bythesea Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 If there are any "experts" who knows a bit about Japanese Fenders could they PM me please? Need to know a bit about value and quality. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moos3h Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 They are good value and great quality. I think we're done here? Actually, in today's market, I don't think Jap Fender guitars are necessarily always all that great value, some of the prices being asked for them exceed the cost of USA built ones and a good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of where it's made! Cheers, JAmes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starless Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 [quote name='Moos3h' post='563471' date='Aug 8 2009, 01:58 PM']some of the prices being asked for them exceed the cost of USA built ones[/quote] I'm not really seeing that. More like Japs are anything between £450 - £700 depending on model (bass) and the US equivalents can be anything up to £1200. No contest for me, I have never owned a US Fender (although have had a shot now and again), and refuse to gig with anything that costs me over £500. My Jap Jazz and 'Precision' both cost me around £450 and they are spot on, build-wise, finish-wise, sound-wise. No point taking a chance with the Mex models and I'm not going to pay an extra 3-400 quid for a 'Made in USA' sticker. In all my time of trawling internet forums, I have yet to see any bad stuff written about Japanese Fenders. They may have crept up a bit in price recently, but that has to be as a result of their reputation. This is the (imprecise) Precision. Just cannot fault it in any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 (edited) [quote name='Starless' post='563592' date='Aug 8 2009, 05:39 PM']They may have crept up a bit in price recently, but that has to be as a result of their reputation.[/quote] It's got more to do with the exchange rates than anything else, though they are great instruments. Edited August 8, 2009 by RhysP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeftyJ Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 [quote name='Starless' post='563592' date='Aug 8 2009, 06:39 PM'][/quote] Pretty! What exactly is it? I was drawn to Fender Japan because they simply offer a much wider range of instruments, finish options and the choice of a maple or rosewood fingerboard for lefty instruments whereas Fender USA only offers the New American Standard P and J in black with a white pickguard or sunburst with a tortoise pickguard, with a rosewood board only. I have played a few MIJ P's and J's and they're at least on par with their US-made counterparts. When buying a new one they are indeed very close in pricing, for the price of a new MIJ '75 Jazz reissue you get an American Standard Jazz. But then you don't get blocks and bindings, US-made '70's reissue pickups and a high gloss neck, you'd have to buy the American Vintage '75 Jazz which is well above the MIJ in pricing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 [quote name='Starless' post='563592' date='Aug 8 2009, 05:39 PM'][/quote] Jaw>>>>>Floor delicious!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted August 8, 2009 Share Posted August 8, 2009 Here's my Jap P Bass - I simply couldn't bring myself to sell it!! [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8983"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=8983[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 I've owned a few over the years (my main CIJ or MIJ I should say P-bass has been my mainstay for 20yrs!). They are great & I don't need to add "for the money". I own a USA P-bass & I'd describe it as "as good as" the MIJ stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bythesea Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 Thnaks for all the responses and PMs - as usual BC proves it's worth Definitely given me a new avenue to explore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 [quote name='LeftyJ' post='563886' date='Aug 8 2009, 11:39 PM']Pretty! What exactly is it?[/quote] It is a CIJ PB70 80US fretless, a not-for-export model with US pickups and I'll guess a jazz-width neck. I have an identical one, except that it has frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starless Posted August 9, 2009 Share Posted August 9, 2009 [quote name='pete.young' post='564055' date='Aug 9 2009, 11:52 AM']It is a CIJ PB70 80US fretless, a not-for-export model with US pickups and I'll guess a jazz-width neck. I have an identical one, except that it has frets.[/quote] Yes it is a 70's re-issue with US electrics. The neck is certainly Jazz width, but a bit chunkier in profile (if I could find a Jazz that looks exactly the same then I would have that like a shot - but not sure if they ever existed). The only downside to the bass is the weight. It is appreciably heavier than my Jazz, and I am not 100% sure what the body material is... certainly matches the maple neck and fingerboard, but I was always under the impression that these things were either ash or basswood. Either way, those cunning devils in the land of the rising sun did a fab job matching the wood finishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bythesea Posted August 9, 2009 Author Share Posted August 9, 2009 (edited) Quick reply to all those who PMd (and anyone else who's interested). I was watching a Japanese unlined fretless Jazz on ebay (which I daresay some others here were also watching) but had no idea what price it could be expected to reach. As it turned out it went for £360 (a bit more than I had) which is along the lines of the advice I was getting so useful for the future. Thanks to all who responded Edited August 9, 2009 by bythesea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.