They chose the cheesiest colors available so as to not compete too much with MIAs.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Fender Japan @ Sweetwater
- Thread starter dralionux
- Start date
Do people here understand what INTERNATION colors are? It was a specific range in the early 80s. These are the colors in that range.
I do not see how these are so "cheesy", but each to their own. Yellow and blue are pretty basic. This blue looks *great*, and I wouldn't mind a "cheesy" yellow bass-just not a Jazz. I would have wanted more colors myself-all the better, as I am less tempted to save up to obtain one.
That said, I am very cheesy, and have oddball taste (no sarcasm intended.)
(I do love how the white or green Aerodyne Precisions look-but that is for another thread.)
That said, I am very cheesy, and have oddball taste (no sarcasm intended.)
(I do love how the white or green Aerodyne Precisions look-but that is for another thread.)
I want both of those jazz basses. I’m a sucker for block inlays and bright colors
The new Japanese Aerodynes are so different, cool-looking and gas inducing that I was almost afraid to look at these, thinking it would be the same. But I am with those who are not excited by these colors.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,796
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
Agree. Far and away the best color in the original series IMO. Surprised it was omitted.
Jumping on the "colors are too primary for my taste" bandwagon. I do like the blocked necks.
If one wants a '70s jazz bass in the international colors, this is a far cheaper way to get it than chasing one of the originals.
The Monaco Yellow is tempting.
I absolutely love the bound and blocked Jazz necks and I’m a big fan of Fender Japan’s necks in general.
That said, those colors are a pretty tough sell for me. I’m also not a fan of basswood bodies. Without opening the whole tonewood can of worms, I’ll just say that basswood bodied instruments don’t resonate with me (see what I did there?). In fact, the only MIJ Fenders I didn’t like were those with basswood bodies.
With that consideration, $1,200 is a lot to spend for a bass I’d want to swap the body on. Otherwise, I’m pretty happy to see these available. For someone else those colors and basswood might be just the thing they’re looking for.
That said, those colors are a pretty tough sell for me. I’m also not a fan of basswood bodies. Without opening the whole tonewood can of worms, I’ll just say that basswood bodied instruments don’t resonate with me (see what I did there?). In fact, the only MIJ Fenders I didn’t like were those with basswood bodies.
With that consideration, $1,200 is a lot to spend for a bass I’d want to swap the body on. Otherwise, I’m pretty happy to see these available. For someone else those colors and basswood might be just the thing they’re looking for.
Made in Japan Traditional Series originally brought to fruition in the early '80s
Built from a foundation of basswood, the MIJ Fender J Bass brings in boatloads of classic tone
A 4-saddle vintage-style bridge and a thumb rest help reel in this bass’s vintage appeal while ensuring modern-day playability.
Vintage-Style Split Single-coil Jazz Bass pickups ensure you'll have a heaping helping of that beloved Fender Jazz Bass tone.
Yeah, sounds like the catch of the day!
Built from a foundation of basswood, the MIJ Fender J Bass brings in boatloads of classic tone
A 4-saddle vintage-style bridge and a thumb rest help reel in this bass’s vintage appeal while ensuring modern-day playability.
Vintage-Style Split Single-coil Jazz Bass pickups ensure you'll have a heaping helping of that beloved Fender Jazz Bass tone.
Yeah, sounds like the catch of the day!
This may have been true in the past. But I just bought my first modern MIJ, an Aerodyne Special Jazz, and it is AWESOME. Miles better quality than the 3 MIM Fenders I've bought in the last 2 years, and also clearly better than the MIA I bought in late 2021. Better fretwork than all of them. The MIA was pretty good with smooth fret ends, but they still kinda bump the side of your palm as you move up and down the neck. The MIMs all needed some level of attention to get them in good playing shape. The MIJ needed absolutely nothing.
The finishing on the MIJ is simply spectacular. All flat painted surfaces are window-glass smooth, EVERYWHERE. This Aerodyne Special has a painted headstock, and the buffing and cleaning even way down into the truss rod access recess is simply sublime. Usually this is an area where they say "eh. Not worth it." and you often end up with lumpy paint and/or excess buffing compound caking up the area. Not so with this thing! It is surgically clean in there!
Hardware is better than most, as well. REALLY nice Babic bridge (probably a $150ish bridge, retail), sweet tuners that feel better than the standard jobs on my MIMs, and on par with the current MIA tuners. This bass has standard single-coils, but with them both on the bass is DEAD silent. Zero self-noise. I can even roll back the bridge pickup to about 75% and it still remains noiseless but gets to that perfect warm bark that is just to die for! Nice and fancy solid metal/chrome control knobs, too.
We now live in a world of $900-$1,500 Made in Mexico basses. The quality of MIMs, to me, has not changed much from the first MIM Jazz Standard I bought in 2001. I don't know what the MIJs were like 20 years ago, but after 25+ MIMs and 4 MIAs in the last 2 decades, I am truly impressed by the recent MIJs I have played. I do not have experience with CIJs/MIJs of yesteryear.
When MIJs are trading within the same price range as MIMs it becomes a no-brainer to me, if there are MIJ models you are interested in. Yes, these specific International colors are a bit out there, and I also am not a 3 bolt fan. However, they're replicating a very specific range that has its own fan-base, and I hope they do well!
Additionally, there are some great MIJ models that are domestic only, or only available in a few regions. Right now the Yen is CRAZY weak vs the dollar, so even when factoring in shipping the value is pretty dang good. Fender Japan has some great stuff in the Hybrid II series, as well as a nice 60's line with more traditional colors, and then a couple cool signature models and the Elemental line.
I am going to hopefully close the sale of a bass I have today and use those proceeds to order two new MIJs from Danny at Bass Direct Japan tonight. Right now you can get MIA+ levels of quality for MIM money. It truly is a golden window of opportunity we're in!
Alan Ace Cooper
Supporting Member
- Jan 6, 2004
- 3,349
- 9,350
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist: Devon Basses, DR Strings, EMG pickups, Bag End Cabs
I was in Singapore in November last year and one of their dealers was already selling these. Well built but not like the 60s, and 70s Reissue versions that we crave here.
Love MIJ Fenders, but I'd just order from Japan. Plenty of Japanese shops on Reverb and shipping is usually not that bad. At least then you'd get a full range of choices
I guess I'm in the minority here, but I kinda like these new MIJ Fenders. The Maui blue looks pretty cool.
