Best Decade for Fender??

The general consensus is that Fender really took a step forward in quality control beginning in 2008. My experiences confirm this. There are always exceptions, and I'm not saying that there aren't some great 98s out there, but on paper the trade looks very one sided in the other guy's favor.

 

+1 on this ^

 

late '90s j basses were fugly...think New Coke

 

I think we're in one of Fender's better quality periods right now. The 90s? Maybe not so much, but they did build some decent ones in that time period. I own or have owned several of their higher-end offerings from the '90s and have no issues with them.

 

I would echo the rest of the guys here saying that we are in one of fenders better quality control periods

 

I love the stuff from the 60's and early 70's.
But, as someone said, from 2008 on Fender has been making
really nice stuff.

 

'56-'66!

 

I think you are thinking about the early 90s "long horn" basses. The late 90s Fenders looked just like current Fenders.

 

I love my 95. It is a great playing bass. I also think that Fenders (current) are wonderful. My tech, who is very finicky, agrees on both counts.

 

Just curiuos what is everyone's take on how Fender's quality toward wood select, machine heads, saddle, pickups, pots and so on. Are these parts machined and fabricated inhouse or vendor supplied on these newer 019 models?

 

I would only consider the trade if you can try the Jazz first and you really like it. And assuming you are looking for a jazz instead of a p. Otherwise work towards having one of each!

 

I have two Jazz basses that are US 90's, 1962 reissues. The other P bass was a '95 that I let go after a year, it just didn't have the punch and vibe. I may have gotten a lemon from Corona? My son recently came home with a '12 USA P bass special in a honey natural body and I was quite surprised how well the maple neck felt and tone produced with factory strings, it has potential and spunk. Even though my reissues are from the 90's are they any similar to the regular assembly production aside from the two stack knobs and reverse tuners?

 

Horses for courses, I guess. I have a '97 and a '98 Jazz that are top notch in my book. Others that have played them tend to agree - after trying several basses, my '98 is on semipermanent loan to a touring musician friend of mine. I've played some early 2000's models I didn't care for, and some recent models that I really like.

Responses to this thread are inconsistent with comments in other threads, imo. If complaints about Fender QC and consistency are to be believed, you need to play each individual instrument, because Fender QC is all over the place. Only then will you know if the trade is worth it. At least, that is the gist of 999,999 other TB threads.

 

What model are you talking about? If anything the 90's US Standards have a more original looking bent steel bridge than the current hi-mass jobbers and otherwise look the same.

But the Deluxe, yeah, I agree. However, the '97 I had was built and finished as well as any bass I've ever seen, personally.

 

IMO, I don't think you should generalize. You need to compare your bass to his. That's it! I've played great 1995 thru 2007 Fenders and some not so nice 2008+
So be smart and compare specific instruments.

 

I agree. There's been no difference between the 90's and now AFAIC when comparing a slew of basses at the store. Some I connect with and others I don't, but they're all pretty consistent and it's probably mostly due to setup. Maybe the newer pickups are better, but I haven't compared back-back. And you're looking at trading a P for a J, anyway.

I like the current case more than the half-formed, so if I had any advice other than see which of the two you prefer, I'd say to keep your case if you decide to swap. And since he's pursuing the trade, tell him to give it a trial period for you to decide.

 

From a purely financial standpoint it makes no sense. You bass is worth more than his, period. You could sell yours, buy a 90's Jazz, and have $$ left in your pocket if a 90's Jazz is what you're after.

Now it's entirely possible that he might have a "special" '98 Jazz, but if that's the case why would he want to trade it?

 

If it's a player he wants, it may make perfect sense. And maybe the trader prefers P basses.
Not too sure how you've managed to determine worth sight unseen. An instrument is only worth what someone is willing to pony up!