Fender PB70 Precision on ebay Japan, opinions?

[tedmanzie]

I'm after a MIJ PB70 Precision, I found this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fender-Japan-Precision-Bass-PB70-US-Alder-Body-Olympic-white-Finish-/310708906589?pt=Guitar&hash=item4857b1aa5d

body is pretty 'roadworn' which i don't mind, but i don't like dinged necks, and its hard to tell on this one.
the price isn't too bad if i can avoid the vat duty.
(new PB70s imported are about £900)

I wondered if anyone bought from this dealer?

they seem to have gone to some effort with photos etc. they say this is the USA pickup model, but i don't know how to confirm that...

ted

[Legion]

I used to own one and this looks kosher to me - the "xx-US" models have the USA pickups in.

[tedmanzie]

thanks, does it have US written on it somewhere? its not in the serial no.

[simon1964]

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1374504167' post='2149439']
thanks, does it have US written on it somewhere? its not in the serial no.
[/quote]

I've got one of these. It will have Crafted in Japan on the base of the neck. The USA reference is simply to the pickup. Some models had Japanese pickups, whereas others have "proper" US made pickups. The latter don't actually have US written on them anywhere as far as I know.

They're cracking basses, and that is a very good price, even allowing for import duties etc

[Pow_22]

I bought a black PB70 from this very dealer. He was VERY good. Its the first time id ever shipped a bass before and had some trepidation but the seller really was brilliant

[karlfer]

I may be wrong but isn't the one designated PB70-**US made of alder, and the non US designated model made of basswood?

[voxpop]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1374517479' post='2149634']
I may be wrong but isn't the one designated PB70-**US made of alder, and the non US designated model made of basswood?
[/quote]

Thats right ... US spec had Alder body as far as I know.
My CIJ P bass has alder body and US pickups with 42mm nut width.

Edited July 22, 2013 by voxpop

[karlfer]

Both 70's RI have an inbetween nut width of 40 mm.

[voxpop]

The bass looks great.
I don't want to hijack the thread but what is the difference between a 62 and 70s reissue.
My 62 looks identical but has a 42mm nut, US pickups, alder body and CTS pots.

Edited July 22, 2013 by voxpop

[karlfer]

Like most Precisions throughout the decades, there is really little difference. Both 70's RI's have 40 mm nut and the larger TV friendly logos. The US will have alder and US pups, same as the PB62-**US.
They will be stamped US in the neck pocket if that is what they are.

[tedmanzie]

[quote name='karlfer' timestamp='1374517479' post='2149634']
I may be wrong but isn't the one designated PB70-**US made of alder, and the non US designated model made of basswood?
[/quote]

all current PB70s on the fender japan site are either alder or ash, even if they aren't the US model. don't know if this is the same for older models,

[karlfer]

[quote name='tedmanzie' timestamp='1374658795' post='2151331']
all current PB70s on the fender japan site are either alder or ash, even if they aren't the US model. don't know if this is the same for older models,
[/quote]

It ain't

[tedmanzie]

this neck pocket doesn't appear to be stamped US. might it be stamped on the end of the neck? this isn't photographed. but if it was stamped i would have thought he would have photo'd it.

Edited July 24, 2013 by tedmanzie

[pete.young]

The neck pocket won't be stamped US.

The 'US' pickups are not made-in-USA items - they're Fender Japan's attempt to make a US-spec pickup, which isn't quite the same thing. There are no markings on the pickups to identify them.

The bass looks kosher but I don't believe the shipping costs. There's a stickied thread somewhere about importing basses from Japan and you'd normally expect to add on roughly £100 to the price to cover costs of shipping and import duties.

Edit: it's here. http://basschat.co.uk/topic/139-importing-guitars/

Edited July 24, 2013 by pete.young