Fender Japan 5 String Jazz Bass Left Hand Model JBV/LH

[ptbass]

Fender Japan 5 String Jazz Bass Left Hand Model JBV/LH
3 Colors/ 3 Tone Sunburst, Black, White
http://cgi.ebay.com/Fender-Japan-5-Stri ... 3cb60419f3

[slybass3000]

Yes, nice but too bad that they don't offer the strings thru-body model.

[Lefty007]

These have really tight string spacing, something like 16 mm. And for around $1700, you could really build yourself a nice 5-string using Warmoth or USA Custom Guitar parts and top-notch hardware, or even have somebody like Nino Valenti or Dan Atkinson build you one.

Now, if these were something like $700, maybe. . . but darn, unless you are Gerald Veasley, who likes 16-mm string spacing on a 5-string?

[fivebass52]

Or have our own Rodent from Regenerate Bass Guitars build one for that price!

[Basshappi]

Yep, the MIJ importers are gouging mercilessly in my opinion.

[Marley's Ghost]

Reanimating this thread. Have been watching this same auction on evilbay for over a year. The price has now climbed to $1707. I lust after this bass in Olympic white but will never buy it at that price. Would be lucky to get $600 used, so maybe worst bass investment ever.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0960506938

[glefty5]

FWIW, I can buy this bass in Japan, where I live, for ¥73,000, US$ 907 at today's rates. They're trying to tear you guys a new sphincter with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire so I'd wait until they try to move them on Yahoo auctions Japan & put in a few bids. Of course the exchange rate doesn't help the US but.....talk about a direct groin kick. BTW, I played one & they are 42mm(1 5/8 " ) at the nut but about 17.5mm(0.69") string center to center at the bridge pup so not so tight as a Veasley. I like a 45mm(1 3/4") nut/17mm(0.66.9") spacing but these were very playable & not noticeably tight to me coming from my Thumb/Corvette/Ibanez 505 5's but YMMV. I owned a Steinberger tight 5 which was so tight I had to convert it back to a 4 so I KNOW tight spacing, even with my short-ass fingers! Basically, think Musicman/Warwick-ish spacing/feel, NOT Fender/Fodera/F Bass nut & bridge, or as I call it, "aircraft carrier" spacing. BTW, US$120 for shipping is about right from my own personal experience, no gouging there & about $90~120 from US to Japan so it's just the bass' price that's a root canal job.

[Jules1]

Last year I bought one of these used from member Stryker - it has a really great B string - but you're right - the string spacing is very tight ....

the build quality of the MIJ Bass is really nice.

[Stingray5]

Last year I bought one of these used from member Stryker - it has a really great B string - but you're right - the string spacing is very tight ....

the build quality of the MIJ Bass is really nice.

At considerably less IIRC