I was looking over '62 Jazz bass reissues on Reverb yesterday and came across this listing:
Fender Jazz Bass ‘62 RI 1994 Candy Apple Red matching headstock MIJ
If it was local I would have tried it out, and if it played well and sounded good it would have been a done deal because I LOVE that color and matching headstock. But a couple of things didn't look right to me specific to this being a '62 RI (listed below), so I'm reaching out to the TB community for your thoughts.
Overall, my questions for you are simply:
1) What about this listing (and the merchant's answers to my questions below) says this is or is not a '62 RI?
2) If not a '62 RI, any educated guesses on what model it could be?
I spent most of yesterday afternoon researching MIJ '62 Jazz reissues (a lot of reading here on TB, various other googled sources, and comparing to other Reverb MIJ '62 RI listings). Based on that, here's what doesn't look right to me: a) the head stock decals. Merely "Fender - Jazz Bass - Made in Japan". None of the other "contour body", etc. b) No extra strap pin on the back of the headstock. c) No ground strip between the bridge pickup and bridge. d) Not necessarily about it being a '62 RI but more about it being a 1994 bass: MIJ serial numbers that are T+6 digits could be 1994-95, but could also be 2007-2010.
I messaged the merchant the following questions. Merchant's reply in italics, my editorial comment in brackets.
1) Anything non-original or any modifications? It’s possible the pickguard is an American replacement. It could be original, but I’m not really positive. [It's possible the person responding to the questions was not the same person that wrote up the listing. But my first thought was that in the listing they stated that while there were holes in the pickguard for thumb rest and pickup cover, there were no holes drilled into the body. Personally, I would not be sure without taking off the pickguard.]
2) You had noted that the neck is straight, but can you tell me if the truss rod is functioning? Yes
3) Were there any identifying marks on the heel of the neck or in the neck pocket? I have not removed the neck from the body. The serial is on the backside of the neck. [Again the person replying may not be the person who wrote the listing, but my first thought was: if you haven't removed the neck from the body, how can you be sure the truss rod works? Second thought was: wouldn't you want to check for any markings to further validate your claims about the model and year?]
4) Is there a ground strip between the bridge pickup and the bridge? No visible ground strap
5) Are the bridge saddles threaded or slotted? They have ridges just like the 60’s saddles. [After zooming in on the pics it does look like threaded saddles.]
6) Is there the additional "hootenany" strap peg behind the headstock? No extra strap pin in the backside of headstock.
So what do you think, TB? '62 RI or some other model? (And if consensus is that this is another model, I don't think they are trying to defraud anyone. Maybe they just don't know what they have?)
Fender Jazz Bass ‘62 RI 1994 Candy Apple Red matching headstock MIJ
If it was local I would have tried it out, and if it played well and sounded good it would have been a done deal because I LOVE that color and matching headstock. But a couple of things didn't look right to me specific to this being a '62 RI (listed below), so I'm reaching out to the TB community for your thoughts.
Overall, my questions for you are simply:
1) What about this listing (and the merchant's answers to my questions below) says this is or is not a '62 RI?
2) If not a '62 RI, any educated guesses on what model it could be?
I spent most of yesterday afternoon researching MIJ '62 Jazz reissues (a lot of reading here on TB, various other googled sources, and comparing to other Reverb MIJ '62 RI listings). Based on that, here's what doesn't look right to me: a) the head stock decals. Merely "Fender - Jazz Bass - Made in Japan". None of the other "contour body", etc. b) No extra strap pin on the back of the headstock. c) No ground strip between the bridge pickup and bridge. d) Not necessarily about it being a '62 RI but more about it being a 1994 bass: MIJ serial numbers that are T+6 digits could be 1994-95, but could also be 2007-2010.
I messaged the merchant the following questions. Merchant's reply in italics, my editorial comment in brackets.
1) Anything non-original or any modifications? It’s possible the pickguard is an American replacement. It could be original, but I’m not really positive. [It's possible the person responding to the questions was not the same person that wrote up the listing. But my first thought was that in the listing they stated that while there were holes in the pickguard for thumb rest and pickup cover, there were no holes drilled into the body. Personally, I would not be sure without taking off the pickguard.]
2) You had noted that the neck is straight, but can you tell me if the truss rod is functioning? Yes
3) Were there any identifying marks on the heel of the neck or in the neck pocket? I have not removed the neck from the body. The serial is on the backside of the neck. [Again the person replying may not be the person who wrote the listing, but my first thought was: if you haven't removed the neck from the body, how can you be sure the truss rod works? Second thought was: wouldn't you want to check for any markings to further validate your claims about the model and year?]
4) Is there a ground strip between the bridge pickup and the bridge? No visible ground strap
5) Are the bridge saddles threaded or slotted? They have ridges just like the 60’s saddles. [After zooming in on the pics it does look like threaded saddles.]
6) Is there the additional "hootenany" strap peg behind the headstock? No extra strap pin in the backside of headstock.
So what do you think, TB? '62 RI or some other model? (And if consensus is that this is another model, I don't think they are trying to defraud anyone. Maybe they just don't know what they have?)
