Any Fender Japan JV experts?

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bass71

Nov 18, 2007
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#1
Guys, hoping for some incite from those who know etc.

I've attached pics of a 1983 JV P bass. Does anyone know if this model is a Squire or is it a genuine Fender Japan model ie 'Made in Japan'. Guess my concern is the headstock decal..looks like a new one etc.

Thanks
s-l1600 (2).jpg
JV1.jpg
JV.jpg
 
#4
Trebizond said:
This appears to be an early '80's Fender Japan Vintage reissue P-Bass. Are the bridge saddles corregated or smooth? If the pickguard is gently lifted, are the wires cloth covered?
Click to expand...

But it has a JV neckplate! But everything else looks like one. At first I thought maybe just a neck from a 80s MIJ bass.
The neck is most likely a later MIJ Fender neck. JVs didn't have a Made In Japan on the back of the neck.
Typical MIJ Neckplate and early Made In Japan stemp on the back of the neck:
neckplate.jpg


Original JV with a Fender logo headstock:
PBASSJVOHEAD-large.gif




JVs are kind of rare 'cause they were made only from 1982-1983 or early 84 (then the SQ-series started), JVs with an original Fender Logo are very rary, but those - not 100% sure about the '57 - had a Made In Japan on the headstock.

So I agree with Trebizond. The neckplate is from a JV or a fake.
The JV serial number would make it a 1983 August - Oktober, so it would be even more unlikely that it had a Fender logo instead of a Squier one.

21frets.com - guitar information and forum about JV - Japanese Vintage fender squier stratocaster guitars, squier telecaster and basses
 
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#5
jv4.jpg
Now I'm really confused.
Just done a bit of digging. Is it possible that this is not a Squier but an early MIJ RI P bass with a JV serial?
The bass is in a shop in Japan so no chance of checking it out....still looking forward to more clues. Heres a pic of the body.
 
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#6
It's likely a Fender Japan, or a mutt. Not a Squier.

A proper Squier JV reissue - at least all the ones that I've seen - will not have a Fender logo on the neck, but a Squier (by Fender) one...see picture of the headstock here:

Andy Baxter Bass & Guitars Ltd

(not affiliated with the site in question)

My guess is that the neck came from a later bass, and not a Squier one at that. It was Japanese Fenders that had necks stamped with "Made In Japan" at varying spots, and had serial on their necks not on the plate.

If you have access to the instrument in question, ask the seller to pull it apart and then verify what parts were used.

Good luck.
 
#7
But it definetely has a JV neckplate! These were exclusive, no later MIJ Fender had a JV followed by 5 numbers as a neckplate!

@ajkula66 There were rare early non export models with a Fender logo, see my example above!

But my conclusion, as mentioned above: an early 80s MIJ Fender Reissue with a JV neckplate. These had headstocks with Fender and no serial number.
 
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#8
DirkP said:
But it definetely has a JV neckplate! These were exclusive, no later MIJ Fender had a JV followed by 5 numbers as a neckplate!
Click to expand...

We agree on this.

@ajkula66 There were rare early non export models with a Fender logo, see my example above!
Click to expand...

It's possible. All the JV models that I've come across were indeed export models since I lived in Europe for most of my life.

But my conclusion, as mentioned above: an early 80s MIJ Fender Reissue with a JV neckplate. These had headstocks with Fender and no serial number.
Click to expand...

I'd beg to slightly differ on this one. Some Japanese Vintage models did sport a serial on the back of the headstock. Other than that, your conclusion sounds OK to me.

As I've stated before: if OP has access to the instrument, they would be wise IMO to have the current owner pull it apart and verify what they're looking at.

My $0.02 only...
 
