Fender Fullerton Reissue club

[Gainsbourg76]

Sure thing:

 

[yodedude2]

Yes - just 5 digits. I considered that as well, but it's such a strange thing to replace; seems unlikely to me. I've been told it's one owner, and it looks in mint condition for an '83. If it weren't for the penciled neck date stamp, I'd be more sceptical.

i agree it seems unlikely, but it's the best theory i've got. seems like it's the only bit that doesn't match the other parts ...

 

[FenderOli]

Sure thing:

No Fullerton. No peperoni pickguard, black bobbins are wrong, EX wrong, the notch at the trussrod is wrong...
Probably from Japan. Neckplate not Fender at all.

 

[Gainsbourg76]

i agree it seems unlikely, but it's the best theory i've got. seems like it's the only bit that doesn't match the other parts ...

Yeah - it does seem like the only pice that doesn't fit the puzzle. It's not a steal, so I'd want it to be an actual Fullerton. I've only seen the pics - going to check it out in person today. There are no pics of the back of the neck - maybe I'll find some clues there when I inspect it.

 

[yodedude2]

i thought i saw a fullerton hump, but it's hard to tell from the pics. should the pots be cts pots?

 

[yodedude2]

No Fullerton. No peperoni pickguard, black bobbins are wrong, EX wrong, the notch at the trussrod is wrong...
Probably from Japan. Neckplate not Fender at all.

i looked right past the trussrod notch in the body. t.y.

i agree, not fullerton, probably not american, but it sure looks nice. maybe .... a fullerton neck on some other body?

 

[Gainsbourg76]

No Fullerton. No peperoni pickguard, black bobbins are wrong, EX wrong, the notch at the trussrod is wrong...
Probably from Japan. Neckplate not Fender at all.

Yeah - the non pepperoni pg raised my eyebrow too. Thx for your thoughts on it.

 

[elgranluis]

i thought i saw a fullerton hump, but it's hard to tell from the pics. should the pots be cts pots?

when did people started calling it a fullerton hump ? CBS basses have it , and even squiers !

 

[yodedude2]

since at least 2008 1960 Jazz bass questions...

 

[Whale]

I’m leaning towards it (mostly) being a MIJ. A few additional items point to that conclusion.

The ground strap between the bridge and pickup is thinner than those found on the USA models

The writing of the date on the neck is small and matches a number of MIJ necks I’ve seen.

The body kind of looks like it’s made of basswood.

I had a 62 reissue MIJ bass and loved it. The neck was to die for. While others tend to grumble about the Japanese electronics, I never had an issue with mine. In fact, my bass had a great tone and played wonderfully. The bass word body made the bass fairly light, as well.

It could be that someone added an upgraded set of pots and a funky neck plate to yours. That would answer a number of questions.

 

[DirkP]

I’m leaning towards it (mostly) being a MIJ. A few additional items point to that conclusion.

The ground strap between the bridge and pickup is thinner than those found on the USA models

The writing of the date on the neck is small and matches a number of MIJ necks I’ve seen.

The body kind of looks like it’s made of basswood.

I had a 62 reissue MIJ bass and loved it. The neck was to die for. While others tend to grumble about the Japanese electronics, I never had an issue with mine. In fact, my bass had a great tone and played wonderfully. The bass word body made the bass fairly light, as well.

It could be that someone added an upgraded set of pots and a funky neck plate to yours. That would answer a number of questions.

But did the MIJ Squiers or the later Fender MIJ basses have that body notch for trussrod access?

 

[Whale]

But did the MIJ Squiers or the later Fender MIJ basses have that body notch for trussrod access?

Most (but not all) of the MIJ Squire JV basses had the body notch for the truss rod.

I’m not an expert on the later MIJ basses, but I don’t think that many had the body notch.

The Fender Japan models can often be as difficult to pin down as the American versions.

 

[porterbass]

Most (but not all) of the MIJ Squire JV basses had the body notch for the truss rod.

I’m not an expert on the later MIJ basses, but I don’t think that many had the body notch.

The Fender Japan models can often be as difficult to pin down as the American versions.

