Inconsequential controversies in basses today...

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

But it’s bad design. A slip of a screwdriver can affect the grounding of the instrument. Even Fender stopped doing this because it’s not a good idea. It’s a cosmetic touch that adds a tiny amount of nitpicky OCD satisfaction while increasing the range of things that can affect reliability.

It’s a bug that is touted as a feature purely because it’s retro. I bet you there are some basses that are grounded via an internally connected wire but still have the strip.

Mh.. so? Buying an AVRI ‘64 or Am. Original 60’s jazz bass to remove the strip would make you happy? If yes then do it ehm..

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

The pots (Taiwanese), tuners (Japanese), pickguard material (Chinese), fret wire, type of woods (laminated rosewood on the MiA with clay dots, as opposed to MOP on the MiM), type of finishing (save the tint on the maple of the neck) and bridge are the same on both. Arguably, the tug bar, the pups, the nut material and the burst are what's significantly different.

From what I hear, the pups are more than capable to hold their own against any other Fender-provided stock pup in a Jazz, so the deal they make about the '64 pups, I think is a bit much.

Here's another wrinkle, though, at another price point - (ignore the ashtray and the neck pup cover, it's not like you can't put them on the other two):
View attachment 3155800

No same price as Am. Original, same pickups and same pickup covers as the Am. Original is sold with the covers not installed but inside the case

Nite:

I forgot, same grounding strip at the bridge ...

 

[MtManiac]

I would get the MIA simply because the 'lacquer' thing annoys me. These are sealed, primed bodies with a nitro finish on the top. And it is modern nitro with more plasticisers to stop all that pesky checking and stuff. The sealers (etc) will be the same stuff that they bury under a poly finish, so there is no advantage. Maybe the finish wears down quicker?

Ummm... anyone want to tell him, or should I?

(They’re both modern nitro.)

 

[MtManiac]

I owned a ‘57 AVRI P from 2010 to 2017, when I sold it. I sold it because in 2014 I bought a Classic 50s Lacquer, and found that other than the pickup, the case, and the colour, they were essentially the same bass. One was more expensive. It paid for Christmas!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

... yes but something really funny hasn't been picked up yet ... MIM got lacquer & 5 patents markings on the headstock, but haven’t got the copper strip of the MIJ ones ... it’s like Fender protects its American line of instruments with this simple tricks which are silly but very effective for those caring for a true vintage look ...

 

[chris_b]

I just see 2 3ts, tort, rw jazzes.. . . my ideal set of parameters.

Now if they sound good, play comfortably and weigh less than 9lbs they are on the home straight. The final test will be a comparison between them and my current jazz.

 

[Iridescentone]

A slip of a screwdriver can affect the grounding of the instrument. Even Fender stopped doing this because it’s not a good idea. It’s a cosmetic touch that adds a tiny amount of nitpicky OCD satisfaction while increasing the range of things that can affect reliability.

I must be missing something....in what scenario might a slip of a screwdriver affect grounding?

It seems more likely that Fender stopped using the external ground strip to....

a) save money.

b) improve aesthetics due to many players removing their chrome bridge covers, thus exposing the unsightly ground strap.