Wow. That's a new one on me. Had a quick look and they look great. But I don't think I'm gunna find any here in the UK, and I'm a big believer of playing a bass before you buy it (learnt that lesson!). Fujigen is indeed one of the Japanese factories producing many of the most highly respected MIJ Fenders - I believe my Jazz is from that factory. Just shocking to think I didn't even know they were doing their own brand.. Damn there's so much gear around!
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Precision buying advice
- Thread starter Fingerz
- Start date
Wow. That's a new one on me. Had a quick look and they look great. But I don't think I'm gunna find any here in the UK, and I'm a big believer of playing a bass before you buy it (learnt that lesson!). Fujigen is indeed one of the Japanese factories producing many of the most highly respected MIJ Fenders - I believe my Jazz is from that factory. Just shocking to think I didn't even know they were doing their own brand.. Damn there's so much gear around!
I agree completely in that I too always play before I buy.
If we're lucky there'll be one in the UK soon...
Just gotta sell some stuff before I can get one FGN.
There is a fantastic shop in Frankfurt/Germany that sell these-Musik Schmidt/session music.
That's where I tried one.
Unless you're particularly concerned with the investment value of the thing, try every one whose looks you can live with and judge each on its own merits. You may be surprised.
If investment value is your primary concern, buy an expensive one.
If investment value is your primary concern, buy an expensive one.
^^
Then dive in and start sampling. There's a perfect one out there for you. What you're likely to find is that no version, vintage or series is automatically magical. Good ones, great ones, came out of every run of instruments. A good setup is very important to know for sure.
I bought my MIM with the intention of parting it out, but it sounded too good to let go. Imagine my surprise.
Then dive in and start sampling. There's a perfect one out there for you. What you're likely to find is that no version, vintage or series is automatically magical. Good ones, great ones, came out of every run of instruments. A good setup is very important to know for sure.
I bought my MIM with the intention of parting it out, but it sounded too good to let go. Imagine my surprise.
I just went through this myself, for near 2 months
I played the Musicman Stingray for some years now and wanted a passive bass so I went with the Fender P
I played the MIM's and the CV and both were fine if you're just looking for a bass to play. Between the two I'd get the CV over the MIM, but by the time you add a case maybe replace the pup's your added ~$200 - $250 to the price of the bass. The Pick guards seem thinner the heads stock is thinner and the MIM's have crappy bridges which I'd upgrade to a Badass or something else. When you done, you'll have a MIM or CV you just sunk a bunch of cash into trying to make it sound like a MIA.
Go play all three side by side, the feel and the sound will tell you the difference. The MIA also has the through body bridge and has great sustain. (side note: I'm using Fender 7250's through body right now haven't used 8250tw yet strings are another issue. Different string make a totally different tone on the P-bass, I tried a set of Ernie Ball and HATTED it...)
I did notice a couple things I had to adjust out of the box, string highs, bridge, tighten tuners. Still one I plugged it in with the band and we played they loved it and I couldn't believe how it came to life, highs are really cutting, lows are true to form. Roll the tone off for great old school sound (which I do in practice and love it!) roll the tone on and you're ready to slap!
Simple, easy, sounds great and everytime I pick it up it makes me feel good. I wouldn't get that feeling from a MIM or CV.... Look around I got mine for $1050 usd out the door with case n goodie bag.
Another cool effect the first time I played it, it made my GF's closes fall off, but it's starting to loss that effect the more I play it.. ?
I played the MIM's and the CV and both were fine if you're just looking for a bass to play. Between the two I'd get the CV over the MIM, but by the time you add a case maybe replace the pup's your added ~$200 - $250 to the price of the bass. The Pick guards seem thinner the heads stock is thinner and the MIM's have crappy bridges which I'd upgrade to a Badass or something else. When you done, you'll have a MIM or CV you just sunk a bunch of cash into trying to make it sound like a MIA.
Go play all three side by side, the feel and the sound will tell you the difference. The MIA also has the through body bridge and has great sustain. (side note: I'm using Fender 7250's through body right now haven't used 8250tw yet strings are another issue. Different string make a totally different tone on the P-bass, I tried a set of Ernie Ball and HATTED it...)
I did notice a couple things I had to adjust out of the box, string highs, bridge, tighten tuners. Still one I plugged it in with the band and we played they loved it and I couldn't believe how it came to life, highs are really cutting, lows are true to form. Roll the tone off for great old school sound (which I do in practice and love it!) roll the tone on and you're ready to slap!
Simple, easy, sounds great and everytime I pick it up it makes me feel good. I wouldn't get that feeling from a MIM or CV.... Look around I got mine for $1050 usd out the door with case n goodie bag.
Another cool effect the first time I played it, it made my GF's closes fall off, but it's starting to loss that effect the more I play it.. ?
Quite frankly, if you are able to try before you buy, I would not rule out ANY P-bass model, regardless of whether or not it's a Fender or a Squier, or if it was made in America, Korea, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Japan, or Upper Pango-Pango.
Don't get me wrong, I have a MIM jazz and like it. I thought the MIM's and the CV's sounded fine.
I liked the CV vary much but the MIA just felt and sounded better, played easier and has great sustain, which I've learned is a vary useful tool I never had before. Live it beats my MIM Jazz that has QP's and a Badass.
P-bass is now my go to bass over the Stingray which will always be one of my favorite basses ever made.
I liked the CV vary much but the MIA just felt and sounded better, played easier and has great sustain, which I've learned is a vary useful tool I never had before. Live it beats my MIM Jazz that has QP's and a Badass.
P-bass is now my go to bass over the Stingray which will always be one of my favorite basses ever made.
The US Highway Precisions sounds great. i have one and it is a go too. I put 62 PU and it gave it the perfect P tone. Also Fender is coming out with the new Fender American Special Series. All of them are not over 799 new and even cheaper used for the Highway
I've got a MIK P-bass, my very first, that sounds fantastic. The best Jazz bass I owned was a MIM Classic 60's, which sounded and played better than two MIA versions and a MIA Hamer Cruise.
Chances are a Lakland will be made in....get ready for it....Korea or Indonesia, unless you're ready to spend $2k+ on a MIA model.
Don't let the country of origin dictate what P will work for you. I tried a MIM Road Worn P on clearance a few weeks ago at GC, and it absolutely killed every other P in the store, MIA included.
Cheers guys. Really good to read your experiences. I'm defo picking up any P basses for a go no matter where it's from. I play a MIJ Jazz from the 80's and it's one of the very best I've played full stop, so have a very open mind when it comes to origins of fender or indeed Lakland etc. With passive basses the woods rule so it's just finding instruments where the woods match and speak to you IME.. It's cool to know that picking up something relatively cheap could be the one. Ah... the joy or Fenders!
- Jul 7, 2010
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If you like a Japan bass, I would suggest, if you can find, a 84-83 Squier P-bass, great player and tone and build. The SQ series were probably there best made stuff then for import. Alsoif you want a quality bass, also MIJ, Fender makes a Jazz PJ bass that sounds and plays great too. @ $1200 new. Just another option. Good Luck.
A typical story:
Last summer, I had a used MIM P-Bass shipped to my local branch of a chain music store, for me to try before buying. The neck was bowed, the truss rod was non-functional, the jack was broken and there was even a crack in the headstock, running about an inch outward from a tuning machine bushing.
Then, I did the same with a different used MIM P-Bass. This one (which I quickly snapped up) has a neck as nice as any MIA I've played, and it sounds beautiful.
I also have a MIM Jazz Bass, which is equally great. Incidentally, I had the series/parallel mod done to it, and I highly recommend that, even though it doesn't really match the P-Bass tone.
Last summer, I had a used MIM P-Bass shipped to my local branch of a chain music store, for me to try before buying. The neck was bowed, the truss rod was non-functional, the jack was broken and there was even a crack in the headstock, running about an inch outward from a tuning machine bushing.
Then, I did the same with a different used MIM P-Bass. This one (which I quickly snapped up) has a neck as nice as any MIA I've played, and it sounds beautiful.
I also have a MIM Jazz Bass, which is equally great. Incidentally, I had the series/parallel mod done to it, and I highly recommend that, even though it doesn't really match the P-Bass tone.
I have a 2009 MIA jazz bass. If you are looking new i think you will gravitate towards one of the new american standards. they are certainly the nicer playing/sounding p basses i have come across IMO. At my local guitar center i played a squier classic vibe p bass that i liked much better then any of the MIM fenders there (some of that due to setup but it sounded better too). But like just about every other post you just gotta try all the basses you can.
Totally agree with this. I've played (and owned) some really sweet Skyline Glaubs made in Korea and Indonesia. And the Squier Classic Vibe '60s P is a superb value, based on the ones I've played.
Preferences based solely on headstock info are limited by sample size or dictated by other criteria. There are gems and dogs from everywhere. Now that the MI-A-M-K-J-wherever are all made with the same CAM programs and machines there is much less variation within the same model and year, although it still exists - so (as you said) "try before you buy".
But be aware that there are different sets of features on each model. Find out what they are, decide which you want, and let that be the first thing that guides you. And ALL Fenders (IME) need a good set-up, and most of the time a new nut and fret-work to play their best.
Which leads me to ask if you are restricting your search to Fender only, or are you looking for a more generic P? There are plenty of other manufacturers of "P"-style basses from Ibanez to Sadowsky, and everything in-between. Good luck!
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