You can order a new one through Ishibashi. I just got a new Jazz bass from them a few weeks ago. They really are that good, and with a price point between the MIA and MIM, they are worth trying.
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Where did the Japanese basses Go?
- Thread starter bassplayeroreo
- Start date
I currently own 3 Fender Japan basses. Two jazzes and a P-bass. All of them great instruments, but I plan on upgrading the tuners on one of them. 
i have an MIJ Marcus Miller, and it feels better than any USA standrad ive ever played
My strat is also japanese too, so i think i know where my heart lies
My strat is also japanese too, so i think i know where my heart lies
I have a CIJ Sting bass, a jaguar, and an '87 CIJ P-bass, and they all are excellent quality. I did upgrade the Jaguar quite a bit and replaced the stock Sting pickup with an SD single coil. The fit and finishes are the really big difference. That said, the recent MIMs are, to me, very well made--I have three.
Been playing the MIJ 86 P-Bass that's in my avatar since it was new. Added Dimarzio pups, a Badass II, Schaller machine heads, and a Hipshot/Schaller D-tuner. Other basses have come and gone but still love playing this one.
ishibashi is selling them again? I remember a big crapstorm when Fender clamped down on them a year or two back and they were forced to stop selling any Fender Japan product to customers in the states. there were a lot of threads on it at the time. If they are indeed carrying these basses again, that's great... the new Aerodyne PJ's look pretty dang sweet.
Jon, I couldn't agree more. The Geddy and the Marcus are the by far the best buys in the Fender line. and I wish you could get "new" 70's and 60's reissues from Japan. They all need some set up help, and pre help, but a good pre cost just as much to put in a Marcus as it does to put in an MIA 70's reissue that you paid almost 750$ more for.
BigOldHarry,
The Fender Japan Co. was founded in 1992 by two distributors that didn't manufacture instruments, but purchased them from FujiGen Gakki. These instruments were labeled MIJ.
The legend says that by contract, if Fender moved to another manufacturer, the MIJ label was to be switched to CIJ.
By 1992, Fender Japan switched manufacturers to Dyna Gakki because FujiGen was having issues supporting the demand.
With all that said, I own three MIJ/CIJ Fenders: An '85 Jazz Bass Special, a Marcus Miller and a Jaguar bass. All three instruments are great and the manufacturing quality can be comared to Fender Custom Shop instruments (I own a master built Jazz and a FCS Precision).
I've been playing the Jazz Bass Special for 20 plus years and is great. I've replaced pickups, bridges, tone controls on them to improve their sound, but so I did on the Custom Shop axes.
The comments about bad wood combination, etc. are nonsense to me as these basses are extremely good.
I guess you mean 1982? Fender Japan was established in 1982 and Fender USA commissioned FujiGen (manufacturer of Greco) to build the first Fender instruments, these were known as the JV and SQ series and were all MIJ, all Fender Japan instruments were all MADE IN JAPAN (MIJ) then when the contract was transfered to Tokai in the late '90s, it was switched to CIJ (for unknown reasons), now all 2009 models were brought back to MIJ. No more CIJ
Dude, that is so wrong. The wood is not good enough? Are you really saying that the Jag - like it or not - isn't one of the most versatile basses Fender ever made? And the Marcus Miller too??? Dude.....
I am so tempted to order a MIJ Jazz from ishibashi...
how does the cost compare when u add up the shipping and duty?
how does the cost compare when u add up the shipping and duty?
- Apr 1, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
That's a hundred and 40 bucks (roughly). When I leave here in two years, I'm buying as many MIJ Fenders as I can get my hands on. Someone will want them 
I know that "Made in x" and "Crafted in x" are legal speak. It has to do with import/export tariffs. I'm not a lawyer so...
Here is my question: I know that many cars are "made in America" but their parts are mostly made overseas and then shipped to the United States for assembly or finishing. The dashboard in my car was made in Israel, the stereo in China, engine parts in Mexico, and so on. Does this same thing apply to Fender (or other company) "Made In America" claim? My gut feeling says that it is. I wonder where the tuner gears, bridge springs, wire, pots, jacks, pick guard screws, plastic nuts, paint/stain, neck plates, etc. are made? And does it matter? Is a CIJ/MIJ intrument really "better" than a MIM? That depends on the players opinion. But one thing is fore sure- the used market clearly dictates that a MIJ will sell for more than a MIM.
Thus endth the rant.
Here is my question: I know that many cars are "made in America" but their parts are mostly made overseas and then shipped to the United States for assembly or finishing. The dashboard in my car was made in Israel, the stereo in China, engine parts in Mexico, and so on. Does this same thing apply to Fender (or other company) "Made In America" claim? My gut feeling says that it is. I wonder where the tuner gears, bridge springs, wire, pots, jacks, pick guard screws, plastic nuts, paint/stain, neck plates, etc. are made? And does it matter? Is a CIJ/MIJ intrument really "better" than a MIM? That depends on the players opinion. But one thing is fore sure- the used market clearly dictates that a MIJ will sell for more than a MIM.
Thus endth the rant.
Word is that Fender US stopped Japan exporting their fender intruments beacause the build quality was seen by many as superior to the US build. As a result, Fender paid more to their workers to ensure quality in the US - possibly a reason for the price jump between the Japanese and US models.
After all, Fender gave the very blueprints for the p and J basses to their Japanese counterparts...it was supposed to be the same guitar.
Does someone have a problem with my Japanese Ash?
I think that's a bit racialist. My Japanese 75 Re-issue Jazz would kick all the Ash bodied US Re-issues asses from Cardiff to Shinjuku and back! Why I oughtta...
I played many Fenders from all over, there's not a lot of difference, between the US and Japanese premium re-issues - seriously there isn't, except my Japanese made Jazz bass is made by a dilligent, hard working people with a love of what they do and who get fired if things aren't absolutely perfect, and US re-issues...well...aren't.
I reckon a good US made one is as good as it gets, but its way more likely you'll find a really good Japanese one. Pick-ups can be swapped and set-ups changed - only gripe with my jazz is the Tuners...oh, and I could knock and elephant out with this thing, its so F*%kin' heavy...good tone though, comes as standard with US vintage pickups.
Just my 2 pence...
After all, Fender gave the very blueprints for the p and J basses to their Japanese counterparts...it was supposed to be the same guitar.
Does someone have a problem with my Japanese Ash?
I think that's a bit racialist. My Japanese 75 Re-issue Jazz would kick all the Ash bodied US Re-issues asses from Cardiff to Shinjuku and back! Why I oughtta...
I played many Fenders from all over, there's not a lot of difference, between the US and Japanese premium re-issues - seriously there isn't, except my Japanese made Jazz bass is made by a dilligent, hard working people with a love of what they do and who get fired if things aren't absolutely perfect, and US re-issues...well...aren't.
I reckon a good US made one is as good as it gets, but its way more likely you'll find a really good Japanese one. Pick-ups can be swapped and set-ups changed - only gripe with my jazz is the Tuners...oh, and I could knock and elephant out with this thing, its so F*%kin' heavy...good tone though, comes as standard with US vintage pickups.
Just my 2 pence...
