Hutton

I'm sorry but there is no way that there is a definitive answer to what spec these basses come in. I have asked around a lot about the 62 reissues and there are people who have alder bodies but Japanese pickups. Some have vintage tuners but not vintage bridges and vice-versa. How do you know if a patrticular bass is an export model unless you buy it new? BTW Japanese pickups are not a disadvantage - they sound very acceptable. I can only say again that you should view each inidividual instrument and find out from the seller exactly what spec it has. I would even do this if I was buying new.

I've recently acquired a 2008 CIJ 62 Reissue Fretless Precision. It was a non-export model and is very nice indeed. I would regard model numbers as a rough guide. There are export and non-export models. Some are alder, some are basswood. Some have vintage bridges and tuners and some don't. Some have USA vintage pickups and others don't. It also seems that you can get any mixture of all of these things. Probably depends on what is in the parts bin at the time. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one of these basses if I was you. However, I would also ignore the model numbers and just treat each bass as an individual. You won't be disappointed. Good luck!

[quote name='dood' timestamp='1340612140' post='1706811'] Correct me if I am wrong, but I also believe the PB-xxUS models are meant to be 'non-export' models as they are in competition with the US built equivalents. I have a non-export CIJ 70's reissue and it is every bit as good as the US £1000+ equivalent. I imported mine when the prices were good at a massive saving vs buying US. The PB-70US has a skinny neck, really close to a Jazz neck and that's another reason why I love it. I have a build diary featuring my P bass if anyone wants to see what it looks like. [/quote] Thanks for this post Dan. It maybe clears up some confusion. I was told that if the body of the bass was alder it was the US version and if the body was basswood then it was Japanese. My precision is alder but it has non vintage tuners and bridge. However, Nick told me that he had imported the bass from Japan so things now start to make sense as the quality of my bass is superb. There just doesn't seem to be definitive answers when it comes to the Japanese versions.

I recently purcahsaed a CIJ 62 reissue Precision Fretless from Old Horse Murphy (Nick). I am very happy with it. The build quality is certianly on a par with my USA precisions. The only thing that I don't understand is why the 62 Japanese reissues aren't fitted with vintage reverse tuners and threaded saddle bridges.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1340326869' post='1702997'] Nope it's a.... I bought it on a whim because ever since Gibson guru Neepheid took a Tokai T-bird around to mine for a jam one time, and despite me thinking they look a bit showy and vulgar and the fact that the indie kids have taken them over... I quite fancied having my own one. It was a good choice - I honestly would never have thought a bloody Epiphone could sound this brilliant. The strange thing is that since this thread started I have been asked to join another band. The music is a bit more mainstream than I'm normally associated with and the guitarist plays a Gibson Explorer. This bass wouldn't look too out of place in that band. None the less I've chosen a bass from my old armoury that suits this band's music better - it's my homemade Surf Green '51 P (Betty, for those who've met her). I chose her because of her super fast neck and hot SD pup with it's the gritty, biting tone... but who knows, maybe one day I might actually bring myself to play the T-bird in public. So there you go, that's another bass of mine about to get some action.... just as well I have so many to choose from. [/quote] Nice T-Bird Rich! BTW, I've sent you a pm.

[quote name='Ou7shined' timestamp='1339884788' post='1696006'] Having tinkered with it, I don't blame you. Sentimentality aside, this is one of the best SUB's I've ever seen. [/quote] You're right Rich. I should have complimented the bass for it's quality. It is a cracker.

Although it's my least valuable bass in terms of money I would never part with my Musicman SUB4. My son won the bass for being top guy in his year at Basstech. He then gave the bass to me. I will never part with it!

It's difficult to try to assess the instrument without pics and plenty of them. Sounds like a great project. All the best to you!

[quote name='such' timestamp='1339005005' post='1682339'] An American Vintage '62 Reissue perhaps? I'm by no means a Fender specialist, but I know that model exists and it looks (to my eyes) very much like this one. [/quote] It's definitely not a 62 reissue with that headstock and tuners.

I have a feeling that it may be a Highway One with one or two bits added/replaced. The finish looks like polished satin. I'm probably wrong but that finish just ain't shiny!

I think the puckups are different.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1338547213' post='1676060'] Almost unlimited control over tone from a unit that requires no mods to go into a standard design Precision. I could do anything from SERIOUS dub through to in yer face clank with a few tweaks. It's an extremely elegant solution to the P-Bass circuit problem, which has usually required either mods (for the battery) or has been unsatisfactory tone/versatility-wise (e.g., the SD actives). My main question to John - as I was in similar position to the OP - was 'will it give me something close to a Jazz tone?'. He's a very straight-up guy and was not prepared to say yes but said 'try it and see'. I did and it was close enough for me. C [/quote] Thanks for that Chris. I may well consider a P-retro myself.

[quote name='Beedster' timestamp='1338546491' post='1676039'] Stick in a P-Retro and only if you still can't get the sound you want install a J-PUP. I had the same dilemma with an early 70's maple fretless Precision and John East solved it for me. Chris [/quote] Very interesting Chris. Could you say what benefits in sound/tone you got from fitting the P-Retro?

I think the point here is that, as you say, you love the bass but keep wishing you had a J pup. It's your bass and it doesn't seem to me that you're going to setlle to the bass until you fit the extra pup. If you do fit a J pup I'd be interested to hear what you think of the new sound as I currently have a CIJ fretless precision with just the one precision pup. All the best with your decision making!

Absolutely loved it first time I heard it.

Surely all of this is matter of opinion. However, it doesn't do any harm to express our thoughts on anyone's music. Some like some artists, some others. I personally like Esparanza and I don't really care who doesn't, just as I wouldn't expect anyone else to like what I like. It's all music folks.

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1337890530' post='1667118'] I'll get the album on the strength of this. [/quote] Me too!

When I listen to any music I either like it or I don't. Sure there are some genres that I gravitate towards more than others but I don't slavishly follow them to the exclusion of others. I am quite used to people saying to me "you surely don't like that do you?" to which I reply "yes I do". I just listen and that's where the pleasure comes from.

[quote name='paul_5' timestamp='1337854164' post='1666319'] Aah fumps, you could fall in a bucket of tits and come up sucking your thumb. [/quote] Never heard this one before. This will keep me chuckling all day. Thanks Paul!

[quote name='silddx' timestamp='1337849488' post='1666235'] You know what, I am too! The number she did on Tuesday was a brilliant bit of composition, and it seemed truly from the heart. I could really FEEL her personality in the music and her performance. I so rarely get that with music of that genre, with all the excesses and pressures of virtuosity and peer pressure which usually results in a confused and unworthy mess that represents nothing of value. I think I'm an Esperanza convert, she gave me the unexpected, I really enjoyed it and I want to hear and see that performance again. [/quote] Very well put Nigel. I've been listening to her stuff on Spotify and am finding it extremely pleasing.

[quote name='BigRedX' timestamp='1337845054' post='1666169'] Is it just me or does anyone else think that the combination of fan-frets and headless being squared off behind the nut looks wrong? If the nut-end string retainer was custom-made surely it would have been possible to make one which matches the angle of the nut? [/quote] Good point!