PRE-SALE: Fresher Personal Jazz Bass – Black, '80s

PLEASE NOTE! This instrument is presented as a pre-sale item. It will undergo luthier work, including, among other things, polishing of the finish, refurbishment of the metal parts and shielding of the electronics. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will receive an advanced levelling and polishing, or – if levelling (planing) of the fingerboard proves necessary – the instrument will receive a completely new set of frets. The final price includes the above work. This listing does not constitute a commercial offer within the meaning of Article 66 § 1 of the Polish Civil Code.

About the instrument

The Fresher Personal Jazz Bass is a Japanese bass guitar from the 1980s, produced for the Fresher brand owned by Kyowa Shokai. The model is a replica of a Jazz Bass-type instrument with two single-coil pickups and passive electronics. The instrument presented here has a black finish, a maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard with rectangular block markers in the style of CBS-era instruments. The Fresher brand belonged to Kyowa Shokai – a musical instrument wholesaler from Nagoya – and was introduced to the Japanese market in 1973. Fresher instruments, including replicas of Precision- and Jazz-type basses, were produced until the mid-1980s exclusively for the Japanese market; in the 1970s they were made by an association of manufacturers from Matsumoto, and from around 1979 production was moved to Chushin Gakki in Nagano Prefecture. The instrument is currently being prepared and will undergo the scheduled luthier service in our workshop before being released.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Fresher (Kyowa Shokai)
• Model: Personal Jazz Bass
• Year: 1980s
• Body: Solid wood – alder or ash, species pending verification
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood, block markers
• Frets: Vintage Style (planned levelling and polishing / new frets if required)
• Pickups: 2x Fresher Vintage Single-Coil Jazz
• Electronics: Passive (2x Volume, 1x Tone)
• Bridge: Vintage Style Standard
• Cosmetic condition: Pre-sale / 8 out of 10 (see description)
• Finish: Black (BLK)
• Weight: 4.73 kg

Body and construction

The solid JB-shaped body is made of hardwood – given the weight of this example (4.73 kg), the species (alder or ash) will be confirmed during the service work. The instrument has a black lacquer finish. A traditional bolt-on neck construction (Bolt-on) is used. In line with the terms of the pre-sale, the finish and wooden components will be cleaned and polished in our workshop, and the electronics cavities will be shielded.

Neck and playability

The maple neck, with the slim profile characteristic of Jazz Bass-type designs, is paired with a rosewood fingerboard featuring rectangular block markers (block inlays), referencing American CBS-era instruments. The Vintage Style frets are original. Depending on the assessment of the neck geometry, the original frets will undergo a thorough levelling and polishing, or – should the fingerboard require levelling (planing) – the instrument will receive entirely new frets. This will ensure correct intonation and appropriate string action along the entire length of the fingerboard. The fingerboard surface will be cleaned and conditioned.

Sound

The instrument is fitted with two single-coil pickups (Single-Coil) – the factory Fresher Vintage Single-Coil Jazz units – in a passive circuit with two Volume potentiometers and a shared Tone.

• Character: The combination of a solid body and two single-coil pickups produces the frequency response characteristic of JB-type designs, with the ability to balance the tone between the neck and bridge pickups.
• Dynamics: The passive electronics respond proportionally to the force of articulation, retaining note definition with both fingerstyle and pick playing. The scheduled servicing of the circuit and shielding of the electronics cavities will reduce susceptibility to ambient noise.

Additional information

• Fresher was a brand of the Japanese distributor Kyowa Shokai (Nagoya), present on the market between 1973 and 1985. The instruments were essentially sold only in Japan, which is why these examples are encountered less frequently in Europe than Tokai or Fender Japan guitars.
• The individual Fresher production periods are identified by the logo design on the headstock; in catalogues from the late 1970s, the Precision- and Jazz-type models were listed under the designations FP-331 and FJ-331.
• From around 1979, Fresher instruments were made by the Chushin Gakki factory (Nagano), which in the 1980s also produced for other brands, including Charvel and Jackson.
• The bass is offered on a pre-sale basis, which allows this particular instrument to be reserved before the full luthier work in our workshop has been completed.

Hardware

• Bridge: Vintage Style Standard – steel construction with independently adjustable saddles. As part of the scope of work, the hardware will be cleaned and refurbished, and the bridge will receive a full adjustment of intonation and string height.
• Tuners: Original tuning machines. The hardware will be thoroughly cleaned and lubricated to ensure tuning stability.

Condition

• Technical condition: The instrument is currently being prepared for playing (pre-sale). Once the scheduled luthier work has been completed, it will be fully functional both mechanically and electronically.
• Cosmetic condition: We rate the cosmetic condition at 8 out of 10. The guitar shows signs of use consistent with its age – details are visible in the photographs.
• Setup and modifications: The scheduled service work includes: setup (truss rod, string action and intonation adjustment), fret cleaning and polishing or – if required – fingerboard planing with a refret, cleaning and polishing of wooden and metal parts, servicing and shielding of the electronics.

Why choose this instrument

• Period Japanese replica: A Fresher instrument from the 1980s, produced at Chushin Gakki exclusively for the Japanese market – an example encountered less frequently in Europe than comparable Tokai or Fender Japan models.
• Twin single-coil configuration: Two single-coil pickups with independent volume control allow the tone to be balanced smoothly between the neck and bridge positions.
• Pre-sale offer: Purchasing on a pre-sale basis makes it possible to reserve this particular instrument and receive it directly upon completion of the luthier work in our workshop.
• Comprehensive service: Within the agreed price, the bass will undergo all the scheduled preparatory work, which eliminates the need for any additional investment after collection.