Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen! This is my first ever post, even though I have been an avid follower of the shenanigans that go on here for awhile now. A little about myself... I am 42 and just started playing the bass with passion about 3 years ago. I take lessons, and I am very fond of my teacher. He has given me much more than any fee amount I give him for the lessons. I suffer from a few mental ailments: one being Severe OCD. It has litterally crippled major parts of my life, and sometimes it can reduce me to a smoldering invalid. The one thing I have found to give my mind temporary relief of my symptoms is playing the bass. So, if you reply, please be gentle! Some of you like to pound on each other! 
Here goes..... I would like to purchase a Japanese Fender. There are two sites I am looking at. Would someone here be able to tell me why the marked difference in price, even though, to my eye, the only thing that separates the two is the pickguard. Both are Red Fender Jazz Basses. I will try to attach a link to each one. The first one is roughly $450 USD, and the second shows as $700 USD. Many of you may ask, "Why Japanese?" Well, I already have two Japanese P Basses, both of the Steve Harris type. I also, basically, just have a huge fascination with their culture and the things they produce. If I have made an error here in protocol or in any other way, please let me know. I also suffer from a severe case of perfectionism, even though I rarely am. 
So, I hate doing things wrong, even out of ignorance to new endeavors. I know there has been quite a bit made of users not searching old topics before starting a new/repeat discussion, but I felt an introduction of myself to you would be a good idea. I have zero connections in the music world, so I have a lot of questions. And I will ask for help, as it is the only way to learn! Thank you, and here are the links:
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P.S. The first link, the cheaper bass, makes no mention of it being "used". It does, however, specify "used" on other basses in their catalog. The second link does seem to mention the bass as "new" in a yellow highlight! AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!
Here goes..... I would like to purchase a Japanese Fender. There are two sites I am looking at. Would someone here be able to tell me why the marked difference in price, even though, to my eye, the only thing that separates the two is the pickguard. Both are Red Fender Jazz Basses. I will try to attach a link to each one. The first one is roughly $450 USD, and the second shows as $700 USD. Many of you may ask, "Why Japanese?" Well, I already have two Japanese P Basses, both of the Steve Harris type. I also, basically, just have a huge fascination with their culture and the things they produce. If I have made an error here in protocol or in any other way, please let me know. I also suffer from a severe case of perfectionism, even though I rarely am. So, I hate doing things wrong, even out of ignorance to new endeavors. I know there has been quite a bit made of users not searching old topics before starting a new/repeat discussion, but I felt an introduction of myself to you would be a good idea. I have zero connections in the music world, so I have a lot of questions. And I will ask for help, as it is the only way to learn! Thank you, and here are the links: Invalid Link Removed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
P.S. The first link, the cheaper bass, makes no mention of it being "used". It does, however, specify "used" on other basses in their catalog. The second link does seem to mention the bass as "new" in a yellow highlight! AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!!!
