Chiliwailer

The dots instead of block inlays is wrong for the period so be suspicious. Maybe it had a new fingerboard (which is reflected in the price). If it has a new fingerboard, then other stuff could typically be changed too. £750 is fair if you like the bass and it actually is mostly original. Take caution though mate,

Mid to late 70's Fender's can certainly split opinion. Typically, they are heavy, have dodgy neck joins and can have lower standard pickups. That said, I've played many which sound awesome. Heavy ash bodies can have that affect. It all comes down to how you feel about it. The prices of some late 70's Jazz Basses are wild, and I would always chose a Custom Shop over one if the price is high, but others players may disagree, so once again, it all depends on how you feel about the particular bass. There were some lighter ones from '78, they are very very rare, but often quite nice too so worth grabbing at the right price. Note that many people date these Fenders from the serial number, but the '78 serial number was used all the way up to 1982 in some instances so check for a neck date or decipher the pot codes if the year is an issue for you.

A 70's invention to allow the player to adjust the angle of the neck. This could be needed when the neck isn't sitting properly in the pocket or if the saddle adjustments aren't enough to get the action you want. Is it a coincidence that these came about when the Fender quality control began to need as much as help as it could get?

[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1404500507' post='2493322'] Sea Foam Green and Surf Green are essentially the same colour, by the way - foam is another word for surf in American English- but , as with any colour, one manufacturer's hue may be slightly different from another. [/quote] You're certainly right about the language barrier altering the recognition of the Greens. People are forever discussing the custom colours and correct names. There actually was a DuPont colour that Fender used called Foam Green which is darker than Surf Green and was around at the same time. It's like Chinese whispers I guess and Foam green becomes Sea Foam Green but is actually Surf Green Fender Custom Colours never cease to keep me on my toes.... (it beats watching sh*te TV).

That age old question... For 16 years I watched people buying guitars on a daily basis in my old job working in guitars shops. I repeatedly saw this scenario: What was right for Fred was different to Bob, he liked what Joe liked but Charlie thought they were all nuts...if you get my drift? In my view from seeing people fall in and out love with basses, it all comes down to the tone of the bass matching the expectation of your ears. Occasionally a cheaper bass really does sound that good, but often it's just that the people who like them do so because they haven't had the opportunity to play greater quality basses or because it's pleasing to their ears and expectations. Nowt wrong with that at all, they're just as right as anyone else and better off financially too! Personally I must admit I'm a snob when it comes to guitars, I've pretty much repeatedly owned most varieties of basses and guitars from all angles and price points. And all those years working in guitar shops meant I played a fair amount too. I've owned some fantastic cheaper basses but to my ears they didn't survive the cull. There is a reason pro's [u]typically[/u] (not always) stick with higher end gear, and it's not kudos. It's just great quality and you usually need to pay for that. Sub £1000 there are a ton of lovely basses. When talking about Fender, Mexico reissue basses and American Strandard's are fantastic basses in my opinion. I'd happily play them and recommend them to folk. However I prefer Custom Shop and I value and appreciate the differences these basses attain, doesn't mean I'm right though, just £100's more out of pocket!

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1404304262' post='2491332'] Chiliwailer and Foxx, thanks again guys [/quote] Cheers pal, been a pleasure. Enjoy the bass!

[quote name='Marc S' timestamp='1404202352' post='2490144'] Thanks for that Chiliwailer, This bass does indeed say "American Traditional" in small typeface on the end of the headstock Also, the original scratchplate WAS indeed a one-piece The guy showed it to me He had replaced it with a more fetching 2 piece, in rather nice tort Anyone know of how well these basses were built, or the quality of components?? It seems a fair bass for the money I'm tempted to go for it, and maybe get my local luthier to re-profile the neck to more of the traditional Jazz shape.... I do like the profile of Jazz bass necks Cheers again for your help folks [/quote] I'm pretty sure these have Mexican parts - pickups/bridge/tuners etc. I checked the pictures of a Trad against a 1990 Jazz and bridge differs so that's a big clue, plus Fender like to go cheap where possible on cheaper special run USA gear. These parts aren't great, but easily changeable so if the wood is good then you're all set to go. £350 is good, but perhaps factor in new pickups to get it really going. The wood should be USA quality, given Fender's previous history of using up old parts this probably has the remainder of the pre 1989 20 fret Jazz Bass necks and bodies, the pickguards would most likely come from the 1983 Jazz Basses which although great basses, took penny pinching to a whole new level....

Hi Paul, I had two JV0 P Basses - these basses are serious in every sense of the word I've also had 2 x '83 JV P Basses - they are not even close to the JV0's. The typical Basswood body on the later JV's aren't as resonant as the Sen on the JV0, the necks are slightly different too. The Basswood JV's are light weight, both of my JV0's were 9.5lbs, too heavy for my dodgy spine so sadly they got sold. I never compared one with a Fullerton, but thought I'd chip in with some JV0 love.

