Fender Jazz Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Fender Jazz Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 128485, sunburst lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This is a relatively clean and original example of a "transitional" early-CBS era Fender Jazz bass, with typical 1965-into-'66 features. The most notable is the pearl dot rosewood fingerboard *without* the binding that appeared by early '66. The neck is dated DEC 65 and would be one of the very last unbound ones made. By the summer of '66 the block markers fingerboard came in and dots were banished for the next couple of decades!
The headstock has a gold "transition" logo decal and the unusual Fender-made "egg button" chrome-plated tuners oddly particular to Jazz basses of this period. The pots are all original and date to the 42nd week of 1965 and the 9th week of 1966, indicating the bass was likely assembled in early spring '66. The early 6-digit serial number on the "F" neckplate is consistent with this as well.
The body is finished in a bright and vibrant 3-tone "target" sunburst lacquer finish with a tortoise plastic pickguard. At just over 9 lbs. with both covers on, this is a medium weight for a 1960s Fender Jazz Bass and quite resonant. It is a fine player with the typically bright midrangey tone of these mid-60s Jazz Basses. This bass appears used over the past 55 years but well cared for, with some typical playwear and a mid-60s great vibe.
Overall length is 46 1/2 in. (118.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.)., 9.11 lbs.
This bass shows only fairly light wear for its 5 1/2 decades on the planet and appears not too heavily used since the '60s. It remains nicely original and complete including both chrome covers, down to the last screw. There are some dings and dents overall, and typical light lacquer checking. The face has one deeper finger wear mark into the wood below the E string and some chips and dings mostly to the edges; the back has dings and dents and one heavier spot of wear through the finish into the wood from belt buckle contact.
There is some finish worn down on the edges of the neck, and small dings and dents in the finish on the back of it. The neck has some small oil stains under the finish; we expect that indicates a light clear overspray long ago but examination under UV light reveals no other evidence of this. Nevertheless we'd have to call just the back of the neck lightly sprayed over with period clear lacquer; it must have been long ago as a decent amount of it is worn through on the edges. The original small frets and fingerboard show some minor wear in the lower positions.
The hardware is all original and complete; the bridge and saddles have some typical corrosion under the chrome cover. The front cover has some wear into the chrome from hand contact. The wiring is completely original and untouched; at the moment the tone control does not seem to do much of anything; it does work but the effect is quite subtle. This can be easily remedied by replacing the tone cap if desired but as everything is unaltered original we have left it as is for the moment. The bass is still accompanied by its original black Tolex case, showing some wear but solid and fully functional. Excellent - Condition.
This is a relatively clean and original example of a "transitional" early-CBS era Fender Jazz bass, with typical 1965-into-'66 features. The most notable is the pearl dot rosewood fingerboard *without* the binding that appeared by early '66. The neck is dated DEC 65 and would be one of the very last unbound ones made. By the summer of '66 the block markers fingerboard came in and dots were banished for the next couple of decades!
The headstock has a gold "transition" logo decal and the unusual Fender-made "egg button" chrome-plated tuners oddly particular to Jazz basses of this period. The pots are all original and date to the 42nd week of 1965 and the 9th week of 1966, indicating the bass was likely assembled in early spring '66. The early 6-digit serial number on the "F" neckplate is consistent with this as well.
The body is finished in a bright and vibrant 3-tone "target" sunburst lacquer finish with a tortoise plastic pickguard. At just over 9 lbs. with both covers on, this is a medium weight for a 1960s Fender Jazz Bass and quite resonant. It is a fine player with the typically bright midrangey tone of these mid-60s Jazz Basses. This bass appears used over the past 55 years but well cared for, with some typical playwear and a mid-60s great vibe.
Overall length is 46 1/2 in. (118.1 cm.), 14 in. (35.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 34 in. (864 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.)., 9.11 lbs.
This bass shows only fairly light wear for its 5 1/2 decades on the planet and appears not too heavily used since the '60s. It remains nicely original and complete including both chrome covers, down to the last screw. There are some dings and dents overall, and typical light lacquer checking. The face has one deeper finger wear mark into the wood below the E string and some chips and dings mostly to the edges; the back has dings and dents and one heavier spot of wear through the finish into the wood from belt buckle contact.
There is some finish worn down on the edges of the neck, and small dings and dents in the finish on the back of it. The neck has some small oil stains under the finish; we expect that indicates a light clear overspray long ago but examination under UV light reveals no other evidence of this. Nevertheless we'd have to call just the back of the neck lightly sprayed over with period clear lacquer; it must have been long ago as a decent amount of it is worn through on the edges. The original small frets and fingerboard show some minor wear in the lower positions.
The hardware is all original and complete; the bridge and saddles have some typical corrosion under the chrome cover. The front cover has some wear into the chrome from hand contact. The wiring is completely original and untouched; at the moment the tone control does not seem to do much of anything; it does work but the effect is quite subtle. This can be easily remedied by replacing the tone cap if desired but as everything is unaltered original we have left it as is for the moment. The bass is still accompanied by its original black Tolex case, showing some wear but solid and fully functional. Excellent - Condition.