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Fly Guitars Interview: Jack Casady - part 2: Fender Jazz bass

Intro | Fender Jazz | Guild basses | Alembic & Modulus | Epiphone Jack Casady Signature | Amps | Other guitars


Fender Jazz bass

FlyGuitars What was your first bass?

Jack Casady One of my pals was Danny Gatton who was a very, very fine guitarist who's since passed on. Danny was a 16 or 15 year old wonder kid when I turned 16. We played in each others bands on the circuit from time to time and his bass player got sick and I filled in for him for a two week gig. I really enjoyed the instrument and went out and brought a 1960 concentric pot Jazz bass, that was my first bass. The Precision is a little tough for the size of my hands but the Jazz bass with that more narrow neck at the top was little easier for me to get around on.

FlyGuitars Can you remember what it cost for the Jazz bass at the time when you bought it?

Jack Casady I remember that the 58 Tele was $115 dollars. I'm sure that the Jazz bass at the time was a little bit more. I bought it in 1960 the first year the Jazz bass came out. I'm sure that's a matter of record, you know you didn't get deals on instruments then. You paid what they charged.

FlyGuitars By today's standards it would be quite cheap but unfortunately back then it was expensive I guess?

Jack Casady Well you know gasoline or as you call it petrol was 19 cents a gallon so it's all scaled down. The dollar was a lot harder to make in those days and I worked six nights a week in a club. When we had a steady gig we got a $115 dollars a week, that was a lot of money. It was enough money for me to go out and get my own apartment when I was 17 but if you paid $300 dollars for an instrument or $500 dollars for an instrument that was a lot of money.

FlyGuitars So when you first joined Jefferson Airplane you were using Fender basses?

Jack Casady Yeah the first three albums are recorded with a Fender Jazz bass, and I customised that by adding a P pickup right butted up against the neck. So in essence I had on the very bassy end of the speaking length of the string an offset P pickup and then two bar pickups of the Jazz bass.

FlyGuitars And how did that the P pickup work?

Jack Casady I took the concentric pots that were used and later on dropped by Fender for there Jazz bass line. You would have a volume and a tone stacked up on top of each other, so that's the configuration I used. I used a volume/tone, volume/tone, volume/tone for each pick up and blended them together. That was my '60 Jazz bass, it got stolen just before I came out to California in 1965.

When I arrived out there I bought a brand new 1965 Jazz bass. That bass originally came with the two volumes and one tone. I took those controls out and put in concentric pots and added a p bass pickup.

Video Clips: Jack Casady with Fender Jazz bass guitars - click the images to view clips

Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit Jefferson Airplane - High Flyin Bird

Two clips from 1967 in which Jack plays the Fender Jazz bass. The first mimingWhite Rabbit, on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and the second High Flyin' Bird live at the Monterey Pop festival.



Thanks to Graham Fieldhouse and Jack Casady

Further reading: JackCasady.com | HotTuna.com

Fender Jazz bass guitars for sale

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1978 Vintage Fender Jazz Bass Flamey Swamp Ash BODY  ~ MINTY ~  USA

1978 Vintage Fender Jazz Bass Flamey Swamp Ash BODY ~ MINTY ~ USA

Jacksonville, Florida, 322**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1257

Up for sale is a 1978 Fender Jazz Bass body in beautiful natural swamp ash. This one is exceptionally flamey, with striking grain patterns that stand out under the finish. At 6 lbs 7 oz, it??s a solid yet very manageable weight for your next vintage-correct Jazz Bass build. A rare opportunity to grab a clean, close-to-mint late-70s Fender body that??s ready to be paired with your favorite neck and hardware
? Details
Genuine 1978 Fender Jazz Bass bodyMade in the USA, late 1970sWood: ... more
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1971 Fender Bass Guitar String Tree Jazz Precision Mustang NICKEL

1971 Fender Bass Guitar String Tree Jazz Precision Mustang NICKEL

Plano, Texas, 750**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$59

Steel construction, nickel finish, normal light vintage wear with patina, includes original mounting screw, original 1971 USA, fender part, thanks for looking
... more
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1961 Fender Jazz Bass Stack Knob

1961 Fender Jazz Bass Stack Knob

Loveland, Ohio, 451**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$34595

1961 Fender Jazz Bass, Rare Stack Knob, Brazilian RosewoodSlab Board with clay dot inlays, Lovely Sunburst finish, Tortoise Pickguard, Two Pickups, Both covers, One of the finest basses ever made, Hang tag, VG++, Original Brown hard case, $34, 595
... more
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1966 Fender Jazz Bass w / OHSC! -LL

1966 Fender Jazz Bass w / OHSC! -LL

Mesquite, Texas, 751**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$17500


Item: 1966 Fender Jazz Bass w / OHSC!
Description: You are purchasing a 1966 Fender Jazz Bass with it's Original Hard Shell Case This Bass has some Checking in the finish It has a Lake Placid Blue finish and it's all original finish This Bass Plays and good too The case is the original hard shell with a yellow lining Please ask any questions before buying if you have any Shipping: $500 00 shipping to the Lower 48 States! We ship overseas. Overseas shipping prices will vary. ... more
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1974 Fender Jazz Bass last of the cool 4-Bolt Maple Necks Geddy Lees favorite !

