Late '80s MIJ Jazzmasters

Paisley

Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Posts: 110
Melbourne, Australia

Posted on Oct 03 2010 06:54 PM

Does anyone know whether a MIJ JM from the late '80s would have an Alder or Basswood body?

Also, how do the Jap models from that period rate in the world of all things JM?

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JakeDobner

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 12159
Seattle
5 News Pins

Posted on Oct 03 2010 08:09 PM

Not sure, but there is a chance they'd have American electronics, or so the rumor goes. I'd say basswood, but you shouldn't let that bother you. The basswood bodies don't sound that bad. It's the electronics that are garbage on those guitars. The wood is quite nice, the necks in particular.

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LHR

Joined: Aug 23, 2006
Posts: 2123
The jungle
Costa Rica

Posted on Oct 04 2010 12:45 AM

JakeDobner
Not sure, but there is a chance they'd have American electronics, or so the rumor goes.

I doubt that very highly. Greco (Kanda Shokai) was making a Jazzmaster clone (The JM700 "Super Real", like in the pic below) way before Fender Japan got underway. These guitars were relatively well-made and had parts that later appeared unchanged in the earliest Fender Japan JM62, electronics included. The quality of these (and other) Japanese knockoff guitars essentially forced Fender into a licensing agreement with Shamano and Kanda Shokai creating the Fender Japan business entity. Fender Japan was not formed as a means of expansion but as a way to capture lost revenue. USA parts were not used in these Japanese guitars.

—

SSIV

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Paisley

Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Posts: 110
Melbourne, Australia

Posted on Oct 04 2010 08:36 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. I had an opportunity to buy an '89 MIJ for what I thought was reasonable money, but when I factored in international shipping the "bargain" element faded pretty quick!!

Oh well, the JM gas will just have to wait for a while....

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Sled_Dog

Joined: Oct 10, 2010
Posts: 12
St Helens, Or

Posted on Oct 10 2010 05:59 PM

New guy, but fwiw I think the only Fender JM that are basswood is the J Mascis model. The other MIJ and CIJ are alder.

By the by, the J Mascis is a solid player if you like the bigger frets.

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Paisley

Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Posts: 110
Melbourne, Australia

Posted on Oct 11 2010 08:41 AM

Yeah, I had a quick play of a Mascis; felt quite nice. The general consensus seems to be that the JMs came in Basswood during the early/mid '90s.

For reasons that I have no idea of, I've just never really gelled with Basswood bodies. Truth be known I've probably played some lovely Guitars & not realized they were BW; but of all the Guitars I've owned that I knew were BW, none of them became keepers. Just a personal thing I guess.

The story does have a happy ending though. I picked up a Candy Apple Red CIJ standard JM from a shop just down the road (looks just about identical to the Greco in the previous post), & it's a lovey player!! Just have to line up a TS pickguard & nice set of p/ups (probably either AVRI's or SD Antiquity II's), & I'll be set.

Actually talking of guards, here's an interesting question; what is the actual difference between the CIJ & USA pickguards? Is it just a matter of having to redrill some holes, or something a bit more drastic?

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scotstandard

Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 1140
Davenport Iowa
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Oct 11 2010 10:57 AM

I have a first year 1985 MIJ jag and I think its killer! I like the pickups. I think there are good and bad ones but Im very happy with mine.

—

Give me reverb or give me death!
facebook.com/onenightstandards
https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard
scotstandard@yahoo.com

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Paisley

Joined: Sep 15, 2008
Posts: 110
Melbourne, Australia

Posted on Oct 11 2010 11:12 AM

scotstandard
I have a first year 1985 MIJ jag and I think its killer! I like the pickups. I think there are good and bad ones but Im very happy with mine.

There's so many conflicting stories about the early MIJ models that it's hard to know what's fact & what's myth; however one thing that I've read more than once is that occasionally USA electronics found their way into some of the early MIJ Jags & JMs. Not sure if it's true or not, but I guess it's not impossible, & would explain why some of the early ones sound so good.

I had a mate who had a JM from around 85-86; it was stock standard & it was a phenomenal guitar.

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scotstandard

Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 1140
Davenport Iowa
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Oct 11 2010 11:37 AM

here is mine.

