Hey guys. I'm looking to pick up a used US Jazz bass and I'm a bit concerned about it being an "American Traditional". After doing some reading on here I found out that a serial number beginning with "N9xxxxx" could either be a US Standard or an American Traditional from 1999-2000, is there a way of telling which is which? If I posted some pictures of the bass could you guys tell the difference? When I checked the serial number on Guitar Dater Project it said that it was made in Corona California. Cheers in advance for any help!
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Legit US Fender Jazz?
- Thread starter DeiseBassman
- Start date
Well the headstock for one. Also the grooved bridge that does not top load, correct?
I'd have to see the neck pocket to be positive. No skunk stripe? Schaller Hipshot style
chrome tuners with the F stamp? Corona on the neckplate?
Pic of the neckplate and back of neck and headstock will clinch it.
I'd have to see the neck pocket to be positive. No skunk stripe? Schaller Hipshot style
chrome tuners with the F stamp? Corona on the neckplate?
Pic of the neckplate and back of neck and headstock will clinch it.
I have seen a pic of the neckplate and it does say Fender Corona California on it. No pics of the back of the headstock unfortunately.
The bridge looks legit and it's through body. The pick guard isn't original. The back of the headstock would tell more, but people don't usually try to pass of '99/'00 fake Fenders. They go for older ones. I assume that considering the fake relicing that the price is really good.
It has the ugly spaghetti Fender logo which was never indicative of early jazz basses or none their of since the mid nineties. The Mexican and Japan versions have the classic Fender logos.
I would agree with the point fore mentioned that a fakes are usually vintage models.
I would agree with the point fore mentioned that a fakes are usually vintage models.
How come my '96 Fender Jazz which I bought new doesn't have a Fender Corona stamp on the neckplate?
My guess would be that since this bass was made so close to the transition into the American Series (2000), which have the Corona neckplate, it could very well have been the 'in stock' neckplates used during the run when this was made ... Fender is notorious for 'transition' basses to have a bit of the old and the new for a brief period ... for instance, this bass could have been made May or June of 2000, and the American Series was introduced in July ...
I must admit, I feel fairly informed about modern era Fender Jazzes, but I have very rarely even seen the term "American Traditional" used ... my best knowledge of them would be a bit of a cost cutting measure (like an early attempt at a Hwy 1) by Fender around the mid 90's, which basically supplied foreign markets with a more 'economical' version of American Standards at the time, using Mexican and possibly even Asian made components ... I guess when it comes right down to it I dont think I have ever even seen one ...
When I hear the words Fender and Traditional together, I usually always just think of the Black Label Fender era, which featured the Squier Series basses in "Traditional" and not, with the Traditional using a multi ply pickgaurd (they were the one piece style) and somewhat better hardware and possibly electronics ... the key here, was the black label and the one piece pickguard, and lower cost components
I suspect that there may have been the label 'Traditional" used in conjunction with a Fender bass that used the common pickguard/control plate, but I cant imagine it would have the components we are seeing on this OP's inquiry, such as STB with a slotted bass plate bridge, Corona neckplate, etc. as pointed out ... granted, bolt ons can be changed, but if the inquiry was not even asked to compare, I dont see anything even remote with the OP bass that would have made me challenge that it was an authentic late run early American Standard ... and if I am mislead, I hope somone will educate me about what I am missing ... JMHO
When I hear the words Fender and Traditional together, I usually always just think of the Black Label Fender era, which featured the Squier Series basses in "Traditional" and not, with the Traditional using a multi ply pickgaurd (they were the one piece style) and somewhat better hardware and possibly electronics ... the key here, was the black label and the one piece pickguard, and lower cost components
I suspect that there may have been the label 'Traditional" used in conjunction with a Fender bass that used the common pickguard/control plate, but I cant imagine it would have the components we are seeing on this OP's inquiry, such as STB with a slotted bass plate bridge, Corona neckplate, etc. as pointed out ... granted, bolt ons can be changed, but if the inquiry was not even asked to compare, I dont see anything even remote with the OP bass that would have made me challenge that it was an authentic late run early American Standard ... and if I am mislead, I hope somone will educate me about what I am missing ... JMHO