#9
The first Fender Japan vintage reissues had Made In Japan written in small letters on the headstock, and they had JV serial numbers on neckplates, or in the case of the OPB-54 basses, on the bridge plate. However, this changed after a few years, and some Fender Japan vintage reissues did have JV serial numbers and MADE IN JAPAN on the back of the neck near the 4 bolt plate. I have owned several, seen many more, have the old catalogs, and worked at the largest Fender dealer in this state(Utah) in the early '80's. We tried to get these guitars in our store, but the Fender reps stood firm on the policy that the JV instruments were non-export to the USA. I think the black P-Bass in this thread is a legitimate Fender Japan '62 reissue P-Bass. Of course, it's always possible someone mixed parts. Good discussion, by the way.
 
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#10
bass71 said:
Just done a bit of digging. Is it possible that this is not a Squier but an early MIJ RI P bass with a JV serial?
The bass is in a shop in Japan so no chance of checking it out....still looking forward to more clues. Heres a pic of the body.
Click to expand...

My apologies for not paying proper attention to the location of the bass (and shop) although it was clearly mentioned in your post...

Take all of this with a grain of salt since I'm working from memory here, and am a candidate for Mad Cow Disease but I've never seen a Japanese Vintage Reissue with a JV neck plate. I'd also possibly question the decal on the headstock, which looks like something one would find on an "ordinary" Fender Japan instrument from the early to mid 80s.

Having said that, I've never set foot in Japan and would not be one bit surprised if some of the pieces available there were never known or seen outside of that country.

Given the distance involved, the asking price would be a huge factor if I were looking at the bass in question.

Your money, your passion, your call.

Good luck.
 
#13
Dragan said:
From my knowledge, JV is for japan vintage not a Squier exclusively. You can find JV on Fenders too,which are made in japan in early 80s
Click to expand...

Disagree, if(!) you imply that after the JV period from 1982-1984 there were Fender Japan instruments with JV serial numbers. During the first years of production there were only JV instruments, after about two years there were no more JV instruments, only SQ instruments with SQ serial numbers. Some few instruments during the first years that were domestic only had a Fender logo (I've shown a picture of own above). Since about 1985 it gets more diversified, but no instrument to my best knowledge had a JV serial number.

This is from of the best articles on the net about the JV instruments and their history. It kind of shows that not all of these instruments had the same quality ingredients.

The Truth About... 1980s Squier Strats | Planet Botch
 
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#14
Just saw this in the Planet Botch link above....interesting,
"The first wave of JV series Strats intended for the Japanese market carried full Fender branding. That is, a Fender ‘spaghetti’ logo on the headstock and no reference to the Squier marque at all"
 
#16
bass71 said:
Guys, hoping for some incite from those who know etc.

I've attached pics of a 1983 JV P bass. Does anyone know if this model is a Squire or is it a genuine Fender Japan model ie 'Made in Japan'. Guess my concern is the headstock decal..looks like a new one etc.

Thanks
View attachment 962580 View attachment 962581 View attachment 962582
Click to expand...
Look at the 60s open gear tuners ... it is definitely not a Squier & the fecal is in line with the period correct one for 60s made Fender basses or reissue version..
 
#17
Dluxe said:
I love mine.View attachment 962917
Click to expand...

Love mine too, although it was not one of the best equipped models I suppose. Bought it with US Fender '62 pickups and better electronics after the previous owner had modified it with an active circuit and other pickups. At least the only trace of this is a small extra space of a few mm in the electronics department under the pickguard, no additional battery compartment or something similar.

To prove my love: I bought it used in 1994 and the shop had a cheaper used 1970s US Fender for a bit less money. Didn't think for a minute after playing both and went home with the Squier.

squier%20jv%20RIMG0048.jpg
 
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#18
I have an 1982 Squire JV Jazz with a JV18.... serial number. ... This bass with a JV78..... serial number seems quite high considering they were made for only 82/83 before they went into SQ-series serial numbers. ... I'm guessing, like some here have suggested, it's a parts bass from the 80's. ... If it plays well, sounds good and isn't too much money it'll be a nice piece. ... Pulling the neck and seeing a pencil date would be extra nice. See if that can be done before you buy.
 
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