Fender Japan '62 Jazz Bass JB62-75 Olympic White 1982 JV Serial
Fender '62 Jazz, Vintage White, made in Japan 1982, JV Serial. The JV serial instruments were the first Fender branded instruments made outside USA, built to an incredible standard by the famed Fujigen Gakki plant in Japan. Fender had increasing quality issues after the sale to CBS in 1964, and by the late 70s instruments rolling out of Fullerton that were pretty hit and miss. The first batch of MIJ Fenders were met with elation in USA by Fender execs: these were the best made Fender instruments since the mid-sixties. The very first JV instruments were completed in April 1982; this one was made a handful of months later in September of that year. All of that back story makes this historically significant and increasingly collectable, but also: this is a very good bass. There's a couple of quirks: firstly, the neck plate. Apparently, back in the day, customers in Japan could order an instrument with their name engraved on the neck plate rather than a serial, so this one has the Fender logo, and the original owner's name on the plate. It's also has some parts replaced: guard, bridge, pots, cap, jack and pickups, although the neck, body, tuners and other hardware are original. The body is ash, as visible in the nbeck pocket, which is unusual on a '62 style model these days, but was common back in 1962. It sounds unreal: clear and expansive up top with amazing sensitivity, growly and creamy through the mids with a touch sensitive bark, and fast and fat down low. It's currently wearing flatwound strings, which work a treat. There's a bit of standard finish wear as well as some sticker fade marks, but overall, this presents nicely. The neck is the real magic here: fellow MIJ nerd will know, these JV guitars have a certain magic feel that's very hard to find elsewhere. Join the JV club and slap your way to ecstasy.
Model: Fender Japan '62 Jazz Bass JB62-75
Made: Japan, Fujigen Gakki
Neck Date: Sep 7th 1982
Serial: 'Kazuy Ori Hoeri'
Finish: Olympic White, gloss polyurethane
Body: ash
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 34" scale, 38mm nut, slim C shape
Weight:
Mods: pickups replaced, control plate and pickguard replaced, re-wired with new jack, pots, and cap
Pickups: alnico V single coil x2
Accessories: non-original hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dimples on the end and some scuffs on the bottom and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has fade marks and dimples on the horns, dimples along the belly carve and middle of the body dent and some scuffs in the elbow area and some scuffs along the back edge and bottom corner. The sides have a small chip on the heel and top horn, surface scratches in the elbow area, minor dents near the jack and minor scuffs around the whole body. The front has dimples near the jack, scuffs around the bridge and elbow area, some discolouration on the top horn, scratches in the elbow area, play wear on the guard and horns and widespread minor scuffs around the whole body. There's a sticker fade mark in the elbow area.
Overall: very good condition (7/10)
Playing Condition Notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Rotosound flatwound strings.
Fret Life: 7/10, minor wear only