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Differences between '62 and '64 AVRI Jazz?

Warpeg

Warpeg

Jun 20, 2005
5,428
12,494
Ohio
#1
Sorry if this topic has already been covered; I'm using the TB mobile app and the search function sucks on it. Anyway, what are the differences between the Fender AVRI '62 and '64 Jazz Basses?

Obviously, the stacked control plate went to the VVT configuration and I think the '64 has a slightly slimmer neck. What else?
 
#3
stacked knobs are gone. vintage tint nitro on neck is replaced with clear gloss nitro. pickup cover are installed at the factory. clay dots are back. supposedly, fender redesigned their tooling to be more vintage correct. whether its worth the extra $$ is in the eyes of the buyer. they're nice. I've played one but not sure it's worth the extra 600 bucks in my eyes.
 
#7
I think reissuing the '64 Jazz was lame of Fender. The custom shop already reissued that year as a production model and produced it for over a decade. And now the custom shop isn't making the 64 anymore, but the used CS models are roughly the same price as a new avri 64. I'd take a used CS over a new avri any day.

Why not reissue a year that you haven't hit yet Fender? Why not a '66 binding and dots jazz, or any late '60s P our J? Don't we have enough redundant reissues of the early '60s/late'50s by now?

Same with the Ps.. Why reissue a '63 P when it's basically the same thing as the '62 Fender made for over 20 years? And what justifies a $600 difference in the'58 P compared to the '57 that had been made also for over 20 years. The tint is different on the neck? Wow, impressive!

In the end i think Fender assumes their customer base is stupid and will pay $600 or whatever more for a few minor changes like the dots being correct clay, or the Fender headstock decal having the correct parent #s (which should have been correct in the first place on the original avris. Judging by their sales, Fender is right.. people will eat anything they spoon feed them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging anyone for buying a new avri, they are still great instruments. I'm just saying fender did basically nothing worth a price increase on their avri line, much less a HUGE increase.

I'm personally tired of Fender marketing these as being "more accurate reissues" than ever before. But like I've said before in another thread, they couldn't even put the correct tuners on the new '74 J - that style of tuner wasn't even used until late '76! Doesn't Fender even know their own products? Like pacojas said, its all just marketing BS.. I'm guessing by suits in the corporate office that probably don't even play music. Ok sorry, rant off.
 
#9
thebrain said:
I think reissuing the '64 Jazz was lame of Fender. The custom shop already reissued that year as a production model and produced it for over a decade. And now the custom shop isn't making the 64 anymore, but the used CS models are roughly the same price as a new avri 64. I'd take a used CS over a new avri any day.

Why not reissue a year that you haven't hit yet Fender? Why not a '66 binding and dots jazz, or any late '60s P our J? Don't we have enough redundant reissues of the early '60s/late'50s by now?

Same with the Ps.. Why reissue a '63 P when it's basically the same thing as the '62 Fender made for over 20 years? And what justifies a $600 difference in the'58 P compared to the '57 that had been made also for over 20 years. The tint is different on the neck? Wow, impressive!

In the end i think Fender assumes their customer base is stupid and will pay $600 or whatever more for a few minor changes like the dots being correct clay, or the Fender headstock decal having the correct parent #s (which should have been correct in the first place on the original avris. Judging by their sales, Fender is right.. people will eat anything they spoon feed them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging anyone for buying a new avri, they are still great instruments. I'm just saying fender did basically nothing worth a price increase on their avri line, much less a HUGE increase.

I'm personally tired of Fender marketing these as being "more accurate reissues" than ever before. But like I've said before in another thread, they couldn't even put the correct tuners on the new '74 J - that style of tuner wasn't even used until late '76! Doesn't Fender even know their own products? Like pacojas said, its all just marketing BS.. I'm guessing by suits in the corporate office that probably don't even play music. Ok sorry, rant off.
Click to expand...

