80s: Fender Hybrids basses from Japan
During the 80's, Fender was shared between its comeback to the roots with 57 and 62 reissues and the launch of the american standard Precision and Jazz Bass. In a way, they had to reassure the musicians that they would bring back quality with a maximum of warranty, ie good ol' fender design.
While, Fender USA was working on its refoundation, Fender Japan was experimenting for modern styles of music, especially Heavy Metal. Fender Japan produced hybrid models under the name of "Special". It was basicly basses with a thinned Precision Body, a P/J pickups combination, active electronic and a Jazz Bass neck.
Check this 1985 Jazz Bass Special model :
This model is different than the ones produced in North America,like Duff's Bass from Guns N Roses. This is a MEDIUM scale bass (32 inch scale) like the Stuart Hamm model. The edges are sort of rounded off more than normal in the Heavy Metal fashion.The passive pick-ups are at a slant or angle which is quite a rare design for Fender basses.
Another one is the Power Jazz Bass Special. Its dimensions are close the the Jazz Bass Special except that the neck has a normal scale (ie 34 inch scale) and the pick ups are positioned as usual. It has an active electronic.
Nowadays hybrids are very frequent. Lately Fender released artist models like the Mark Hoppus Jazz bass with a single Precision Pick-up, the Franck Bello with a Jazz body, a Precision neck and a P/J pick-ups combination, the Reggie Hamilton Jazz Bass with a P/J pick-ups combination too. Nevertheless, none of these basses are design with modern contours, I would say : an old-school design with a modern electronic...
While, Fender USA was working on its refoundation, Fender Japan was experimenting for modern styles of music, especially Heavy Metal. Fender Japan produced hybrid models under the name of "Special". It was basicly basses with a thinned Precision Body, a P/J pickups combination, active electronic and a Jazz Bass neck.
Check this 1985 Jazz Bass Special model :
This model is different than the ones produced in North America,like Duff's Bass from Guns N Roses. This is a MEDIUM scale bass (32 inch scale) like the Stuart Hamm model. The edges are sort of rounded off more than normal in the Heavy Metal fashion.The passive pick-ups are at a slant or angle which is quite a rare design for Fender basses.
Another one is the Power Jazz Bass Special. Its dimensions are close the the Jazz Bass Special except that the neck has a normal scale (ie 34 inch scale) and the pick ups are positioned as usual. It has an active electronic.
Nowadays hybrids are very frequent. Lately Fender released artist models like the Mark Hoppus Jazz bass with a single Precision Pick-up, the Franck Bello with a Jazz body, a Precision neck and a P/J pick-ups combination, the Reggie Hamilton Jazz Bass with a P/J pick-ups combination too. Nevertheless, none of these basses are design with modern contours, I would say : an old-school design with a modern electronic...
Comments