Now this… Wow what a beauty. Looks heavy but I would love to have a go on this. Anyone know the vintage? Decade?
What are those pups?
2 Likes
As @MikeC mentioned below the picture:
3 Likes
There are three of these for sale near me in CT. All from the same collector. Early 80s. These (at least) are beautiful.
2 Likes
Ha… sorry I missed the date right below the picture!! In my defense, it was still mostly asleep!
There must not be many around as I have never seen a 2 Pbass Fender before outside Japan. There are lots of things I have never seen, of course, but I can’t recall this model. I tried to bid on and win a Fender Japan PB-555 but it went for more money than I could justify at the time. Not quite the same fish in the sea anyways… I just was very curious to hear a PBass in the bridge position… imagine no hum or noise!?
4 Likes
Seems they were only made for 2 years? Cool looking bass for sure.
2 Likes
Yes, it looks that way. If you’re interested, other brands have produced basses with dual split-coil Precision pickups as well!
1 Like
I’d love to own one but not for $2800, not for me.
Here’s the skinny…
The Fender Elite models (Precision, Strat and Tele) were made in 1983 and sold between 1983 and the start of 1985. They were “premium” models, similar in concept to the current “Deluxe” models and followed on from the Special models of the early 1980s. The concept was to revise some of the existing Fender designs with new technology, while retaining as much of the “classic” appeal as possible.
The Elite series was meant to be the upscale version of both the existing line and the vintage reissues. The design parameters were pretty open, basically “what would the bass look like if it was designed today”.
The Precision Elite came in two basic models, a single pickup type and a dual pickup type. On top of this, there were choices of a maple/rosewood or all maple necks, chrome or gold finish on the hardware.
The Precision Elite series was only made for two years (1983 – 1984.) This was Fender’s high-end line of the time and their second attempt at an active bass. This bass was made at Fender’s factory in California. The preamp and pickups were designed by Paul Gagon, who is Vice President of Technology at BBE Sound.
1 Like
Huh. Thanks for all of that. Too bad I have an allergy to non-Japanese instruments!
2 Likes
Could try a Fujigen Mighty Power 
@Wombat-metal has one, had it shipped from Ikebe. They look awesome to me.
Looks like they still have a couple:
https://www.ikebe-gakki.com/c/c-/ba/ba01/ba010099/ba010099046/680473
If you wanted to go really rare, you could try and track down a Yamaha SBV-J2. Not quite MIJ (as Yamaha made them in Taiwan), but definitely very special Japanese bass. Only 100 made. I almost bought one last year but there were too many red flags - the guy had modded it, believe it or not. If you see #32 up for sale, be very wary.
I dearly love the SBV’s, I have a 550 myself. @terb has a 500. Neat rare basses.
9 Likes
So, what’s the story of #32?? Built on a Monday?
EDIT: ah sorry… didn’t read the whole thing well enough… 
2 Likes
The guy modded it, which is a huge red flag for an extremely collectable instrument. Especially since one of his mods removed one of the unique features.
2 Likes
Yes, that doesn’t sound OK if you ever intended to sell the bass again…
2 Likes
I love mine. A really nice bass. So much better built than the MIM stuff
3 Likes
Ya that Fujigen is gorgeous. I saw one on Yahoo Auction during the pandemic and was drooling over it but didn’t bid.
I have 2 basses making their way here from Japan as we speak/write.
One is the Fender Japan Aerodyne Dimarzio model that I mentioned above and the other is a rather rare MIJ (though not overly so) G&L L2000 with the Red Sparkle finish (with matching headstock). I am very eager to get it as it is a project. The body appears to be very good but bass was gutted. I have wanted one for a while. I’ll post it once it arrives so you guys can have a look. I’ll have to buy bridge, pups, and wiring but that sounds fun to me. It’s this one but with no guts.
6 Likes
Not sure this is p0rn, but then again, this genre is quite, uhm, diverse, and, anyway, someone is likely to pay 1000 bucks for this:
Vintage 1965 Fender Jazz Bass Project w/ Gig Bag! Termite, Luthier Special! Candy Apple Red! | Reverb
NB: you get a new gigbag along with it!! 
(some funny comments on TB on this bass…)
7 Likes
aka - garbage bag
4 Likes
Yeah, very convenient - you can put all the parts in the bag and throw it in the trash all in one go.
4 Likes
Wow. Just wow. 
3 Likes
Someone seems to have used it for bandsaw practice 
3 Likes
That’s some expensive kindling 
4 Likes