P-Bass knowledge wanted… particularly MIJ ones…

[soulstar89]

17 minutes ago, BlueMoon said:

The tuners on the PB70US are essentially the same as those on a US P bass. The non-export Japanese PB70 has tuners with a smaller footprint. Another difference is the pickups, but that is not a difference that would be easy to tell without a closer inspection.

 

As others have said, you can’t really go wrong with a MIJ or CIJ instrument.

I’ve learnt about the tuners, saddles, body woods regarding these old basses but I don’t know how to tell from pictures if it’s a us or jap pick up. 
 

how do to figure this out? Would love to learn as sometimes the buy sends pictures of pots and pickups. I don’t know what to look for regarding pickups 

[Steve Browning]

The tuners are the key. Large plate = US parts. Small plate = Japanese. I believe the US pickup is made in Japan but to the US spec.

 

Get a PB70US and you'll have everything you want, from what you've said. 

 

Get a picture of the back of the headstock. 

Edited August 28, 2023 by Steve Browning

[carlsim]

8 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

The tuners are the key. Large plate = US parts. Small plate = Japanese. I believe the US pickup is made in Japan but to the US spec.

 

Get a PB70US and you'll have everything you want, from what you've said. 

 

Get a picture of the back of the headstock. 

will do… thanks for all the advice! I may come back hopefully with some pics from a NBD!

[soulstar89]

5 hours ago, carlsim said:

will do… thanks for all the advice! I may come back hopefully with some pics from a NBD!

The bass gallery in Camden have a pb70 from the 90’s. Adler body rosewood neck. 

 

https://thebassgallery.com/collections/bass/products/untitled-aug17_13-03
 

if you can go and try it out. 

[diskwave]

Those PB-70's are the biz next to the Mex RW which appear to be unobtainum at the mo....no ones selling them...not surpirsed. Also don't disregard the CV70's P either if you can stand the Squire Fender style logo. The only non Fender copy with the thick ole 70's neck. Ive got one..it may well be a keeper.

[soulstar89]

32 minutes ago, greavesbass said:

Those PB-70's are the biz next to the Mex RW which appear to be unobtainum at the mo....no ones selling them...not surpirsed. Also don't disregard the CV70's P either if you can stand the Squire Fender style logo. The only non Fender copy with the thick ole 70's neck. Ive got one..it may well be a keeper.

 

I just came from the bass gallery. The pb70 they have is really good. The neck feels just perfect. I will say its depth is between an actual 70’s p and a modern p. The Japanese real get it right with the necks. 
 

Anyone who wants a alder body rosewood neck will be in for a treat. 
 

 

[diskwave]

Just had a look. That looks very nice indeed if it's the right weight. They were very well made. Looks better than the Fender 71 there in cream. Ive never come across one yet between 71 and 73 that has the bridge like that in the right place....

[soulstar89]

27 minutes ago, greavesbass said:

Just had a look. That looks very nice indeed if it's the right weight. They were very well made. Looks better than the Fender 71 there in cream. Ive never come across one yet between 71 and 73 that has the bridge like that in the right place....

it was not heavy at all. Had flats on. Wish they had rounds but that’s fine. 
 

I have noticed that 70’s shape necks can vary drastically. I played a 70’s jazz today and which was thicker than the 78 p bass they have. 
 

I favour thicker necks as I shattered my wrist when I was younger. Still it’s weird the inconsistency. 
 

hopefully the original poster gets to go try it out. I’m sure he will buy it straight away. 

[Jonesy]

You can't go wrong with a Japanese Fender, they're lovely basses! I had a PB70 US (Ash body, maple neck) and it was lovely, only really sold it because I wanted a different Fender Japan P bass. 

 

As others have said, don't worry about getting a MIJ over CIJ - I've played a load and can't hear or feel any difference. From what I hear, guitar production in Japan is quite collaborative and I've even heard people say the Boxer basses from the mid eighties were made by Tokai because Fujigen were at capacity. Don't know if that's internet folklore, but either way, Tokai are another factory capable of making great guitars.

 

I wouldn't even be too picky over a US and non US model. The hardware and pups still do the job on the non US models (even watched a vid from a Japanese guitar specialist and he said they were made by Gotoh) and a pup is an easy change if you don't like it. Finding one in the finish/neck combo you prefer would be my main concern. 

 

Your other option is the MIM FSR that was released about 5 years ago. They don't pop up that often, but meet most of your criteria. For some reason they have a bound neck...

 

 

 

 

[jrixn1]

On 27/08/2023 at 23:11, carlsim said:

I see the CIJ PB70 around a bit but they all look a bit too ‘new’ and would like something a bit more ‘broken in’!

