Fresher Refined Series PS-40 Red 1983
Fresher FRS PS-40 P-style bass, bright red, made in Japan 1983. Fresher was a 70s-era brand sold domestically within Japan, with a catalog that included some regular vintage offerings like LP and Strat style models as well as some cool quirkier stuff like Mustang models. In the 80s, they did what a bunch of these Japan-based brands did: pivoted from doing pretty straight copies of USA made stuff to offering some designs of their own, twisting the classic shapes into something new and interesting. Fresher's Refined Series, or FRS for short, included some shred-ready Superstrat style models as well as some Explorer and V type shapes with handy Fender style bridges and robust bolt-on necks, and... this bruiser, a no-guard P-style bass with chunky brass hardware, a hot pickup and a bound top. When I saw this pop up in Japan, I had to get it: it looks so cool with the bright red, especially with the matching headstock and gold hardware. It must have taken a bit of a knock at some stage, as it arrived with some splits along the join in the sandwich-build body, so our very handy local pro luthier has glued, clamped and smoothed all the gaps over and it's now stronger than ever. The tone is an aggressive take on the warm rounded P style punch: fat and thick down low, with a snarly midrange and heaps of attack. I reckon this is heaps of bass for the cash and has a lot of swagger, do you concur?
Model: Fresher FRS PS-40
Made: Japan, 1983
Serial: none
Finish: red, gloss poly
Body: alder, not verified
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard, 34" scale, 12" radius, 42mm nut, slim C shaoe
Weight: 4.435kg
Mods: body crack glued and stabilised, knobs replaced
Pickups: FRS split coil
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dents and dimples on the end, scuffs and a dent on the bottom edge, dimples on the back and a glued and filled minor crack running between the tuners on the back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor scuffs on the back only. The back of the body has dents near the back edge, a scratch in the elbow area and widespread light scuffs around the whole body. The sides have dimples on the top horn, the repaired body crack as well as some scuffs and dimples in the elbow area, dimples near the rear strap pin, scuffs and surface scratches near the jack and some scuffs and a glued crack on the bottom horn. The front has a decent chip in the elbow area and some smaller chips behind the bridge and below the jack, as well as scuffs in the elbow area and around the bridge, knobs and pickup, as well as play wear on the horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
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