Fender '62 reissue Precision bass

[HAWKINS]

are these made in USA? Japan? Both?

I'm not completely clear on where they are made, and looking at the serial number (begins with V), on the fender website, it seems that both American and Japanese instruments may begin with the letter V.

Is there a way to determine this?

 

[these_go211]

i think they are made in both japan and the US. i believe there was a reissue '62 P that came out over 10 years ago. that's the one made overseas. the newer re-issue model is US. i bought my '62 re-issue around 2002 or so and it's made in the US. i love it by the way.

i'm sure there will soon be many more responses much more informed than me

 

[Bubba Love]

Invalid Link Removed is the American one, and costs about twice as much as the Japanese one, which from what I can gather is only available from Japanese dealers like Ishibashi and Guitar Japan.

 

[HAWKINS]

Thanks for the reply. That is my impression also.

I played one recently that is for sale and it plays and feels great. I think it is made in America because it is recent, and is the "American" vintage (duh....I think).

Any other info out there is appreciated.

 

[markjazzbassist]

this is a great looking bass. it's on my GAS list.

 

[tkozal]

I bought one recently with my 20% off GC coupon. It rocks. It has that 60's P bass sound.

Plus playing on that wide neck is good practice, makes a jazz neck feel like nothing!

 

[Tom Howland]

The 62 reissue bass came out in 1982.
From 1982-1985 they were made in Fulton Ca.
The early basses are great 60's style p-basses.

From 1986-about 1989 the were asembled in Japan.
This did not go over with buying public, so they were again made in USA.

If you can find an early say, 1982-1985 you got a good bass.
They have gone up in price in last couple years. around $1500.00 to 1700.00.

 

[Dave Martin]

From 1986-about 1989 the were asembled in Japan.
This did not go over with buying public, so they were again made in USA.

Nevertheless, the made in Japan re-issues are good instruments - All 5 of my current Fenders are made in Japan basses, a 60's Jazz and a 60's Precision (both made in the early 90's), a '54 re-issue (with a replacement Warmoth rosewood neck) and I bought a '51 re-issue yesterday. the 5th made in Japan instrument is a Fender Bass VI, which is, in its own weird way, also a very cool instrument (though not, in my opinion, a bass).

 

[these_go211]

strung with TI flats it is heaven! i love the tortiseshell pickguard too. leave the bridge and pickup covers on for full mojo!

 

[tkozal]

well, on the MIA, you can put the P/U cover on, but you would have to drill holes for the bridge cover.....

 

[savit260]

There are a few different versions of the '62 RI out right now. Some of the CIJ's are basswood, others are Alder. The more expensive ones are alder with U.S.A. pickups if I'm not mistaken. The MIA version goes back to '82 at the old Fullerton plant. Very nice re issues. Best of the breed IMHO. The current MIA vintage '62 re issue's are pretty good too. Just saw a Fullerton 62 RI last week that had a Brazillian Rosewood fingerboard. A real sweetheart of a bass. If I didn't already own an original, I'd have dived on it.

 

[nicoli]

are these made in USA? Japan? Both?

I'm not completely clear on where they are made, and looking at the serial number (begins with V), on the fender website, it seems that both American and Japanese instruments may begin with the letter V.

Is there a way to determine this?

My '62 RI has a "made in Japan" label with the serial on the back of the neck where it meets the body... so that would be one dead giveaway

If you don't see any made in japan type markings on it, I'd say chances are good it's MIA.

 

[Tom Howland]

Nevertheless, the made in Japan re-issues are good instruments - All 5 of my current Fenders are made in Japan basses, a 60's Jazz and a 60's Precision (both made in the early 90's), a '54 re-issue (with a replacement Warmoth rosewood neck) and I bought a '51 re-issue yesterday. the 5th made in Japan instrument is a Fender Bass VI, which is, in its own weird way, also a very cool instrument (though not, in my opinion, a bass).

Hi Dave I ment no disrespect to MIJ reissues.
I have a 1980's MIJ reissue percision, great bass.
Was just rying to show where they were made.

 

[Dadio]

Hi guys, The US Reissue has some major differences versus the model MIJ. First the finish of the US Vintage re-issue is Nitro. Secondly, the US model has a period correct fretboard width of 1 3/4, much wider than the MIJ. Third, the US model has reverse tuners. I have a beautiful Dakota Red USA 62 Resissue.

Now thats not to say the MIJ model isnt a great deal, its about half the price and I hear its a great bass + available in beautiful colors too !. BTW I have a 1983 MIJ JV Squier 62 Precision and its an amazing bass !

 

[steveb98]

Hi guys, The US Reissue has some major differences versus the model MIJ. First the finish of the US Vintage re-issue is Nitro. Secondly, the US model has a period correct fretboard width of 1 3/4, much wider than the MIJ. Third, the US model has reverse tuners. I have a beautiful Dakota Red USA 62 Resissue.

Now thats not to say the MIJ model isnt a great deal, its about half the price and I hear its a great bass + available in beautiful colors too !. BTW I have a 1983 MIJ JV Squier 62 Precision and its an amazing bass !

They are made in Japan and US. Besides what Dadio said I've heard the US version has period correct smaller frets. I would say its a tough decision. The Japanese model can be had cheaper and is very well made, but does have some non-62 features like the finish. The US made is period correct and well made, but more expensive. Personally I plan to buy the US model in the near future.

 

[seanm]

I have two MIJ '62 reissue P basses. One from '91-'92 and the other from '94-'95. Both have the big necks and are 1 3/4" at the nut. But, unless they had FotoFlame in '62, they are not period correct

I like them for the big necks. Very stable. When kept in a hardshell case I can go a month or more without needing to tune them.

 

[RudeMood]

If you can find an early say, 1982-1985 you got a good bass.
They have gone up in price in last couple years. around $1500.00 to 1700.00.

I was surprised to see a couple of early 80's Fullertons recently in this price range. Seems high to me but I guess they may be considered a collectable item now. Like this one:

 

[king_biscuit]

The 62 reissue bass came out in 1982.
From 1982-1985 they were made in Fulton Ca.
The early basses are great 60's style p-basses.

From 1986-about 1989 the were asembled in Japan.
This did not go over with buying public, so they were again made in USA.

If you can find an early say, 1982-1985 you got a good bass.
They have gone up in price in last couple years. around $1500.00 to 1700.00.

This is just another case of "older is better," IMO. The new Fender AVs are as good as anything done in Fullerton in the early 80s.

 

[Alejandro Lozan]

After reading this thread I had to edit the descriptions of my ads because my MIJ '62 Reissue is for sale. Anyway, it was so useful despite this thread appeared five years ago. Sometimes the instruments seem to be so easy to classify, but all these details are something quite interesting.

Now I feel that I don't wanna sell it... Damn!

 

[Lowbrow]

I owned a new Japan (CIJ) 62 RI P for a while a few years ago (2006?) - an astonishingly good instrument for any money. It was a tad hefty for my achy back so I sold it - but naturally I wish I had not done so! eBay brand new for about $750 from a US-based seller.

What's really neat about the Japan Ps is that they're made in a wider selection of colors than the AVRIs. They have different gradations, also - a more pricey one called the 'US' model, that has US pickups and an alder body. The less expensive model is basswood, I believe.

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