Fender Jazz Bass

This article is about the Fender model of bass guitar. Despite this new feature, many stacked knob models were
For the use of the double bass or electric bass as a jazz made until about 1962. Another feature the initial mod-
instrument, see Jazz Bass. els had were the Spring Felt Mutes, which were present
on basses from 1960 until 1962. The purpose of those
mutes was to dampen the overtones and the sustain, and
The Jazz Bass (or J Bass) is the second model of
electric bass created by Leo Fender. It is distinct from were screwed in place between the bridge and aft pickup.
Those felt mutes were not a tremendous success, and were
the Precision Bass in that its tone is brighter and richer
in the midrange and treble with less emphasis on the replaced by a cheaper, more simple foam mute glued un-
fundamental frequency. It has a more focused tone than derneath the bridge cover as was used by the Precision
the Precision Bass, with less low end and low midrange. Bass from 1963 onwards. Over the following years as the
Because of these tonal characteristics, the Jazz Bass is of- use of mutes gradually declined both the Precision and
ten preferred by bass players who seek a more noticeable Jazz Bass models eventually began to be produced with-
sound, rather than serving as a background instrument. out bridge/tailpiece covers.
The sound of the Jazz Bass has been fundamental in the A number of cosmetic changes were made to the in-
development of signature sounds in certain musical gen- strument when CBS purchased the Fender companies in
res, such as funk, disco, reggae, blues, progressive rock, 1965. During 1965/66 the Jazz Bass received bound
heavy metal and jazz fusion. rosewood ngerboards with pearloid dot position inlays
(which replaced the older clay"-style of the early 1960s)
and oval-shaped tuning machines. Block-shaped nger-
board inlays and an optional maple ngerboard were in-
1 History troduced after 1966/67. At rst necks with rosewood
fretboards received pearloid blocks/binding and maple
First introduced in 1960 as the Deluxe Model, it was fretboard necks received black. Fender switched to
marketed as a stablemate to the Jazzmaster guitar which pearloid blocks/binding on all necks in mid-to-late 1973.
was also marketed as a Deluxe Model in its own right. Fender also switched to the three-bolt neck micro-tilt
It was renamed the Jazz Bass as Fender felt that its re- adjustable neck and the bullet truss rod in mid-to-late
designed necknarrower and more rounded than that 1974 before reverting to the more standard four-bolt neck
of the Precision Basswould appeal more to jazz mu- xing and dot-shaped fretboard markers in 1983. White
sicians. pickup covers and a pickguard/control plate were intro-
duced the same year. In 1986 Fender introduced the
The Jazz Bass has two single coil pickups with two pole Japanese-made Fender Performer Bass, also with micro-
pieces per string. This gave the bass a stronger treble tilt neck, designed by John Page and intended to be an
sound to compete with the Rickenbacker bass, which had Elite version of the Jazz Bass, however the radical styling
been introduced in 1957 and was famously bright. As was not popular and production ceased the same year.[2]
well as having a slightly dierent, less symmetrical and
more contoured body shape (known in Fender advertising American Standard Jazz Basses produced between 1989
as the Oset Waist Contour body), the Jazz Bass neck and 1994 1 2 featured a larger body shape, a 'curved' neck
is noticeably narrower at the nut than that of the Fender plate set into a chambered pocket for greater sustain and
Precision Bass. While the Precision Bass was originally a 22-fret neck, similar to that of a Precision Bass Plus,
styled similarly to the Telecaster guitar, the Jazz Bass with a standard vintage-style top-load bridge, two sepa-
styling was inspired by the Jazzmaster guitar, with which rate volumes and a master TBX tone circuit.
the Jazz shared its oset body and sculpted edges that dif- Usually known as Boner Jazz Basses, these early Amer-
ferentiate it from other slab-style bass bodies. ican Standard models (designed by George Blanda, who
The original intention of the instrument was to appeal was Fenders senior R&D engineer during that period)
to upright bass players. The original Jazz Bass had two were discontinued in 1994 and shouldn't be confused
stacked knob pots with volume and tone control for each with the Fender Jazz Bass Plus, which has the same
pickup. Original instruments with this stacked congu- 22-fret neck design, but utilizes a dierent (downsized)
ration are highly valued in the vintage guitar market. In body styling, Lace Sensor pickups, Schaller Elite ne-
late 1961 it received three control knobs:[1] two control- tuner bridge on the four-string model or Gotoh high-mass
ling the volume of each pickup and one the overall tone. bridge on the 5-string model, and Phil Kubicki-designed