I finally got my hands on a new Jazz '64 AV and didn't see anything that would make me want it over my '62 AV. I could see where they made changes to the finish (e.g., the sunburst is more accurate) but beyond that the previous generation AVs are just as nice IMO.
 
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#14
Finally got to try the new American Vintage 64 Jazz at Guitar Center.

I own the AVRI '62 Jazz.

The new AV 64 neck is, IMO, slightly slimmer than my AVRI 62. Not ultra thin as I have heard.

I like the tinted neck color on the AVRI 62 better.

It was difficult playing around that pre-installed pickup cover so that did not help my experience. Also this bass (a Lake Placid Blue '64) had action so high the A string was buzzing on the pickup cover. Yuck. That combined with the mutes that came installed on it made it sound like a dull, lifeless buzzing mess.

I hear the new pickups on this bass are really nice. I couldn't hear it due to the mutes and covers rattling away. I really like the pups on my '62 AVRI.

I really wanted to like this bass and planned on buying one soon. Now, not so much.

In the same store I played a Custom Shop 64, along with a Jazz Bass Deluxe and both were WAY better than this AV 64.
Dissapointed, really. I know the CS 64 was considerably more ($3400-ish) but come on, the Deluxe played like a dream.

I also like the stacked knob sound on my '62 reissue. And yes Fender does not know their own history because according to the historians, Fender phased out stacked knobs on the Jazz bass by 1961. Fender was known to utilize all leftover parts so I assume the original '62 they modeled the AVRI 62 after had stacked knobs. The majority of '62 Jazz basses had V/V/T so they were a little off in putting the stacked on the reissue, IMO. Still like 'em on mine.

I love Fender. Own 7 Fender Jazz basses. I am just a bit disappointed with that AV 64. I am sure with a good setup and removing those mutes that bass may have came alive. I just can't drop that much cash on a bass that may sound great.
 
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#16
Warpeg said:
Can anyone elaborate on the real differences between the two models' pickups, finish quality and neck?
Click to expand...

I didn't notice any neck dimension difference between my '62 AV and the '64 I picked up, so if there is it's slight. The dots on the 64's rosewood neck are also a "clay color" plastic rather than the white plastic on my '62.

The pickups are different, at least in appearance (flat poles rather than raised) but I didn't plug the '64 in to listen (and my '62 is wearing old La Bella flats anyway so it would sound entirely different regardless).

The finish quality on the sunburst is first rate on the '64, much more accurate a reissue than the '62 sunburst (which is why back in 2008 I bought my '62 in Olympic white--white is white. The '62 AV sunburst looks identical to me to the AS sunburst) and the nitrocellulose finish looks great. So did the finish on my '62 when it was new--now five years later it's yellowed a bit and wearing through but that's what nitro does so that's expected.

Overall I thought the '64 I handled felt reasonably light (for a Jazz bass) and was well balanced, a really nice Jazz bass. I didn't see anything making me want the '64 over my '62 but if I didn't already have a really good '62 I'd consider one. You should check them out and see what you think.
 
#17
Mastermold said:
....I didn't see anything making me want the '64 over my '62 but if I didn't already have a really good '62 I'd consider one. You should check them out and see what you think.
Click to expand...

I may have to seek out an AVRI '64 and do just that. Like you, I have an Olympic White AVRI '62; the thing is great and very light. Really, I've just been curious as to how Fender justifies the huge price difference between the '62 and '64. It looks like I'll just have to get my hands on a '64 and compare to my '62. ;)
 
#18
Warpeg said:
I may have to seek out an AVRI '64 and do just that. Like you, I have an Olympic White AVRI '62; the thing is great and very light. Really, I've just been curious as to how Fender justifies the huge price difference between the '62 and '64. It looks like I'll just have to get my hands on a '64 and compare to my '62. ;)
Click to expand...

Well I assume the price increase was driven more by what they think they can charge then the manufacturing costs. Like any company, Fender will charge as much as they think they can. If sales drop they'll likely roll back the prices to compensate, just like they did after their last price hike after a few months. Time will tell as the market reacts.
 

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