OFFICIAL Fender Japan Bass thread

[VillageIdiott]

Subscribed.
I've been looking for more info / history on Fender mij basses - especially since acquiring a mid-90s mij P this spring.
It's definitely my favorite P - I love the neck, and it weighs 8lbs!
This came from another TB member.
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This one I've had since the early 90's. Another great neck.
I wasn't looking for a bass, but the previous owner was getting a divorce and was very persistent!
I don't remember if I even was aware it was the "Duff" bass at the time...
I used it mainly as a practice/rehearsal bass, but soon came to appreciate how well it sounded and played.
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That white body, black neck PBS bass is quickly becoming sort of the "holy grail" of early Fender Japan basses. I will post my PBS later but what a gorgeous bass. I am currently looking for the PB-555 in Red. It is one of my must have basses before I die. See picture below.

PS. I WISH WISH I could find the bass below. So unique. Fender USA could learn a thing or two about innovation from Fender Japan.

 

[secondbestcody]

I love my MIJ Jaguar. I love white basses and when I saw this one on reverb I bought it right away.

 

[revd]

PLEASE DO NOT POST BASSES YOU DO OWN!

Really?

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Years later I was able to acquire that bass and its one of my favorites to this day

I remember this story!

Here are two I sold I wouldn't mind having back;
The Lyte went to a friend of mine, the mij fretless jazz to a friend of a friend....
I got the Jazz from the Bass Place during a trip to Phoenix in early '94. IIRC, Fender US still didn't even offer a fretless Jazz at the time.
I've inquired about both basses in the last couple of years.

Photo from 1994

That white body, black neck PBS bass is quickly becoming sort of the "holy grail" of early Fender Japan basses.

Mine has the "natural" neck, which I much prefer - but probably doesn't have that "Duff" appeal.

 

[VillageIdiott]

Really?

Okay. My bad. I'll take that line out... since I almost immediately broke my own rule.

Good call.

Edit: does anyone know if I can edit that first post? if so, how? i don't see any option to do. thanks.

 

[pbass888]

The white unlined jazz above is an made in Japan . A great neck and easy to play.

 

[rjovin]

One of these popped up on Yahoo Auction recently. It was a bit pricey but as I had never heard of this model, I was really intrigued. Beautiful bass and I like the pickguard... is it aluminum?

It's an amazing bass and i got super lucky when i found it at Mars Music in Tampa Fl. Only 750 were made.
The pickguard is mirrored acrylic.

 

[r_bnks]

 

[Williethump]

I bought this 2014 lightweight ash vintage style MIJ Precision a few years back for $465usd. It came with the plush vintage style HSC, Seymour Duncan pickups and incredible TI Jazz flats. The strings are soft and hide the finger scrape sounds I make. The bass makes me sound better than I am. The pickups have growl and power. It was owned by a professional and the setup was so perfect I have not changed a thing. It was used but cared for with barely a scratch. Only a slightly loose neck pocket keep it from bass perfection. Never selling this one.

 

[Runnerman]

My recently acquired 1987 E serial JB Special Fretless. All original...fantastic neck and excellent condition.

Made alongside the Fenders in the Fugigen factory. 1984/85 Squier P with SQ serial number. It currently sports a replacement Allparts bridge (the original was rusted) and the only thing else I've done is dress the frets and replace the foam under the pickups. Great condition. A fantastic thin neck. Gets gigged regularly.

I love both these basses and they won't be my last Japanese Fenders.

 

[Dave Leighton]

My 2011 Limited Edition 65 MIJ. In the middle... Love the neck on this. Swapped the weak stock pickups with Lollars and replaced the crappy pots. Not a fan of the stiff lesser quality tunning machines. Those will be replaced at some point. Overall a good bass.

 

[Brich]

Early 2000's CIJ Geddy Lee

 

[VillageIdiott]

My recently acquired 1987 E serial JB Special Fretless. All original...fantastic neck and excellent condition.
View attachment 4307188

Made alongside the Fenders in the Fugigen factory. 1984/85 Squier P with SQ serial number. It currently sports a replacement Allparts bridge (the original was rusted) and the only thing else I've done is dress the frets and replace the foam under the pickups. Great condition. A fantastic thin neck. Gets gigged regularly.
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I love both these basses and they won't be my last Japanese Fenders.

Nice find on the JBS Fretless. That is a pretty rare bird. I missed out on a SQ serial Jazz recently listed locally on Kijijji. I was just being cheap. It was in great shape and they seem to be very well made.