1
2 2 DESIGN FEATURES

active electronics. Unlike the Fender Precision Bass Plus, 2 Design features
which had an optional maple neck, the Boner Jazz Bass
was oered only with a rosewood ngerboard.
The Jazz Plus Bass was available with an alder body and
the option of a natural-nish ash body on the four-string
model for a $100 upcharge, either a maple or rosewood
fretboard on the four-string and pau ferro (an exotic hard-
wood whose tone is brighter than rosewood yet warmer
than ebony) on the ve-string. The Jazz Plus debuted in
1989 (the ve-string model was released in 1990), dis-
continued in 1994 and replaced by the USA Deluxe Se-
ries Jazz Bass the following year.
A fourth push button control is available on American-
made Jazz Basses produced between mid-2003 until
2008. Known as the S-1 Switch, this feature allows
the pickups to operate in standard, parallel wiring, or al-
ternatively in series wiring when the switch is depressed. A typical Fender Jazz Bass headstock.
While in series, both pickups function as a single unit with
one volume control, giving the Jazz Bass a sound more
The Jazz Bass has a bright sound, with more high end than
similar to the Precision Bass.
the Precision Bass. This makes it ideal for slap playing as
The two pickups are built to be opposite from each other well as nger-style players. This bright sound is due to
in both magnetic polarity and electrical phase, so that the fact that there are two pickups at dierent points in
when heard together, hum is cancelledthe humbucking the strings length. The bridge pickup gives a tone with
eect. The Highway One Jazz Bass is a moderately more treble, while the neck pickup will yield a rounder
priced American-made bass introduced in 2003, featur- sound. The ability to blend the volume of both pickups
ing a Leo Quan BadAss II bridge with grooved saddles, allows for a wider variety of tones than the Precision Bass
Posiex graphite neck support rods, 1970s styling and a can produce. Pickups are RWRP (reverse wound, reverse
Greasebucket tone circuit since 2006. polarity) from one another, so all hum will be canceled
In 2008, the American Series models were replaced by a when both pickups are at full volume.
new American Standard line, which greatly diers from Having both pickups cranked up at full volume pro-
the rst-generation American Standard Series basses in- duces the classic scooped, growling sound which many
troduced in 1994. The 2008 American Standard Jazz playerssuch as Marcus Miller and Will Leeuse for
Bass retained the American Series rolled-edge neck slap bass playing. This sound is the product of certain
with highly detailed nut and fret work, as well as the frequencies from both pickups being out of phase and
familiar rounded body shape with the vintage body ra- cancelling each other, leaving a scoop on the midrange.
dius, but deleted the S-1 switching system and incorpo- This is similar to what happens on some guitars when you
rated a new high-mass vintage bridge, Hipshot lightweight blend the sounds from two dierent pickups, such as the
vintage-style tuning machines, a richer and deeper neck Fender Stratocaster.
tint, gloss maple or rosewood ngerboard and satin back
Some Deluxe Jazz Bass models feature an active pre-
for smooth playability. It also has a thinner nish under-
amp (usually with three bands of equalization) in place
coat that lets the body breathe and improves resonance. In
of a single passive tone control, these basses have three
March 2012 Fender updated the American Standard Jazz
separate equalizer controls: bass and treble responses are
Bass (except the ve-string version) with Custom Shop
controlled by the base and top of a stacked double pot,
1960s Jazz Bass pickups.
while midrange is controlled by a second knob. They
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Jazz Bass, rst came with 22 frets, abalone dot position inlays and an 18-
introduced in 1960, Fender released in 2010 the 50th An- volt power supply on some models. Known as Jazz Bass
niversary Limited Edition Jazz Bass. This bass sports Deluxe since introduced as part of a major reworking of
a selected alder body nished in a Candy Apple Red Fenders Electric Bass lineup in 1995, they have been re-
nitrocellulose lacquer and incorporates design elements named the American Deluxe Jazz Bass to the public as of
from several periods in the instruments history, includ- August 2000 in a Bass Player magazine review of the new
ing 1960s-era lacquer nish, headstock logo, chrome "Fender American Deluxe Precision V" ve-string coun-
bridge and pickup covers, 1970s-era thumb rest and terpart model to the American Deluxe Jazz Bass.
bridge pickup positioning, modern-era high-mass bridge
The American Deluxe Jazz Bass (available in four-string
and Posiex graphite neck support rods.
fretted and fretless, ve-string fretted and left-hand ver-
sions) featured two Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Jazz Bass
pickups, designed by pickup designer Bill Lawrence.
 3

