There's a hen's tooth listed on Ebay: Fender Modern Player Short Scale Jazz bass

Never seen one of these. Pretty cool.

 

It has been speculated that the short lived Modern Player line were largely Frankensteins that were conjured to use up stocks of existing parts from Fender/ Squire loss leaders. The Starcaster was an exception. I was truly surprised that this out of all, flashed and crashed the quickest, given the upsurge in short scale popularity.

 

There was a pretty big thread about them a few years ago:
Fender Modern Player Short Scale Jazz Bass - PJ

I considered getting one, but had just had a bad experience with a different chinese bass
that pretty much scared me off of it.

I'm glad I waited because I'm very pleased with the P/J Mustang that's out now.

Edit: just checked the thread - they were $399 new in the US, and someone got one from MF
during a president's day sale for about $339.

 

I played one, when they were available, at GC. I loved it. Only 19 frets; I require at least 21, and will settle for 20 (standard P & J), if I must. The Squier SS Jag is still the better offering, is Indonesian-made, less expensive, more mod-able, and more widely available. It is the short scale to get, if you are in any way a Fender guy/gal. Beef up the J pickup, and throw on a hi-mass bridge, and the Jag becomes a monster you'll love.

 

Wow - it went for "Approximately US $755.34".

Someone must have wanted that bass bad.

 

That's another P/J though.

I thought you were pretty well set on getting a jazz bass.

 

I just saw the USA one for sale an hour ago.
I'd sure like a chance to try one of these, but being "Hen's Teeth" and all...

I also watched the one in the UK.
Seller was asking double the retail, 600 Pounds on eBay, 300 Pounds new. (about $740 USD eBay priced.)
I saw something about import tax being 0.00 and would be computed at time of sale??
Also I wondered about importing a bass with a Rosewood fb.

Man... wished I had seen that one at MF!
Anybody know if that was in Red or WB?
WB has tort.

 

Which high-mass bridge do you recommend for a Jag SS?

 

I have the Schaller roller (adjustable spacing) bridge.
Here are two caveats for what it's worth:

1. It's a 3 hole mounting design. I started by using the center Fender hole to position it. Then I had to drill the other two. I filled in the other four Fender holes with dowels first as there isn't a whole lotta meat between screw holes otherwise.

2. I ended up moving the Schaller back (towards the bottom) about 1/8 inch because in the Fender screw hole position, there was barely enough travel in the E string saddle to intonate. It had the spring almost fully compressed.

The jury is still out IMO as to how well it works on the Short Jag. I have way more sustain, too much for my liking. But some of that may be due to other changes I made like different, but same style and slightly heavier tuning pegs. I should have only changed one thing at a time and tested the results. I also have a temporary, very much lighter weight control plate. It was a prototype for my reconfigured control layout. Plan to fashion one out of brass or something similar that is closer in weight to the original plate.

Strings are D'Addario, flat tape wound. Oh but she growels!

 

Fender released a true short scale jazz within the last 5 years or so. It was only released in Japan though. Called the smart size jazz bass.

 

They were good basses, but not for over $400. And definitely not used for that much. I wanted one of these when they came out. When Fender ended the run I still wanted one so I bought a SX ash jazz SS. To be honest, it's a good enough bass to ease that pain. I was never able to play the MP I could only judge it by the long scale versions, but it's as good as the Squier jags. I've played a ton of those, they're good basses too.

 

Ok then there may have been another SS jazz from fender Japan. I distinctly remember a sunburst tort jazz that was short scale and only had like 16 frets.