LeftyBassist.com

OMG
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Vintage-Prec ... 3cb9421427
http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-JAPAN-Precis ... 3f0b2ba6e1
http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-JAPAN-62-Jaz ... 415b073a5f
http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-JAPAN-62-Jaz ... 43a7ec3242

nice to see Ishibashi eating the shipping costs of those basses. Definately makes it more attractive to us prospective buyers.

I wish they weren't all basswood.

I REALLY like that blue P. That's a color you don't see everyday.

I don't know to much about vintage fenders but I always assumed that fenders of the 60s and 70s were all alder and ash, If that is indeed the case why are these "reissues" basswood? woudn't that mean they are not real reissues be more of a 60s inspired j or p?

Good point. You should bring that up with Fender Japan.

They do make a Jazz RI in alder I believe, tho the exact model escapes me at the moment

Hi Matt... I have three Japanese Fenders, and two were from Ishibashi. I have a C.A.R. P-bass, and a Lake Placid Blue p-bass as well. I have a sunburst j-bass, but bought that used on Ebay, before the Japanese basses went up in price. These three all have basswood bodies. I LOVE all of them. Very light comparitively, and resonant! I listen to them through phones as I'm playin' along with some classic recordings, and I defy anyone out there that isn't a genius at timbre recognition to tell me if they can hear a real noticeable difference in them and an alder bodied bass in the same model. I had a '73 p-bass, and a '71 j-bass. Both had alder bodies, weighed a ton, and didn't look or sound any better than my Japanese fenders. I also have an otm alder Japanese jazz bass body, but it's a parts bass, assembled with the best parts available- Sheptone single coils, stack knobs, orange drops, switchcraft, a mint green guard, an Allparts neck with headstock painted to match the body...and it sounds pretty much like my other stock Japan j-bass. There is only one drawback to basswood- the screw holes will become useless after removing the guard a few times to adjust the necks- but I'm a luthier, and fixed that. If you don't keep screwing and unscrewing things, that won't be an issue at all. If you can find one of these basswood bodied basses, reasonably priced, I'd check it out. You might be surprised at how much you like it.

I like the 78 P. I think at this price it is a steal even if it is not all original. I'm sure that bass sounds good.

Out of curiosity, what's wrong with basswood? I've never owned an instrument made with it but I know a lot are...

i know i need help cant resist the urge of buying it and putting a mirror pickguard on it

I've owned maybe 7 MIJ Jazz basses through the years, and I also share Matt's dislike of basswood bodies. I had one that was alder, and that was a great bass (I put Dimarzios in it), but the rest of the basses were basswood, and I always felt they lacked focus and punch, no matter what pickups I installed. I tried Bartolinis, Duncan Antiquity IIs, Dimarzio, etc, and I never quite got the same sound of that alder one.

Although, I'm nit-picky. I would dare to say that 99% of players out there don't really care, or won't know the difference. Those MIJ are lifesavers for us lefties who love Fender. Besides the sound, basswood is really prone to dents, because the wood¡s so soft, so they don't age that nicely.

My scientific explanation is that the basswood used in this MIJs is young wood that has not been dried to its full potential, hence why these basswood model are the cheapest of the MIJ line. The alder and ash model cost more, in part because the wood itself is more expensive, and because the factories might let them dry longer, which costs more.

I'm no wood expect, but I would also say that because basswood is so soft and porous, it's actually too resonant, but more like a sponge, and it absorbs too much of the sound, instead of letting it bounce and project. Alder and ash that is well-dried is resonant and light, but still remains structurally strong.

IMHO.

I know it is all a matter of taste and really don't mean to offend anyone but here is my 2 cents on basswood.



I wish you could put me to test - If I play unplugged a used Jazz Bass Standards in a store (the ones before 2004 had a basswood body the ones made after are Alder) I know in a second whether it is basswood or alder. When I check the date the bass was made, I am always correct. I don't consider myself a tone genius although after 30 years of bass playing you start having an ear for bass tones.

I mentioned it before, I previously owned two basswood Jazz Basses, a MIJ 62' reissue and a 1999 MIM and was incredibly desappointed. I agree 100% with Matt and Lefty007. I too, tried countless sets of pickup until giving up. After considering all the money I had spent for nothing on those instruments, I became some kind of basswood nazi.

I couldn't describe it better:

chalk me up as another one who does not like basswood. I find basswood bodies to be very mushy, and lacking in sustain.

iam not one who really cares about wood i take the johnny ramone aproach to guitars and basses there all the same wood and strings but i can say the one thing i hate about basswood is that like Lefty007 said

I'll put you to the test. Heck, I'll even put money on it. I'll give you more than just second listening to basswood, alder, and ash-bodies J's and I would be very surprised if you'd accurately determine which body wood is which.

We'll have to get the basses together. I've got 3 J's right now, but they're each different, aside from the bodywood. Hmmm. Let's do it at Guitar Showcase.

also the MIJ 75 RI which is made with an Ash body is not a "real" 75 RI since it has a 60ies PU Spacing - the Japan guys seems to love doing their own thing

as for the Basswood - a friend of mine has some Basswood MIJ P basses - he has nothing bad to say about them

OK sounds like fun!
We can do it at my house if you want so you can try my P-bass which I think you'll like. I have a Markbass rig with a 4x10 Avatar Cab or a 2x10 Ampeg portabass that sounds nice. I usually can tell when playing unplugged though. Let's have Gravesbass over too if he is around and videotape it to put it on youtube for the LB gang to either see me making a fool of myself or confirm that I ain't full of it. LOL!
We can set the date through PM

Anyone wants to take the bets?

We need some basses with different woods that are otherwise the same or very similar.

You know, if this test is going to meet the scientific method. Yeah, right.

I'll have to be blindfolded and you hand out the bass to me.

Now that sounds like a plan frenchy and bbl. I'll bring my 13lb Spector (a real mans bass) over as well. I am kidding about the real mans bass. It hurts to wear.