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Fender Plus Deluxe Club

#341
DJJazzV said:
Count me in for this club. Just got a 1990 Jazz Plus V.
Question for other owners:
Do you find that the Treble seems to be Boost Only when active? That's what mine seems to be when comparing to Passive mode. Using headphones and a visual EQ for A/P comparisons. The Bass is definitely Cut/Boost.
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Here's a Fender manual page I spotted in a picture of another Jazz Plus V, so I cropped it out to share:
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Stealthy lookin' axe! :thumbsup: I like that pre (9v) because it has the mid-boost preset adjustment. It sounds very much like a Kubicki Factor - a distinctive tone I can hear before seeing what bass is being played. I rarely if ever use the passive mode so I'm not really certain if it engages the treble or not but it seems like it should. 18v Factors have one more passive click and no mid-boost adjustment, otherwise they are the same. How do you like the spacing? I think the G&L 5'r from a little earlier had a similar narrow string spacing.
 
#342
I luckily joined the club last December when I
found this beauty in a pawnshop for $203.

They knew not they had and I was able to get a deal on my 1st 5 string.

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#343
Texsunburst59 said:
I luckily joined the club last December when I
found this beauty in a pawnshop for $203.

They knew not they had and I was able to get a deal on my 1st 5 string.

View attachment 2918648
View attachment 2918649
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Wow Bob Wow - $203 is a steal! Really cool finish - it looks like the late 60's Silvertone Hornet. That's the first one like it I've seen. I bet that B string sounds great powered by the Kubicki pre! :bassist:
 
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#348
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#349
JIO said:
Stealthy lookin' axe! :thumbsup: I like that pre (9v) because it has the mid-boost preset adjustment. It sounds very much like a Kubicki Factor - a distinctive tone I can hear before seeing what bass is being played. I rarely if ever use the passive mode so I'm not really certain if it engages the treble or not but it seems like it should. 18v Factors have one more passive click and no mid-boost adjustment, otherwise they are the same. How do you like the spacing? I think the G&L 5'r from a little earlier had a similar narrow string spacing.
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The spacing is very good. I made a Fender nut with tighter "Stingray 5" spacing. I didn't like it as much. Too tight for this bass. The standard spacing is closer to my main 4 string.
 
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#351
G-Man60 said:
View attachment 2980818


THE BLUES BROTHERS
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Really pretty! :thumbsup: I sent an email to John Page (head of the FCS in the late 80's) asking for details on those types of finishes that Phil Kubicki and Fender did in the early late 80's/early 90's but he never responded. I just wondered if Phil Kubicki came up with it first and then when he re-joined ranks with Fender then to produce his Factor bass if part of their contract included using his finishes on these Fenders. I searched the web and there's nothing written about these cool finishes.

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#352
I've seen photos of many Factor basses with this type of two-tone fade finish that were made during the mid to later 80's before Phil Kubicki contracted with Fender to build the Factor basses. They also had a good selection of colors available. I don't have access to the contract so there is no way I could comment on whether or not Fender had an obligation to paint certain colors. However, when Kubickis went to Fender it was the Fender Custom Shop who was making them. Therefore, a customer could probably order what ever color they wanted.
 
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#353
Spectre Gunner said:
I've seen photos of many Factor basses with this type of two-tone fade finish that were made during the mid to later 80's before Phil Kubicki contracted with Fender to build the Factor basses. They also had a good selection of colors available. I don't have access to the contract so there is no way I could comment on whether or not Fender had an obligation to paint certain colors. However, when Kubickis went to Fender it was the Fender Custom Shop who was making them. Therefore, a customer could probably order what ever color they wanted.
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Thanks for this clarification - I knew the FCS made Phil's Factors and I thought Factors had such a finish early on but wasn't 100% certain. In that respect then, Fender used his finishing technique on their production basses like the Jazz Plus and Precision Plus Deluxe. Since that finish ended after Phil left Fender, I'll assume he had rights over its use.
 
