Fender Japan is gone :(

[JonW]

MarkoYYZ-
Thanks for the history and the well thought out perspectives!


MechaniCrash-
Thanks for the ad photos with the ground strip. So I guess having the exposed strip is as vintage correct as you can get.

And more great perspective in your long post. It did seem that Fender Japan was becoming somewhat without a mission in terms of the whole line. Squiers have the low end. US has the high end. Mexico has everything in between. Personally, I have been very impressed with all of those things- Squier, Mexico, and US. So where does that leave the Japan gear? Maybe nowhere, it seems. Pulling the plug makes sense, from what I can gather, not knowing any of the reality in terms of the decision here.


GG7-
Congrats. You “collected all 4!”

Well if Jaco didn't manage to knock his off I don't think you would.
I have two 80s MIJ squires with the strap and they're perfect condition considering the players wear in the basses.
But my 91 MIJ fretless has one and its a little crinkled.

Thanks! Yeah, I can’t imagine putting a bass through the rigors of pro musician life. So if it’s good enough for Jaco, I’ll manage to get by, somehow.

 

[JonW]

I would suggest contacting ISHIBASHI MUSIC. They are kind of the Guitar Center of Japan and if anyone would have a particular Fender Japan model, these guys would be the best source.

They are really easy to do business with, and they charge the face value for shipping via Japan Post EMS. I've purchased several Japanese Fenders from them over the years, and scored one of my four JB62SS Mini Jazz basses from them.

Here is the email address for International Orders:

[email protected]

Thanks. I’m getting close to placing an order. Trying to resist. But it’s not going too well, really. I mentioned to my wife that I’m considering getting this bass from Japan and how they aren’t going to be made any more. She says “Get the bass. It’ll help keep the shrink away.” So she’s not helping one bit.

 

[bholder]

Still hoping the folks who made Fender Japan innovative and good can do even more so independently. Anyone tried to contact them to ask?

 

[felis]

Can one of you Fender guys explain this to me?

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The bass is made in Japan. It's on the Fender USA site.

I don't think you can buy them in the USA anymore, but could at one time.

If you want one, you have to buy it through Japan (if they're still available).

 

[Gorn]

Can one of you Fender guys explain this to me?

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The bass is made in Japan. It's on the Fender USA site.

I don't think you can buy them in the USA anymore, but could at one time.

If you want one, you have to buy it through Japan (if they're still available).

It's one of the Japanese Fenders that was readily available in the US like the Aerodyne. And like the Aerodyne, Fender Japan offered other versions that were only available directly from Japan. Their mustangs came with racing stripes and their Aerodynes came with pickguards, inlays, two j pups, and so on.

 

[felis]

So Fender can't (or won't) make it?

 

[gln1955]

So Fender can't (or won't) make it?

As of right now, won't, but who knows what's down the road. We could see these being made in Mexico or China or Indonesia at some point. There's no reason any of those operations couldn't make a high quality Mustang if Fender wants it done. In the meantime, I'm so glad I got one of the last ones sold in the US.

 

[fjadams]

The price of the short scale jazz basses has gone up $150 to $200 in the last couple weeks. And there aren't many listed right now. I so should have bought one when they were still inexpensive.

 

[GretschWretch]

What do you know? I just looked at installing ashtray covers and it seems that you need to drill holes into the body for that. Not too appealing.

You don't absolutely have to drill holes in the body. I recently bought a brand spanking new 2013 Mexi-P with no covers and no pre-drilled holes, and I wanted covers; but like you, I did not want to drill into the body. My solution is to make double-thickness shims out of craft sticks and ebon-stain them and drill into *those* to mount the covers, and then attach the whole apparatus to the body using a strong silicone adhesive that can be easily removed and buffed out if I want to go coverless later.

 

[warrplayer]

I thought this was going to be a thread about Godzilla.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I thought this was going to be a tjread about Godzilla.

Oooooooh no!
There goes Tokyo!
Go Go Godzilla!!

 

[Marial]

Gojira's taken up residence outside San Francisco last I heard.

 

[Kukulkan61]

This is all Obamas fault too...

 

[fjadams]

Yeah, he's secretly Rodan on the weekends.

 

[JonW]

You don't absolutely have to drill holes in the body. I recently bought a brand spanking new 2013 Mexi-P with no covers and no pre-drilled holes, and I wanted covers; but like you, I did not want to drill into the body. My solution is to make double-thickness shims out of craft sticks and ebon-stain them and drill into *those* to mount the covers, and then attach the whole apparatus to the body using a strong silicone adhesive that can be easily removed and buffed out if I want to go coverless later.

Cool idea! Creative. I've never actually played a bass with covers on it. I would imagine that they might kind of get in the way of playing. But there is no denying how the covers can really class up a bass. Look at the photos of the Vintage '63's:
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Mmmm.

 

[JonW]

On the topic of the Fender Japan basses disappearing for good…

I have been tracking the number of Fender Japan basses shown as available at Ishibashi. These numbers are not super accurate in that the lists might count one bass as a specific item at a specific store with a specific serial number. Or one item might be a given model available at several stores. And some used basses are in there. At any rate, the numbers are declining. So it might give us an idea of what the status of supply is.

April 21, 2015:
All Fender Japan basses = 202
Jazz basses = 137
Precision basses = 38

April 27, 2015:
All Fender Japan basses = 194
Jazz basses = 133
Precision basses = 36

May 1, 2015:
All Fender Japan basses = 180
Jazz basses = 123
Precision basses = 37

I can still keep track and post numbers later if anyone cares.

 

[fjadams]

That isn't very many really. The only ones that interested me were the short scales.

 

[Neveragain55]

I think it would be wise for Fender to incorporate best practices that the Japanese manufacturers used and duplicate those efforts at home.

Then take a long hard look at their corporate structure, their CEO compensation packages, and mimic the caps that Japanese corporations use in order to keep upper echelon executives from making 500 times what the floor workers make........

That's the way it's done here in greedy ass America, and that's what prompts companies to outsource work abroad.

There's no reason in the world why a Fender from California should cost 5 times what a Fender from Japan or Mexico costs....

 

[Marial]

I think it would be wise for Fender to incorporate best practices that the Japanese manufacturers used and duplicate those efforts at home.

Then take a long hard look at their corporate structure, their CEO compensation packages, and mimic the caps that Japanese corporations use in order to keep upper echelon executives from making 500 times what the floor workers make........

That's the way it's done here in greedy ass America, and that's what prompts companies to outsource work abroad.

There's no reason in the world why a Fender from California should cost 5 times what a Fender from Japan or Mexico costs....

Ever seen Big Trouble In Little China?

Invalid Link Removed: This is just so shocking. I mean I must just be so monumentally naive.

Invalid Link Removed: You are.

 

[Neveragain55]

Ever seen Big Trouble In Little China?

Invalid Link Removed: This is just so shocking. I mean I must just be so monumentally naive.

Invalid Link Removed: You are.

Yes,saw the movie, and sadly I work for a US based Aerospace firm that just paid the president of the company $190.000.000 dollars to leave because of unethical behavior, yet we're constantly going through layoffs and ridiculous budget cuts when our profits are soaring....

Capatalism.....gotta love it.....