Fender used downsized bodies to accommodate the 22- versions, all Custom Classic Jazz Basses came with a pair
fret neck and reshaped the pickguard with nine screw of custom-wound dual-coil Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups,
holes. a three-band active preamp, ve-bolt neck plate, 18V
American Deluxes produced between 1995 and 1999 power supply and a Deluxe string-through-body/top-load
were initially available with single-pole pickups de- bridge with milled nickel-plated brass saddles. Models
signed by John Suhr. These were soon changed to the Bill manufactured prior to 2003 (formerly known as Ameri-
Turner-designed dual-coil Ceramic Noiseless units with can Classics) were identical to the mid-1990s American
nickel-plated (gold-plated on certain models) polepieces Deluxe basses in appearance, excepting the 22-fret bound
maple neck featuring a rosewood fretboard and white
until the advent of the Bill Lawrence-designed Samarium
Cobalt series in 2004. block inlays. Fender discontinued the ve-string version
in 2009. The Custom Classic four-string Jazz Bass has
Other renements include a strings-through-body/top- been renamed Custom Active Jazz Bass as of 2010, fea-
load bridge, Posiex graphite neck support rods, rolled turing Fenders high-mass vintage (HMV) bridge and a
ngerboard edges, highly detailed nut and fret work. 1960s Jazz Bass U shape neck.
Five-string versions are presented with a 4+1 tuner ar-
rangement and two Hipshot string trees since 2002. The The Standard Jazz Bass model is sanded, painted and
asymmetrical ve-bolt neck plate, along with the smooth assembled in Ensenada, Baja California along with the
contoured heel allow much easier access to the upper other Standard Series guitars. As of December 5, 2008,
registers. Bound ngerboards with pearloid block inlays the Standard J-Bass has been updated with CBS era-
were added with the introduction of the American Deluxe style decals, a three-ply parchment pickguard and a tinted
Jazz Bass FMT & QMT in late 2001, featuring amed or maple neck with rosewood or maple ngerboard (also
quilted maple tops and gold-plated hardware. Fender dis- available in a fretless version with a rosewood ngerboard
continued these models in 2007. and 20 inlaid white fretline markers). Other features in-
clude two staggered bi-pole single-coil pickups and a re-
In 2010 the American Deluxe Jazz Bass has been updated turn to the black bakelite control knobs. Models pro-
with a pair of N3 stacked-coil Noiseless Jazz Bass pick- duced before 2003 came for a period with black Strato-
ups, an active/passive toggle switch, CBS styling and a 21- caster control knobs. The ve-string version (introduced
