Help me identify this bass - AVRI Jazz Bass

[Tomek Worek]

Hello TalkBass! I recently purchased a bass online and should have it in hand next week. However, I'm not entirely sure of the exact model — the seller listed it as an American Vintage Reissue from 1998, and I'd love some help identifying it more precisely.


Here's where it gets fuzzy: the controls are VVT, which made me wonder — would that make this a '64 reissue rather than a '62? Or was the '62 reissue actually using VVT in that era? I'm aware the Japanese '62 Jazz Basses typically came with VVT, so perhaps the same applied stateside. For what it's worth, the seller mentioned the knobs themselves were swapped out at some point, so I'm not reading too much into those. There is also no "made in U.S.A" decal, is that something that AVRIs from that era have in common, or could that be a well - aged Japanese Fender or something else altogether?


I checked the serial number in the Fender database and got the following:
Serial #: V112810 | Model #: 0190209205 | Description: 62 J-BASS RW OWT EXP | Date: 11/1998


So — is this a legitimate '62 American Vintage Reissue, or is there anything here that raises a red flag? I have a 30-day return policy so I'm covered either way, but I'd really love to nail down the exact specs and history of this instrument. I have more photos if needed. Thanks in advance!

 

[_Obra_]

I like the finish so much that I wouldn't be interested in controls at all.

 

[Tomek Worek]

I like the finish so much that I wouldn't be interested in controls at all.

Yeah, me too - thats why I ordered it! I just want to make sure this is a genuine American made instrument, and learn some history in the process. Thanks for the reply

 

[mikeswals]

Real 50s & 60s didnt have Made In USA decals, therefore the US made reissues don't have them either.

Fender didn't start putting that on until mid 76.

I've seen quite a few converted to VVT controls, some folks just didn't like the stack knob setup.

 

[Tomek Worek]

Real 50s & 60s didnt have Made In USA decals, therefore the US made reissues don't have them either.

Fender didn't start putting that on until mid 76.

I've seen quite a few converted to VVT controls, some folks just didn't like the stack knob setup.

So that looks like the real deal, but with the controls changed along the way (hence the non-accurate knobs)? Looking through the internet, I found quite a few old listings for the 62 AVRI with VVT controls - so they were all just changed later and not originally manufactured by Fender?

 

[Mastermold]

Hello TalkBass! I recently purchased a bass online and should have it in hand next week. However, I'm not entirely sure of the exact model — the seller listed it as an American Vintage Reissue from 1998, and I'd love some help identifying it more precisely.


Here's where it gets fuzzy: the controls are VVT, which made me wonder — would that make this a '64 reissue rather than a '62? Or was the '62 reissue actually using VVT in that era? I'm aware the Japanese '62 Jazz Basses typically came with VVT, so perhaps the same applied stateside. For what it's worth, the seller mentioned the knobs themselves were swapped out at some point, so I'm not reading too much into those. There is also no "made in U.S.A" decal, is that something that AVRIs from that era have in common, or could that be a well - aged Japanese Fender or something else altogether?


I checked the serial number in the Fender database and got the following:
Serial #: V112810 | Model #: 0190209205 | Description: 62 J-BASS RW OWT EXP | Date: 11/1998


So — is this a legitimate '62 American Vintage Reissue, or is there anything here that raises a red flag? I have a 30-day return policy so I'm covered either way, but I'd really love to nail down the exact specs and history of this instrument. I have more photos if needed. Thanks in advance!

I believe the 64 reissue came out around 2012.

 

[InhumanResource]

Hello TalkBass! I recently purchased a bass online and should have it in hand next week. However, I'm not entirely sure of the exact model — the seller listed it as an American Vintage Reissue from 1998, and I'd love some help identifying it more precisely.


Here's where it gets fuzzy: the controls are VVT, which made me wonder — would that make this a '64 reissue rather than a '62? Or was the '62 reissue actually using VVT in that era? I'm aware the Japanese '62 Jazz Basses typically came with VVT, so perhaps the same applied stateside. For what it's worth, the seller mentioned the knobs themselves were swapped out at some point, so I'm not reading too much into those. There is also no "made in U.S.A" decal, is that something that AVRIs from that era have in common, or could that be a well - aged Japanese Fender or something else altogether?


I checked the serial number in the Fender database and got the following:
Serial #: V112810 | Model #: 0190209205 | Description: 62 J-BASS RW OWT EXP | Date: 11/1998


So — is this a legitimate '62 American Vintage Reissue, or is there anything here that raises a red flag? I have a 30-day return policy so I'm covered either way, but I'd really love to nail down the exact specs and history of this instrument. I have more photos if needed. Thanks in advance!

Mine looks a lot like this, right down to the VVT swap and creative refinish (different finish than yours but looks great). It is my most comfortable to play bass, enjoy it.

 

[75Ric]

My '62 AVRI has stacked knobs. It was made in 2012.

 

[Mastermold]

My '62 AVRI has stacked knobs. It was made in 2012.


View attachment 7459031

View attachment 7459029

This is my 2008 when new — photo from TPB website when it was still Olympic White. Now it's a cream color.

 

[Tomek Worek]

View attachment 7459202
This is my 2008 when new — photo from TPB website when it was still Olympic White. Now it's a cream color.

Cool, do you have a current photo? I'm interested in how these things age I want to believe my soon to be bass is originally white, that has just aged for 30 years and not a refin, but who knows?

