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fender J-P 90 whats the deal ?
- Thread starter geezer316
- Start date
Saw this the other day. There's a black one here near Detroit on our CL. Not my post nor do I know who's selling it, but from the looks of the picture, it looks to be in good condition? Seller updated the posting, I think he was willing to trade it for a red one if I remember correctly, now he's accepting offers. Don't know how much he's selling it for, I obviously wouldn't post this if I wanted this for myself, but I've met my bass quota for now and perhaps someone living in Michigan may be wanting one.
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Just thought about this a bit more. I'd been wanting to check one out for a long time and was underwhelmed. If you're looking for something like this I would suggest that the MIJ Precision Lyte (PJ) which is a better made bass, also light, Shaller bridge, sealed tuners, and more comfortable slightly downsized body. Also comes in more different finishes. The weak spots are pickups and pre. Some say they sound fine. Many just make them passive. Ymmv.
When I was researching these, the two weak points that kept recurring in peoples' comments were the thin PG and necks at risk of bowing.
I bought a thicker PG, and made sure I got an early model (1100 serial range). The first few thousand they produced didn't have a skunk stripe, and the consensus is that those necks hold up better.
Of course, I've got no way of knowing if that's really true; nobody does, but mine's been rock solid and the later ones I looked at all seemed to have maxed-out truss rods.
I was buying sight unseen, so I was playing it safe. I'd have been comfortable going with the skunk-striped model if I'd found one with a decent rod.
I bought a thicker PG, and made sure I got an early model (1100 serial range). The first few thousand they produced didn't have a skunk stripe, and the consensus is that those necks hold up better.
Of course, I've got no way of knowing if that's really true; nobody does, but mine's been rock solid and the later ones I looked at all seemed to have maxed-out truss rods.
I was buying sight unseen, so I was playing it safe. I'd have been comfortable going with the skunk-striped model if I'd found one with a decent rod.
I had one that I bought for only $200, the white one, which I think they called Polar White.
I probably should have stopped there, but I really wanted a Blacktop & for what I sold the JP-90 for I could afford a Blacktop.
Realizing how light they are now is really ironic, because I sold my Rickenbacker due to the weight.
I'm just seeing a JP-90 listed on Reverb that's only 7.7 lbs.
That's almost lighter than any bass I've owned, wish I'd noticed back when I had mine.
I probably should have stopped there, but I really wanted a Blacktop & for what I sold the JP-90 for I could afford a Blacktop.
Realizing how light they are now is really ironic, because I sold my Rickenbacker due to the weight.
I'm just seeing a JP-90 listed on Reverb that's only 7.7 lbs.
That's almost lighter than any bass I've owned, wish I'd noticed back when I had mine.
In regards to the skunk strip necks, the stripe, is a non issue. Fenders' been making basses that way since the beginning. "Good or bad, it is only." Yoda. The bass I just saw was at least 8-8 1/2 lbs or more. So they're not all super light.
Right. I'm not saying the stripe itself makes the neck weaker; plainly it doesn't. What folks say is that the appearance of the stripe on this particular model correlates to more neck issues. Who knows why?
My feeling is that manufacturing processes changed at some point, and that this corresponded with the change in neck construction. But there are too many variables to tell. I just know I'm more comfortable with the earlier-production examples.
YMMV.
My feeling is that manufacturing processes changed at some point, and that this corresponded with the change in neck construction. But there are too many variables to tell. I just know I'm more comfortable with the earlier-production examples.
YMMV.
I had one of the earlier ones which you had to remove the neck in order to adjust the truss rod. I didn't have a problem with that one and from what I understand, I could be wrong- those seemed to have less incidences of maxed out truss rods.
Later ones had the truss rod access at the headstock.
I loved that bass and shouldn't have traded it.
Bumping this thread as there is one available for relatively cheap. I may not want to spend the gas to go see it, but the thread is now active. Nobody has had the silver bullet to kill it for good.
