Fender Jazz Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966)
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Item # 10318
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Fender Jazz Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1966), made in Fullerton, California, Candy Apple Red lacquer finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This is a truly superb example of an early-CBS era custom color Fender Jazz Bass, played but all original and overall very well preserved. Candy Apple Red was one of Fender's most popular custom colors, and looking at this bass it's easy to see why. The deep but bold metallic red was a real California hot rod color, and with the Jazz Bass' chrome accents makes this instrument look fast just sitting still! While C.A.R. is far from the rarest of these player/dealer ordered finishes, all are much scarcer than the standard sunburst and many were striped to "hippie wood" in the '70s when that was considered the cool thing to do.
This bass features the typical transitional features seen in late '65 and early '66, just about a year after CBS bought the Fender company. The most notable change from Pre-CBS specs is the pearl dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, now with the binding that appeared by the end of 1965. This neck is dated to April 66 on the heel, not long before pearloid block markers would be added and dots banished for a couple of decades. Other period indicators include the transition gold logo decal on the matching headstock, the white plastic pickguard and the curious Fender-made "egg" button chrome-plated tuners specific to Jazz Basses of this era. The body and matching headstock's Candy Apple Red lacquer finish is applied over a gold undercoat, typical of 1966.
This is a very fine player and all-around super sharp looking bass, with a somewhat more midrangey tone than some '66s, which tend to be very bright. This bass appears only lightly used over the past 55 years and it sounds like a cliche, but they really don't turn up like this much anymore, especially custom color basses this clean.
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.).
This is a really superb and striking looking 55+ year old Jazz Bass, finished in one of Fender's boldest metallic paint jobs with the 3-layer white pickguard and matching red headstock. It remains all original and complete showing just very minor wear overall. The body finish has some light checking and very small dings, dents and handling marks. The top has only some tiny dings and random checking, the back is amazingly free of the typical belt buckle wear with only some very light marks. A spot of armwear along the top edge has been touched up, as have a few chips along the bottom edge, both are a fairly inconspicuous job.
The vibrant Candy Apple red finish is still bright and strong with virtually no fade to the color. There are some small chips to the headstock edges, some of which have again been neatly touched up. Someone wanted to keep their bass looking sharp! The back of the neck has some typical play wear to the treble side edge, down to the wood with a couple of dents but again nothing unusual.
The hardware is quite clean overall; the chrome still shines like a 66 Corvette; there is an odd ring around the small tone knob and a spot of damage to the plating nearby. The pickguard has not shrunken much at all and has a couple of small nicks from truss rod adjustment. This bass shows no repairs or alterations beyond the small carful paint touch ups. It looks super well cared for, played and loved just too heavily since it shipped out of Fullerton in mid-1966. The fingerboard and original frets have some very light roundwound string wear, but nothing that affects play. Excellent Condition.
This is a truly superb example of an early-CBS era custom color Fender Jazz Bass, played but all original and overall very well preserved. Candy Apple Red was one of Fender's most popular custom colors, and looking at this bass it's easy to see why. The deep but bold metallic red was a real California hot rod color, and with the Jazz Bass' chrome accents makes this instrument look fast just sitting still! While C.A.R. is far from the rarest of these player/dealer ordered finishes, all are much scarcer than the standard sunburst and many were striped to "hippie wood" in the '70s when that was considered the cool thing to do.
This bass features the typical transitional features seen in late '65 and early '66, just about a year after CBS bought the Fender company. The most notable change from Pre-CBS specs is the pearl dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard, now with the binding that appeared by the end of 1965. This neck is dated to April 66 on the heel, not long before pearloid block markers would be added and dots banished for a couple of decades. Other period indicators include the transition gold logo decal on the matching headstock, the white plastic pickguard and the curious Fender-made "egg" button chrome-plated tuners specific to Jazz Basses of this era. The body and matching headstock's Candy Apple Red lacquer finish is applied over a gold undercoat, typical of 1966.
This is a very fine player and all-around super sharp looking bass, with a somewhat more midrangey tone than some '66s, which tend to be very bright. This bass appears only lightly used over the past 55 years and it sounds like a cliche, but they really don't turn up like this much anymore, especially custom color basses this clean.
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.).
This is a really superb and striking looking 55+ year old Jazz Bass, finished in one of Fender's boldest metallic paint jobs with the 3-layer white pickguard and matching red headstock. It remains all original and complete showing just very minor wear overall. The body finish has some light checking and very small dings, dents and handling marks. The top has only some tiny dings and random checking, the back is amazingly free of the typical belt buckle wear with only some very light marks. A spot of armwear along the top edge has been touched up, as have a few chips along the bottom edge, both are a fairly inconspicuous job.
The vibrant Candy Apple red finish is still bright and strong with virtually no fade to the color. There are some small chips to the headstock edges, some of which have again been neatly touched up. Someone wanted to keep their bass looking sharp! The back of the neck has some typical play wear to the treble side edge, down to the wood with a couple of dents but again nothing unusual.
The hardware is quite clean overall; the chrome still shines like a 66 Corvette; there is an odd ring around the small tone knob and a spot of damage to the plating nearby. The pickguard has not shrunken much at all and has a couple of small nicks from truss rod adjustment. This bass shows no repairs or alterations beyond the small carful paint touch ups. It looks super well cared for, played and loved just too heavily since it shipped out of Fullerton in mid-1966. The fingerboard and original frets have some very light roundwound string wear, but nothing that affects play. Excellent Condition.