 

[5StringBlues]

Cool, do you have a current photo? I'm interested in how these things age I want to believe my soon to be bass is originally white, that has just aged for 30 years and not a refin, but who knows?

Look under pick guard?

 

[5StringBlues]

Look under pick guard?

Sorry, just noticed you said "soon to be bass".

Durr.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Hello TalkBass! I recently purchased a bass online and should have it in hand next week. However, I'm not entirely sure of the exact model — the seller listed it as an American Vintage Reissue from 1998, and I'd love some help identifying it more precisely.


Here's where it gets fuzzy: the controls are VVT, which made me wonder — would that make this a '64 reissue rather than a '62? Or was the '62 reissue actually using VVT in that era? I'm aware the Japanese '62 Jazz Basses typically came with VVT, so perhaps the same applied stateside. For what it's worth, the seller mentioned the knobs themselves were swapped out at some point, so I'm not reading too much into those. There is also no "made in U.S.A" decal, is that something that AVRIs from that era have in common, or could that be a well - aged Japanese Fender or something else altogether?


I checked the serial number in the Fender database and got the following:
Serial #: V112810 | Model #: 0190209205 | Description: 62 J-BASS RW OWT EXP | Date: 11/1998


So — is this a legitimate '62 American Vintage Reissue, or is there anything here that raises a red flag? I have a 30-day return policy so I'm covered either way, but I'd really love to nail down the exact specs and history of this instrument. I have more photos if needed. Thanks in advance!

This is a '62 Reissue Jazz Bass, made is USA, that someone swapped out the concentric pots for a standard V-V-T setup. This is a common mod as the concentric pots can be a little clunky for some players. I had one and I didn't particularly like that setup myself. Paradoxically I love the concentric pots on my USA Lakland 4460 (probably because they're much smoother than the Fender units).

 

[Rayjay]

Fender Japan made a '62 as well, "Vintage Reissue" JB-62 model. That one was V-V-T. Not sure about markings or hootenanny buttons or other details, but they are very similar including in name.

 

[Matt O]

Hello TalkBass! I recently purchased a bass online and should have it in hand next week. However, I'm not entirely sure of the exact model — the seller listed it as an American Vintage Reissue from 1998, and I'd love some help identifying it more precisely.


Here's where it gets fuzzy: the controls are VVT, which made me wonder — would that make this a '64 reissue rather than a '62? Or was the '62 reissue actually using VVT in that era? I'm aware the Japanese '62 Jazz Basses typically came with VVT, so perhaps the same applied stateside. For what it's worth, the seller mentioned the knobs themselves were swapped out at some point, so I'm not reading too much into those. There is also no "made in U.S.A" decal, is that something that AVRIs from that era have in common, or could that be a well - aged Japanese Fender or something else altogether?


I checked the serial number in the Fender database and got the following:
Serial #: V112810 | Model #: 0190209205 | Description: 62 J-BASS RW OWT EXP | Date: 11/1998


So — is this a legitimate '62 American Vintage Reissue, or is there anything here that raises a red flag? I have a 30-day return policy so I'm covered either way, but I'd really love to nail down the exact specs and history of this instrument. I have more photos if needed. Thanks in advance!

There's no reason I can see that points to your future bass being anything other than a 98 AVRI 62 Jazz. Someone did swap the pots for sure. Your bass has a grounding strap, so it wouldn't be a 64 reissue.

A quick search on Fender's serial number lookup tells us it's a 98 62 reissue Jazz in Olympic White (OWT). So, congrats it's not a refin. The yellow is the aged nitro clearcoat. The 75 Mustang in my avatar pic is Olympic White, the clear coat yellowed to full banana!

 

[InhumanResource]

Fender Japan made a '62 as well, "Vintage Reissue" JB-62 model. That one was V-V-T. Not sure about markings or hootenanny buttons or other details, but they are very similar including in name.

JB62's look a little different, they have an MIJ/CIJ stamp on the neck heel and the ground strap is a skinny little jawn compared to these. Super cool basses in their own right, I got one of these as well.

 

[Mastermold]

Cool, do you have a current photo? I'm interested in how these things age I want to believe my soon to be bass is originally white, that has just aged for 30 years and not a refin, but who knows?

Most of my photos are under stage lights but I found one in natural light from several years ago. Hard to tell but it's cream color now.

 

[petermwright]

With that grounding strip, I don't see that it could be a '64 reissue. I mean, I know nothing about the AVRI series reissues, but I do know that Fender stopped using the external grounding strip in 1962 or 1963.

 

[Gunga Din]

There's no reason I can see that points to your future bass being anything other than a 98 AVRI 62 Jazz. Someone did swap the pots for sure. Your bass has a grounding strap, so it wouldn't be a 64 reissue.

A quick search on Fender's serial number lookup tells us it's a 98 62 reissue Jazz in Olympic White (OWT). So, congrats it's not a refin. The yellow is the aged nitro clearcoat. The 75 Mustang in my avatar pic is Olympic White, the clear coat yellowed to full banana!

View attachment 7459373

Yep. I'd put that baby back to a stackpot.

 

[brianrost]

This is a '62 Reissue Jazz Bass, made is USA, that someone swapped out the concentric pots for a standard V-V-T setup. This is a common mod as the concentric pots can be a little clunky for some players.

The two sound different! Although each pickup has it's own tone control, they interact with each other in a way I never was comfortable with on mine.