Different but the same?

[millsbass5]

I have 2 mid-80's Jazz Bass Specials that I just love. Great players. My question: What's the difference in the Jazz Bass Specials and this bass below?


Fender Japan P-J Bass JV Serial Vintage Old Used Bass | eBay

 

[Belka]

Interesting, never seen one of those before. My guess is that it's a very early model; maybe they were called PJ basses for a very short while before they became Jazz Bass Specials, Could even be a pre-production prototype - there is no serial number on it I can see. If so it might be worth something.

 

[millsbass5]

Maybe it was intended for the Japanese market only? Who knows. Both of mine have the natural,non-painted neck with the skunk stripe,which,IIRC,means an earlier run of that model. Now,this one is painted black. Which,correct me if I'm wrong,would make it a later run in production.

 

[Belka]

Maybe it was intended for the Japanese market only? Who knows. Both of mine have the natural,non-painted neck with the skunk stripe,which,IIRC,means an earlier run of that model. Now,this one is painted black. Which,correct me if I'm wrong,would make it a later run in production.

I think it's the other way round. I'm sure the non painted necks came later. The seller states it as being 1982-1984. I have a non painted neck model with a beefier bridge and it's definitely a later model. This one also has no (pointless as each pickup has a volume control) pickup selector switch. Also the red colour is non metallic which is quite unusual for these basses.

I also saw that it does have a serial number on the neck plate, my wrong there - it's probably not a prototype then, but I'm 99% sure it's a very early model