Fender Jazz Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1972)

Fender  Jazz Bass Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar  (1972)
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Item # 10572
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Fender Jazz Bass Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (1972), made in Fullerton, California, serial # 373601, black finish, alder body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.

This is an amazingly clean example of an early 1970s CBS era Jazz bass in a striking black-and-white livery, looking hardly played since new in exceptionally well-preserved condition. While the Jazz bass was a popular instrument in the mid-1960s, the vast majority were sold in the standard sunburst finish. By the early 70s the Fender "custom color" chart was discontinued and smaller range of finish options offered, of which black is one of the less commonly seen. The '60s matching headstock was no longer a feature but even so this is a real sharp-looking instrument, then and now! This bass has exactly the same features as the one pictured in Fender's 1972 catalog; the company knew what their sharpest look was!

All features of this bass are typical for the era; the body is finished in a hybrid of lacquer with the poly undercoat, while the neck is clear Polyester. There is no date stamp on the neck heel; some of the typical inspector's marks are visible in the neck pocket (J.Torres, where are you now?) and the pots are coded to 1972. The fingerboard is the bound, pearloid block inlaid rosewood style used since 1966, the headstock decal the later black logo that appeared in the late '60s. The 3-layer white plastic pickguard with the "tug bar" mounted low and the chrome covers are unchanged since the 60s. The signature Jazz Bass characteristics including two 8-pole pickups, the 3-knob control array, narrow 1 1/2" nut and offset contour body are all in evidence, of course.

This bass sat little used for decades, by the look of it. One reason may be when it arrived here the signal from both pickups was unfortunately weak. They have now been expertly re-wound by New York's own Norio Imai, a master at this job. The original solder joints in the control cavity are undisturbed, as the leads were re-attached at the coils (don't try this at home, kids!). The bass now sounds exactly as it should, a fantastic closet find and one of the coolest early '70s Fender basses we have ever had.
 
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.).

Other than the expertly re-wound pickups this just-about 50 year old bass is super clean with very few signs of use. The finish has some small dings and scuffs, but nothing has ever broken through the lacquer at all. All hardware is original down to the last screw, the chrome shines like the front grill on a '72 Dodge Charger. The foam mute is still intact under the tailpiece cover and still soft enough to actually work, which is very unusual 50 years later. There are a few nicks on the pickguard from truss rod adjustments in the expected spot. The original frets have hardly any wear, and this is an excellent playing and sounding bass with the typically bright 1970s Jazz Bass bite.

It still resides in the original Fender black Tolex hardshell case, also very clean with some light external wear. In the case pocket are a period curly cord, the original strap (Still in the plastic and tissue paper womb) and a passel of paperwork, including the original Fender instruction manual/hangtag and the very rare one-year warranty card that was sent out when the warranty registration was actually sent in to Fullerton. This warranty expired in December 1973, which marks the date of purchase as December 19, 1972. It really looks like this bass has simply not seen much use since, a time capsule of low-end goodness. Excellent + Condition.