 

Not Japanese, but mentioning as an option the Fender Nate Mendel which has the TV logo and is lightly roadworn.  I've had one in the past and currently have a (non-US-pickups) CIJ PB62 - the Nate was great but I prefer the PB62.

[soulstar89]

1 hour ago, Jonesy said:

You can't go wrong with a Japanese Fender, they're lovely basses! I had a PB70 US (Ash body, maple neck) and it was lovely, only really sold it because I wanted a different Fender Japan P bass. 

 

As others have said, don't worry about getting a MIJ over CIJ - I've played a load and can't hear or feel any difference. From what I hear, guitar production in Japan is quite collaborative and I've even heard people say the Boxer basses from the mid eighties were made by Tokai because Fujigen were at capacity. Don't know if that's internet folklore, but either way, Tokai are another factory capable of making great guitars.

 

I wouldn't even be too picky over a US and non US model. The hardware and pups still do the job on the non US models (even watched a vid from a Japanese guitar specialist and he said they were made by Gotoh) and a pup is an easy change if you don't like it. Finding one in the finish/neck combo you prefer would be my main concern. 

 

Your other option is the MIM FSR that was released about 5 years ago. They don't pop up that often, but meet most of your criteria. For some reason they have a bound neck...

 

 

 

 

Oh man you had the pb70 I want. Both the pb70 ash body maple neck and mim fsr are so rare to come by

[soulstar89]

10 minutes ago, jrixn1 said:

 

Not Japanese, but mentioning as an option the Fender Nate Mendel which has the TV logo and is lightly roadworn.  I've had one in the past and currently have a (non-US-pickups) CIJ PB62 - the Nate was great but I prefer the PB62.

Oh yes I totally forgot about that bass. Yes it’s an ash body with a rosewood neck. The neck is a proper 70’s profile. You can find it in MIJ and also MIM. 
 

 

 Great reminder actually. They have Duncan pickups in if I remember correctly 

[Lozz196]

2 hours ago, Jonesy said:

You can't go wrong with a Japanese Fender, they're lovely basses! I had a PB70 US (Ash body, maple neck) and it was lovely, only really sold it because I wanted a different Fender Japan P bass. 

 

As others have said, don't worry about getting a MIJ over CIJ - I've played a load and can't hear or feel any difference. From what I hear, guitar production in Japan is quite collaborative and I've even heard people say the Boxer basses from the mid eighties were made by Tokai because Fujigen were at capacity. Don't know if that's internet folklore, but either way, Tokai are another factory capable of making great guitars.

 

I wouldn't even be too picky over a US and non US model. The hardware and pups still do the job on the non US models (even watched a vid from a Japanese guitar specialist and he said they were made by Gotoh) and a pup is an easy change if you don't like it. Finding one in the finish/neck combo you prefer would be my main concern. 

 

Your other option is the MIM FSR that was released about 5 years ago. They don't pop up that often, but meet most of your criteria. For some reason they have a bound neck...

 

 

 

 

They sound great as well, the bassist from a band I was on the same lineup a few times (name escapes me) used one and his sound was superb.

[Linus27]

I have the MIM Fender FSR 70's Precision and it is absolutely amazing. It's my favourite look for a bass, so when I saw Fender had released them, I found a shop that had them, drove straight there, played it and had bought it within half an hour. The quality, finish, playability and tone is the best I've had from a Fender including the two US AV75RI Jazz basses I've had and the US Standard Jazz and Precision I've had. It comes as standard with 62 Custom Shop Pickups and US hardware and I've had Jon Shuker make a maple gloss fretless neck so it's now my Sting replica. It's also my go to bass for recording as it so is so good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[carlsim]

I was going to plump for the one in the Gallery today but someone beat me to it!

shows that they are desirable if anything!

[soulstar89]

2 hours ago, carlsim said:

I was going to plump for the one in the Gallery today but someone beat me to it!

shows that they are desirable if anything!

It’s gone already? I went yesterday to play it. Wow. 
 

I’ll message you directly when I see some so you are aware. I am always looking for pb70’s. 
 

 

Edited August 30, 2023 by soulstar89

[carlsim]

26 minutes ago, soulstar89 said:

It’s gone already? I went yesterday to play it. Wow. 
 

I’ll message you directly when I see some so you are aware. I am always looking for pb70’s. 
 

 

Top man - let me know if you see anything good.

 

I may stick it in the wanted section...

[police squad]

There's one on ebay in London. 

I bought my wife's one from Japan via ebay. It was a few years ago.

I'm amazed that they've gone up in price so much

[police squad]

https://www.fenderfever.com/bass/fender-pb-70-us-precision-bass-reissue-mij-2