fret bound compound radius maple neck featuring rose- in 1992), available with pau ferro or rosewood nger-
wood or maple ngerboards with rectangular block in- board and a ve-in-line tuner conguration with Gotoh
lays. Other features include Hipshot vintage lightweight Mini machineheads (c. 2006), has been updated with a
tuners, Strong Arm string retainer bar for the A and tinted maple neck featuring a dark rosewood ngerboard
low B strings, and Fenders High Mass Vintage (HMV) and a 4+1 tuner conguration with Fender/Ping tuning
bridge. The American Deluxe series was discontinued in machines as of 2009.
2016.
All ve-string Jazz basses came with pau ferro fretboard
The American Elite Jazz Bass, introduced in 2016, since 1990 (some US Deluxe models were also available
sports a compound modern C-to-D neck shape, fourth- with a plain maple neck option). Fender oers its 5-string
generation noiseless pickups, a spoke-wheel truss rod basses with rosewood or maple fretboard as of 2006 af-
system for easier neck relief adjustments and a new asym- ter discontinuing the pau ferro ngerboard option in late
metrical neck heel. It is oered with a compound radius 2005. In 2008, Fender introduced the fretted and fret-
rosewood or maple ngerboard, in 4 and 5-string ver- less Steve Bailey signature models, its rst six-string Jazz
sions. Basses to feature a 9.5 to 14 compound-radius ebony
The Mexican Deluxe Active Jazz Bass combines many of ngerboard.
the features of the American Deluxe models with a tradi-
tional Standard Jazz Bass body, vintage-style hardware, a
contoured neck heel and a 12"-radius 20-fret rosewood 3 Models
or maple ngerboard. It comes in 4 and 5-string ver-
sions and sports a three-band active circuit powered by Standard Jazz Bass
two dual-coil ceramic Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups and
an 18V power supply with an active/passive switch (as of Standard Jazz Bass Fretless
2016). Standard Jazz Bass V
The Custom Classic model was made at the Fender Cus-
American Professional Jazz Bass
tom Shop. This Custom Shop Jazz Bass was a cross be-
tween the American Vintage and the American Deluxe American Professional Jazz Bass Fretless
series. Features include an oversized select alder or pre-
mium ash body, a modern 34"-scale C-shape maple neck American Professional Jazz Bass Left-Handed
with an unbound rosewood, pau ferro or maple nger-
American Professional Jazz Bass V
board featuring triangular pearloid block inlays and 21
medium-jumbo frets. Available in four- and ve-string American Elite Jazz Bass
4 5 24-FRET JAZZ BASS

