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 Jazz Bass Special - Circa 1984-87
- Thread starter Bullitt5135
- Start date
Ok just my couple thoughts as a owner of a ‘84 E series JBS. The stock Jazz pickup is the weak point in the pickups. I have tried a qtr pounder and that wasn’t good. Ended up with a DiMarzio model pj set in it, and it’s been awesome ever since. The original pups where the large pole piece pups and I have never seen them for sale outside of in that era in that bass. On the case, back then that was the case Fender shipped to most of the guitar stores. The rectangle made in USA plastic molded one. My 83 USA jazz came with one, but it was all part of the deal back then. The case itself was temp sensitive and I had one of them turn into a taco as it sat outside at a gig. But it is period correct and my JBS also came with one.
Last edited:
The I bought from the original owner had the fitting case and it's a 85/86 bass.
Now that just can't be right. I personally purchased my first ever bass in 1988, and it was a brand new MIJ Fender Precision Bass. It had the rectangular case. The first bass I ever saw that had the fitted case was a Precision Bass Lyte a few years after that.
I’m using the below CL link as a probable book mark as to when the Fender form fitting case was starting to be sold. Maybe 1993ish?
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
Well maybe the seller was senile lol. I have another first owner bass came with the rectangular case with Fender logo on it but without the USA stamp. Now that's the funny one.
Yeah I think the early 80’s guitar stores were supplied with cases and they all were the rectangular molded ones. And if you made the right deal you got one with your bass. I miss those days. I’ll give you $409 for that bass marked 1299. You felt like you got a deal vs MAP pricing. So much simpler now. He he
Ours (l managed a store '77-'88) came with cases, but I recall they could be ordered from Fender with or without. But the case at the time would have been the rectangular fiberglass case with form-fitting inner liner.
I left retail summer 1989, and never saw a shaped case from Fender, so they came after that.
Last edited:
That’s a pretty decent case. Don’t know if it is original for the bass though. Good enough for me.
When I bought my ‘81 Precision Bass Special new it came with a crazy expensive case. I recall Fender had an ad that showed a frick’n truck parked on the case. Here it is. Went to China for a tour in the ‘90s and survived lol. Still has the China stickers. Actually I prefer a decent gig bag to a cargo case for a busy rehearsing/gigging bassist.
I prefer a bag, to take to a gig. I like to HSC my basses, when they are stored at home.
I know what you mean.
These days I keep ‘em all out on a rack so they are easy to grab. Still, I need to rotate playing them or some get ignored.
…and I feel guilty.
Ha ha! That red Precision has chew marks on the rosewood from an English bull dog puppy. Miss that dog. I had a new high end Stratocaster with ebony fingerboard that one young son bashed so I sold it. My kids were out of control …and nothing much has changed actually. They are still out of control. Decades later.I have young kids. My rack and grab days are over, for a while.
Last edited:
Though this has absolutely no bearing on the case or the bass being discussed, it should be added that the initial Fender AVRI models from 82 thru 85 had specific tweed cases that were offered with the basses. The cases have unique features that were only found during those three years.
On very rare occasions those same tweed cases were sold by scheming or dimwitted salespeople to those who bought other, non-AVRI Fender basses. The tweed AVRI cases are worth quite a bit these days… as are the basses themselves.
If I recall correctly, all other Fender bass cases from those years were rectangular in shape and black in color. The form fitting cases appeared a number of years later.
On very rare occasions those same tweed cases were sold by scheming or dimwitted salespeople to those who bought other, non-AVRI Fender basses. The tweed AVRI cases are worth quite a bit these days… as are the basses themselves.
If I recall correctly, all other Fender bass cases from those years were rectangular in shape and black in color. The form fitting cases appeared a number of years later.
I haven’t played in a live setting in 5 years. Now that my kids are a tad older, the pastor at my church pulled me aside to ask when I’m coming back to play. My wife gave me the nod, and I signed up for the first weekend in October. Of course, my JBS was the bass I took. It was exhilarating to play again.
it was a bass Easter egg, as I saw GNR in concert, that night!
it was a bass Easter egg, as I saw GNR in concert, that night!
