Lefty007 wrote:
Nice color and whatnot, but for that kind of money, try to get a used post-2008 USA P-Bass. Better neck, better sound. Post-2008 USA Fender rock, period, and will play and sound much better than any Japanese Fender from any year. IMHO, of course.
FYI, that shim could be a factory setup. Not really covering the serial number, just the stamped model number, something like: PB-62L.
I used to be a fan of Japanese Fender, but after 2008, when Fender revamped their whole USA line and re-introduced the lefty Jazz Bass, there is really no reason to buy an MIJ, unless it's around $500 or it's in a color that you must have. MIJ necks are built just like old Fender necks, and they tend to have a bow even when the truss rod is maxed out. If you like medium to high action, no problem, but if you like low action, forgetaboutit. And MIJ pickups have never been better than MIA, and the quality of wood has never been as good as MIA. I say this after owning about 10 MIJ and 10 MIA.
Buy American! LOL. . .
I Love the new American basses, they're about the best made and enginered Fender basses ever. Available in TWO colors? 1300 bucks? I want Fender to make the same colors and basses they make for rightys, for US lefty bassists! I'm a 40+ year bassist, repairman and luthier, and I know Fender basses extremely well.
That said,
I currently own two Fender Japan '62 reissue Precision basses, basswood bodies..and the usual vintage tinted maple necks with rosewood boards. It is true that the necks are made using the old type single action vintage rods. I have heavy gauge flats on my blue one, and the action is low enough to make it bark a bit like John Enwistle's p-bass era tone. The other one has a set of slightly lighter gauge flats on it. Both basses have had the rods turned pretty tight, as necessary. Low action on that one, too. That tight rod tension may bother some, but I don't mind. They actually backbow a bit in the summer, so I loosen the rods a bit, and return them to near max in the dry times.
I have a great Japanese Jazz bass, made in 1997...and it has a thin but surprisingly, very stable neck. Standard gauge D'Addario Chromes on that bass. I seldom need to adjust it. No more than my old American basses needed. All of these basses play, look, and sound every bit as good as my Japanese alder body jazz bass with a lot of cool things like vintage spec pickups and hardware on it. A lot of bassists out there hate basswood bodies, But my basses sound great. Just my experience, yours may vary...
