Fender Japanese MB4 Bass Reviews 
4 / 5 based on 1 reviewsBought at a Guitar Show for $225 [usd] incl
a very decent gigbag. I was just browsing about and picked it up to get a better look
and as I picked it up, I was very impressed with how light it felt.
One reason it drew my attention on display
is that it has a "reversed" split coil [P-
type PU], and that is how I like my split
coils [treble side closer to neck].
It's very light, body looks like alder or
poplar, and has a good "normal" bass tone.
Simple 3 knob control with a fader/blender
[which I much prefer to twin volume knobs].
It didn't cost much in almost un-played
condition, which means even if I upgrade
some components, in total it will still be
a modest investment. It has the standard
"Fender-5-screw" bridge for which direct-
fitting [5-screw] upgrades are easy to get.
The control cavity is not shielded in the
least [although for some reason it's not
any noisier than similar axen that do have
decent shielding]. The pots ARE grounded
to the bridge.
The bridge is that same as the Mexican 4-
strings, a very light weight stamping that
I knew I would change out.
Slim 21-fret neck, rosewood fretboard,
P-J pups with reverse split coil, 2x2
Gotoh-type tuners, extremely cheap-ass
bridge, no pickguard, passive exposed-
pole pups, decent "brownburst" finish.
3 knobs: vol, fade, tone. Body seems
to be poplar or alder, 4-screw neck
joint with plate. Feels light but not
flimsy.
The whole bass is very much like the
"P-Bass Lyte" in disguise, but I like
the tone on this version better than
the 3 Lytes that I've tried in stores.
The reversed split coil may be a major
part of that difference.
I'm rating it at "4", but that is WITH an
upgrade to a cast bridge and with a silver
dollar screwed to the back of the peghead.
These additions have given it a good mellow
tone, with some shimmer and a good bottom.
The body is a 7/8 scale P-bass, which with
the 2x2 head fits in a less bulky gigbag.
It's light and compact enought to always
ride with me, which it does, and is cheap enough to not be worried about that habit.
It does what I bought it for.
Golem rated this unit
on
2003-06-02.