I was curious about this bass when I saw the bassist for reggae band Inner Circle playing one, which led me to this thread. I have thought that a bass with a Jazz body and neck but PJ pickups would be perfect for me. This is all I've found so far. I kind of like the cream one.
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I have a black Jp-90 and was in love the first time I picked it up. I bought it new on 1991. I had a 60's P-bass and after nights of the strap cutting into my shoulder the lighter weight of the JP was a welcome change. The selectable pickups let's me change of the sound a bit w/o screwing with my amp rig; kind of handy when you are working through a set. The controls are getting a little scratchy as the are still the original pots and have worked hard and long - they have earned a retirement honestly.
I still have the stock pickups and don't feel any need to change them. They make the same tones I heard in the store and I liked them then. They sound great with my chorus effects and that is about all I ever need to sweeten them up.
The body is comfortable and the Jazz neck is fast in my hand.
I may add a Rick to the stable someday to satisfy my prog-rock fantasies but the JP is my girl!
I still have the stock pickups and don't feel any need to change them. They make the same tones I heard in the store and I liked them then. They sound great with my chorus effects and that is about all I ever need to sweeten them up.
The body is comfortable and the Jazz neck is fast in my hand.
I may add a Rick to the stable someday to satisfy my prog-rock fantasies but the JP is my girl!
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Necro-posting, but I've owned my JP90 since new in the early 1990's. First new bass I ever owned. They were on blowout sale at Guitar Center, had a pile of them in a plastic garbage can on the floor. I think I paid $249 brand new. No cases. I don't think there ever was one. Picked out a black one that had a good feeling neck. Also bought a BadAss-II bridge in black and put it on as soon as I got home.
It was designed to be the cheapest bass that Fender could stamp, "made in USA" on. I have the newer style neck with the headstock truss adjustment. It is a very slim Jazz neck, very.
The pickups and electronics are of the same quality found on low-cost import Fenders. The J-bridge pickup is "neck sized" and 3" from the bridge saddles.
I've bought and sold much higher-end bass guitars since. The JP-90 is light and very comfortable to play. I like the trimmed-and-slimmed-down J-style body. The weird pickguard shape and body. It is my go-to stage bass. Comfortable and light.
Last year, I finally got around to upgrading the pickups and the pots and jack, shielding the cavity and re-positioning the pickguard and pickup mounting, which were manufactured wrong. Filled the holes and redrilled everything.
I'd love to spec out a Custom Shop version of it, made with all good materials and top workmanship.
It was designed to be the cheapest bass that Fender could stamp, "made in USA" on. I have the newer style neck with the headstock truss adjustment. It is a very slim Jazz neck, very.
The pickups and electronics are of the same quality found on low-cost import Fenders. The J-bridge pickup is "neck sized" and 3" from the bridge saddles.
I've bought and sold much higher-end bass guitars since. The JP-90 is light and very comfortable to play. I like the trimmed-and-slimmed-down J-style body. The weird pickguard shape and body. It is my go-to stage bass. Comfortable and light.
Last year, I finally got around to upgrading the pickups and the pots and jack, shielding the cavity and re-positioning the pickguard and pickup mounting, which were manufactured wrong. Filled the holes and redrilled everything.
I'd love to spec out a Custom Shop version of it, made with all good materials and top workmanship.
You make me envious of your experience, especially purchasing the JP-90 at such a good price. I wish I had been aware of the model at the time. Fortunately, I have recently bought a Squier Jaguar SS, which suits me very well. It has the contour body, P-J pickups, plus it has a short scale, which I have grown to prefer.
Well to be fair, that's probably $500 or more in 2021 dollars, on a blowout sale of a slow selling model, with no case or accessories.
Dollars were worth more and I had fewer of them back then.
Smooth_bass88
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- Oct 31, 2006
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My friend Tom had a JP90 bass. It's decent, but it's kind of a 'budget model' US made bass with inexpensive parts.
