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Key Features
Product Ref: 122000
Known for its lighter weight, basswood was a popular option for the Japanese reissues – you can play this all day. With its pronounced midrange and overt clarity, chords weren’t lost, and more technical players had more of a chance to experiment. Featuring 2 single coil pickups with independent volume controls, there is a huge variety of tones available. Turn both pickups on full and a humbucking effect takes place, canceling the hum of a single coil and dipping the midrange opens the bass up for heavier slap and pop styles popular with the likes of Markus Miller, Jaco Pastorius, and Flea.
MIJ is a marker dictating a certain prestige amongst Fender players and collectors. The new Fender MIJ Traditional '60s Jazz Bass absolutely deserves that respect and that becomes apparent as soon as you hold it. Made in a one-off run, you are rewarded with something very limited, a capsule of what will become part of Fender's history.
Fender took over the Japanese business in 2015 and are now releasing a celebration of those MIJ stamped Fenders, paying homage to those builders whilst offering you something new.
The MIJ brand is something that can now be reimagined, allowing a modern feature set. This bass looks classic, including the skunk stripe from the middle of the 4-saddle vintage bridge, the two Fender Vintage Jazz pickups and the familiar two volume and one master tone knobs but then things change.
Moving away from the classic C-shaped neck of the ’60s, the MIJ Hybrid Jazz has opted for a U shape, offering a larger neck but keeping with the standard Jazz nut length, making it usable for myriad styles. The fret style also changed for medium jumbo over vintage tall, making bends and general playing that bit more comfortable. A lot of you will also be grateful to read that the neck has a satin finish, meaning it feels smoother to play and isn’t so susceptible to stickiness.
Fender Japan formed with FujiGen Gakki in1982 and originally made six reissues of popular models. By 1984 CBS sold off Fender and whilst waiting for a new USA based factory to continue production, the Fender Japan models came into the American market. By 1993 “Crafted in Japan” (CIJ) took over from the familiar MIJ because Tokai Gakki and Dyna Gakki took over manufacturing from FujiGen Gakki. These instruments reached an incredible standard and are revered by players and collectors. Since 2015 When Fender took over Fender Japan, the MIJ badge encapsulates the Japanese style of craft and allows a new generation to understand what the fuss is about.
The guitars being produced were known for their great tone and feel, so good that they started impacting on the sales of the American made models, matching and often surpassing them in craftsmanship.