Help with a Japanese Jazz Bass value

[JoeThomas]

Once again I'm turning to the sages on this forum for some help.
Someone wants to trade my guitar valued at $400 for this bass.
I looked up the serial number and it appears to be a 97 - 98 Japanese bass. He's saying that it still plays well but I'm a bit concerned about the overall condition. Bridge, the stripe in the center by the pickups and some other things in the pics.
I haven't seen it yet but before I go just want to get some opinions from the best.
Thanks in advance!

 

[JoeThomas]

Also, pickups are Ultra Jazz and yes, it's left handed.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

good deal IMO

 

[JoeThomas]

good deal IMO

Thanks for the reply!

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Japanese made Fenders are very good, and lefties would presumably be somewhat rare. I'd do this deal!

 

[JoeThomas]

Keep it 'relic' or update?

 

[P Cheen]

Talkbass rules state that you have to be a supporting member to ask about a bass’ value, but yes this seems like a good deal. Needs lots of love (that stringing job is horrendous) but good deal.

Looks like a JB-62? What is the serial no. prefix?

 

[P Cheen]

Keep it 'relic' or update?

Up to you, but IME don’t upgrade just for the sake of it. You’d be wasting money that way.
Good luck!

 

[JoeThomas]

Talkbass rules state that you have to be a supporting member to ask about a bass’ value, but yes this seems like a good deal. Needs lots of love (that stringing job is horrendous) but good deal.

Looks like a JB-62? What is the serial no. prefix?

Prefix is 'A'

 

[JoeThomas]

Talkbass rules state that you have to be a supporting member to ask about a bass’ value, but yes this seems like a good deal. Needs lots of love (that stringing job is horrendous) but good deal.

Looks like a JB-62? What is the serial no. prefix?

Appreciate the heads up on the value.
Thanks!

 

[PJ Muzikmansky]

Japanese made Fenders are very good, and lefties would presumably be somewhat rare. I'd do this deal!

Well, some Japanese Fenders are *very* good.

Some are good.

Some are hit and miss.

I've owned two, both reissues - A '57 Precision and a '62 Jazz.

Both had poor quality tuning machines. The pickups on the P were just OK. The pickups on the J were below par. Playability on both was nothing to write home about. Both were sold.

I have a good friend who has a Japanese Fender 70's reissue P that he continually raves about. I played it at a backyard BBQ gig a while back, and was totally underwhelmed.

For that particular model - and judging from logo it looks to be an 'entry' level J - in that sort of condition, I wouldn't go much more than $250 Aussie dollars. That's about $200 US.

 

[Volker Kirstein]

..., the stripe in the center by the pickups ...

The "stripe" is a bridge ground, a flat wire. Dunno which years Fender did that.

 

[P Cheen]

Well, some Japanese Fenders are *very* good.

Some are good.

Some are hit and miss.

I've owned two, both reissues - A '57 Precision and a '62 Jazz.

Both had poor quality tuning machines. The pickups on the P were just OK. The pickups on the J were below par. Playability on both was nothing to write home about. Both were sold.

I have a good friend who has a Japanese Fender 70's reissue P that he continually raves about. I played it at a backyard BBQ gig a while back, and was totally underwhelmed.

For that particular model - and judging from logo it looks to be an 'entry' level J - in that sort of condition, I wouldn't go much more than $250 Aussie dollars. That's about $200 US.

I agree about the shortcomings of MIJ Fenders, namely the hardware and pickups, but IME the build has always been better than MIM and at least on par with MIAs.

In the Asia Pacific region I agree they can go for that cheap - around US$200 - but in the US you can’t even get a decent Squier for that much.

 

[Tmw2011]

I'd be all over it, if I were a lefty, considering for the lack of common availability for you southpaws. As far as the 'Keep it relic or update it", that's gonna be down to your personal preference, but I'd probably keep it as is for a while to see where it goes, and then if the relic starts to irk me too much, a refin would be in the cards.

 

[Deleted member 365158]

Will you be able to play it before you trade for it? That will be the biggest determining factor.
I would leave the finish alone personally. Any other “upgrades” would come later IF they were needed to suite personal taste.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

Well, some Japanese Fenders are *very* good.

Some are good.

Some are hit and miss.

I've owned two, both reissues - A '57 Precision and a '62 Jazz.

Both had poor quality tuning machines. The pickups on the P were just OK. The pickups on the J were below par. Playability on both was nothing to write home about. Both were sold.

I have a good friend who has a Japanese Fender 70's reissue P that he continually raves about. I played it at a backyard BBQ gig a while back, and was totally underwhelmed.

For that particular model - and judging from logo it looks to be an 'entry' level J - in that sort of condition, I wouldn't go much more than $250 Aussie dollars. That's about $200 US.

I've also had two Japanese Fenders. A '75 Jazz Reissue and a 50s P Bass. Still have and use the P. Both basses needed pickup upgrades and the Jazz I ended up putting a Badass bridge and Schaller tuners. Nice basses; definitely not as good as any US Fender. But overall, good for the money. Trading a $400 guitar for the one in the OP seems like a good score. Japanese Fender basses sell for much more than that.

 

[Smooth_bass88]

FWIW: there are three lefty MIJ Jazz Basses on reverb right now, each with an asking price of a thousand bucks.

 

[Herrick]

I'm far from a Fender expert, but isn't it weird that the headstock just says "Fender" on it and nothing else?

 

[gln1955]

I'm far from a Fender expert, but isn't it weird that the headstock just says "Fender" on it and nothing else?

Unusual, but correct for this model.

 

[MCF]

Keep it 'relic' or update?

It's a road worn player. Seems a fair deal assuming the neck is sound. Clean it up some, string it properly with new rounds and it'll bet it'll turn out to be a cool bass.