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#354
Greetings! This is my first MIA Fender Jazz Bass, 1990 Fender American Jazz V Plus. Please meet, “Purple Daze”.
I bought off GC used bass site last week. She was in grimmy condition when I received her but yesterday a bunch of elbow grease and she cleaned up very nicely. I’m really loving the Kubicki pre! Wow! Go from smooooth big jazz tone to modern tear your face off growl with a click of the rotary switch!:D

May I join this club please? Thanks!

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#355
iceboxbass said:
Greetings! This is my first MIA Fender Jazz Bass, 1990 Fender American Jazz V Plus. Please meet, “Purple Daze”.
I bought off GC used bass site last week. She was in grimmy condition when I received her but yesterday a bunch of elbow grease and she cleaned up very nicely. I’m really loving the Kubicki pre! Wow! Go from smooooth big jazz tone to modern tear your face off growl with a click of the rotary switch!:D

May I join this club please? Thanks!

View attachment 2989270 View attachment 2989271 View attachment 2989272 View attachment 2989273
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By posting your bass - you're in! (no numbers here) That's the first purple Fender bass (in general) I've ever seen - nice to have an uncommon colour! Could have been the association with Phil Kubicki as he did a lot of cool colours on his Ex-Factors. I keep hoping for something written focusing on this period at Fender someday. The Fender/Kubicki 9v pre has a very distinctive sound/tone - essentially what a Factor sounds like. I've heard it before seeing the bass - it records well also. These early 90's US Fenders were very good quality and are underrated. Enjoy yours!
 
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#356
JIO said:
By posting your bass - you're in! (no numbers here) That's the first purple Fender bass (in general) I've ever seen - nice to have an uncommon colour! Could have been the association with Phil Kubicki as he did a lot of cool colours on his Ex-Factors. I keep hoping for something written focusing on this period at Fender someday. The Fender/Kubicki 9v pre has a very distinctive sound/tone - essentially what a Factor sounds like. I've heard it before seeing the bass - it records well also. These early 90's US Fenders were very good quality and are underrated. Enjoy yours!
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Thanks JIO:) This is the only metallic purple that I ran into in my 2 week long search for a MIA Fender Jazz V. You're correct on these Kubicki pres...wow do they sound great! I'm used to playing with onboard active electronics on my basses, mostly boutique handcrafted basses and I'll rate this one right on up there with them. Yeah the craftsmanship on these early 90's Fender Americans are outstanding and under appreciated from what I see. A jewel in the rough waiting to be gleaned. :D Thanks for inviting me on this forum page. I'll surf thru the back pages to catch up and remember to have on a bibdrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrooldrool:laugh:
 
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#357
JIO said:
I guess it comes down to the feel/tone you're after. My Plus Deluxe arrives today and I'll determine where to go once I play it. Sometimes I leave strings on a used bass and sometimes I replace then straight away. Just depends on personal preference after playing. I'm not sure Fender specified certain strings for certain series (as Chef noted) but just installed what they were installing on all their basses.

I talked w/Phil Kubicki on the phone once and he went into a long tutorial about strings. I was on a bicycle ride early on a Saturday morning when he called. I had just sent my Factor for a once over and included a set of new strings for him to put on. He probably just received it, saw the strings and felt obligated to clue me in on what strings worked best w/his bass. It made me smile that he cared so much to do that. He was a genuine guy who knew his craft and loved what he did.
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How cool!
 
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#359
iceboxbass said:
Greetings! This is my first MIA Fender Jazz Bass, 1990 Fender American Jazz V Plus. Please meet, “Purple Daze”.
I bought off GC used bass site last week. She was in grimmy condition when I received her but yesterday a bunch of elbow grease and she cleaned up very nicely. I’m really loving the Kubicki pre! Wow! Go from smooooth big jazz tone to modern tear your face off growl with a click of the rotary switch!:D

May I join this club please? Thanks!

View attachment 2989270 View attachment 2989271 View attachment 2989272 View attachment 2989273
Click to expand...
I love that finish
 
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