BlueMoon

^^^^^this, especially if you know it’s poly.

Is the existing finish poly or nitro?

I have had repeated success with a length of dental floss wrapped around and under both sides of the control knob to be removed.

Only positive experiences with my dealings with Thomann.

Especially the first series from around mid 2000’s. Like hen’s teeth…..even in Japan. I’m still keeping an eye out for one. I love the blue coloured one!

First one is a rehearsal with a bunch of school friends circa 1973. The bass is a 1964 Burns Jazz……I still have it! Second one is from earlier this year……….rocking a fretless P in a café bar.

There’s nothing wrong with MIJ/CIJ Fender instruments. In general they are top notch for consistency. The 62 Jazz reissues are more common and therefore maybe more prone to modding than some models that are less common in Europe…..like the PB-70US. Remember that Japanese Fenders have various grades - typically denoted by a second double digit. Say, JB-62-75 where the first number refers to the model year of the reissue and the second set of numbers denotes the price (in 00’s Yen) when it first sold. The lower priced versions came with a smaller headstock and small footprint tuners, as well as locally specified PUP’s. The body wood may be Basswood (Linden), which is light but dings easily. Higher valued instruments have larger tuners (similar to US) on a typical Fender headstock. The body wood is typically alder or sen (ash). The PUP’s may be wound to US spec or imported US PUP’s. Hence the term US in PB-70US. Basically you will have to look far and wide for a bad MIJ Fender.

I got into classical music with my school orchestra playing double (contra)bass. The school music teacher was a closet jazz fan who encouraged me to explore improvisation techniques. This was great for my musical development, but didn’t help my street cred one bit. Most of my mates at school were into rock music………and I wanted to be in a band. So, I acquired a beaten up Burns Jazz bass and began playing it in various local rock bands. Most weren't that good and folded through common adolescent hot headedness. Feeling a bit disillusioned, I auditioned for a cruise ship touring big band on double bass. Dang me if I didn’t get the role and then scared myself xxitless when I realised what journey I was on (literally and metaphorically). I have to say that playing three sets a day and reading the dots was a great leveller for a naïve gap year student. Interestingly, my dear parents were diametrically opposed to my activity at the time. I was pursuing a dream, playing bass with serious musicians. I guess that I quickly learned that living the dream was hard work and not all I had imagined. Went back to serious studies (not music), family, and life in general with little time for bass. I never lost the passion for performance based music and began again playing bass in my 50’s. I had kept a 70’s P bass and thrashed that in various cover bands over the years. I still get a huge buzz from playing bass, especially gigs, festivals etc. My musical tastes have certainly evolved, and being able to sight-read has certainly helped me explore different types of styles. I am still poor at slap though….and proud of it. As far as basses, I’ve been through a passive-active-passive journey and up a 4-5-6-4 string cul-de-sac. The first serious electric bass was the Burns; the latest was a Yamaha BB1200. I guess there have been about a hundred instruments in between. Some are still with me………as well as the passion.

How’s the neck dive? 😳

I agree……I have one and use it regularly. Not cheap though.

A bass that looks more like a coffee table surface. In fact, after the first I still wasn’t totally convinced………..so in the best BC tradition, I got another. The basses were a Tune TBC (Exotic) 4 stringer and a Marleaux Constat 5.

Yes……..mainly piano and organs if I recall correctly. They had two shops; one in the precinct behind the Chancellor Hall and one in Moulsham Street. Very personal service…..but not cheap.

Yamaha makes some really tasty instruments. The TRB was a great range, especially the early ones. Enjoy!

Nice! Fender Japan seems to have quite a bit of flexibility to issue “local” models that are both desirable and well screwed together.