American Elite Jazz Bass V

Deluxe Active Jazz Bass

Deluxe Active Jazz Bass V

American Vintage '64 Jazz Bass

American Vintage '74 Jazz Bass

'60s Jazz Bass

'70s Jazz Bass

Road Worn '60s Jazz Bass

Blacktop Jazz Bass

Modern Player Jazz Bass

Modern Player Jazz Bass V

A line of Fender Squier models

3.1 Discontinued models

American Deluxe Jazz Bass

American Deluxe Jazz Bass V

American Deluxe Jazz Bass Fretless 4 Signature models

American Deluxe Jazz Bass Left-Handed Fender has designed signature Jazz Bass models for no-
American Vintage '62 Jazz Bass table players including: Mark Hoppus[3] Geddy Lee,[4]
Jaco Pastorius,[5] Adam Clayton,[6] Noel Redding,[7] and
American Vintage '75 Jazz Bass Flea.
American Special Jazz Bass

American Jazz Bass Plus

5 24-fret Jazz Bass
American Jazz Bass Plus V
In July 2005, Fender introduced its rst 24-fret bass since
Highway One Jazz Bass
the Fender Performer Bass, the Fender Jazz Bass 24.
Jazz Bass 24 The Jazz Bass 24 featured a sleek alder body, a 34"-scale
length, modern C shaped maple neck with a two-octave
Jazz Bass 24 V rosewood ngerboard, abalone dot inlays, 24 medium-
jumbo frets, Hipshot-licensed tuners, Fender/Gotoh High
Power Jazz Bass Special same specs as the Jazz
Mass top-loading bridge, two custom-wound Seymour
Bass Special except for the addition of a reversed
Duncan SJB-3 Quarter Pound pickups, a passive/active
split P-Bass pickup, active electronics and a 22-fret
push/pull volume knob and a 3-band active EQ with a
neck.
slap mid-scoop switch. It was available in the Fender
Jazz Bass Special featured black hardware, P/J pricelist as part of the Deluxe Series line, with Cherry
pickup conguration with 3-way switching, two vol- Sunburst (discontinued as of 2007) and Tobacco Sun-
ume and one TBX tone control (reissued as the Du burst nishes over a quilted maple top and chrome-plated
McKagan Precision Bass in 2007). hardware. The 5-string version was introduced in 2007.

American Standard Jazz Bass In 2008, Fender oered both the four- and ve-string ver-
sions of the 24-fret Jazz Bass in a stealthy Flat Black nish
American Standard Jazz Bass Fretless (with matching headstocks and hardware). These two-
octave Jazz Basses were gone from the Fender pricelist as
American Standard Jazz Bass Left-Handed of 2009.
American Standard Jazz Bass V Fender Jazz Bass 24 were made in Korea.
 5

6 Fender Jaguar Bass [5] Jaco Pastorius Jazz Bass. Fender Musical Instruments
Corporation. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
Main article: Fender Jaguar Bass [6] Adam Clayton Jazz Bass. Fender Musical Instruments
Corporation. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
In 2005, Fender introduced the Fender Jaguar Bass, as [7] The Bass Book: A Complete Illustrated History of Bass
of 2008 available in Hot Rod Red, Olympic White, Sun- Guitars p. 153
burst and Black nishes, with a three-ply white or tortoise
pickguard. This is a variation on the traditional Jazz Bass
designdierences being that it has only one master vol-
ume and tone, but additional on/o switches for pickup
9 Literature
selection, series/parallel switching, and a two-band active
preamp with bypass switch. Peter Bertges. The Fender Reference. Bomots,
Saarbrcken. 2007. ISBN 978-3-939316-38-1.
The Jaguar bass retains the slim Jazz neck, bi-pole pick-
ups, Jazzmaster/Jaguar body design and the trademark
Jazz Bass growl.
10 External links
As of 2008, the Jaguar Bass comes in Olympic White
and three-colour Sunburst nishes, together with a four- Fender Jazz Bass Products Page
ply brown tortoise shell pickguard. These colours were
previously available only for the Japanese domestic mar-
ket.
In 2012, Fender also introduced the Reverse Jaguar Bass
in its line of Pawn Shop Series guitars. This special is-
sue features a reversed body stock orientation, and also
reverses the humbucking pickups for a unique tone.
Fender also oers several models of the Jaguar Bass in
the Squier line (and an American Standard version since
2014), most with a Precision/Jazz P-J pickup congu-
ration.

7 See also
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation

Fender Precision Bass

Fender Aerodyne Jazz Bass

8 References
Bacon, Tony (2000). 50 Years of Fender: Half a
Century of the Greatest Electric Guitars. London:
Backbeat Books. ISBN 0-87930-621-1.

Specic

[1] VINTAGE BASS WORLD. Retrieved 2016-12-17.

[2] Roman, Ed. fender performer Bass, ed roman guitars.

Retrieved 2013-12-18.

[3] Mark Hoppus Talks About Touring, Basses and Suc-

cess. Guitar Center. 2002. Retrieved April 26, 2014.

