OffsetGuitars.com

Just popped for this.

https://reverb.com/item/40711301-fender ... -1999-2002

Shipping was a bit of an expense from Japan, but the price was otherwise right so it kind of offset. I like that it's bog-standard traditional jazz bass vibes. I also like that (based on the serial number) it was made in the Tokai Gakki factory. My P bass is an actual Tokai-branded Tokai (though from the mid-80s) and I like it quite a bit.

I also weirdly like this color of 80s/90s not-quite-LPB that nobody else seems to like. I know this will sound insane but I actually think this garish blue needs a pearloid pickguard (not normally my vibe at all) to complete the look, so I'll kick that around.

MIM Standard J-Bass should more than keep you happy here. I have yet to play any examples from the 90s/early 2000s that weren't perfectly useful instruments. Maybe less cool than a lawsuit copy but for 3-4 times I year I think more than worthwhile.

This one is MIJ, but I suspect it’ll still fit the bill

This was a good choice.

I bought a 20 yo Squier JB on a whim and can’t believe how good it is . It was all of $125. With gigbag.

Aside from that you can’t beat a G&L Tribute for value.

stevejamsecono wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 4:11 pm

MIM Standard J-Bass should more than keep you happy here. I have yet to play any examples from the 90s/early 2000s that weren't perfectly useful instruments. Maybe less cool than a lawsuit copy but for 3-4 times I year I think more than worthwhile.

One thing to keep an eye out for is that some of the 90s MIM jazz basses (such as our 1995 one) had non-standard pickup routes (either for two neck pickups or two bridge pickups, I don't remember which). Not a huge deal, but an unexpected surprise when I starting thinking about upgrading the pickups. Fine bass otherwise.

Scout wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 24, 2022 10:41 am

I bought a 20 yo Squier JB on a whim and can’t believe how good it is . It was all of $125. With gigbag.

Aside from that you can’t beat a G&L Tribute for value.

i had a squier bass early on in the 90s that was incredible. i want one of these g&h tribute p basses though. looks like a nice hefty bridge.

$1,200 MIJ J is not what I'd call "cheap", but it's a ROCK SOLID choice. A G&L bass on SDOTD qualifies as rock solid AND cheap.

The one I got was $473.

It still hasn't arrived (slow shipping from Japan right now), but I have some Lollar pickups already waiting to go in it, plus all new electronics (CTS + orange drop) that I've pre-soldered on a cardboard template, ready to slide right in.

Debating whether to get a vintage style bridge with grooved saddles. I probably will.

Plus it has a neck plate

Shipping delays from Japan mean that I still don’t have this bass in my hands.

An upcoming tour means it’ll probably be a couple more weeks at best

stevejamsecono wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 23, 2022 4:11 pm

MIM Standard J-Bass should more than keep you happy here. I have yet to play any examples from the 90s/early 2000s that weren't perfectly useful instruments. Maybe less cool than a lawsuit copy but for 3-4 times I year I think more than worthwhile.

Exactly my thoughts. The Standard/Player series are so underated, especially for Strat/Tele/PBass/JBass.

90s MIM basses aren’t exactly as cheap as they once were.

Still waiting on my purchase to leave Japan…

I'm loving the SX Vintage Series I bought used a few weeks back. Plays great, sounds great, well made, no apology needed. Looks pretty good too.

They're $350 brand new but I paid a fair bit less http://www.sx-guitar.com/index.php/Prod ... /25/id/284

The Sire stuff is worth a shout. I picked up a V7 a while back, and it’s pretty great. Easily on par with my old Japanese Jaguar bass. I don’t really use the active electronics, so I probably should have gone with a V5, but they don’t come in cool colors like the V7…