I don't think the quality levels were an issue with CBS when the reissue models were introduced. They made the American Standard, the very new vintage reissues (all 5 of 'em) and they had the Special/Elite stuff, which were basically the standards with different electronics and parts. The same people made all of them at the same time, no custom shop or any of that. Which is why a really choice piece of wood would get finished up and stuck on a regular run bass like that. No one paid attention to that kind of stuff. Or one being very light, then the next was a boat anchor. Different times.