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Score!!

Craig_S

Inactive
Oct 15, 2008
3,903
28
61
Metro Detroit
I just bought a '82 or '83(?) Squier JV series (Japanese Vintage) 57 Precision! Maple neck, two tone Sunburst laquer, single color pickguard and reverse turning tuners. It's in really good shape. How cool!

I did a bit of research and found these were made to exact vintage specifications. It seems so, with the exception of the pickguard (it's single layer white that's turning green). I have the original bridge off to soak it with WD and free the screws, so it temporarily sports the old one from my Jazz Bass.

For those who don't know, these are the first Squiers, made before the Japanese Fenders. Back when Squiers were high quality Japanese exports. Bone stock it sounds as good as my P with the Duncan vintage pickup.

If anyone is interested, I'll post pics.
 
Don't mind the basement. It's an old house...

The two P-Basses.

They sound reasonably close to the same, believe it or not. The Squier is much lighter and has just a bit more of an open or woody/punchy sound. They both sound great.
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That's the JV's stock, American '57 vintage pickup, complete with raised A string pole pieces and cloth wiring. I love the yellowing pickguard. Last night it looked almost green to me.
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The JV neck plate.
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She's got a few bumps here and there...
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The cool reverse turning, fine ratio, tuning gears. They're amazingly smooth feeling.
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Anyway, there it is. One of the few collectible Squiers (yes, people collect these). It hasn't seen a lot of use, but it wasn't kept in a case or on a stand either. The back of the neck is in great shape; no dings or gouges. Not too bad, for a 25 year old bass. I'm happy to have it join the family.
 
Nice!
I also have a JV Squire, got it cheap as a kid when I didn't know what it was. I defretted it and stripped the paint when I was 15, and regret it now..
Oh, ouch... Was it a maple or rosewood neck. The rosewood is a '62 model.

Lucky B@#*&^D! I want one!
Why, yes. Yes you do. ;) :) They really are nice. There is a 70's (SQ) version on eBay right now, but the guy knows what he has. It's in great shape

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...ndexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#ebayphotohosting
 
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Its rosewood, so 62 then. Was white with tort pg.
This JV thing was news to me.. Just knew it was JV-serial and from -83

The only picture I have of it in its original state::crying:
108-0898_IMG.jpg
 
Very cool! It's a shame it was altered. It's the first white one I've seen. You could always restore it (or just play the heck out of it...). Is the nut original in that photo? It looks very thick.

I did not change it, and I can't imagine the previous owner did. The nut broke some years ago, and i have not found one that fits yet. The slot is twise as wide as anything I have found.

I've decided to just play the bass, not restore. The neck can't be refretted, so that need change, and by then it's not the same bass anymore. It now a defretted japan vintage.
 

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