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Fender J bass verification

A

Ami_M

Aug 13, 2009
15
0
#1
I bought a MIA j bass today out of pure impulse since I've always, ALWAYS wanted a sunburst color. According to guitarproject, it's made in 1993-1994. The pickguard is 3-ply. I have no idea what the guy did to the previous fret inlays. The strings, bridge and control knobs are rusting, my dog slobered over it, and it looks like it's just been run over by a horse. It came with the hardcase.

Pics:

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What I want to know is, is this a real MIA? The newer ones I've seen don't have the truss rod adjustment on top of the neck. I'm a bit paranoid (but sadly, cannot control impulse buying), so it'll be nice to have some input from experts instead of just guess working and end up not sleeping.

If it's real, I'll sleep with it. (After I change strings and sanitize it. Ick.)
 
#6
What exactly is a "boner" jazz bass? How does it differ from from a standard MIA one apart from the 2 more frets? Only thing I noticed that it rests on my shoulder easier compared to my other jazz basses.

I got it for $750, including abalone fret inlays ($15, very cheap) which will be done once I bear to part with it for a week. Not an amazing deal, but not TOO bad either, compared to buying a new std MIA. And it's sunbuuuurst! Will probably also upgrade the pups since it sounds too tame for my liking.

Thanks for the replies, now I can rest easy :D
 
#7
boner has an extended upper horn and a more offset body leading the horn to look like a "BONER" the extended horn and deeper cutaway wer made so you can have better access for all the frets..fender only made them a couple years (89-93) along with boner P bass. which gives the some rarity..even more rare is the fact that you have one that ACTUALLY looks like a jazz bass..alot of them look like JP 90'S.. as for your pricing, un modded ive seen these go on average between $1000 -$1200 bucks on ebay...$900 is a pretty fair market value for one in good shape..so id say $750 for that isnt all that shabby..its a hell of a bass for $750...all in all good score..get sick of it let me nknow
 
#9
I'll let you know when I tire of it, but I doubt that'll happen, loving the feel of the neck. Best out of my jazz basses. Also liked the sunburst finish. Not cheap looking as I saw on some newer models.

I wanted a barts too, but then the shop had no stock, so I went with a quarter pound. No stock again. Active EMG, that is. Anything but the stock pups, and I've heard good things about those, so hopefully I won't be disappointed. Had passive EMG-HZs on my custom fretless jazz bass and love it to death.

I'll see how they sound compared to the tame pups when it gets back next week.

Thanks for the info, your idol. Haven't seen a JP 90, so I can't compare, but I guess it's googling time.

Edit: Looked at it. Well, can only say that I'm lucky mine isn't like that.
 
#10
Hi I have a '89 Jazz boner
that has been defret

I wish to know if Fender made lined fingerboards on the Boner models as another one has turned up (also a '89 boner) which the guy not know if it had been defret or came with lines.

thanks.
 
#11
foal30 said:
Hi I have a '89 Jazz boner
that has been defret

I wish to know if Fender made lined fingerboards on the Boner models as another one has turned up (also a '89 boner) which the guy not know if it had been defret or came with lines.

thanks.
Click to expand...

I seem to remember when I ordered mine in the early '90s, there was not a fretless option. The only fretless Fender you could get at the time was a Japanese Jazz bass with the standard shape (I bought a black one :) )
 
#12
Ami_M said:
I bought a MIA j bass today out of pure impulse since I've always, ALWAYS wanted a sunburst color. According to guitarproject, it's made in 1993-1994. The pickguard is 3-ply. I have no idea what the guy did to the previous fret inlays. The strings, bridge and control knobs are rusting, my dog slobered over it, and it looks like it's just been run over by a horse. It came with the hardcase.

Pics:

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Click to expand...

On that pic you can see the added maple fingerbord, Fender maple necks are made of one piece maple (no fingerboard), and have dots...or blocks sometimes..:ninja: It's a MIA boner jazz for sure but...."Unlike the Fender Precision Bass Plus, which had a "maple-neck" option, the Boner Jazz Bass was offered only with a rosewood fingerboard"....:eek:

:hiding:
 
#13
Not sure if you meant ALL Fender necks are one-piece maple, since Fender also made (in the late nineties, at least) 2-piece maple necks.

Flaked Beans said:
On that pic you can see the added maple fingerbord, Fender maple necks are made of one piece maple (no fingerboard), and have dots...or blocks sometimes..:ninja: It's a MIA boner jazz for sure but...."Unlike the Fender Precision Bass Plus, which had a "maple-neck" option, the Boner Jazz Bass was offered only with a rosewood fingerboard"....:eek:

:hiding:
Click to expand...
 
#15
I was lucky enough to find one of these a couple of years ago. They are fantastic basses. Fender changed the design the next year, and the newer design was much inferior, IMO.

Balance and feel are great. The neck on mine is fast and true.

Mine is not original...it has a new bridge and new pups...but I still plan to hold on to it.
 
#18
Flaked Beans said:
you mean one piece maple neck with maple fingerboard right?

edit: or two piece maple neck with rosewood fing.? usa fender? bass? can you tell me the exact model and year please.
Click to expand...


Yes, I mean 1- piece maple neck w/maple fingerboard laminated on. It's a '98 American Standard P in this case, but is it really all that unusual?
 
#19
#20
Hi
Maybe this thread is a bit old, but This is definitely a boner from around 93, i got the same with a serial just a few hundreds away

great bass never really knew is was different, but it sits good on the shoulders, mine is all original
rosewood board which apparently all were
your volume and tone buttons are moded the original are black plastic getting wider at the base with numbers and written tone and volume on them
your fretboard is surely moded it seems lighter color on your pics, but looks great
Nice bass
 

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