Fender AVRI 74 or 75 Jazz Bass?

[RBrownBass]

Actually, a bass-side thumbrest would be period-correct for a 1974 Fender Jazz Bass.

I've seen images of both, and one treble side here in town dates to '74. I understand that there are more of the bass-side thumbrests out there, but I'd think they'd have put the rest treble side specifically to distinguish it from the '75.

I doubt that - the black block inlays were gone by 1975; nevertheless, the AVRI '75 features them instead of the white-pearl ones on the maple-board model. Moreover, the NAV '74 features a correct nitro-lacquered front headstock, while the '75 didn't. So, all in all, I find the '74 to be more period-accurate than the '75.

I stand corrected. I thought the maple board came with both black and pearloid on the '75 RI.

 

[John Lemaire]

I recall my old mid 70's Fender Jazz Bass the pearliod on the Maple neck with three bolt neck plate and bullet truss rod and never had not one neck moving problem. mine looked so wore and battered that I traded it in and a new one. when I was younger and over the year's missed it's sound. I found one that looked near identical to my old one. so I found a used near mint condition Fender FSR American Vintage '75 Jazz Bass and it close to the sound or maybe I imagine that the old one sounded a little better. one thing I can tell for sure, is that the AVRI FSR '75 is made of better choice wood,than my original and not as heavy. I tried the other '75 import MIM and MIJ and we're not even near the Original but I never tried the Fender Vintage Series. This one is a keeper for an o!d musician.

 

[Texsunburst59]

I'm VERY happy with my pawnshop '74 Fender Jazz Bass.

I also prefer pearloid on the maple neck.

Here's my much loved bruised and scarred '74:

 

[John Lemaire]

She's a beauty I love the 1974's too, It's just that '75 was my first Jazz Bazz. a nastagic reason on one part and the sound on the other. Mine looked very beaten an in the 70's musicians treated their instrument s like the Family Car. Trade it in for a brand new one . That was the thing in the 1970's every player work brag about, how he got rid of the old and got a new instrument. the Dealer's pitch that Trade-in line to us and talk about how hard your old one would be their lost. If we only knew, back then that in the future beauty didn't matter. Stevie Ray Vaughn proofed that, the condition or color of his guitar would be sacrifice for it's sound. then eveeryone notice d that their was a reason this rag looking guitar had to be best.

 

[trevhole]

Ok, so this will really make your heads spin.
I just picked up a 1975 jazz bass.
It has features from 74-76.

Natural finish
bound maple board w pearl blocks
Serial 629235 on plate (I've seen that listed as 76, and I think 75 too)
Red neck stamp 0203 0354 (which I think means 75, or possibly 74)
4 bolt neck, no micro-tilt
Standard truss rod, no bullet
70s rear pickup placement
Dark faded headstock (I've seen on 75s)

It also has all the normal 80's upgrades:
Brass nut, Brass bridge, D-tuner
and an old set of EMG PJs (routed)

Question 1: any thoughts on year
(I believe the neck, body, and plate to be matching)

Question 2:
I was thinking I'd just "restore" it to kinda stock pickups and pickguard.
I want true singles
I thought of Aguliar, Lollar, Fralin, blah, blah......
And looked at old ones from the 70s for sale.........
And I may go w a Sadowsky pre later

But what can u guys tell me about the differences in these Fender choices?
Marketing speak makes it really hard to determine where they fall quality wise,
And some people say non of these sound like the real thing.
I'm leaning towards the first one.

1
Stratosphere has a loaded Fender black guard with bass side thumb (what I want)
With American Pure Vintage '75 Single Coil Jazz Pickups for $240.
(From a Fender American Original Series '70s Reissue Jazz Bass)?

And another for $130:
Official Fender '75 Reissue Jazz Bass Loaded Pickguard complete with AMERICAN VINTAGE Pickups.

And I saw:
Fender Pure Vintage '74 Jazz Bass Pickup Set (how are they dif from 75 pickups?)
And I think a
Fender Custom Shop 70 set maybe??

Thx for your help.

