- Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass CIJ Natural 2007. This is a used and in overall very good condition Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, a Crafted In Japan instrument built in 2007. The bass has switchable active/passive electronics, J-Bass pickups, and a Bad Ass II bridge. The bass plays wonderfully and includes a gigbag. Solidbody Electric Bass.
- The Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass remains one of the company's most popular signature artist basses, and for good reason: it's a surefire avenue to the tone and feel of a modern jazz monolith. Built from ash for a sustained profile and classic natural look, this model provides an arsenal of sonic options like an onboard bass and treble cut.
Hiya!
It was a stroke of genius when Fender Musical Instruments Corporation decided in 1998 to use Fender Japan to produce its Marcus Miller and Geddy Lee artist series Jazz Basses. Their Japanese affiliate has consistently produced high-quality instruments for a fraction of the cost of their domestically built products. I have owned and reviewed both of these basses, and they are very good players and are pretty smart-looking too. But it seems that all good things eventually come to an end.
Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass
Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass® 4.16 out of 5 based on 1 ratings Disclaimer. This page contains information, pictures, videos, user generated reviews, automatically generated review and videos about Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass® but we do not warrant the quality, accuracy or completeness of any information on our web site.
This past summer I was looking at one of the 3-tone sunburst Geddy Lee basses, and right on the heel of the neck where the serial number is, the serial had an MX prefix with a note that it was made in Mexico. Gasp! Then I checked a Marcus Miller bass and it said the same thing. Double gasp!
I don’t really have anything against the Mexican-built basses as they are also good instruments, but it was still quite a shock. But I should not be too surprised, as the margins on these guitars must be getting very low for Fender. When these models came out the exchange rate was around 130 Yen to the dollar, and now it is around 80 Yen to the dollar. That is a lot less Yen for each guitar that gets sold, and customers really screamed like spoiled little children when the prices were raised a few years ago, so there is not a lot of wiggle room for Fender in this situation.
There are some visible differences to the basses, most notably that the Marcus Miller battery compartment is now in a different location and the Geddy neck seems a little thicker, but they both still seem to play well.
But, the main reason I bring this up now Is that Guitar Center is clearing out their older stock of these basses for stupid cheap money. The one by my house had Japanese Geddy Lee Basses priced at $699 and $799, which is the best bargain I have ever seen on these. If you really want one that was built in Japan, now is the time to buy because they are not going to get any easier to find, and they certainly are not going to get any cheaper.
Mahalo!
Fender Marcus Miller Jazz Bass Serial Numbers Chart
Fender Japan | Production |
Serial numbers | Dates |
JV + 5 digits | 1982 - 1984 |
SQ + 5 digits (Squier only) | 1983 - 1984 |
(MIJ) E + 6 digits | 1984 - 1989* |
(MIJ) A + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
(MIJ) B + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
(MIJ) C + 6 digits | 1985 - 1986 |
(MIJ) F + 6 digits | 1986 - 1987 |
(MIJ) G + 6 digits | 1987 - 1988 |
(MIJ) H + 6 digits | 1988 - 1989 |
(MIJ) I + 6 digits | 1989 - 1990 |
(MIJ) J + 6 digits | 1989 - 1990 |
(MIJ) K + 6 digits | 1990 - 1991 |
(MIJ) L + 6 digits | 1991 - 1992 |
(MIJ) M + 6 digits | 1992 - 1993 |
(MIJ) N + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
(MIJ) O + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
(MIJ) P + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
(MIJ) Q + 6 digits | 1993 - 1994 |
(MIJ) S + 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 |
(MIJ) T + 6 digits | 1994 - 1995 |
(MIJ) U + 6 digits | 1995 - 1996 |
(MIJ) V + 6 digits | 1996 - 1997 |
transition from MIJ to CIJ** | 1992 - 1997 |
(CIJ) A + 6 digits | 1997 - 1998 |
(CIJ) B + 6 digits | 1998 - 1999 |
(CIJ) O + 6 digits | 1997 - 2000 |
(CIJ) P + 6 digits | 1999 - 2002 |
(CIJ) Q + 6 digits | 2002 - 2004 |
(CIJ) R + 6 digits | 2004 - 2005 |
(CIJ) S + 6 digits | 2006 - 2008 |
(CIJ) T + 6 digits**** | 2007 - 2010 |
transition from CIJ to MIJ*** | 2007 - 2010 |
(MIJ) U + 6 digits | 2010 - 2011 |
(MIJ) JD11 + 6 digits | 2011 |
(MIJ) JD12 + 6 digits | 2012 |
(MIJ) JD13 + 6 digits | 2013 |
(MIJ) JD14 + 6 digits | 2014 |
Marcus Miller Jazz Bass Japan
Obs: MIJ - Made in Japan / CIJ - Crafted in JapanMarcus Miller Fender Bass Japan
**** For different models like Pawn Shop '51, '72, Mustang Special, Precision Bass '70s, Jaguar Bass, Geddy Lee and Marcus Miller Jazz Bass, the 'T + 6 digits' serial was used with 'Made in Japan' decal up to 2011.