Please Help Me Understand About 70's Jazz Basses

[electracoyote]

...before I make the wrong choice.

I have my eye on a couple of 70s RI Jazzes. For example, there is the Fender Japanese line and the Fender Mexico. I'm determined to get the aesthetics and the tone as close to the real deal as possible. I have noticed the Japanese RI's seem to have the close pickup spacing of the 60's Jazzes, and the MIM RI seems to have the pickup spacing wider, with the bridge pu closer to the bridge. I think Fender first moved the bridge pu 1/2 inch back so it wouldn't stick out from the pu cover, and then people realized that this gave the bass a different (and desirable for some) tone, the characteristic brightness of 70s slap and pop.

So what do you think? Is there any truth to this? Should I avoid, say, a great deal on a Japan 70s RI with the closer spacing, and hold out for an American or Mexican RI with the wider spacing?

And what about the 3-bolt neck on the Japan RI? Is it stable compared to a 4-bolt? Could I convert it to a 4-bolt with two new holes and neckplate? (MIM on left, Japan on right)

 

[tonybassboss]

From my experience MIJ is better instruments than MIM...
Go for MIJ!

 

[allexcosta]

These MIM's are great, though. Very 70's vibe.

 

[lindseyp]

Go for the one that suits the tone you're after. If it wasn't for the economy, I'd suggest getting both.

 

[electracoyote]

If I got my research correct, the MIM is an alder body, but it has the correct 70s pu spacing. The MIJ is ash, but appears to have the 60s spacing, if someone can confirm that for me. I know ash is the tonewood of choice for slap n poppers or those who desire a brighter tone, so the MIJ has the edge there.

 

[nemo]

Yes, MIJ and CIJ "70's" models have all 60's pickup spacing, except for export Marcus Miller and Geddy Lee models. These have correct 70's pup spacing.

 

[pyrohr]

If I got my research correct, the MIM is an alder body, but it has the correct 70s pu spacing. The MIJ is ash, but appears to have the 60s spacing, if someone can confirm that for me. I know ash is the tonewood of choice for slap n poppers or those who desire a brighter tone, so the MIJ has the edge there.

Imho the MIJ bass does not have the edge because its a 75RI bass in name only. besides the spacing being wrong it has average pups in it. they claim the pups are "vintage" but vintage what? MIA 75RI basses are true to the era. The 70's MIM basses I believe are also true to their re-issue regardless of where there made! I have played them and found them just as good if not better than the MIJ 75RIbass, I would get the MIM 70's bass before I would get the 75RI bass from Japan. As far as ash basses after 1975 being popular, Fender switched from alder to ash on most jazzes so people associate late 70's jazz basses being ash to what people preferred. Kinda like no maple necks in the 60's for jazzes or precisions, only telecaster basses.

 

[hypercarrots]

the binding on the neck is different between the two as well. on the MIM 70s, the binding is painted over the frets.

 

[pyrohr]

the binding on the neck is different between the two as well. on the MIM 70s, the binding is painted over the frets.

The binding on my 75RI also covers the fret ends while the Marcus Miller bass (in my lap as I type) and the Geddy jazz frets appear to be laid into the binding. Btw my CS custom classic and my MIA FMT V have binding covering the fret ends

 

[allexcosta]

Pickup spacing makes a bigger difference in tone than body wood.

 

[hypercarrots]

The binding on my 75RI also covers the fret ends while the Marcus Miller bass (in my lap as I type) and the Geddy jazz frets appear to be laid into the binding. Btw my CS custom classic and my MIA FMT V have binding covering the fret ends

i see. how was the binding done on the original 70s necks?

here is the binding on the mim classic 70s. i think it looks odd that the fret ends are painted over

 

[Ostinato]

I owned all three and I rank them thus: American Vintage, Fender japan, Mexican Fender and most people here would agree.

Mexican Fender's have a huge ugly amount of extra wood routed away underneath the pickguard for the pickup leads (assembly time at the factory?) a real cheap move in my opinion. Their pickups are non-standard width which gives you less choice to upgrade them.

The japanese 70's Jazz does have the 60's spacing, but if you like that sweet burp the bridge pickup can give then it's a no-brainer. They're heavier basses because they use heavier ash and the body bevels are not as rounded, but the finishes are excellent and quality is too.

I would save up my cash and demo as many AV '75 reissues as I could and go that route, barring that, you can do worse than a japanese fender

 

[pyrohr]

I owned all three and I rank them thus: American Vintage, Fender japan, Mexican Fender and most people here would agree.

Mexican Fender's have a huge ugly amount of extra wood routed away underneath the pickguard for the pickup leads (assembly time at the factory?) a real cheap move in my opinion. Their pickups are non-standard width which gives you less choice to upgrade them.

What is non-standard about the MIM 70's basses pups? what is different about the width of MIM pups?

 

[electracoyote]

i see. how was the binding done on the original 70s necks?

here is the binding on the mim classic 70s. i think it looks odd that the fret ends are painted over

Is that "painted over" or is that "bound over?" It looks like the material on the fret ends is the same as the binding material, some kind of plastic I assume.

 

[hypercarrots]

the mim classic 70s jazz does not have the extra routing around the neck pickup. it does have the cnc circle though. mim standards have the extra routing around the neck pickup but have had different size pickups since around 2001. when they changed the knobs from strat style to traditional jazz knobs, the pickups changed to traditional jazz sizes with the bridge longer than the neck.

Mexican Fender's have a huge ugly amount of extra wood routed away underneath the pickguard for the pickup leads (assembly time at the factory?) a real cheap move in my opinion. Their pickups are non-standard width which gives you less choice to upgrade them.

 

[hypercarrots]

Is that "painted over" or is that "bound over?" It looks like the material on the fret ends is the same as the binding material, some kind of plastic I assume.

the frets are painted over, meaning that paint was applied over the metal fret wire material. i don't know if the binding is really binding or what but that part is fine, it's just the painted over fret wiring that is weird.

 

[pyrohr]

the mim classic 70s jazz does not have the extra routing around the neck pickup. it does have the cnc circle though. mim standards have the extra routing around the neck pickup but have had different size pickups since around 2001. the pickups changed to traditional jazz sizes with the bridge longer than the neck.

This is accurate, all MIM jazz basses 2001 and up can be modded with any after market pup set without any body modification.

 

[elgranluis]

the frets are painted over, meaning that paint was applied over the metal fret wire material. i don't know if the binding is really binding or what but that part is fine, it's just the painted over fret wiring that is weird.

Are you positive they are painted over?? Because I have a 1972 jazz and the binding looks exactly like the one in the picture. What appears to be painted over is actually bits of binding that are shaped like the fret.

That makes me think that fender nailed it accurately. I would choose mim over mij any day, reissuewise. Plus the parts are made in usa, just put together in Mexico.

 

[Kenny Allyn]

I have a 1973 and the frets end in the binding similar to the way Gibson does on their bound necks ...


The neck binding on the MIJ is somewhat thinner and the body angles are sharper.

The MIM has a bullet truss-rod and four bolt neck ... I had an original early 1975 and it had four bolts and the adjuster at the pickguard.

The MIA seems pretty "correct" ... I wish it had the maple neck option though.


Best Jazz bass I have ever played, my 1973 LPB, alder body with maple neck (8.5 lbs total )

Below a MIJ

Original 73 with a softer edge contour

... I have played and owned many a Jazz Bass ... the alder body/maple neck style with 70s pickup spacing is my personal fave!

 

[Ostinato]

Looks like I posted a whole load of wrong in this thread....my apologies

^Gorgeous