You make me guilty! This should belong to “Fender junkies” like you who would appreciate it. I only just saw this bass guitar for the first time today. It (apparently) has been in our closet for “four or five years” according to my husband. He is not inquisitive like me so when I saw it today and asked him about it and he knew nothing, I started researching. Like I said he had wanted to learn to play but ...four or five years in a closet? I don’t think he’s got plans anytime soon lol. We will get it checked out. Thanks to all of you for helping us to learn more about it!@jenij927; In all seriousness, though, I'm certain quite a few of us Fender-Japan junkies are wondering how much work would have to go into giving that lovely beast a top-to-bottom cleaning, a proper setup, maybe replacing some of the more corroded parts and rockin' the ever-lovin' crap out of it.
I, for one, would probably attack it with a good body-finish and fretboard conditioning kit, replace the brass grounding strip, the rusty pickguard screws and maybe even the bridge and/or tuners if they won't function properly, then hand it over to my local guitar tech for a full-on setup. He'd be able to assess any problems with the neck's truss rod, as well as the pickups and electronics.
…if it were mine, that is.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
And you make me tempted to make a fair offer. (Un?)fortunately, I already have enough black-finished basses AND just purchased a new bass just last weekend. So, as it stands, you are safe from me throwing monies at your general personage.
As to the rest of these savages, I make no excuses.
Sigh, a E series MIJ jazz, what a nice find.
The E series MIJ basses are fairly well regarded, in general, bass to bass, many consider them equal to, or better than, made in the USA Fender basses from the same years.
That one looks like it will clean up nicely.
Congrats on a nice Jazz.
The E series MIJ basses are fairly well regarded, in general, bass to bass, many consider them equal to, or better than, made in the USA Fender basses from the same years.
That one looks like it will clean up nicely.
Congrats on a nice Jazz.
Sigh, a E series MIJ jazz, what a nice find.
The E series MIJ basses are fairly well regarded, in general, bass to bass, many consider them equal to, or better than, made in the USA Fender basses from the same years.
That one looks like it will clean up nicely.
Congrats on a nice Jazz.
The E series MIJ basses are fairly well regarded, in general, bass to bass, many consider them equal to, or better than, made in the USA Fender basses from the same years.
That one looks like it will clean up nicely.
Congrats on a nice Jazz.
Yay!!! The broken ground strip from the pickup to the bridge isn't that big a deal, on early Jazz basses this was how they grounded the bridge rather than rout a channel through the body into the control cavity. A good cleaning you can do yourself, and checking the truss rod isn't something I'd be too concerned about unless the bass has been abused (which doesn't seem to be the case here) or the strings are really high off the neck and the neck looked bowed. I thought Fender ceased Japanese manufacturing a year or two ago. That would increase the value of all of those instruments eventually. Best to you and welcome to TB.
Last edited:
Thank you!Sigh, a E series MIJ jazz, what a nice find.
The E series MIJ basses are fairly well regarded, in general, bass to bass, many consider them equal to, or better than, made in the USA Fender basses from the same years.
That one looks like it will clean up nicely.
Congrats on a nice Jazz.
Nah. While the joint venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai is no more (re: ended in 2015), Fender took over production, marketing, distribution, etc…, in the Land Of The Rising Sun. They still produce Japanese-made instruments, but what I don't know is which factory they're produced at. Fuji-Gen? Dyna-Gakki? Someone else? This enquiring mind wants to know!
I remember the threads here on TB about the end of the MIJ Fenders, but hadn't heard any more about it since. Thank you for the info. Unless, of course it's subterfuge to try luring the OP into selling you a fine bass for a pittance. Far be it from me to judge anyone here, but as you were quick to point out, we're savages.Nah. While the joint venture between FMIC and Kanda-Shokai is no more (re: ended in 2015), Fender took over production, marketing, distribution, etc…, in the Land Of The Rising Sun. They still produce Japanese-made instruments, but what I don't know is which factory they're produced at. Fuji-Gen? Dyna-Gakki? Someone else? This enquiring mind wants to know!
I remember the threads here on TB about the end of the MIJ Fenders, but hadn't heard any more about it since. Thank you for the info. Unless, of course it's subterfuge to try luring the OP into selling you a fine bass for a pittance. Far be it from me to judge anyone here, but as you were quick to point out, we're savages.
I have a MIJ Jazz Bass Special of that era and it is far more worn/corroded than that. I would be surprised if there was much wrong with this bass, but it really depends on the neck. If I got it, I wouldn't replace anything that was functional.@jenij927; In all seriousness, though, I'm certain quite a few of us Fender-Japan junkies are wondering how much work would have to go into giving that lovely beast a top-to-bottom cleaning, a proper setup, maybe replacing some of the more corroded parts and rockin' the ever-lovin' crap out of it.
I, for one, would probably attack it with a good body-finish and fretboard conditioning kit, replace the brass grounding strip, the rusty pickguard screws and maybe even the bridge and/or tuners if they won't function properly, then hand it over to my local guitar tech for a full-on setup. He'd be able to assess any problems with the neck's truss rod, as well as the pickups and electronics.
…if it were mine, that is.
It's likely a very nice bass!
@jamro217 thanks! I appreciated your comments.I remember the threads here on TB about the end of the MIJ Fenders, but hadn't heard any more about it since. Thank you for the info. Unless, of course it's subterfuge to try luring the OP into selling you a fine bass for a pittance. Far be it from me to judge anyone here, but as you were quick to point out, we're savages.
The ground strip that runs between the bridge pickup and the bridge is in need of repair and it runs from the pickup grounding plate or the bridge. If you are lucky it just was pulled out from under the bridge and it can be reattached to the bridge by a good repairman. It is a feature that was used on the first Fender Jazz basses of 1960-1962 and it was incorporated into the Japanese version of the Jazz bass as your 1988 bass demonstrates.
That bass also has what is referred to as a slab style fingerboard which is again a feature of the original 1960 Fender Jazz bass. Those Japan made basses are well made and they are nice instruments.
That bass also has what is referred to as a slab style fingerboard which is again a feature of the original 1960 Fender Jazz bass. Those Japan made basses are well made and they are nice instruments.
Last edited:
