Schecter JB-type Jazz Basses? Made in Japan?

[UnDoNe]

Hi all,

I've got a Schecter JB type jazz bass incoming from Japan and I'm struggling to find much information about them. I know about the history of Schecter USA, but I'm wonderting if these are a Japanese product for the market over there.

Does anyone know about the history of these basses, and if they're linked to USA Schecter or Schecter Japan? I'm thinking they might be from the 1990's.

Once it arrives, I'll take it apart and look for clues, but there's hardly any info on the web. They look like this...

Cheers all

 

[Gorn]

The pickups don't have covers?

 

[Bob_Ross]

The pickups don't have covers?

The original Schecter "Monstertone" pickups from the early David Schecter/Tom Anderson days were like that: No covers, exposed copper shielding over the windings. Kinda hard to tell from this pic, but my early 80s USA-made Venus B/4 model has those Monstertone pickups:

No idea how (or whether) that pic in the OP is connected to those late 70s/early 80s USA models, but if they're anything similar they are phenomenal basses.

 

[Gorn]

The original Schecter "Monstertone" pickups from the early David Schecter/Tom Anderson days were like that: No covers, exposed copper shielding over the windings. Kinda hard to tell from this pic, but my early 80s USA-made Venus B/4 model has those Monstertone pickups:

No idea how (or whether) that pic in the OP is connected to those late 70s/early 80s USA models, but if they're anything similar they are phenomenal basses.

That's interesting. I wonder why? In the pic in the OP it looks like the body is routed for covers but they're intentionally left off?

 

[Bob_Ross]

In the pic in the OP it looks like the body is routed for covers but they're intentionally left off?

Yep, the USA models were like that too. No idea why...although remember, there was all this mojo/voodoo going around in the 60s and 70s about how taking the covers off of Gibson humbucking guitar pickups improved their sound (!?) so who knows how much of this was just motivated by clever marketing.

Also, remember that David Schecter started the company as a replacement parts supplier, so his bodies would need to be routed for traditional pickups even if the pickups he sold didn't have the exact same footprint.

 

[UnDoNe]

Great looking bass, Bob_Ross! I've had a set of the Monstertones before, and they sound great. Interestingly, the US Schecters typically have the copper foil around the pickup, and Japanese have a white/cream cloth. Makes me think it's only for the Japanese market.

 

[RBASS930]

The body is generally routed the same because the base of the pickup is the same size/shape with or without the cover. And these reissue pups are incredible.

 

[UnDoNe]

Nice looking bass, Washishimi. I'm tempted to pick up a new reissue set of Monstertones, but the shipping and customs over to the UK would make them too pricey really. Really bad exchange rate as well, right now.

 

[Marco Frossard]

Hi all,

I've got a Schecter JB type jazz bass incoming from Japan and I'm struggling to find much information about them. I know about the history of Schecter USA, but I'm wonderting if these are a Japanese product for the market over there.

Does anyone know about the history of these basses, and if they're linked to USA Schecter or Schecter Japan? I'm thinking they might be from the 1990's.

Once it arrives, I'll take it apart and look for clues, but there's hardly any info on the web. They look like this... View attachment 2577812

Cheers all

Hi. One bass like yours is for sale here in Brazil. Please, can you give me more infos about it? Thanks in advance.

 

[UnDoNe]

Hi. One bass like yours is for sale here in Brazil. Please, can you give me more infos about it? Thanks in advance.

Hi Marco,

I don't know too much about them, I'm afraid. They seem to be made for the Japanese market as I've never seen one for sale outside of Japan. They are very similar to the Schecter custom shop basses of the 1990's. I'm guessing these are also from the 90's.

The pickups are made in the US, but a lot of the Japanese basses have white cloth tape wrapped around the coil, compared to the US who use black or copper shielding tape. Nice slim neck though, very easy to play and they sound great.

Any pics of the one for sale in Brazil?

 

[Marco Frossard]

Hi! Sorry the delay.
Thanks for the infos. looks like this bass was made in 1988, just for the Japanese market.
I saw one exactly like this for sale on EBay.