1974 Fender Jazz Bass last of the cool 4-Bolt Maple Necks Geddy Lee's favorite !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5995

Just in is a rare original 1974 Fender Jazz Bass w / all the right features, its has an original Black finish w / a few dings over an Alder body, its desirable 4-Bolt Black Block & Bound Maple Neck feels great, it had a headstock repair done many years ago & does not take away stability, its white reissue pickgard pulls this all together making it one of Fender??s best & last period "Geddy Lee" type Jazzes, its got 1 original rhythm pickup & 1 cloth wrapped vintage reissue lead ... more
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1962 Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Pre-CBS Slab Board, Sunburst w /  Case

1962 Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Pre-CBS Slab Board, Sunburst w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$21000

Up for sale, a 1962 Fender Jazz Bass, complete with the original hardshell case and 100% original save for the ??ashtray?? bridge cover. Produced early in ?62 and retaining the slab rosewood fretboard seen early in the year, this Jazz Bass has the kind of natural playwear that would make any "heavy relic" green with envy. One of the very first Jazz Basses to feature the three knob configuration (evolving from the Stack Knob design seen just a few months prior), this Pre-CBS instrument is ... more
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Fender Jazz Bass 1995 - White Japan Bass Guitar

Fender Jazz Bass 1995 - White Japan Bass Guitar

Huntington, Indiana, 467**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1099

For sale is a Fender Jazz Bass 1995 - White Japan Bass Guitar in Very Good Condition!
Just cleaned, restrung and set up with low action! Plays great!
Cosmetic wear, dings and chips seen in the above photos
Case: Soft
Scale Length: 34 "
Nut Width: 1 48 "
Fret Wear: 9 5 / 10
Action at 12F (4th): 5 / 64 "
Action at 12F (1st): 5 / 64 "
Weight: 8lbs 3oz
Overall Condition: 7 9 / 10
Cool Factor: 11 out of 10


USA Seller, check my feedback ... more
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1978 Fender Jazz Bass Crimson Transparent Maple Block Inlay USA

1978 Fender Jazz Bass Crimson Transparent Maple Block Inlay USA

Richland, Mississippi, 392**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3000

Vintage 1978 Fender Jazz Bass in Crimson Transparent finish with maple neck and black block inlays

Features ash body, 3-bolt Micro-Tilt neck, and dual single-coil Jazz Bass pickups. Classic late-??70s Fender tone with strong output and punchy low end

Vintage condition consistent with age. Please review photos for cosmetic wear typical of a 1978 instrument


Item Specifics
?? Brand: Fender
?? Model: Jazz Bass
?? Year: 1978
?? Made In: ... more
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1977 Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt with Maple Fretboard Natural

1977 Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt with Maple Fretboard Natural

DeKalb, Illinois, 601**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2750

1977 Fender Jazz Bass
This bass is in very good condition but does feature standard play wear
The bound maple fretboard features block inlays and the frets have plenty of life left. There is some noticeable wear on the headstock (see photos). The maple neck has held well and Is straight and comfortable to play
The body features normal weather checking but no chips. The bass features original pickups and electronics which are all functioning properly
... more
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1970s Vintage Left-Handed Case Fender Precision Bass / Jazz Bass / Telecaster Bass

1970s Vintage Left-Handed Case Fender Precision Bass / Jazz Bass / Telecaster Bass

Jacksonville, Florida, 322**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$97

Up for sale is a vintage 1970s Fender bass case, designed to fit Precision Bass, Jazz Bass, and Telecaster Bass models. This is a left-handed case, making it a rare find for players and collectors. With its classic black tolex exterior and yellow stitching, it??s a piece of Fender history and the perfect companion for your vintage instrument
? Details
Decade: 1970sModel Fit: Fender Precision Bass, Jazz Bass, Telecaster BassOrientation: Left-HandedExterior: Black tolex with yellow ... more
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Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Sunburst w /  Case. Rosewood Fret

Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Sunburst w / Case. Rosewood Fret

Tucson, Arizona, 857**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Sunburst w / Case. Rosewood Fret. Condition is Used. Local pickup only.... more
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1972 Fender Jazz Bass ?? Natural Finish, Grey-Bottom Pickups w /  Case & Tags

1972 Fender Jazz Bass ?? Natural Finish, Grey-Bottom Pickups w / Case & Tags

Woodbury, New York, 117**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7200

1972 Fender Jazz Bass ?? Natural Finish, Grey-Bottom Pickups w / Case & Tags
Here??s a rare opportunity to grab a true classic in excellent condition: a 1972 Fender Jazz Bass in its natural finish with white pickguard. This one checks all the boxes??it??s in fantastic shape, plays beautifully, and is 99% original. The anchor point has been moved from the treble side of the strings to the bass side, making it more useful as a thumb rest, and the pickguard has been changed to cover the ... more
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FENDER 1970-76 USA JAZZ OR PRECISION BASS CASE BLACK TOLEX ORANGE VINTAGE USA

