Fender Custom Shop '64 Jazz Bass Relic – USA 2006

First introduced in 1960 as the Fender Deluxe Model, it was marketed as a stablemate to the upmarket Jazzmaster guitar. It was renamed the Jazz Bass as Fender felt that its redesigned neck - narrower and more rounded than that of the Precision Bass - would appeal more to jazz musicians. 

The Jazz Bass has two single coil pickups with two pole pieces per string. As well as having a non-symmetrical and more contoured body shape (known in Fender advertising as the "Offset Waist Contour"), the Jazz Bass neck is noticeably narrower at the nut than that of the Fender Precision Bass. While the Precision Bass was originally styled similarly to the Telecaster guitar, the Jazz Bass' styling was inspired by the Jazzmaster guitar, with which the J Bass shared its offset body and sculpted edges that differentiate it from other slab-style bass bodies. 

The original intention of the instrument was to appeal to upright bass players. The original Jazz Bass had two stacked knob pots with volume and tone control for each pickup. In late 1961 it received three control knobs - two controlling the volume of each pickup and one the overall tone. 

The Jazz Bass’ bridge pickup gives more treble, and the neck pickup yields a rounder sound with the brightness coming from the two pickups and their positions being at different points in the string’s lengths. 

The Jazz bass has the ability to blend both pickups, as they have separate volume controls so you can access them individually, so the player can achieve a wider range of sounds than the P. Bass. These pickups are reverse wound, reverse polarity (RWRP) from each other, which means that all hum is cancelled when both pickups are at cranked all the way up.  

Features – 
Alder body 
Maple neck with a "C” profile 

1 1/2" wide original nut 

Brazilian rosewood fretboard 
7.25" radius 
Clay Dot inlays 
Original bridge 

Original tuners 
Original knobs 
Weight is 8.75 lbs 

This Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass presents in excellent condition, with the intentional relic/road worn finish, lacquer checking, metal tarnishing and tons of vintage vibe. The tuners are strong and accurate, truss rod is fine, and the bridge adjusts perfectly. A groove has been neatly cut to access the truss rod to make adjustments easily.  

This J Bass plays beautifully. We have had a number of discerning bassists in the showroom in recent weeks, and they have all commented on how well this one plays, and sounds. No flat spots or “dead zones” on the neck, with a big round tone and lots of sustain. 

Comes in its original Fender hard case in great condition with COA and all case candy.