—

Give me reverb or give me death!
facebook.com/onenightstandards
https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard
scotstandard@yahoo.com

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Stormtiger

Joined: Dec 12, 2006
Posts: 2688
Ventura, CA
United States

Posted on Oct 11 2010 12:12 PM

My main guitar is a 1987 MIJ Jaguar, alder body, the electronics are all stock. I have so far resisted the urge to replace the pickups and I'm glad I did, they sound fine to me. I bought it new for $200 and have played the hell out of it almost every day. I did replace the tremolo unit, the main advantage of that being that the trem arm no longer falls out or requires teflon tape to stay in place. I recently installed a Mastery bridge which is the best mod so far.
The MIJ compared very favorably to the AVRI Jazzmaster that I sold.

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scotstandard

Joined: Nov 09, 2008
Posts: 1140
Davenport Iowa
3 POTD Pins

Posted on Oct 11 2010 01:14 PM

My original trem arm sucks, I had a vintage style one that actually works well in it so I have 0 issues now.

—

Give me reverb or give me death!
facebook.com/onenightstandards
https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard
scotstandard@yahoo.com

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HallmarkSweptWinger

Joined: Jul 27, 2006
Posts: 1284
Berlinesia, Germanifornia
9 POTD Pins

Posted on Oct 11 2010 03:31 PM

Paisley
The story does have a happy ending though. I picked up a Candy Apple Red CIJ standard JM from a shop just down the road (looks just about identical to the Greco in the previous post), & it's a lovey player!! Just have to line up a TS pickguard & nice set of p/ups (probably either AVRI's or SD Antiquity II's), & I'll be set.

The AVRI`s are good!

I am bored from the sound of Seymour Duncans...

My best experience in sound for CIJ`s are Pickup Wizard pickups!!!
I have installed the Jaguar Vintage style pickups in three of my CIJ Jaguars. Now they have got the life that yo expect from a perfect sounding guitar! (staggered pole pieces for Jag!)
http://pickupwizard.com/index.php?pr=Jaguar_Style_Pickups

http://pickupwizard.com/index.php?pr=Jazzmaster_Style_Pickups

Really worth to check them out!

Have fun!!!

—

Twang cheers!

Ralf Kilauea

www.kilaueas.de

https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien

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Klas

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 2310
Stockholm, Sweden
Sweden

Posted on Oct 12 2010 03:08 AM

Regarding the Japanese tremolo units, at least the CIJ ones have a big advantage over the AVRIs in that the former's collet teeths are thick enough to tighten with a plier (be careful though) opposed to the thinner AVRI ones which are more likely to break. After doing that simple modification to my CIJ Jazzmaster and Jaguar, the trem arms work great and doesn't need any teflon tape or other limited mods to stay in place.