 

[jnewmark]

Don't know if this counts. Its a CIJ, P bass body, with an MIM Jazz neck. Really nice sounding bass. I installed a tug bar, and a stock bridge cover with a Fender mute, glued underneath. Great studio bass.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

I still have my first-ever bass, a 2007-ish, Crafted In Japan, Export-Edition Aerodyne. I recently pulled it out of storage and it still feels amazing in my hands!

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And on the "One That Got Away" front, I briefly owned an amazingly sublime Limited Edition "All-Black" JB62 Jazz bass. There's a whole story about how I got it, the day it arrived from Japan and how I had to let it go. (TL-DR: No working car means I can't work!)

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Side Note: I missed that JB62 so fiercely that I assembled a parts-bass as a tribute to it's awesomeness.

Love the deep black, Lacquered looking finish these basses have!! they look like Highly polished Grand pianos!!
In the late 90's i was gassing for Japanese Fender basses, from Great advice of a good friend/collector! In my search I found a JBS in San diego far, but not far enough! I quickly contacted the seller a young Kid looking for some quick cash, His loss, my gain! I jumped on it! It was a real Beauty,i n that glossy Rich Black! I was in love!it just needed a little elbow grease & slight upgrading. after that, I won 2 more(1 by mistake) on ebay. So now I own 3! I was so overwhelmed by the quality & craftsmanship I couldnt help myself! I will not argrue these are some of most well made instruments out there! I would love to go to japan & do a little shopping out there! I watched a youtube video of some guys walking around in the Guitar shopping Area! walll to wall guitars & basses! & carts in the street!! must be close to heaven!!

 

[funkometer]

Will Fender Japan sell 5 string pickups? Can't get them from Fender USA anymore!

 

[VillageIdiott]

Will Fender Japan sell 5 string pickups? Can't get them from Fender USA anymore!

That is a good question. I have a very rare Fender Japan JBV-120. The bass itself is superb but I wouldn't rave about the pickups. I think they are okay. I used to have a Cort GB95 Custom that came stock with Seymour Duncan "Basslines" and it sounded superior to the Japan Fender V pups. I don't mind the sound of my Fender fiver but I plan to upgrade the pickups at some point.

I guess the point is, I am not sure you want to search high and low for Japanese pups as there may be better pickups out there for the same $$$.

 

[VillageIdiott]

Well... while I am talking about it. This is my Fender Japan JBV-120. I think it is 2004ish. Hard to tell with the T serial numbers. Maybe someone knows much more than me about the dating. It is in that range.

It is in pristine condition and rarely played. I have only ever seen one other in the wild. I am sure they are around but I just don't see them. I like it much better to play than my Korean Cort GB95 (which I have now sold) but the pickups were definitely clearer on the Cort.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

It's hard to see in that overhead pic, but my Aerodyne isn't as pristine as I would like it to be. It has a few chips and dents on the body and headstock, but that's pretty normal for your average 'Dyne. Here's some pics sent to me by the shop that sold it to me…

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But, I suppose an Aerodyne without blemishes is like a day without sunshine, neh…neh? When I first got it, I was considering getting the chips filled and repaired. Fortunately, a guy at my local Guitar Center said to me, "Don't! That's 'mojo' right there!" and convinced me to leave it be.

As for their serial numbers, the Aerodyne is a "Crafted In Japan, T-xxxxxx" and a low number at that, so I'm fairly sure it was made in 2007. The All-Black JB62 is a "MADE IN JAPAN, T-xxxxxx" and has a pretty high number which would place it somewhere between 2009 and 2010.


Good eye, there! When I got it, it was all original. The write ups I found about the All-Black Jazzes call them "HOTROD" pickups, and they certainly lived up to the name! They growled so nicely, but not at the expense of any clarity. When I slapped a set of brand new Rotosound Swing Bass 66's on it, I finally got to experience that "piano-like sound" that's sought after by some players.

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Arrrghhhh! I have a buddy that swooped in an auction & won an aerodyne I had my eye on, just like that he was envious of my FJBS , i got for a steal! All Black, after my mods & up grades, "Triple Black" Black finish, hardware & headstock and Strings! I get soo Many compliments on it when I play out! I get a little worried about people loving it tooo Much! I almost want to mar it to make it less desirable, I have since rebuilt & refinished its cousin another FJBS that was in far less worse shape, but is now just as beautiful, that has replaced the allblack model!! I still really like those aerodynes,but having 3 JBS' tempers my gas! I kinda want the Pbass version of the aerodyne model, but those seem very,very rare!

 

[Jjacks651]

My Favorite Player. MIJ Aerodyne J-Bass. Neck and Fretboard are top notch and play fast and smooth.