Is this Jazz a USA or Japan?

soaf

soaf

Jul 27, 2013
150
7
4,551
#1
Ok... You may think this is an easy one but this mystery bass is tough. At least for me.

Notes of interest...
-there are no patent numbers under the Fender logo
-there are no thumbrest holes
-the tuners are early USA repros, not typical Japan narrower ones found on Japanese JB62US models
-there is no "Crafted in Japan" or serial number located on the lower neck close to where it meets the body.
-there is an "F" neckplate with no serial
-no serial anywhere on the guitar
-the pickups are Bartolini
-The bass was recently purchased used on an auction site from a lady who said her late-husband acquired it in the 80s.
-the pickguard does not seem to line up perfectly with the control plate
-the curve of the pickguard does not exactly follow the outside of the body well
-the inside lining of the case it is in is blue
-there is a strap peg at the headstock rear
-other strap pegs appear to be black

Perhaps this is a frankenbass (made from various parts)?? I woyld like to identify the model and year if possible.

Any help is appreciated. I should be able to tear it apart in a week for more clues.

Thanks!

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#4
Did you remove the neck and have a look at stemps or dates?

The neck looks MIJ to me. Fender Japan offered more of these surf/car colours like Daphne Blue or Seafoam Green or Sonic Blue than Fender USA. If it is not a refinished body and not a US Reissue - and the finish looks Poly to me, it is even more likely to be MIJ. Fender USA didn't offer poly finished Reissues at all during the 80s and even the nitro finished with these colors during the 80s were a rarity, besides the Custom Shop AFAIK.
 
#7
Doctor_Clock said:
looks like a 1989 MIJ '62 reissue
Fender 62 Reissue Jazz Bass 1989 Japan *SOLD*, The Bass Palace
Someone may have taken the serial off the back off the neck
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The tuners are different! My MIJ Noel Redding Jazz has similar tuners, but it is a kind of '65 Jazz Reissue and it has the serial number engraved at the back of the headstock.
The neck looks so JV like with the "rounder" end of the rosewood. Couldn't it be a domestic Squier JV, those had a Fender logo and are rare.
 
#8
DirkP said:
The tuners are different! My MIJ Noel Redding Jazz has similar tuners, but it is a kind of '65 Jazz Reissue and it has the serial number engraved at the back of the headstock.
The neck looks so JV like with the "rounder" end of the rosewood. Couldn't it be a domestic Squier JV, those had a Fender logo and are rare.
Click to expand...

Did the "Domestic Squier JV" have a truss rod adjustment at the heel?
 
#9
Doctor_Clock said:
Did the "Domestic Squier JV" have a truss rod adjustment at the heel?
Click to expand...
Yes, they were kind of very accurate '62 Jazz replicas. But I'm not so sure, they are very rare and it might rather be the case that it is a very early '80s Fender Japan bass.

-there are no patent numbers under the Fender logo

true for many Fender Japan basses

-there are no thumbrest holes

maybe now some of them have these holes, but up to a few years ago no single MIJ Fender came with holes for the thumbrest or the ashtray

-the tuners are early USA repros, not typical Japan narrower ones found on Japanese JB62US models
not sure, but there are Fender Japan basses with early USA repros like the JV ones or the Noel Redding

-there is no "Crafted in Japan" or serial number located on the lower neck close to where it meets the body.
The JVs had the serial number on the neckplate

-there is an "F" neckplate with no serial
maybe somebody replaced it?

-no serial anywhere on the guitar

another sign that it was on the neckplate but removed.

-the pickups are Bartolini
-The bass was recently purchased used on an auction site from a lady who said her late-husband acquired it in the 80s.

-the pickguard does not seem to line up perfectly with the control plate

Now I really have doubts. I guess this is not possible on MIJ Fender basses. IT MUST BE A US FENDER:)
(truth: all of my 5 MIJ Fenders line up perfectly, my 2.000,- AVS '64 Jazz doesn't!


-the curve of the pickguard does not exactly follow the outside of the body well
the pickguard might be a replacement (see above)

-the inside lining of the case it is in is blue
the case didn't come with the bass
-there is a strap peg at the headstock rea
quite common on MIJ Fender and Squier JVs.

-other strap pegs appear to be black

I'm not 100% sure that the entire instrument is a MIJ Fender or Squier but very sure about the neck.
 
#10
Hi everyone. I received the bass and had the opportunity to dissect it. Hoping with these new details you can help me nail down the year. I have diacovered the following...

-the vintage reverse-wind tuners are original (no other tuner screw holes found)

-the neck is stamped JB-62

-the body is stamped JB-62 EX, although the "JB" part is not clear.

-the control cavity has a shield plate.

-there is a 70s style bridge with flat-head saddle height adjustment screws. I believe this is probably a 70s repro bridge that is not original to the bass.

-there is no sign of a serial number anywhere on the bass oor the removal of one. I assume it was located on the original neckplate.

-there is a factory hole in the body underneath the bridge which is shallow and leads to nowhere.

-the pots are not cheap Japanese pots nor CTS pots.

-the ground wire is external, coming from the rear pickup

-no markings on the pickguard or control plate so I don't know whether they are original although they do not line up perfectly.

-the end of the rosewood on the headstock is curved, which is consistent with other Japanese necks.

-the rosewood fretboard is a very dark rosewood

With all this said, I believe this to be a Fender Japan JB-62 Jazz Bass with aftermarket parts including Bartolini pickups, 70s repro bridge, 70s Fender neckplate, and black Strap-Lok pegs. I would likento put a proper serial neckplate on it. Do I go with a JV, an E-series or what? I need to find out what years Fender Japan issued the Seafoam Green color to properly date the guitar. Any help is appreciated.
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#17
Does anyone know how to date it without a serial number? The others I have seen in this color from 89-91 do not have the vintage reverse-wind tuners mine has. It could possibly be a 82-84 JV bass but I am not so sure the pocket and neck would read JB-62 and I think the JV necks had a skunk stripe. Your thoughts?
 
#18
JV necks are dated using pencil on the heel so it is a vintage Japan repro but not a JV. Now I will need to find a neckplate. Anyone have an E-series or another from the mid to late 90s or early 90s era?
 
#19
soaf said:
Does anyone know how to date it without a serial number? The others I have seen in this color from 89-91 do not have the vintage reverse-wind tuners mine has. It could possibly be a 82-84 JV bass but I am not so sure the pocket and neck would read JB-62 and I think the JV necks had a skunk stripe. Your thoughts?
Click to expand...

Dood, you got an Ex Factor? Why spend all this time worry about a Fender?
 
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