D'Marzio J bass body?

[deafman]

I took my old bass apart for the first time today. In the neck pocket is stamped "D'Marzio". Anybody ever heard of them selling a bass? I am guessing the body is a 1980's based on wear. No serial number anywhere. No DMarzio parts on the bass. Maybe a Japanese body? Picture of body is in my profile. It wouldn't fit here.

 

[bassclef112]

Yes indeed. Around the early 80's DiMarzio decided to spread their product line not only into bass bodies but outboard upgrades like Schecter. I have a one-piece Koa Jazz Bass body that I bought circa '82. It does not have a stamp but I was told it came from DiMarzio.

When I bought it there was one other body they had in the window - it was a solid Brazilian Rosewood Strat body and it was $300 back then. It was magnificent....

DiMarzio only did this for a short time because Schecter had it covered pretty well, going so far as to offer guitars and basses built from their parts/pickups. The gold neck pickup surround on this Jazz is a Schecter part from back then. The bridge is DiMarzio.

Schecter was offering exotic woods and DiMarzio tried their hand at it. Here's an example of one of Schecter's builds from then - it's been on ebay for some time. Back then there was nothing like this available from anyone.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-SCH...R-/190392310483?pt=Guitar&hash=item2c54441ad3

 

[deafman]

I have the same body shape, same gold jack/knob plate, but different brass bridge. I think my saddles are an early Gotah, but maybe something else.

 

[line6man]

Billy Sheehan has a pink DiMarzio P bass.

 

[lavmonga]

That J is a nice lookin' bass, if you ask me.

 

[deafman]

I sold the fretless P bass neck today and haven't decided what to do with the body. Might get a fretted J bass neck or even something with a square headstock and make a bass for my daughter. She is 10 years old and been playing a squier Bronco for 2 years. It has a short scale and has worked well for her. It will be awhile before I will have a long scale USA bass for her.
My other option would be to sell the body and hardware and get something for her at a later date.