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Fender Jazz QC

Shakin-Slim

Shakin-Slim

Jul 23, 2009
1,784
37
Tokyo, Japan
#1
G'day from NZ

So, I've done a search and not found the sort of info I'm looking for in any specific form. I know the quality control of the Fender Jazz (is it specifically the Am Std?) is supposed to have gone down in recent years. I've also heard that they are back on the ball. Could someone please tell me the years between which they were like this? Like a year bracket. Also, what sort of things in the quality control are we talking about? Any tell-tale signs in Jazz basses between these years? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Slim
 
#2
Bass-by-bass testing and playing are the best way to find out.

Some say the CBS Fenders are lacking in some quality - but again, it's on an individual basis.
Some moan about the Mexican quality - but I've not seen any real problems that way.

Personally I don't think the older Fenders are worth the hype (even NZDs) unless you've got glass cases and a museum to put them in since they are vastly inferior to the newer stuff - especially the new Squiers.

I know the prices of stuff shipped from the US to NZ get stepped on by the authorities and you're gonna pay a lot more for a Fender than I will. Perhaps you should emigrate/immigrate.

Air fare two ways - food/lodging/Disneyland - yup, still cheaper to buy one here.

Now - just to figger a way smuggle it past the gendarmes.
 
#3
:) Well you see the thing is, I already have one. While I am happy with it, and you think that should be enough, since reading about this quality control stuff I like to put my mind at ease. I have an Am Std Jazz. And yeah, it was much more expensive here than it would be for you. I paid $2,700NZD for it. Around $1,930USD? I like to hear that the old ones aren't what they're hyped up to be. I'm a player not a collector. Mind you, a nice vintage jazz, especially with the hard earned mojo scars gets me hot! Haha.
 
#4
Well, I can only speak to my experience. I have an '08 MIA Jazz, bought new online from Musician's Friend, sight unseen, last March of '09, and I can tell you the QC for that particular instrument was 100%, I could find absolutely NO flaws, and the setup out of the box, while not exactly my preference, was quite good.
I have heard any number of claims that the QC at Fender's California plant since about 2008 has indeed greatly improved, so, if my bass is typical, then that is probably true.
Oh, and Shakin-Slim, I paid almost $1200 USD for it at that time. (March of '09)
 
#6
C.Linton said:
Well, I can only speak to my experience. I have an '08 MIA Jazz, bought new online from Musician's Friend, sight unseen, last March of '09, and I can tell you the QC for that particular instrument was 100%, I could find absolutely NO flaws, and the setup out of the box, while not exactly my preference, was quite good.
I have heard any number of claims that the QC at Fender's California plant since about 2008 has indeed greatly improved, so, if my bass is typical, then that is probably true.
Oh, and Shakin-Slim, I paid almost $1200 USD for it at that time. (March of '09)
Click to expand...

I likewise bought my '08 MIA Jazz V from MF sight unseen and the QC on it is also 100%.
 
#8
There's something in the wind for Fender Corona (USA).

It seems to be a big rumor (NZ= rumour) that MIA will become MIM soon [DEL]if[/DEL] when they move the whole plant there.

Right now the MIM necks and most of the electronics are MIA. The MIM necks have been this way for quite a while now, and that - even though it gets heated arguments from some - is the truth.

What the MIMs get is a MIM body and paint job and hand assembly in their plant.

Fender has laid-off many of it's artisans and kept the higher-ended luthiers on payroll for when/if the economy comes back, and this might meant that the luthiers are either overseeing the guitars all the way or even getting their hands into the assembly and production of them.

Right now is a plum-ripe time to buy anything Fender has to offer and that totally includes the Squier lineup too. This situation may not continue for a long time.

Two things: 1) The economy takes the long drop or 2) it just limps along slowly imploding and everybody is out of work either way.

Bass guitars come a long way down the priority list when food, shelter and sustenance come first.
 
#9
ABout the only problem I had with my Jazz had nothing to do with QC issues, it was that the color selection is kinda limited. I ended up with the Charcoal Frost Metallic, which is OK I suppose, but I'm not sure I really care for it. But, Since it is such a well made bass, I'm willing to put up with it.
 
#10
BigOldHarry said:
Fender has had good product QC for a number of years now. That said, I wouldn't buy a new $1200 fender without playing one... Each instrument is a bit different and some sing, some not so much...
Click to expand...

I kinda didn't have much choice about that with my situation (take too long to explain), I guess I got lucky. Come to think of it, I've bought 4 instruments online (3 basses - a Fender, a Squier, and an SX, and 1 guitar - a MIM Strat) since March of '09 without being able to try them out, and I've been pretty lucky with all of them.
 

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