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Help! Thoughts on this Fender?

A

AllieGBass99

Apr 30, 2023
5
9
#1
IMG_5353.jpeg
Hi Low Enders,
I’m looking at purchasing a second bass as back up. Does anyone have input/info on Fender Jazz bass 1993-84 MIJ? And in general price point if it’s in very good condition? The ad says “looks original” I know some bassists here know their stuff so hoping for feedback. See photos
IMG_5351.jpeg
IMG_5352.jpeg

Thank you thank you thank you
 
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#2
Hey man, I would stay away from this one.

What worries me is the possibility of a twisted neck. Notice how the E string is severely positioned to the left towards the middle of the neck (also seems pretty high from the other strings)? From my experience, that’s usually a tall tell sign of a twisted or otherwise jacked up neck (could also mean a maxed out truss rod).

Perhaps someone more informed can correct me, but that’s the first thing I look for whenever I’m looking at pictures of used basses.
 
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#10
Though certainly suspicious, the front of the headstock doesn't especially bother me as it could be the result of someone sanding it, applying new varnish then applying a Fender water slide logo. Can't say anything about the rest of the bass.

[Update]
The "Made in Japan" stamp also looks suspicious. It looks bolder and crisper than the other nearby text. Almost as if someone stamped it atop a "Made in China" or similar stamp.

I'd stay away from this bass. There are many thousands of legit Fender Jazz basses in the wild.
 
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#14
That's a very clean '62 reissue. The neck may need to be adjusted in the pocket to correct string alignment.

Apart from general questions (such as: does the truss rod work?), you may want to ask which model it is. The Japanese reissues can have alder bodies or basswood bodies, domestic pickups or US pickups, and potentially different hardware. The model name will be J62 followed by a number. The higher the number, the higher the spec. From the mid '90s a JB-58 will have a basswood body and Japanese pickups. A J62-80 will have a three piece alder body, US pickups and 60s spec bridge saddles. A J62-100 will have lacquer finish on the body on top of the JB-80 specs. The numbers for left hand models may differ, but will follow a similar pattern.
 
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#15
Both @murphy and @BobKos are correct:

- lefties omitted model name. And, some early USA examples and the Japanese version, the ‘Comfort Contour’ on the ball end of the hs is omitted (due to the high desire for authenticity in the Japanese market).

- MIJ and (most, if not all) CIJ had the serial numbers in gold lettering under the ‘Made/Crafted in Japan’ waterslide.

- I’m not too sure of the twisted neck theory being valid. The picture may be a trick on the eye: the strings seem aligned with the pole pieces, so a misalignment in the neck pocket would be most likely and easily remedied (and I might add, NOT shocking, when discussing Fender or other bolt on neck products).

Other than that, MIJ/CIJ are considered to be superior to USA products in some instances, especially the mid-80’s when USA products were winding down/abysmal (and not produced in 84-85, if I remember correctly).
 
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