'93/'94 Fender Japan 62RI Precision £775 Margate

[jay-syncro]

Next up is this lovely 62RI Precision made by Fender in Japan in '93/'94. 

 

I believe this is a higher end build as it features full size tuners, the hootenanny strap button and higher end woods. The fretboard in particular is very rich and dark. It's lightweight at 8.3lbs and very lively sounding. It's currently wearing flats with an odd G (different coloured silk). You'd never know when playing however as it's perfectly balanced in terms of feel and tone.  

 

It's in good condition but has a slight dink on the side, as per photos. 

 

It comes with a Fender gig bag. 

 

Collection from Margate ideally, or I can box it up if a courier is required. 

[AndyTravis]

Want this, been after a black 62 type to shove a dark tort guard on…

 

skint…blummin typical

[jay-syncro]

I'm driving from Margate to Basildon tomorrow morning if anyone en route fancies this? 

[Steve Browning]

The tuners suggest this is the US suffix variant, made with some US spec parts.

[jay-syncro]

17 hours ago, Steve Browning said:

The tuners suggest this is the US suffix variant, made with some US spec parts.

 

Thanks for this. It does seem that the smaller generic Tuners are used on the bulk of Japanese Fenders. 

[JJMotown]

3 minutes ago, jay-syncro said:

 

Thanks for this. It does seem that the smaller generic Tuners are used on the bulk of Japanese Fenders. 

Because these are period accurate, hence the RI.

[jay-syncro]

On 25/03/2025 at 10:11, JJMotown said:

Because these are period accurate, hence the RI.

 

There's a 57 RI Precision and a more recent Traditional 50's P both available currently on BC that have the smaller tuners fitted, so not entirely sure what spec warrants the full sized traditional tuners?

[Jono Bolton]

On 25/03/2025 at 10:11, JJMotown said:

Because these are period accurate, hence the RI.

Those tuners wouldn't have been used in 62, they'd still have been reverse gear tuners with a different shape baseplate 

[JJMotown]

2 hours ago, Jono Bolton said:

Those tuners wouldn't have been used in 62, they'd still have been reverse gear tuners with a different shape baseplate 

Yeah, that's why I said period accurate, and not specially year or 62 accurate. Those tuners were used in the 60s.

[Dood]

On 26/03/2025 at 10:51, jay-syncro said:

 

There's a 57 RI Precision and a more recent Traditional 50's P both available currently on BC that have the smaller tuners fitted, so not entirely sure what spec warrants the full sized traditional tuners?

The model specifications were based on a price point and that would typically be in the model name.

 

For example, a PB70US-70 precision bass is a 70’s style model, with “US” pickups and was originally sold for 70,000 Yen. These models were known as non-export models as these and the more expensive models were in direct competition with USA models and Fender aimed to keep those in Japan only. The next model up, would have been something like PB70US-86 (ish) and you’d have additional appointments such as Ash bodies and lacquer finishes for example.

 The lower spec models would have basswood bodies, generic pickups and the smaller tuning keys. I forgot the exact model name as im typing on my phone, but PB70-53 sounds about right - note no “US” in the name.

 

If I can find it, there used to be a website with every model described in detail years ago, but I haven’t seen it for a while.

[Jonesy]

6 hours ago, Dood said:

 

 

If I can find it, there used to be a website with every model described in detail years ago, but I haven’t seen it for a while.

 

This one doesn't have details on all of the MIJ models (though I could have sworn it had most models at some point), but it does have specs for the reissue series P's and a few J's:

 

https://japanfender.wordpress.com/

[Dood]

On 02/04/2025 at 00:19, Jonesy said:

 

This one doesn't have details on all of the MIJ models (though I could have sworn it had most models at some point), but it does have specs for the reissue series P's and a few J's:

 

https://japanfender.wordpress.com/

 

I think that is the one yes, but I agree, I feel sure that it had more details too. I also had downlaods of all the MIJ catalogues, but I fear they may have been lost at some point  - Yes, I am that much of a nerd, I had piles of catalogues! Trace Elliot, Marshall, Ibanez, Rotosound, Yamaha, all sorts from the 80's onwards! 

 

https://japanfender.wordpress.com/products/about/precision/

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Dood

[Dood]

And who could forget the wonderful Ishibashi! https://intl.ishibashi.co.jp/search?q=Fender&options[prefix]=last&filter.p.tag=electricbasses&sort_by=relevance 

 

I sourced my PB70US from them directly many a year ago. Another silly moment where I decided to sell it.. DOH!!!!