Fender Jazz Bass Special - Circa 1984-87

[bassgod76]

So, this may be old news, and it's certainly not literally "84 - 87", but has everyone seen this?

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Despite being called a "Precision", the headstock clearly says "Jazz Bass Special". They're even bringing the F knobs back.

View attachment 4183594

I wish they came in other colors

 

[r_bnks]

So, this may be old news, and it's certainly not literally "84 - 87", but has everyone seen this?

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Despite being called a "Precision", the headstock clearly says "Jazz Bass Special". They're even bringing the F knobs back.

View attachment 4183594

It's certainly a reissue of the '84-'87

 

[Shirobon]

I wonder what that will do to vintage F knob prices on eBay.

Honestly I haven't been able to find those knobs separately from Fender Japan as spares or something. Do we have a part number?

 

[r_bnks]

Honestly I haven't been able to find those knobs separately from Fender Japan as spares or something. Do we have a part number?

No. I contacted them and Fender US several times..even Stratosphere. No one will sell them separately. I also asked them about the pickups and got the same response.

Another pricey option is that someone is selling some 'Fender Elite knobs' on reverb. $50 each. They're white except the rubber grip so you can paint them black. Still too much for a set. Fortunately I only need an F cap for 1 knob so I'm thinking about getting one. Beside the missing cap I need a full set but won't pay $150 for it.

 

[bassgod76]

So, my JBS search concluded.

I whined about the deal to purchase my original JBS and how it fell through, on this Facebook group.

Surprisingly, a member of this group PM’s me, that he has one for sale. It was an 87, but it was perfect, had a Fender HSC, upgraded bridge, and included the stock one.

it arrived today. Besides a tiny scratch on the neck plate, it had not a blem. Even the color is not the typical yellowed hue, most of these basses have. It plays nice, and has a wonderfully buttery low action.
I am so happy.
Thanks for everyone’s input, prior to purchase!

 

[r_bnks]

So, my JBS search concluded.
Yea, this one looks like damn perfect. Congrats!

View attachment 4186274

 

[Shirobon]

So, my JBS search concluded.

I whined about the deal to purchase my original JBS and how it fell through, on this Facebook group.

Surprisingly, a member of this group PM’s me, that he has one for sale. It was an 87, but it was perfect, had a Fender HSC, upgraded bridge, and included the stock one.

it arrived today. Besides a tiny scratch on the neck plate, it had not a blem. Even the color is not the typical yellowed hue, most of these basses have. It plays nice, and has a wonderfully buttery low action.
I am so happy.
Thanks for everyone’s input, prior to purchase!
View attachment 4186274

Damn. That looks brand new. No ageing in the finish. Knobs intact. There aren't even scratches on the ring nut that holds the selector switch.

Nice find.

 

[bassgod76]

Damn. That looks brand new. No ageing in the finish. Knobs intact. There aren't even scratches on the ring nut that holds the selector switch.

Nice find.

Thanks. The two pearl ones I’ve previously owned were really yellow. This one looks brand new

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

What can y’all tel me about the pickups with the larger pole pieces ?

Is there a modern day equivalent?

 

[bassgod76]

What can y’all tel me about the pickups with the larger pole pieces ?

Is there a modern day equivalent?

I’m no expert, but I’ve owned 4 of these basses. There is something funky and odd about the pickups, that makes them very distinctive.
And yeah, many say that no bass sounds the same. However, these pickups give off a very uniform tone, from bass to bass.
I have yet to find pickups that sound like these.

Maybe the TBX knob has something to do with it?

 

[Barry Vestal]

No. I contacted them and Fender US several times..even Stratosphere. No one will sell them separately. I also asked them about the pickups and got the same response.

Another pricey option is that someone is selling some 'Fender Elite knobs' on reverb. $50 each. They're white except the rubber grip so you can paint them black. Still too much for a set. Fortunately I only need an F cap for 1 knob so I'm thinking about getting one. Beside the missing cap I need a full set but won't pay $150 for it.

Is this what you're looking for?

 

[r_bnks]

Is this what you're looking for?View attachment 4188751

Yes, more precisely only the top F cap, but it's unlikely that I can find one without the knob so yes, that's what I need.

 

[Barry Vestal]

Yes, more precisely only the top F cap, but it's unlikely that I can find one without the knob so yes, that's what I need.

PM me if you want this one...looks like I have three of them

 

[LostJohnny]

I’m no expert, but I’ve owned 4 of these basses. There is something funky and odd about the pickups, that makes them very distinctive.
And yeah, many say that no bass sounds the same. However, these pickups give off a very uniform tone, from bass to bass.
I have yet to find pickups that sound like these.

Maybe the TBX knob has something to do with it?

I'm very curious myself. They have the large pole pieces, that much is obvious, but what else do we know about their construction? Magnet type, ohms, anything? I find that my JBS with the Epic Custom Shop PJ1 set certainly sounds like other JBSes, but I'll be the first to say that pickups are only one part of what makes an instrument sound the way it does.

 

[Shirobon]

I'm very curious myself. They have the large pole pieces, that much is obvious, but what else do we know about their construction? Magnet type, ohms, anything? I find that my JBS with the Epic Custom Shop PJ1 set certainly sounds like other JBSes, but I'll be the first to say that pickups are only one part of what makes an instrument sound the way it does.

The only information I have on them is that they're called Hot Rods.

 

[PeaveyPlayer]

If I could get an ohm reading maybe I could go custom

 

[bassgod76]

If I could get an ohm reading maybe I could go custom

I wonder if the new boxer reissues have the same pickups?

 

[Shirobon]

If I could get an ohm reading maybe I could go custom

You got me curious so I read mine. Values will differ from case to case but basically, the pups deserve their name. They're quite hot indeed.

JBS:
Bridge: 7.73kΩ
Neck: 9.41kΩ
Both: 4.25kΩ


In comparison, my Aerodyne P-Bass got:
Bridge: 5.39kΩ
Neck: 8.23kΩ
Both: 3.350kΩ

And my AmStd P-Bass has a whopping 10.82kΩ.

 

[r_bnks]

I wonder if the new boxer reissues have the same pickups?

Yes they are

 

[BeastBassNJ]

I'm back in the JBS game!!!