” pick guard. It can’t really be considered a pick guard because of where it’s located on the bass.
The very first ones had the truss rod adjustment at the heel of the neck. That was changed rather quickly in the first year of production when they moved it to the headstock location.
Colors were red with a white pick guard, white with a black pick guard, and black with a black pick guard.

A couple of months ago when I learned of them and decided to look for one. Pricing was $700 and up so I waited and located a black one for $599, not perfect cosmetically but a great player.
I went through it and cleaned it up. I wanted all black hardware so I bought tuners, string tree, knobs, strap buttons, a Hipshot bridge and a new pick guard.

I finished it up today and it looks a lot better, and it plays / sounds great. Here are some pics.
View attachment 7254704View attachment 7254705View attachment 7254706
Click to expand...
The black-out parts & blue pearloid pg are good choice's :thumbsup: What do these basses weigh?
 
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#14
JIO said:
Great basses. One of the few basses I left 100% stock.

View attachment 7255060
Click to expand...
IMG_0384.JPG

Nice! Except for a brass nut and strings mine is 100% the same bass I carried out of Rhythm City in Atlanta when I bought it in the spring of 1990. The brass nut was in response to me breaking the stock nut not long after I got it, and another one made out of some synthetic stuff, done by a local guy. It lasted about week before it broke so he made me a brass one and it has been perfect since late 1990 when he made it for me.. I've also read more than one place that the ash 90 models were built in the custom shop, but mine didn't come with anything that said or implied such. All it did come with a single sheet explaining the 4 way switch and a set of Schaller strap locks and a Fender logo guitar strap. Not a great pic but it is in excellent condition considering what I put it through.
 
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#15
fhm555 said:
View attachment 7255283
Nice! Except for a brass nut and strings mine is 100% the same bass I carried out of Rhythm City in Atlanta when I bought it in the spring of 1990. The brass nut was in response to me breaking the stock nut not long after I got it, and another one made out of some synthetic stuff, done by a local guy. It lasted about week before it broke so he made me a brass one and it has been perfect since late 1990 when he made it for me.. I've also read more than one place that the ash 90 models were built in the custom shop, but mine didn't come with anything that said or implied such. All it did come with a single sheet explaining the 4 way switch and a set of Schaller strap locks and a Fender logo guitar strap. Not a great pic but it is in excellent condition considering what I put it through.
Click to expand...
The FCS began in '87 so only a couple years had gone by. The Jazz + of '89-'94 was the top of the line Fender Jazz bass, just under the FCS Fender/Kubicki Ex-Factor which had the same 9v pre. Whether there was any cross-over - there wasn't "officially".
 
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#16
dbsfgyd1 said:
i love JP and Pjs a lot. Congrats!

I have the next iteration. A N series MIA PBj with VVT controls, STD PB neck and body JB PU at the bridge. This has been my main player for the last 21 years. Thousands of performances and hundreds of recording sessions later, this is without a doubt the best series of Fender bass I’ve ever had my hands on. And that includes the 60’s and 70’s versions going for big bucks today.

Enjoy your find.
Click to expand...
Can we see a pic of your bass too?
 

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