 

[Attym]

The one detail I feel like they missed on the AVRI 75 (but corrected for the FSR edition) is the headstock decal. Its minor, but I think of mine as more of an AVRI 76 Transition Jazz (Which is cool too)

 

[mikeswals]

The one detail I feel like they missed on the AVRI 75 (but corrected for the FSR edition) is the headstock decal. Its minor, but I think of mine as more of an AVRI 76 Transition Jazz (Which is cool too)

Two major details: Black blocks ended at the end of 73. And the headstock decal in 75 was the large tv logo. The 75RI has a mid 76 and up small logo.

 

[Attym]

Two major details: Black blocks ended at the end of 73. And the headstock decal in 75 was the large tv logo. The 75RI has a mid 76 and up small logo.

My AVRI 75 has the rosewood with inlays and truss rod

 

[brmusician]

Hello. This is my first post, but I'd like to share impressions of the 74 AVRI J Bass I've just got from a reputed store in Brazil. I think this bass was kept in stock for years (or perhaps exposed in a show room), but I got a great deal for it, I guess. It costed me $1500 (bear in mind that a brand new "normal" Jazz Bass is offered for around $2500 here). Initially they offered the Olympic White one (maple neck), but lastly they informed it was sold, but had a black one in stock (rosewood neck). After negotiations via chat to reach my price (it was offered for $2000), I went to the store to pick up the bass and test it. At first, it had very used round wound strings. The action was a bit higher than I would expect and there was very visible seams in the back of the body giving a hint of how wood pieces were glued. There were also points of crimp paint. I think those defects were acceptable considering the price and the opportunity to check how the instrument feels and sound. I also actually preferred the rosewood neck than the maple one that was initially offered to me.

At home, the first thing I did was replacing the round wound strings with the set of Fender flat wound strings that was placed along Fender manuals and certificates inside that beautiful vintage case. First thing I've noted: there was a perceptible nut buzz on the "A" string after installing the flat wounds. It seems that the nut hole was too loose and perhaps a string tree like the one used in the first two strings would help a bit. I've adjusted saddles height considering the 7.25 angle, 12th-fret intonation, neck relief, and the summary is the following in terms of issues:
1) the nut buzz on the A string was still there. Not big deal, since it's not perceptible on recording according to my tests;
2) there is a buzz coming from the springs in the bridge (mainly at the E string)... I could get a longer spring so it won't "dance" in the screw;
3) if I bend by more than a semitone in the first string after the 12th fret I get fret buzz... the action is set to 2.5mm, so I think it has to do with a bad fret setup from the factory.
4) the seams and wrinkles are also present on the front side of the body, even more perceptible if I remove the chrome plates and pickguard.

My final opinion: I still think I've got a good deal, but here in Brazil we tend to be more rigorous with instruments since we pay twice the price in dollar comparing to the US price. In my case, I think I paid an "American price" for this bass. However, bearing in mind that this bass model used to be offered for around $2400 at Musicians Friend (Wayback Machine helped me finding this price), I think it wouldn't have any perceptible issues. But I love its U-neck, tone and feel. Here are some pictures:

P.S.: I'm mainly a guitarist, but I already had an entry-level Ibanez bass with EMG pickups.

 

[armybass]

74... 4bolt neck, much more solid feeling bass imho.

 

[amigoz2k]

is there any tone difference between 74 Pure Vintage & 75 pure vintage pickups ?

 

[PhatBottomBass1]

'74 the neck is amazing, very P for a J and it pimps real nice, too! Near 10 years old, sweet Bass!

 

[Jinobass1]

'74 is the better bass.
Better pickup better made.
'75 is like MIJ, or Squire :
thin neck that won't resonate but good for small hands(easier to get around to)
I was so surprised that
'74 sounds exactly like a real Fender! But you've got to choose a good one,just like any other axe.
'74 has a thick U neck
(tones for Days)
And has a better pickups.
I like the looks of '75 but will never buy them.

 

[mongo2]

'75 for the black block markers, micro tilt, and the easier to use bullet trussrod adjustment.

 

[Jinobass1]

Id go with the 75 because of the nitro finish!

Can U hear the difference btw nitro and poly?

 

[Jinobass1]

74... 4bolt neck, much more solid feeling bass imho.

Have both but never had problem w/3bolt tilt bass….just ask Marcus Miles's 77 3bolt/tilt J