Just got a MIJ Fender Fretless Jazz bass

[Mr Basstastic]

New to this forum and just bought a used Fender Fretless MIJ Jazz bass in olympic white. Played bass for a few years then played vintage guitars but have just recently fancied playing fretless bass again. Interested in hearing opinions on the Jap Fender Fretless basses. I must say I have owned various US built Fenders and Musican basses and IMO this is a lovely bass. Only down sides are it feels very heavy and adjusting the truss rod to lower the action was a ridiculous task as you have to loosen the neck!!!
Plays and feels great and for the first time ever I have left the flats on as I always used rounds on fretless but these feel so good I am going to stick with them.

[Dr.Dave]

I have a very high opinion of Jap Fender fretless basses - I had one for a while that looked just like yours - sold it to a nice lady who came and collected it from my narrowboat.

I sold it because I didn't have a job for it to do and I have a self imposed rule that won't allow me to keep something I'm not using.

Flats are great aren't they - feel wonderful under your fingers.

Anyway - nice to have you around. I'm the right wing northern gobsh*te who upsets people , you'll soon get used to me !

[Highfox]

Nice one.
The MIJ's/CIJ's are great basses as anyone will tell you that's owned or played one.
I have 2 and won't let any go.

[Mr Basstastic]

HI Dr Dave, Thanks for your comments. Yes I like this wonderful feeling that you get with flats. Never liked them years ago but this time round I get them! Thanks Dave

[Mr Basstastic]

@ Highfox - I must agree that all the MIJ/CIJ Fender guitars and basses that I have played were all outstanding. Do you know what pickups my bass would have and were the white pickups added later or are they standard?

[BassTractor]

Hey Mr Basstastic,


Welcome to BC!
You'll attract a veritable choir to chant praise about the Japanese ones. I noobly wouldn't know, but I can read, and the praise is unanimous.

Enjoy the site!


best,
bert

[LiamPodmore]

For consistent quality during pretty much every era of Fender, you can't beat the japanese models. I absolutely love mine. Any idea what year yours is? There's a japanese fretless jazz at work that i need to try and get my hands on sometime soon.

Liam

[Dr.Dave]

My main stage bass is a Japanese Fender - a 54 Precision reish in very fetching 'blue flower'. Brilliant bass for me. I can gig it round the worst toilets in the north and not worry too much about it while my precious lifelong friend Mr 73 Precision stays home safe.

They tend to be a lot lighter too - handy for those of us who are long of tooth , grey of follicle and therefore weak of back !!

[Highfox]

[quote name='Dr.Dave' timestamp='1363707334' post='2016257']
My main stage bass is a Japanese Fender - a 54 Precision reish in very fetching 'blue flower'. Brilliant bass for me. I can gig it round the worst toilets in the north and not worry too much about it while my precious lifelong friend Mr 73 Precision stays home safe.

They tend to be a lot lighter too - handy for those of us who are long of tooth , grey of follicle and therefore weak of back !!
[/quote]

Spot on! Dave.

[Mr Basstastic]

@Liam - its a 96. Thanks for the comments. Could anybody give me an idea about the pickups? Not sure if they are factory and if not what should they be as standard.....US or do the japaneses basses have heir own?

[Mr Basstastic]

@Bass Tractor...thanks for the welcome

[jrturner77]

Hey there Mr Basstastic, welcome aboard.
Great basses. I have a hankering for a fretless and was thinking this was the way to go. I have a Jazz Geddy Lee which I love and really like the feel of the earlier Jazz models too. Light as well so good for long gigs!

Enjoy the site

[Mr Basstastic]

@jrturner77 - thanks for the welcome. im really, really pleased with this MIJ bass. I had a US Tony Franklin fretless which I adored and Im getting the same pleasure from this bass. The tony franklin bass is basically a custom shop bass in all but name and it was outstanding and I measure everything else against it. This is a great bass for not too much money. Delighted!! Will swap for a Tony Franklin though : )

[steve-bbb]

hello and from the grotty end of kent

[MoonBassAlpha]

Pickups look like DiMarzios - are the pole pieces adjusted with a hex key? If so, it's a good chance they are.

[bassbiscuits]

Lovely looking bass that. For what it's worth, I also venture over to the six string side (am I allowed to admit that here?) with a mid 90s MIJ Strat and it is the best all round guitar I've ever played. I always come back to it. MIJs are just great.

[Phil Adams]

Beautiful JB. I have a MIJ Precision which I've had for 15 years or more. I also have a Stagg fretless which has flats on and I also love 'em. Welcome fellow sufferer.

[discreet]

[size=4] [/size]

[Mr Basstastic]

Thanks for the comments guys. Yes they appear to be di marzios. Thats great news. I know in the 60s and early 70s japanese guitars were not that good but to be honest I have never known anything japanese that wasnt of the highest quality. Is there still snobbery over where your bass is made? Are US basses still considered the best generally? Thanks

[Mr Basstastic]

Also whats is the difference between CIJ and MIJ?

[Mr Basstastic]

@steve-bbb - grotty end of Kent.......... No such place lol

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='Mr Basstastic' timestamp='1363887474' post='2019000']
Also whats is the difference between CIJ and MIJ?
[/quote]
AFAIK the CIJ instruments were officially meant solely for the Japanese market, but some dealers have imported them to the UK.