mckendrick

[quote name='Emanew' timestamp='1362352188' post='1998932'] As far as i know, i compared the MIA and the MIJ, there are differences in the look, design and the sound. I never tried a MIM, sorry. The look : - pickguard tortoise is not the same on the US (four-ply pickguard and better quality tortoise) - Headstock sticker is different on the US (patented numbers under the 7ender on the US, different fonts used on the US for JAZZ BASS electric bass) - Different neck coat color : darker neck coat on the US. - Very thin frets on the US. - Reverse tuners (on the US) bigger than the normal ones (MIJ). The neck shape : - I think the 62' US JB neck is even thiner than MIJ ones. US necks try to be closer to the originals 60' Jazz Basses, flat and really thin. Sometimes even too thin and the neck get bowed.... The woods : - The US version is supposed to be made of "more selected" woods... The sound : - The stacked knobs (with the 2 separate tone knobs ) give a different personality to the US compare to the MIJ 62'JB. - The thiner frets have a consequence on the sound. There must be others differences. But it doesn't mean to me that a MIJ is always under a US and can not be a killer instrument I hope it will help. [/quote] The colour tint of the neck can differ immensely between US models. Of the three more common grades of Jap reissue, only the top ("VSP") grade gets the deeper colour tint. That model also gets top of the line Jap pickups - which are more or less copies of an original 62 pickup, wax dippied, cloth wiring, all that - it also gets vintage style reverse tuners and a threaded bridge saddles. It's possibly a more accurate 62 re-ish that the US one, bar its pressed tin chromed string tree - the US one is turned nickel-silver. Jap grades... JB62; basswood body, 70's bridge, Mustang tuners, cheap Jap pickups and electrics. JB62US; alder body, 70's style bridge, 70's style tuners, US pIckups, upgraded Jap electrics. JB62VSP; as above. US 62 has mitrocelulose laquer, Japs are polyurethane laquered. Headstock 'sticker' on Jap ones is a laser print as opposed to the USA waterslide transfer decal. The earth strip in US models is much wider than Jap one. I don't know anything first hand about Mex's. .

[quote name='Stacker' timestamp='1361604428' post='1988095'] And,with the power of Google: [url="http://www.talkbass.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=201783&d=1298775056"]Sheehan's Studio Rig[/url] [/quote] What [s]a w***er[/s] an onanist.

[quote name='squibs' timestamp='1362149673' post='1996491'] I like the above explanation. As with many things bass/guitar related, it leads me to question two things: 1) how much do I notice the difference, 2) how much do I care if I don't notice the difference. [/quote] This.

Phew!

[quote name='rogerstodge' timestamp='1362009200' post='1994571'] Top boozer [/quote]

Good one Fat Rich. Always get a bit peckish half way thro' the gig.

[quote name='ChickenKiev' timestamp='1361953768' post='1993421'] Is there anything I could do to counterbalance the muddiness of t'birds? [/quote] Yes; leave it in the store and get a Tokai one.

[quote name='Fozza' timestamp='1361958279' post='1993506'] No John Deacon either from what I could see. [/quote] But it's not real, is it? It's only a list of a certain number of participants' favourites, it's not a technical analyisis. I mean.... Jah Wobble above Berry Oakley...????? Oh, please.... I don't pay the remotest heed to these pathetic things. As far as I'm concerned I'm the best bass player ever, but for some crazy reason I don't make the list.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1361922224' post='1993263'] ..... but to throw in a curveball, there`s a Tokai Thunderbird for sale on here, and these get very good write-ups. [/quote] ....and the Tokai pick-ups are far and away better than the Epi ones.

[quote name='Kiwi' timestamp='1361872210' post='1992072'] Design by committee usually only ever makes progress on the basis of consensus. On Basschat that means you could be here for years. [/quote] I was thinking more on the lines of 'decades'.

[quote name='jjay69' timestamp='1361441826' post='1985907'] Lets be honest if he is on here the chances of hi owning up now are diminishing by the post. [/quote] This.

[quote name='cocco' timestamp='1361461339' post='1986044'] I just picked up a lovely Lakland Bob Glaub for £500 [/quote] Bargain.

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1361121998' post='1981373'] As for the original pickups being USA, that's correct as Japanese fenders use US parts (ie pickups, bodies, scratchplates, hardware etc). [/quote] They only use the pick-ups, these days - and only on JB75's and those models designated **** - US, They only ever used USA scratchplates and bodies on the very earliest JV's. Hardware is manufactured by Gotoh in Japan.

[quote name='Oopsdabassist' timestamp='1361003336' post='1979552'] Interesting idea for a programme.... [/quote] Aye, and in December they'll be doing the fiftieth anniversary of "With The Beatles", and next year they're doing "Hard Days Night" and "Beatles For Sale", then in 2015 they're doing..... ....some real original thinking.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1361034809' post='1980154'] Strange that Ted, a 12-hole pickguard, Fenders usually being 10 or 13. [/quote] It's what the Japs do with the (unprototypical) single ply plastic plate they put on their '57 re-ish. An odd bunch, those chaps.