That's it...great eye @Whale !!! That truss rod route kept bugging me because I knew it was unique in shape and size. That's the truss rod route from a Squier JV bass. That, combined with the thin ground strap and the spray pattern, definitely point to this being an early 80's Squier body. I don't think the neck is a Fullerton reissue based on the limited photos. The truss rod nut is a bit suspect to me since it sits entirely below the rosewood board.

 

[BritBass 2]

Great looking Jazz . The decals are not positioned as those found on Fullerton models , also underneath rather than over the finish which on the neck appears to be poly rather than thin nitro . ‘EX’ was used on Japanese export basses to further differentiate them from their domestic products. The bridge displays a rather smooth ,highly polished chrome effect whereas the Fullerton version was rougher .

 

[BritBass 2]

View attachment 4609133 View attachment 4609153 Great looking Jazz . The decals are not positioned as those found on Fullerton models and also underneath rather than over the finish which on the neck appears to be poly rather than thin nitro . ‘EX’ was used on Japanese export basses to further differentiate them from their domestic products. Also the bridge has a smooth highly polished chrome effect whereas the Fullerton version was rougher .

Photos - Fullerton headstock decal location and placement over the nitro finish .

 

[gareth]

Yes this is likely a MIJ JV series bass but someone has replaced the original neckplate for all the reasons given above plus the pots are clearly Japanese and not American AVRI

 

[Whale]

All of this being said, the MIJ JV basses are certainly nice.

I can’t say that I’d trade my AVRI for a JV bass, but neither would I complain if I were to own one.

 

[7dollarbologna]

This is an unfortunate post- I’ve been watching this creep on my 84 Jazz for years, I think I need to find someone to heat bend my headstock…. anyone know a qualified individual?

 

[Whale]

View attachment 4625282 This is an unfortunate post- I’ve been watching this creep on my 84 Jazz for years, I think I need to find someone to heat bend my headstock…. anyone know a qualified individual?View attachment 4625281

Im not sure this will help, but my neck had the dreaded “ski jump” issue. Although I was skeptical that it could be fixed, I sent my neck to “Warped Necks” in Denton, Texas. The neck returned in perfect shape and I could not be happier.

FIX AN INSTRUMENT'S WARPED NECK

A bent headstock is quite a bit different than a warped neck, but if anyone would be able to fix the issue, it’d be the fellow at Warped Neck. At the very least he could give you a better idea of your options.


I should add that I once had a similar issue way back in the 70’s with an Electra bass. The bass wasn’t worth anything so I let my grandfather (who was an engineer/machinist) try his hand at fixing the problem. He placed my neck in a wood vise and laid a clothes iron on the headstock. He then added a clamp on the end of the headstock with a couple of weights to pull the headstock into place. The iron was set on low with a towel in between it and the headstock. After two days of being heated up the headstock had moved back into place. We let it cool slowly and then put the bass back together. It was still a rather poor bass, but the neck was fine from that day onwards.

Best of luck. Let us know what you find.

 

[7dollarbologna]

Im not sure this will help, but my neck had the dreaded “ski jump” issue. Although I was skeptical that it could be fixed, I sent my neck to “Warped Necks” in Denton, Texas. The neck returned in perfect shape and I could not be happier.

FIX AN INSTRUMENT'S WARPED NECK

A bent headstock is quite a bit different than a warped neck, but if anyone would be able to fix the issue, it’d be the fellow at Warped Neck. At the very least he could give you a better idea of your options.


I should add that I once had a similar issue way back in the 70’s with an Electra bass. The bass wasn’t worth anything so I let my grandfather (who was an engineer/machinist) try his hand at fixing the problem. He placed my neck in a wood vise and laid a clothes iron on the headstock. He then added a clamp on the end of the headstock with a couple of weights to pull the headstock into place. The iron was set on low with a towel in between it and the headstock. After two days of being heated up the headstock had moved back into place. We let it cool slowly and then put the bass back together. It was still a rather poor bass, but the neck was fine from that day onwards.

Best of luck. Let us know what you find.

I’d like to find someone who could do this carefully while not damaging the finish or decal though.