• 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.

MiJ J-basses quality nowadays?

R

rochefort

Guest
Mar 14, 2017
66
14
#1
Hi

I found a really nice MiJ J-bass that I pulled the pre-order trigger on, but I just wanted to know if MiJ basses are still as good as they were back in the days, compared to the US-models? If you diden't know, then I am of course talking about the Fender J-basses.

Thanks in advance
 
#4
rochefort said:
They do - they still do the FSR runs as MiJ.
Click to expand...

That must be new for this year, got a link? They stopped Japanese production a few years ago and there was a bunch of chatter about it. I haven't heard anything about them resuming production but I certainly wouldn't complain about seeing some Japanese Fenders back on the block.
 
#5
rochefort said:
Hi

I found a really nice MiJ J-bass that I pulled the pre-order trigger on, but I just wanted to know if MiJ basses are still as good as they were back in the days, compared to the US-models? If you diden't know, then I am of course talking about the Fender J-basses.

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

Welcome to TalkBass!!!!!

Do you have a few more details on exactly which bass you ordered? From where? There is (or was) still a "Japan Exclusive Series" at one point. But the regular relationship between Fender and Fender Japan ended in 2015. So you might be buying new old stock. Either way, we can certainly help more with more information. I own a mid 80s MIJ P bass that is great and had a '93 MIJ Jazz that was great also. I sold a ton of them when I worked at a store some years back and they were all fantastic.
 
  • Like
Reactions: organworthyplayer337, Roberto Nunez and Mvilmany
#7
No kidding! This is great news! Here's an article from that same internet dealer.
Invalid Link Removed

If this is true, I have no reason to believe they are any less outstanding than they were before. If they make an Aerodyne 5 I'll be all over it.
 
#8
two fingers said:
No kidding! This is great news! Here's an article from that same internet dealer.
Invalid Link Removed

If this is true, I have no reason to believe they are any less outstanding than they were before. If they make an Aerodyne 5 I'll be all over it.
Click to expand...

I see - thanks for the link. Well, they also have a limited edition Aerodyne for sale, so there's that!
 
#10
Yeah to stay on your topic, I wouldn't hesitate at all. Go for it. Fender Japan always made great instruments. And if you get it, please post a NBD (New Bass Day) thread with your thoughts and first impressions. This is potentially exciting, especially if they will be available here in the states too.
 
#13
ajkula66 said:
The bass looks fine but a thousand quid? I'll admit to not knowing where the prices stand in the UK nowadays, but that sure seems like a lot of money to me...

On a different note, the "60s" designation is somewhat misleading given the ash body and the poly finish, at least IMO.
Click to expand...

Honestly, the price is pretty much dead on. I would expect them to be priced between a Mexi and the American. American Pro is going for $1,500 US. Standard Mexi is going for $600. In the middle is $1,050. The price for the MIJ in Euros (1,007) converts to $1,069 US. So there you have it. Sure, it's higher than it used to be, but so is everything else.
 
#14
two fingers said:
The price for the MIJ in Euros (1,007) converts to $1,069 US. So there you have it. Sure, it's higher than it used to be, but so is everything else.
Click to expand...

That's Pound Sterling, my friend. Not Euros. So it comes to roughly $1225.

I used to live/work in the UK and had a pretty sweet deal going on with the Fender - through my boss at the time - some 30 years ago. Japanese Vintage was about 1/3 of the price when compared to U.S. Vintage one back in those days.

Having said that, I haven't been over there in about 20 years and would not be one bit surprised if the things had changed an awful lot within the industry.
 
#15
ajkula66 said:
That's Pound Sterling, my friend. Not Euros. So it comes to roughly $1225.

I used to live/work in the UK and had a pretty sweet deal going on with the Fender - through my boss at the time - some 30 years ago. Japanese Vintage was about 1/3 of the price when compared to U.S. Vintage one back in those days.

Having said that, I haven't been over there in about 20 years and would not be one bit surprised if the things had changed an awful lot within the industry.
Click to expand...


Ah. Thank you for the correction.

So it's a little steep but still under the American Pro. Not out in left field and a model not offered by the US. It would have expected to be a model I wanted badly but I would hit it if I lived over there.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bisounourse
#17
I have a 2015 Japan Exclusive P-bass sold as FSR in Europe. It was one of the more expensive ones in the series (two piece body, nitro) but was only slightly more expensive than the Mexican Classic series at the time.

Quality is very good. I have no problem recommending these MIJ Classics.
 
#18
DiabolusInMusic said:
You mean Japanese Fenders? The new offerings are not even playable.

Fender doesn't manufacture basses in Japan anymore.
Click to expand...

DiabolusInMusic said:
That must be new for this year, got a link? They stopped Japanese production a few years ago and there was a bunch of chatter about it. I haven't heard anything about them resuming production but I certainly wouldn't complain about seeing some Japanese Fenders back on the block.
Click to expand...

Only in this context does it please me to say…

…WROOOOOOOOOOONNNNNG!!! :D

And it's not to be a smarty-smart-pants who had his "Aha!" moment, but because I love the fact that production never stopped for any great period of time. It turns out FMIC dissolved the joint-venture known as "Fender-Japan" with Kanda-Shokai, the Japanese side of the arrangement. Nowadays, FMIC handles marketing and distribution of Japanese-made Fenders, along with a greater saturation of MIM and MIA instruments into The Land Of The Rising Sun.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

The one thing that really saddens me, though, is we've lost a lot of the "outside the box" creativity that was applied to Fender's classic designs. They still make the Aerodyne and their own JB62's…sorry, @two fingers, no more Aerodyne fivers at this moment…but if it's not an Export Edition 'Dyne, they're kinda tricky to get here in North America. :(
 
  • Like
Reactions: DiabolusInMusic
#19
They still make them under Japan Exclusive Series. Made in Japan by the Japanese. They are good basses. I played a bunch for a few minutes. Nothing wrong with them.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Considering that the JES are in the 600-900 buck range, I don't think I could find fault with them. If you only play 4 stringers, the price range is just too good to ignore. The 900 buck ones even have a USA pickup on them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: hieronymous
#20
two fingers said:
Hmmmmmmm. Interesting. All the ones I can find online are in Europe. I wonder if Fender is somehow "blocking" them from US distributors.
Click to expand...

Not so sure about this...the other day I saw one of the paisley telecasters in GC. I though it was used at first (I had one of those back in the 90s and still kind of miss it), but then, nope...brand new
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back