Kawai bass guitars sold in the US from late 1985 until 2000.
FIIB
Neck-though bass with active electronics. The through-neck is 5 pc. laminated Maple and Mahogany with a 22 fret Rosewood fingerboard. The bodies were 3 pc. laminated Maple/Maple, Mahogany/Maple, Maple/Koa and Maple/Zebra. There were also a small number of FIIB basses that came in Black, Pearl White and Candy Apple Red. In the early 1990’s, FIIB basses became the FIIB110KS and were available only with a Maple/Koa body although other finishes were available in Japan. Other changes included the elimination of the heavy brass bridge in favor of a Schaller 3-D4 bridge with the strings attaching at the end of the bridge rather than coming through the body as before. The electronics remained the same on all FIIB basses. The pickups are a Kawai design P-Bass type with built-in pre-amps and require a 9 volt battery for each. The pre-amps control the “tone character” switches for each pickup. In the center position the bass is essentially “flat.” The other two switch positions provide combinations of cut and boost at various frequencies. The amount of cut and boost and the frequencies are set by the factory and can not be changed as the pickup is sealed. The tone controls are passive. Most FIIB basses have a traditional 3-way toggle pickup selector although, some early 1985 and 1986 FIIBs used a 3-way rotary pickup selector.
- FIIB Wiring Diagram (PDF)
- FIIB Controls (PDF)
RB865A
5-string bolt on neck bass. Unlike prior Kawai bolt-on neck basses, the RB865A featured a neck slot that extended deeper into the body and a pitched headstock. The deeper neck slot provided better neck stability and the the pitched headstock eliminated the use of string trees. The body is Ash and the neck is Maple with a 24 fret Rosewood fingerboard. The bridge is a gold Schaller 3-D5. The RB865 pickups are a Kawai design J-Bass type with an active circuit . The RAC-100 active circuit provides for a ±18dB bass cut and boost and a ±12dB treble cut and boost.
The RB865A was available in a Natural finish, Trans Red, Pearl White and Black.
RB65A
4-string bolt on neck bass. Similar in design to the RB865A with a deep cut neck slot, Ash body, pitched headstock, Schaller 3-D4 bridge (black), and a Maple neck with a 24 fret Rosewood fingerboard. The RB65A uses the same RAC-100 active circuit as the RB865A, only it is combined with Schaller PJX pickups ( 1 J-Bass Type and 1 P-Bass Type).
The RB65A was available in a Natural finish, Trans Red, Pearl White and Black.
KRB Series Basses
Between 1985 and 1990 Kawai America sold a variety of KRB Series basses in the US. These included the KRB40, KRB55, KRB69, KRB105, KRB115 and KRB120. With the exception of the KRB115 all the KRB Series basses were a bolt-on neck design with a body similar to the RB65A, only with the traditional neck slot. All KRB Series basses (except the KRB115) came with the Schaller 3-D4 bridge. These basses did not have pitched headstocks, rather a straight headstock with a single bar type string tree to create the correct string angle across the nut. KRB models are listed below with distinguishing features.
KRB40
Single Kawai design P-Bass Type pickup with passive electronics. Ash body, Maple neck with 24 fret Rosewood fingerboard.
Hardware: Black.
Finishes: Black, White, Red. (Picture Not Available)
KRB55
Schaller PJ-Type pickups with passive electronics and push-pull (series/parallel) tone controls. Ash body, Maple neck with 24 fret Rosewood fingerboard.
Hardware: Chrome, Black, Gold.
Finishes: Black, White, Red.
KRB69
Schaller PJ-Type pickups with RAC-100 active circuit. Ash body, Maple neck with 24 fret Rosewood fingerboard.
Hardware: Black.
Finishes: Natural, Candy Apple Red, Pearl White, Black.
KRB105
Schaller PJ-Type pickups with passive electronics and push-pull (Series/Parallel) tone controls. Koa and Ash (Black finish only) bodies, graphite neck with 24 fret phenolic fingerboard.
Hardware: Gold.
Finishes: Gloss Koa, Black.
KRB120
Schaller PJ-Type pickups with RAC-100 active circuit. Ash body, Graphite neck with 24 fret phenolic fingerboard.
Hardware: Gold.
Finishes: Natural, Candy Apple Red, Pearl White, Black.
KRB115
Neck-through design. 5 pc. laminated Maple and Mahogany neck-through with fretless phenolic fingerboard. Ash body. Schaller bridge with individual piezo pickups for each string. Passive electronics with “Tone” switch.
Hardware: Gold.
Finish: Black. (Picture Not Available)
While the basses listed above represent the majority of Kawai basses sold in the US, there were a few “transitional ” models sold. One of these was the KRX855 5-string bass (Picture Not Available). It is basically a RB865A with a radical body and head stock design. There were also a small number of Aquarius Series guitars and basses and the Moon Sault guitar sold in the early 1980’s. If you have any other questions about your Kawai bass or guitar, please contact us by emailing us here.