[size=4][b]American Traditional Jazz Bass!![/b][/size] That was bigging the sh*t out of me The pickguard and control plate have been changed on the one in the eBay link. They should be a one piece. Fender using up old bodies and pickguards.... If yours is one, it'll say it on the end of the headstock in small writing.

Doh, I just remembered, the Jazz Bass turned into the 22 fret long horn version around 1989 to about 1995-ish, so yours could be a special model if it's a 1990 regular body shape and 20 fret neck ????

If yours is like the one on your eBay link then it is a 1990, the 1999's had a spaghetti logo. Pictures would really help mate because Fender have sometimes very briefly made cheaper USA models which are hard to spot, for instance some used cheaper parts, older parts or were made outside the usual factory. I remember the Corona series of the mid 90's so I Googled it to get you a link, turns out there is one right here on Basschat, check out the post from bleedproof [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/835-help-fender-corona-series/"]http://basschat.co.u...-corona-series/[/url] (not that I'm saying yours is a Corona, it's just an example. It could simply be that it was a B grade stock one sold cheaper, Fender do that a lot to slightly damaged or returned basses and leave it to the dealers to tell, or not tell, the punters).

Oooh, I remember selling these first time round - stunning flammed top

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1403048744' post='2479324'] I'll sell you my fretless Stingray if you like! [/quote] Uh oh, I've got serious GAS for one of those right now. I could be in trouble if you bring that one over in a couple of weeks time......

[quote name='Joeyfivebags' timestamp='1403010520' post='2478799'] Did the P serials start from 0001? I know the first 100 or so Strats had serials starting 0100 in '54. [/quote] They went; 100 - 400 in 1951 - 1952 0001 - 0999 in 1952 - 1954

[url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/390865650431#ht_391wt_611"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/390865650431#ht_391wt_611[/url] [url="http://www.ebay.com/itm/390865649451#ht_429wt_611"]http://www.ebay.com/itm/390865649451#ht_429wt_611[/url]

Love them. love them, love them.... So good I had to say it 3 times

You just can't beat a Tele, a true sold workhorse and killer looking guitar. Enjoy!!!

Case 1 looks like it could be the '66. It's hard to tell without proper shots of the logo. Even broken that'd help a lot. The logo on case 1 looks smaller, I could be wrong about that, but if it is smaller then 3&4 that looks like a '66 type to me. It could also be case 2 for the 66 but the clasp in the wrong place on 1 is odd and typical of hand made gear from that period which regularly has anomaly's, a batch could have been experimented on, made wrong or just cocked up by the new guy in the factory. I've had a late 60's P Bass with a logo minus the tail, so case 2 could be for that one. I've found that the cases can vary in the 60's. Perhaps either the factory guys or guitar shops just reached for the nearest case in the store room or Fender did the usual thing of using up old stock later on. I hope this helps a little, problem with old Fender is that they often made up the rules as they went along and not everything is set in stone.

As above, plus all the magnets, especially the MM ones, would most likely affect your tuning and intonation due to the magnet pull on the vibrating string. If you lower the pickups to avoid this then the tone will suffer quite a bit. That'd be one hell of a bass though if it works!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1402602192' post='2475303'] I didn't get away with it completely. That particular bass cost me a £700 running machine! She's happy. I'm happier. We're both happy. Maybe that's the trick? [/quote] No not completely, but you did get off lightly considering you got a killer bass and paid quite a bit more than £700.... Let's hope she's after a new rowing machine soon, then you can start trawling the For Sale section again!

[quote name='hiram.k.hackenbacker' timestamp='1402589654' post='2475104'] My wife only bothered asking me how much that Custom Shop was that I picked up from yours the other week whilst I was on my way home....and that was without one of your magic receipts! [/quote] Haha, good on you Warren, all those lovely basses PLUS an understanding wife, cake and eat spring to mind!

When I used to manage guitar shops I offered worried customers a 'fake' reciept to show the wife (along with the proper one). The fake one would state that the guitar only cost whatever the customer asked me to state. Worked well with international customs too

Good luck to you on your personal journey, only you can make the decision where to turn and there may be one or many turns ahead of you. My thoughts are that the beauty about music is that it never leaves you and there is always a way back, be it church bands or other. If you get back to music then you broke a cycle that bothered you and you did it in your own time and on your terms (perhaps with a new outlook on it). And it you don't play again, you found peace with your struggles so made the right choice. I guess you're going to do what you have to do and then go with the flow, there's nothing that can't be replaced later if you do sell your gear. Keep the faith