Fender Japan PB-50 Standard – Candy Apple Red, 1994-1995

Fender PB-50 Standard is a Japanese instrument manufactured in 1994. This model is a Precision Bass type. It features a Candy Apple Red finish and a body made of basswood. In our workshop, the bass underwent a full luthier service, including fret dressing and shielding of the electronics with copper foil.

Technical specification

• Manufacturer: Fender
• Model: PB-50 Standard
• Year of production: 1994
• Body: Basswood
• Neck: Maple
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: Vintage (Condition: 90% – after dressing)
• Pickups: 1x Fender Japan PB Split-Coil
• Electronics: Passive (1x Volume, 1x Tone)
• Visual condition: Very good (see description below)
• Finish: Candy Apple Red

Body and construction The solid body is made of basswood. The instrument features a Candy Apple Red lacquer finish. A standard Bolt-on construction is used, and the neck-to-body joint was made at the FujiGen Gakki factory. In our workshop, the electronics cavities were shielded with copper foil. The lacquer coating on the body was polished and protected with wax.

Neck and ergonomics The maple neck features a nut width of 42 mm. The back of the neck is finished with satin lacquer. The rosewood fingerboard was cleaned and conditioned with lemon oil. The Vintage size frets retain about 90% of their original height (1.0 mm) and underwent dressing in our service, which included leveling and polishing.

Sound The instrument is equipped with a single Split-Coil pickup in a passive circuit.

• Characteristics: The basswood body combined with a Split-Coil pickup provides a balanced frequency response with pronounced mids and a controlled bottom end.
• Dynamics: The passive electronics allow tone changes using Volume and Tone potentiometers, responding directly to attack strength. The copper shielding isolates the circuit from electromagnetic interference.

Additional information

The PB-50 model from the mid-90s is a standard Fender Japan series based on a basswood body.

The "Made in Japan" signature from this vintage indicates production at the Japanese FujiGen Gakki factory.

The luthier service performed included: fret dressing, full copper electronics shielding, body polishing, fingerboard conditioning, hardware cleaning, and intonation and scale length setup.

The Candy Apple Red finish is a metallic lacquer that historically requires the application of a silver or gold base under the red color layer.

Hardware

• Bridge: Vintage-Style – a steel construction with adjustable saddles ensuring proper intonation.
• Tuners: Fender Vintage-Style – open-back mechanisms. The chrome hardware retains full mechanical efficiency after cleaning.

Instrument condition

• Technical condition: The instrument is fully functional mechanically and electronically, after a full luthier inspection. The truss rod works properly.
• Visual condition: Very good condition. The guitar shows minor, standard signs of use (scratches) that do not affect the wood structure.
• Setup and Modifications: The instrument is preserved in its original specification. Works included copper electronics circuit shielding, fret dressing, lacquer and hardware conditioning, and intonation setup.

Why choose this instrument

• PB Configuration: A single Split-Coil pickup with two potentiometers is a simple and proven electronic layout.
• 42 mm nut width: Adequate finger space provides the traditional grip known from Precision Bass models.
• FujiGen Production: The instrument manufactured in the 1990s reflects the craftsmanship standards from the period of Fender's production in this Japanese factory.
• Ready to play: After performing service works, including fret dressing and full shielding, the bass is ready to play without additional luthier visits.