Fender Jazz Bass '62 reissue CIJ question

[Hypercaffium]

Hi,
I'd like to know the difference between this bass:

...and this bass:

This one is a "US version" of the same bass.
I'm in the market for one and want to be sure to get the best deal possible. Price is identical (700 euros), both seem in great conditions, I just need to choose one.
Esthetically speaking, I prefer the first one. Pickguard is better and the tuners seem a little bit smaller. The other one has different (better?) pickups, maybe?

 

[basadam]

US: USA pickups, alder body
Non-US: Japanese pickups, basswood body

 

[Hypercaffium]

US: USA pickups, alder body
Non-US: Japanese pickups, basswood body

Which one is supposed to be "better"?

 

[mojomike001]

The US version will be much closer to an original '62. The body wood. The nitro finish. The tuner style. Possible the neck specs. Whether that makes it better or not is up to the individual.

 

[Ghastly]

Ouch! Not too impressed with the look of the supposed American one. Never seen a sunburst that harsh out of the factory, and the pick guard looks too bright red to me. But depending on the year of manufacture, the American one might have better quality parts.

 

[Hypercaffium]

Ouch! Not too impressed with the look of the supposed American one. Never seen a sunburst that harsh out of the factory, and the pick guard looks too bright red to me. But depending on the year of manufacture, the American one might have better quality parts.

Year should be 1997-2000 for the US version. Here's another pic:

I should look at it in person maybe, but both the sunburst finish and the pickguard look really odd.
Here's the other one (non-US), year should be 2006-2008.

Tuners are definitely smaller, pickguard looks just right, as well as the overall finish. Considering the basswood body, it should be less heavy too.

 

[mojomike001]

Considering the basswood body, it should be less heavy too.

One would think that to be the case, but don't necessarily count on it. Many of the US reissues use select lighter-weight bodies which could be as light or lighter than the basswood Japanese bodies. Also, the heavy poly finish on the Japanese bass might add a few oz to the weight.

 

[BassmanM]

One would think that to be the case, but don't necessarily count on it. Many of the US reissues use select lighter-weight bodies which could be as light or lighter than the basswood Japanese bodies. Also, the heavy poly finish on the Japanese bass might add a few oz to the weight.

What he said! And indeed, basswood can sometimes be quite heavy too. I once had a very nice sounding Squier CV jazz which I ended up selling due to the increased weight.

Does your new bass HAVE to be MIJ? Since you are willing to spend 700 Euros, you could maybe also find a used American Special, Highway One or a MiM Classic 60s jazz.

Edit: I personally would not buy the US one above because of the looks....

 

[Hypercaffium]

.
Does your new bass HAVE to be MIJ?

Absolutely not. I was looking for used basses available in my city, in order to try one in person, and these two showed up.
I'm mostly a P with flats guy, I'm thinking about adding another bass to my collection just to have something different. A J with rounds should be perfect I guess. If you have other suggestions, I'm all ears.

 

[REV]

The grain on the MIJ bass does not look like basswood to me. Play them both if you can.

 

[Madhouse27]

The MIJ is certainly the looker of the two.

 

[basadam]

Which one is supposed to be "better"?

At their time "US" ones were slightly more expensive brand-new. Everything else being equal I'd get the US one.

The nitro finish. The tuner style.

Except for some high-end special runs, CIJ basses at that time were all poly-finished. The tuners are not period correct even for US version. They're more like 70's tuners.

Ouch! Not too impressed with the look of the supposed American one. Never seen a sunburst that harsh out of the factory, and the pick guard looks too bright red to me. But depending on the year of manufacture, the American one might have better quality parts.

I'm guessing the picture is overexposed. Still, that color (over-pronounced yellow & red-tort pg) might be much sought-after for some vintage aficionados.

Again, everything else being equal I'd get the US one.

 

[Jim Carr]

Both instruments have Crafted in Japan on the neck heel. Either the instruments in the photos provided are both CIJ, or at least one is a parts bass.

 

[jsr914]

I could be wrong, but I believe the "US" designation in the model number on these CIJ basses just means that they come with USA made pickups (which can be determined by the cloth lead wires, like the USA 62 reissues). My understanding is that the wood (basswood), finish (poly), hardware, etc. are all the same.

 

[onamission]

MIJ is not necessarily Basswood. My MIJ PBass is alder or Ash judging from the neck pocket. It is not light like my other Asian Squire and Fenders. The build quality of CIJ/MIJ's was usually very good. I would not trade mine for a US model.

 

[AngelCrusher]

The grain on the MIJ bass does not look like basswood to me. Play them both if you can.

I was going to say - MIJ’s are not always basswood. My 75 reissue Pbass is Ash/Maple.

Mine is an early 90’s model and needs to get re-fretted, but my god it is awesome. And the stock pickups that came with it record so well too.

 

[JMacBass65]

At first (and second) glance, my gut says the ID of these is backwards. The top picture looks like alder, and overall looks like the higher quality bass, the second looks like basswood, and the cheaper of the two.

I wouldn't even consider the second one an option for purchase.

 

[Ostie]

That's one ugly-ass pickguard if you ask me. Is vintage-ugly a thing? And somebody got carried away with the red air brush on that one. I like the first one.

 

[jnewmark]

They both say " Crafted In Japan ", as far as I can see.

 

[BrentSimons]

I agree with @jsr914 . Those are both Crafted in Japan basses. The "US" version should have USA pickups very much like my CIJ Geddy Lee Jazz.
The thinner ground wire installed at an angle is seen on quite a few of the CIJ 62 Reissues.
Hope this helps,
Brent