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Need some educ on Fender MIM basses

W

willop

Feb 7, 2013
94
0
beaver, pa
#1
My wife has a customer that got a Fender MIM jazz bass '20 years ago' and says 'needs work as it's not been played in a long time'. He says he successfully removed 'all the crazy stickers I put on as a teen'.

The price is $50...hard to pass that up.

It's more for my son now that he's auditioning for a performing arts school. He would prefer a P bass, or p Bass pickup.

I've not look at at fender bass' to know the 'details' of certain models but with guitars they seem to have half a dozen or more variations on a given model (diff pickups, colors, editions, etc).

How many variations of Jazz bass' are there?
How difficult is it to change the PU? I assume they're mounted to the pick guard so a 'blank' pickguard and some cutting should do it?

Any typical 'issues' to watch for other than the normal neck/buzz/it all has to work issues?
 
#2
With the time frame given for the instrument, you would be looking probably early to mid '90's ... and with only MIM given, you are likely looking at a MIM Standard, and quite possibly a 'Black Label' Fender that was offered in that time frame ..

When someone says it 'needs work', could mean anything ... might just need new strings, truss rod tweak and a set-up, or it might need new electronics ... for $50 it is tough to go wrong, but then that statement is extremely dependent on your comfort level and abilities to do what is needed by yourself, or if you need to have it done ($$) for you ...

... the pick-ups would be mounted to the body, and the pickguard would screw on around it ... the MIM Standards of that era may have a 'one piece' pickguard, in which case the pots/knobs would be fastened to the pickguard, otherwise it would be a seperate control plate with knobs/pots attached ... the pickups are quite possibly a same size ceramic pair from the Cort plant (import), and the body possibly poplar ... like any budget bass, you will find some that say they are junk and need all kinds of modifications to be made decent, and also some that like them just the way they are .. I have never had one that could not be made usable 'as is' when set up to my preference with my choice of strings, but thats just me, I tend to be simpler than most ...

.. one of the inherent problems that I have encountered with early/older MIM Standard J's, is that the neck is quite thin (front to back), and quite a few have had truss rod nuts that have been maxxed out once they got my way, and may even have a front bow going on with high strings .. as long as the truss rod is still intact, there can be things done to correct the issue, and even necks with fairly excessive relief and maxxed rods can be brought back, but that again depends on someones comfort level and ability to do it ...

Bottom line, for $50 .. I would snap it up for your son, and then we can better evaluate what you have via pictures and specific questions ... you wont lose any money on it, as parts from it (if it gets to that) will easily recoup your investment ... it will also be a very good 'hands on' lesson for your son, as I have always felt that the more acquainted a person is with their instruments construction, adjustments, etc., the more likely they will be able to make the instrument fit their preferrences for feel, sound and playability ...
 
#3
we have an ibanez gsr200 bass with flats on it - he doesn't like the flats.
Have a dean jeff berlin and he loves that - plays it very well.
I' considered putting other strings on the ibby but it may be the next/pickups on the dean he likes- nice low action on it.

He likes to slap and I think all fender jass bass have maple necks and with pu placement should be a good instrument for that...or am I nuts? LOL

I've adjusted most things on instruments and fixed a few and have a mechanic backgroud so fear little. Haven't done major rehab work like fixing a bad neck would require.
If the bass has been sitting for decade+ in a closet who knows how the neck is. My bass/guitar teacher has seen instruments pull themselves apart if left sitting with varying temp/humidity...
 
#4
The very, VERY first thing I would do is take it to a competent luthier or guitar tech for an evaluation and proper set-up. Let him/her diagnose it to see if it's playable and functional. Even if the neck is no good anymore, there are plenty of ways to get a replacement…either here on TalkBass or any number of other online resources (eBay, various music instrument outlets, etc…).

Assuming the bass is functional/salvageable, and if your son really wants a Precision pickup, you could try to do what I did earlier this year. I took a Mighty Mite Jazz bass body, matched it up with a Fender Blacktop Jazz pickguard I scored on eBay and had my local guitar tech (big shout-out to Mike B. at the Wilmington, DE Guitar Center…you rock!) route out space for a P-bass pickup. And violá, a Precision/Jazz configured Jazz bass! Some may pooh-pooh the P/J configs, but personally I dig the deep P-tones with a bit of the J-growl mixed in. But that's just one fellow's opinion. :D
 
#5
When I hear "needs work" coupled with an older MIM Fender Jazz bass, I instantly think of the neck needing adjustment (or if it can even be adjusted).
As Malak mentioned above for $50, it's hard to really go wrong as the neck can be replaced if necessary. I bought a bass a while ago that wasn't used for many years, the string action was about an inch above the fretboard lol... Did I buy the bass? Yes- as I thought that for the price, the worst case scenario, I'd have to replace the neck. Believe it or not, I was able to adjust the truss rod and had the action super low. Took about a week or so to gently adjust it without snapping the truss rod.

For $50 you can also have a nice little project father and son can both work on to restore to it's former glory and beyond. Being a parent, I'd think of it that way. :)
 
#6
Oh, something I forgot to mention earlier. For a bit of research, this is the link to the current crop of Fender Jazz bass production models;

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There have been several other models that have fallen out of production, so for those you'd have to do some internet digging. However, if you have a legible serial number, you can see if you find a match here;

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If that's not helpful, contact Fender directly and see if they can look up your serial number to verify it's authenticity and which model/series it belongs to.
 

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