Is my mij jazz original ?

[Elusive1]

It's legit, I can vouch for it as I have the same bass (only mine's sunburst). It's the model Fender Japan called the '62 Reissue Jazz Bass (usually abbreviated as JB62), though I'm not sure why they called it that when not all of the features are specific to 1962; it's more like a '60s-themed Jazz with various features from the '60s combined. Mine was exactly like yours before I had parts replaced/added to be even more period-correct to '62

The following are accurate to '62 (early '60s in general)
- exposed grounding strip between the bridge pickup and bridgeplate (2nd pic)
- "offset contour" decal right next to the "Jazz Bass" decal on the headstock (3rd pic)
- bold font in gold lettering for the brand logo (3rd pic)
- template holes for pickup cover, and also for tugbar instead of thumbrest (4th pic)

Whereas the following are features introduced in the late '60s (possibly early '70s)
- single-slot bridge saddles (2nd pic) (early-mid '60s Fender basses had bridges with threaded saddles)
- generic tuners (3rd pic) (early-mid '60s Fender basses had 'reverse' tuners)

Unique to Fender Japan? (up till 2015)
- serial number at neck heel (5th pic)

 

[Kukulkan61]

Looks legit, the bridge is definitely Japan..

 

[crankypants]

Looks real to me.

I have a MIJ F-series s/n fretless J from '86-'87. My headstock decals are different (no "contour body" on mine) but that doesn't mean yours isn't real. All the hardware looks exactly like mine.

@Elusive1 has the best advice above.

 

[okabass]

Serial number says it's 1991-1992.
Japanese Fender Serial Numbers - Guitar Repair Bench

 

[JohnDL]

Bought a fender jazz bass and want to know is this bass real or fake. What do you think ? Looks legit to me

Look fine to me. You could check the pots to see made in Japan as extra confirmation.

 

[bassmanrocke]

There was a period where the posts on the Japanese tuners were smaller than standard fender tuners. It makes of the proportion of the headstock a bit different. I'm pretty sure the neck is genuine, really can't tell about the body online. But it sure is pretty

 

[Frenchy-Lefty]

To use a wine analogy, spending time and money making a "fake MIJ bass" would be the same as making a fake bottle of Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

[interpol129]

Serial number says it's 1991-1992.
Japanese Fender Serial Numbers - Guitar Repair Bench

No, it's U serial. And its from 2010-2012 period.

 

[Skillet]

It's not a type of bass that's worth enough for anyone to spend the time and energy to try to fake. It is a bass that has an excellent reputation for playability and quality of construction.
Enjoy.

 

[reddog]

Hope you dont have any CITES issues.

 

[StatesideRambler]

Is there some reason you might consider it a museum piece? All I’d be concerned with is, how does it play and sound? If you paid a premium price and it’s a drag to play then it doesn’t matter if Leo himself made it. If the price was reasonable, it feels good and sounds good it is good.

 

[okabass]

No, it's U serial. And its from 2010-2012 period.

Ok. I saw it as L.

 

[interpol129]

Hope you dont have any CITES issues

could it be ? I bought Mim jazz bass with rosewood fretboard from USA few months ago and it delivered without any problems

 

[Chrisk-K]

Why would anyone want to fake a MIJ Fender?

 

[halfwound121]

I have an MIJ Jazz with the Made In Japan decal but without the external bridge ground. The headstock looks identical to mine. I would guess legit and will increase in value.

 

[MotorCityMinion]

Why would anyone want to fake a MIJ Fender?

In the watch world, to get around the Fake / counterfeit issue of high end watches, they leave the brand name off the watch, no Rolex or whatever watch they are trying to copy, and call it a Homage. The build quality on some of the watches is astounding. Most being made in China. Now the Homage watches are starting to be faked because of their reputation. Anywhere a buck can be made. MIJ Fenders have a good rep and might actually be worth faking.

 

[interpol129]

It's me again. I finally separated neck from the body, neck looks legit, but there is no writings on pocket