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NBD: Squier JV Jazz

BassAgent

BassAgent

Dec 2, 2003
4,793
1
6,887
Amsterdam
Disclosures
Endorsing artist: Eich Amplification
#1
Last Sunday, this bass appeared on the Dutch marketplace website. Within an hour, I was driving an hour and a half to pick it up for a ridiculous price. The owner didn't really know what it was, I guess. He said he got higher bids when I was on my way, but as I was already on my way and was the first, I got it for my original bid. When I arrived, it looked less mint than on the photos. It was mainly dirty and had been in a case for years and years. The strings were ancient, too, and the neck pickup didn't seem to work. So I even got a bit off the price and took it home. It just felt right.

Cleaned it today, gave it some new strings, a good setup and it's a great bass. The neck pickup does work, but the pot is a bit wonky. Might replace that, might not. I might sell it, might not. It has a great Jaco vibe to it. The first sunburst Jazz I've ever owned that I really like (not a fan of sunburst in general).

I have one question: I understand the date of course, but what does the stamp on the heel mean?

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#2
Nice score, and it looks like it's in really good shape. They were, and remain, top quality instruments. I mean look at that nut shaping on yours - it looks better than most things coming out of modern factories right now. Likewise the snugness of the neck pocket and pickup routs. IIRC, many of them were made using retired (pre-CBS) tooling shipped from Fullerton, as well as pickups and pots from American stock - might be worth pulling the control plate and taking a peek.

I had a 1982 JV '57 Precision (Olympic White) for a year or so and it was top notch - faithful in almost every way to the original vintage instruments. At the time it was 'just a Squier', so I had no qualms about doing a P/J conversion and making it rattle-can black. Ah the foolishness of youth...
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Sadly I've no idea what the "2. EXT" neck stamp means...
 
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#3
Thanks! I've had a couple of JV's in, either because I bought them or did a setup and they were always excellent basses. I still miss my 57RI Precision (I know who has it but he won't sell it back to me) and I sold a fiesta red Jazz for an acquaintance a few years back that was absolutely brilliant. This was an absolute bargain.
 
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#7
These were amazing instruments, really the first Fender product after the CBS buyout that said 'We are on the way back'. MIJ production, and in 1983 these had an MSRP of $189 USD ! They were easily equivalent to many US Fenders, and better than a lot of them.

I'd simply have it rewired with new pots and check the shielding, and play it like a boss. That's about as solid an 80's vintage bass there is.
 
#11
J Wilson said:
These were amazing instruments, really the first Fender product after the CBS buyout that said 'We are on the way back'. MIJ production, and in 1983 these had an MSRP of $189 USD ! They were easily equivalent to many US Fenders, and better than a lot of them.

I'd simply have it rewired with new pots and check the shielding, and play it like a boss. That's about as solid an 80's vintage bass there is.
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I'll probably leave it as is and sell it :) I have 9 other Jazzes that are great too and I'm not a fan of sunburst.

2thAche said:
MIJ is the way
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It isn't necessarily, but this is. Great bass. And all JV's I've played are great basses.
 

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