u/11201ny

I bought the bass when I was a teenager back in 1989. The neck heal is marked with an 88, so I assume it was manufactured in Corona, in 1988.

In that timeframe, I removed the pick-ups, and replace them with Bartolini 9S’s; I also upgraded the bridge from the Fender threaded ‘62 bridge to a Schaller 3D-4 bridge.

Anyway, this instrument is at luthier’s shop currently, and I can’t wait to get it back and play it for the first time in 30 years!

Funny thing, I was initially told by the owner of the store I bought it at that it was Japanese version. However, I have found no evidence that it wasn’t made in Corona, California.

In 1987 when I was but mere child, I bought a reissue of a 1962 Fender Jazz bass (from Matt Umanov guitars, in New York City). I remember the sales person (whom I’ve always remembered as being the owner) telling me that he thought that these Japanese made reissues were nicer than the American made counterparts. So in my mind, all this time I thought I had a JB62-115 (Japanese made, highest end model with stacked knobs).

All these years later, I find out that the serial number on the neck plate is from the American vintage series, which has sent me into a world of research. I live about 2000 miles from the instrument. That said it was dropped off this morning at a Luthier’s shop. I have asked that they take the neck off the instrument and take detailed photos of the neck heel and the neck body cavity for any and all markings.

What I also found to be very interesting is that the bass was probably part of the first or second production run of instruments in Corona if it wasn’t made in Japan. I guess CBS sold fender in 1985, and it took a while to get the corona factory up and running. From my understanding, as a result, 1985, 1986 instruments could’ve been made and either USA or Japan. They’re supposedly even stories about the Fuji factory using the last of the CBS era parts in Japan.

Anyway, if anybody has any clarifications or corrections, I’d love it. I’m discovering that I have an instrument from a very interesting time in fenders history.

I was always under the impression that this was a maid in Japan bass. As you can see the bridge and pick ups have been changed out. Serial reads: V039017. Without taking the neck off of the body and looking at the heel plate, can anybody help me figure out whether this was MIJ or American made? Thanks

( I had previously been told that the external ground wire from the back pick up to the bridge was an identifier, but have come to learn that it’s not. It seems that the serial number is tied to American made 62 reissue Fender jazz basses. Anyway, the instrument lives on the other side of the country. I’m waiting to hear if the person who has it now can identify any maid in Japan decals on the front, or the back of the head stock, or on the heel of the neck. )

I’ve only been playing for about a year. Seems like the rubberneck is gonna be a lot of fun. My understanding is that there’s a bit of a learning curve on these.