[4] USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. Fender Musical Instruments

Corporation. Retrieved 2015-12-25.
6 11 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

11 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

11.1 Text
Fender Jazz Bass Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Jazz_Bass?oldid=770738488 Contributors: Ortolan88, Rossami, Fur-
rykef, Pingveno, Bradeos Graphon, Chowbok, Lemko, Grm wnr, Ivan Bajlo, Carptrash, Aranel, Viriditas, Coma28, Polarscribe, Paster,
Angr, Biso, Nfvs, Mnts, Roda~enwiki, Deltabeignet, BD2412, Miq, BorgHunter, Rjwilmsi, Bubba73, Mobius131186, SchuminWeb, Bri-
anreading, GnniX, Ewlyahoocom, GreyCat, Ippittybippitty, DVdm, Design, YurikBot, Quentin X, Aaron Walden, Mipadi, Mikeblas,
Bota47, Dddstone, Cjmazzanti, Bakkster Man, RoadkillSundae, Elliskev, Atomheartmother, SmackBot, Deon Steyn, KocjoBot~enwiki,
Nikk0, Mr Pyles, Evanreyes, Gilliam, Hmains, Betacommand, Chris the speller, Quinsareth, Jprg1966, Colonies Chris, Huon, BurnDown-
Babylon, PHdeJong, LonelyPker, Hulmem, Soulkeeper, Magi Media, Ace Class Shadow, Yellowtuesday, Iridescent, Ian Perge, Anger22,
Machchunk, Avyfain, Tomkurts, Kingurth, Merrittparkway, Gnominator, Bernobass, Doug Weller, Naturegrl33, Eyjo, Thijs!bot, Malky-
Mac, Moogyboy, SirDarius, MegX, Y2kcrazyjoker4, Magioladitis, Paul Klein, Nikolaj Christensen, Markco1, BrenMan 94, Breakofthedge-
crusher, J.delanoy, Bogey97, Thaurisil, Fdmundo, Knulclunk, Trilobitealive, Jrcla2, KylieTastic, STBotD, Jazzist, Steel1943, Indubitably,
Bennyhale, Utgard Loki, Seraphim, JukoFF, Richardea, SieBot, Malcolmxl5, 1zackman, Yaremus, Divisaderostreet, Martarius, Hap-
pynoodleboycey, ClueBot, Pairadox, Stratovarious, Timberframe, Niceguyedc, Catsh Jim and the soapdish, NuclearWarfare, Wiki libs,
Arjayay, The Yowser, Versus22, HarrivBOT, Wlwibg1, Aznpatdfanboy, Dtlofton, NHJG, Mattlittlej, HexaChord, Addbot, Tassedethe,
Lightbot, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Jacolike, Eamonster, BassmanIII, Zyzzyballuba, Glenfarclas, Erwin89, Agandia, Citation bot, Xqbot, Wether
B, Jon Kopatich, TheRedSky, Crustys dad, Cruz Garza, Shadowjams, Jazzbasslove, Dangouge, Smartcows, Jukka Tarvonen, AndyJHG,
Blinkmyles, Rockfan231, Colchester121891, EmausBot, Snykanen, Sebread01395, Antigrandiose, Akerans, 2PlayMedia, Therewillbehot-
cake, ClueBot NG, BassistofNC, Mansmokingacigar, Aristitleism, Rcorym15, Mxpherson, BG19bot, Jonnidip, Mr.Fingers, ChrisGualtieri,
YFdyh-bot, Pedro de Quadros, Stratocaster27, Joe Vitale 5, Eman235, STARR65, Sro23, Aaizenstros, Juneranger, Bender the Bot and
Anonymous: 440

11.2 Images
File:FGF_museum_10._Geddy_Lee_bass_model.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/FGF_museum_
10._Geddy_Lee_bass_model.jpg License: CC BY 2.0 Contributors: Flickr: Fender Guitar Factory Geddy Lee bass model Original artist:
Mr. Littlehand
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tributors: Own work Original artist: BrianReading
File:Fender_Jazz_Bass_Headstock.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/Fender_Jazz_Bass_Headstock.
jpg License: Attribution Contributors: Own work Original artist: Paul Klein
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