FENDER 1970-76 USA JAZZ OR PRECISION BASS CASE BLACK TOLEX ORANGE VINTAGE USA

Decatur, Alabama, 356**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$299

This is a great case that once housed a 1976 Fender Jazz Bass. This case fits a Jazz Bass like a glove and will also accommodate Precision basses and protect them safely. You can see the pad on the lower left that holds the bass firmly in place. It measures 48" long on the outside and the inside width is 13 " . The Fender logo badge has no tail and the tiny ??Made in USA" letters sit next to the giant "F " . All the latches and hinges work well. The plastic handle is solid, the leather ends are ... more
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1969 Fender Jazz Bass Sunburst Faux Burst Vintage 100% Original w /  Case

1969 Fender Jazz Bass Sunburst Faux Burst Vintage 100% Original w / Case

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7500

Up for sale, a 1969 Fender Jazz Bass in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This soulful Jazz Bass, clearly well-loved over the years, has Fender??s infamous ??faux burst, ?? with an Olympic White base and sealer coat obscuring the actual wood grain, and simulated grain added below the Sunburst gloss. The aging of this faux burst is common for this particular finish application, presenting with an authenticity that??ll make any heavy ... more
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1974 Fender Jazz Bass Natural w / HSC

1974 Fender Jazz Bass Natural w / HSC

San Diego, California, 921**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4995

1974 Fender Jazz Bass
This Bass Is Located At IVG Sherman Oaks
In Very Good Overall Condition (Please See Photos)
Shows Cosmetic Playwear Including Various Marks, Dings, And Scratches
Some Finish Checking Throughout
Lightweight Alder Body With Natural Polyurethane Finish
Maple Neck With Bound Maple Fingerboard And Block Inlays
Original Frets Are Low But Playable
Pickups And Electronics Mostly Original With One Pot Replaced, Original Included
34" Scale ... more
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1970s Vintage Fender Jazz Bass / Precision Bass / Musicmaster USA

1970s Vintage Fender Jazz Bass / Precision Bass / Musicmaster USA

Jacksonville, Florida, 322**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$147

Up for sale is a 1970s Vintage Fender Jazz Bass / Precision Bass / Musicmaster Hard-Shell Case!
VERY GOOD working and cosmetic condition!
Buy it Now before anyone else! or Submit Your Best Offer!
SHIPPING: USA: $59 WORLDWIDE: $150
... more
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1965 Fender Jazz Bass ?? Dakota Red w /  Matching Headstock, Original Pickups, OHSC

1965 Fender Jazz Bass ?? Dakota Red w / Matching Headstock, Original Pickups, OHSC

Salt Lake City, Utah, 841**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$6499

For sale is an iconic and incredibly soulful 1965 Fender Jazz Bass in Dakota Red with a matching headstock, complete with its original hard-shell case. This instrument comes from my personal collection and stands out as one of the best-sounding and feeling vintage Jazz Basses I??ve ever owned. Its tone is full, warm, and balanced??consistently outperforming others I??ve compared it against
While I??ve cherished this bass for years, I??ve been playing 5-strings more frequently, and it??s time... more
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1974 Fender Jazz Bass *CLEAN*

1974 Fender Jazz Bass *CLEAN*

Arlington, Massachusetts, 024**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

1974 Fender Jazz Bass in vibrant Sunburst. Rare pixilated tortoise guard, maple block / bound neck, 70??s maroon thumb rest, stock / virgin electronics (the lacquer is still on the pole tops!)
Bass is of collector quality and extremely clean. Both chrome covers and stock Fender black tolex case. Check final pic to hit me up and discuss. Sales preferred to the USA. Thank U!... more
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1974 Fender Jazz Bass a stunning example w / a 4-bolt neck 1 of a kind & Minty !

1974 Fender Jazz Bass a stunning example w / a 4-bolt neck 1 of a kind & Minty !

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 333**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$4995

We??ve just acquired another really clean & original 1974 Fender Jazz Bass w / all the right features from its last owner, its has its rich original Sunburst finish over a lightweight Alder body, its rare White Bound & Block inlaid 4-bolt Rosewood neck is super clean w / nice logo & frets, it??s maple neck is quite clean & unfaded & has just a slight bit of ink stamp visible but she has pot date codes from 1974, its Black pickgard pulls this all together making it one of ... more
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Fender Jazz Bass 94 - 95 - Sunburst

Fender Jazz Bass 94 - 95 - Sunburst

Huntington, Indiana, 467**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1099

For sale is a Fender Jazz Bass 94 - 95 - Sunburst in Very Good Condition!
Just cleaned, restrung and set up with nice low action!
The gig bag does not close all the way at the top
Case: Soft
Scale Length: 34 "
Nut Width: 1 49 "
Fret Wear: 9 / 10
Action at 12F (6th): 5 / 64 "
Action at 12F (1st): 4 / 64 "
Weight: 9lbs 6oz
Overall Condition: 8 / 10
Cool Factor: 11 out of 10


USA Seller, check my feedback to see how I value my ... more
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