Fender Trad...dad

[ianwild16]

fender american traditional, same tuners as my MIM P, 80's stylee one peice scrat plate and control plate.....are they the budget fenders before the mim range?

[Sibob]

I'm pretty sure the late 80's US Fenders are deemed to have mostly been 'of bad stock'.
It's when they were just getting back on their feet after the CBS buy-back

So I reckon, if it's nice to you, it's worth something, if you think it's a dog, chances are so will other people lol
Post some pictures anyway!

Si

[wateroftyne]

[quote name='Sibob' post='646879' date='Nov 6 2009, 12:28 AM']I'm pretty sure the late 80's US Fenders are deemed to have mostly been 'of bad stock'.
It's when they were just getting back on their feet after the CBS buy-back

So I reckon, if it's nice to you, it's worth something, if you think it's a dog, chances are so will other people lol
Post some pictures anyway!

Si[/quote]
Sorry Si.. that's not quite the case!

The company really began to turn things around from '82 onwards. Production was scaled right back, and the emphasis was definitely on QC.

Some of the designs were unpopular (the longhorn, etc) but the build quality was generally good.

And to answer the OP, the one-piece pickguard and Strat knobs were standard on the J for a short while, and not specific to a budget range. That's circa. '83-ish.

Edited November 6, 2009 by wateroftyne

[Tee]

My understanding was that Fender pulled their socks up around '83 and quality got better.

[OutToPlayJazz]

Do you have a picture of your bass, Ian?

[Sibob]

Schultz and co. didn't buy back Fender from CBS until 1985, and even then initially imported the guitars.
But you're right, I just checked and I got my dates a little late , apparently the Corona factory opened in '85 under the new regime also.

I've never tried late 80's/early 90's Fender's, but I have heard people say they weren't the best, mostly guitarists I have to say. I think Beedster had a similar bass for sale, can't rememner whether he said it was a good'n or not!?

I've seen a pic of the bass in question though, and it looks nice. Hardware looks a little cheap perhaps, definitly similar tuners to whats on MIMs and Squiers now.
The guy who's selling it hasn't taken great pictures of it. I'll let the OP post the full link to the listing if he wants to.

[url="http://img38.imageshack.us/i/jazzfo.jpg/"][/url]

Si

[wateroftyne]

You'll notice the bridge on that bass is the heavier-duty style they introduced around the time. Definitely not cheap! I'd be interested to see the tuners.. At minimum they should be USA standard. The Mexican facilty didn't exist at the time..

[Sibob]

Mexi factory opened in '87 I think, although don't know when production started!?

[url="http://img30.imageshack.us/i/tunersl.jpg/"][/url]

Bear in mind I dunno what US tuners looked like back then lol, I can only tell what i think Mexi tuners look like now!

Si

[AndyTravis]

my friend has a red one, i did a set up for him before he left to play in dubai (lucky bastard), really nice bass.
I'd own one, put it that way.
Trav

[Sibob]

Like I hinted at in my inital post, try it first

Si

[doctorbass]

American Traditional Series were late 90's - the serial number should be on the front of the headstock? I have one of these and they are excellent. Do a search, they have been mentioned a few times.

[wateroftyne]

Hmm.. They aren't the tuners I'd expect. Normally they'd be the posh closed-back ones...

[martthebass]

My first MIA Jazz was one of these with the one piece white scratch plate - I bought it used in about 1986/7 so it was probably a 1983/4ish? It was in a nice sienna burst IIRC. It was nothing special but other than being cosmetically challenged (IMHO) vs a 2 piece MIA I'd say the quality was about the same. The tuners on mine were open backed like yours.

[Stu-khag]

I almost bought one of the american traditional basses back in 2000. it was brand new in the shop, not sure how long it had been there. I was told by the shop owner it was essentially mexican parts put together in America. not sure how true this is though, bought a mim jazz instead which is still my number one

EDIT Oh yeah, it was the same price as mexican one back then. I think I paid 320 or 339?

Edited November 8, 2009 by Stu-khag

[Sibob]

With regards to the tuners on this one, they are a similar style to my Squier Deluxe, whether they're any better I dunno, but they look the same!

Si