—

T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S

Top

Paisley Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 110 Melbourne, Australia	Posted on Oct 03 2010 06:54 PM Does anyone know whether a MIJ JM from the late '80s would have an Alder or Basswood body? Also, how do the Jap models from that period rate in the world of all things JM? Top
JakeDobner Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle	Posted on Oct 03 2010 08:09 PM Not sure, but there is a chance they'd have American electronics, or so the rumor goes. I'd say basswood, but you shouldn't let that bother you. The basswood bodies don't sound that bad. It's the electronics that are garbage on those guitars. The wood is quite nice, the necks in particular. Top
LHR Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle	Posted on Oct 04 2010 12:45 AM JakeDobner Not sure, but there is a chance they'd have American electronics, or so the rumor goes. I doubt that very highly. Greco (Kanda Shokai) was making a Jazzmaster clone (The JM700 "Super Real", like in the pic below) way before Fender Japan got underway. These guitars were relatively well-made and had parts that later appeared unchanged in the earliest Fender Japan JM62, electronics included. The quality of these (and other) Japanese knockoff guitars essentially forced Fender into a licensing agreement with Shamano and Kanda Shokai creating the Fender Japan business entity. Fender Japan was not formed as a means of expansion but as a way to capture lost revenue. USA parts were not used in these Japanese guitars. — SSIV Top
Paisley Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 110 Melbourne, Australia	Posted on Oct 04 2010 08:36 AM Thanks for the replies guys. I had an opportunity to buy an '89 MIJ for what I thought was reasonable money, but when I factored in international shipping the "bargain" element faded pretty quick!! Oh well, the JM gas will just have to wait for a while.... Top
Sled_Dog Joined: Oct 10, 2010 Posts: 12 St Helens, Or	Posted on Oct 10 2010 05:59 PM New guy, but fwiw I think the only Fender JM that are basswood is the J Mascis model. The other MIJ and CIJ are alder. By the by, the J Mascis is a solid player if you like the bigger frets. Top
Paisley Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 110 Melbourne, Australia	Posted on Oct 11 2010 08:41 AM Yeah, I had a quick play of a Mascis; felt quite nice. The general consensus seems to be that the JMs came in Basswood during the early/mid '90s. For reasons that I have no idea of, I've just never really gelled with Basswood bodies. Truth be known I've probably played some lovely Guitars & not realized they were BW; but of all the Guitars I've owned that I knew were BW, none of them became keepers. Just a personal thing I guess. The story does have a happy ending though. I picked up a Candy Apple Red CIJ standard JM from a shop just down the road (looks just about identical to the Greco in the previous post), & it's a lovey player!! Just have to line up a TS pickguard & nice set of p/ups (probably either AVRI's or SD Antiquity II's), & I'll be set. Actually talking of guards, here's an interesting question; what is the actual difference between the CIJ & USA pickguards? Is it just a matter of having to redrill some holes, or something a bit more drastic? Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Oct 11 2010 10:57 AM I have a first year 1985 MIJ jag and I think its killer! I like the pickups. I think there are good and bad ones but Im very happy with mine. — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
Paisley Joined: Sep 15, 2008 Posts: 110 Melbourne, Australia	Posted on Oct 11 2010 11:12 AM scotstandard I have a first year 1985 MIJ jag and I think its killer! I like the pickups. I think there are good and bad ones but Im very happy with mine. There's so many conflicting stories about the early MIJ models that it's hard to know what's fact & what's myth; however one thing that I've read more than once is that occasionally USA electronics found their way into some of the early MIJ Jags & JMs. Not sure if it's true or not, but I guess it's not impossible, & would explain why some of the early ones sound so good. I had a mate who had a JM from around 85-86; it was stock standard & it was a phenomenal guitar. Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Oct 11 2010 11:37 AM here is mine. — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
Stormtiger Joined: Dec 12, 2006 Posts: 2688 Ventura, CA	Posted on Oct 11 2010 12:12 PM My main guitar is a 1987 MIJ Jaguar, alder body, the electronics are all stock. I have so far resisted the urge to replace the pickups and I'm glad I did, they sound fine to me. I bought it new for $200 and have played the hell out of it almost every day. I did replace the tremolo unit, the main advantage of that being that the trem arm no longer falls out or requires teflon tape to stay in place. I recently installed a Mastery bridge which is the best mod so far. The MIJ compared very favorably to the AVRI Jazzmaster that I sold. Top
scotstandard Joined: Nov 09, 2008 Posts: 1140 Davenport Iowa	Posted on Oct 11 2010 01:14 PM My original trem arm sucks, I had a vintage style one that actually works well in it so I have 0 issues now. — Give me reverb or give me death! facebook.com/onenightstandards https://www.youtube.com/scotstandard scotstandard@yahoo.com Top
HallmarkSweptWinger Joined: Jul 27, 2006 Posts: 1284 Berlinesia, Germanifornia	Posted on Oct 11 2010 03:31 PM Paisley The story does have a happy ending though. I picked up a Candy Apple Red CIJ standard JM from a shop just down the road (looks just about identical to the Greco in the previous post), & it's a lovey player!! Just have to line up a TS pickguard & nice set of p/ups (probably either AVRI's or SD Antiquity II's), & I'll be set. The AVRI`s are good! I am bored from the sound of Seymour Duncans... My best experience in sound for CIJ`s are Pickup Wizard pickups!!! I have installed the Jaguar Vintage style pickups in three of my CIJ Jaguars. Now they have got the life that yo expect from a perfect sounding guitar! (staggered pole pieces for Jag!) http://pickupwizard.com/index.php?pr=Jaguar_Style_Pickups http://pickupwizard.com/index.php?pr=Jazzmaster_Style_Pickups Really worth to check them out! Have fun!!! — Twang cheers! Ralf Kilauea www.kilaueas.de https://kilaueas.bandcamp.com/album/touch-my-alien Top
Klas Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 2310 Stockholm, Sweden	Posted on Oct 12 2010 03:08 AM Regarding the Japanese tremolo units, at least the CIJ ones have a big advantage over the AVRIs in that the former's collet teeths are thick enough to tighten with a plier (be careful though) opposed to the thinner AVRI ones which are more likely to break. After doing that simple modification to my CIJ Jazzmaster and Jaguar, the trem arms work great and doesn't need any teflon tape or other limited mods to stay in place. — T H E ✠ S U R F I T E S Top

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Late '80s MIJ Jazzmasters