Fender Japan '62 Precision Bass PB62-80 Olympic White JV Serial 1984
Fender Precision Bass, olympic white, made in Japan 1984 with a JV serial number. If you're familiar with JV instruments and the surrounding lore, you're probably already pretty excited about this one. For those new to the game, here it is in super short form: in the couple of decades following the CBS buyout of Fender in 1964, quality control and attention to detail in the Fullerton plant in USA became worse and worse, meanwhile across the Pacific builders like Fujigen Gakki were producing stunning replicas of vintage Fender models for less cash. Some Fender execs led by luminary Dan Smith went to Japan and signed a deal to make Fender branded instruments in Japan, the first of which to roll of the line were the JV serial guitars. The quality of these instruments is truly exceptional; they were so accurate to the original 50s and 60s specs and made with such exquisite care and precision that the USA staff were blown away. This one dates to 1984 and absolutely has the magic. Firstly, the neck: oh boy, the neck. It's a fairly slim and fast take on the classic 60s Precision shape, but the difference is the wood: amazingly tightly grained maple, and one of the darkest rosewood boards I've seen in some time. There's a lot of necks out there these days that are carved to an agreeable shape, but this neck just has a certain unspeakable excellence that fellow JV-nerds will totally understand. The body is lightweight and beautifully balanced, and roars to life with every note and line. The original pickup is intact; they were using USA-made pickups for the first few years. It sounds brilliant: balanced, musical, round, fast and satisfying. There's no tricks with a good P, it either has that gooey fatness that makes everything better or it doesn't, and this has it in spades. Being 40+ years old, this has a few marks and checking lines etc, but it's in pretty snazzy shape overall. The white, tort and rosewood combo always works a treat, and has plenty of understated class. It's fair to expect these JV instruments to continue to steadily appreciate, so if you're after a collectable bass for an agreeable dollar that absolutely has the goods to back up the hype, here's your new friend.
Model: Fender Precision Bass PB62-80
Made: Japan, neck date 9 Oct 1984, Fujigen Gakki factory
Serial: JV99249
Finish: vintage white
Body: alder
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 34" scale, 7.25" radius, vintage C shape
Weight: 3.890kg
Mods: pots replaced
Pickups: Fender USA PB-Vintage split single coil
Accessories: vintage Fender vegan leather gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs on the end and light rub wear on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has a long checking line on the top horn, dimples and surface scratches along the belly carve, dimples in the elbow area, a scratch near the rear strap pin, scuffs in the bottom corner and dimples on the bottom horn. The sides have minor scuffs around the whole body, as well as a checking line in the elbow area and some dimples near the jack. The front has a checking line above the bridge, dimples near knobs and pickup and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 8/10, minor wear only