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

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.

Fender Jazz bass guitars for sale

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Vintage 1960s 1970s Fender Precision Jazz Bass Hard Shell Case P Bass J Bass

Epping, New Hampshire, 030**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$300

You are bidding on a mid 60s to mid 70s Fender electric bass guitar hard shell case! It is solid and presentable overall with wear commensurate with age. Handle leather is brittle and coming off of handle, one latch spring is not popping open but still latches securely, some light Tolex losses. Buyer to pay calculated shipping.... more

Fender Jazz Bass - 1981 - USA - Original Owner

Madison, New Jersey, 079**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1500

Original owner, purchased in 1983. Great condition. Recently had the frets redressed. I installed a badass bridge but I also have the original bridge it came with. It also came with a white pick guard which I have as well. There is a "ding" on the neck which and I have include a pic of that as well (the blue lines are reflections on the finish from the light outside a window) Plays and sounds great. All original electronics, white pups and white Stratocaster knobs. No ashtrays came with it... more

Classic 1983 Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt with Ash Body & Bound Maple Fretboard

Pompano Beach, Florida, 330**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3983

1983 Fender Jazz Bass -Sienna Burst Finish
Made in the USA
Serial # S865079
Ash Body & Bound Neck!
Classic Medium U Shape Profile Neck
Radius: 7 25
Nut Width: 1 42
Weight: 12 lbs
Measures .80 at the first fret
and .91 at the 12th
Authentic Vintage Mojo, No Fake Aging!
Upgraded Vintage Dimarzio Pickups
Neck is Straight & Truss Rod Works Perfectly
2 Dimarzio Pots 1 CTS Pot
$$$ Professionally Set-Up and Dialed in for Optimal Tone & Playability. ... more

Fender Jazz Bass 1974 Vintage All Original

Beverly Hills, California, 902**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7690

Fender Jazz Bass 1974 Vintage All Original
Great Condition
Original Hard Case
I am the second owner.
Kept in a smoke free environment.
... more

Vintage Fender Bass Jazz 83 Fullerton 62 AVRI

Columbus, Ohio, 432**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2800

83 Fullerton J bass, 9 3#
All original except pickguard and screws, no case
I think the nut is replaced

Good condition, plays and sounds great. Neck is straight truss rod turns and functions but is tight.

Has some bruises and checking, a little blushing but overall finish looks real vibrant

Sat against a stand and has lacquer numb around 12th fret on back of neck. 70s position finger rest added at some point so an extra hole which is visible with ... more

1962 Fender Jazz Bass Sunburst Pre-CBS

Syracuse, New York, 132**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$20000

... more

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

1975 Fender Jazz Bass Natural Vintage Bass w / Case

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

$3700

Up for sale, a 1975 Fender Jazz Bass in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. A quintessential ?70s example with block inlays on the bound rosewood fingerboard and a block logo on the headstock, this Jazz Bass boasts a smooth satin Natural refinish and refret, retaining the original electronics and hardware
Tonewoods include an alder body, maple neck, and bound rosewood fingerboard, and this Jazz Bass is well-balanced on a strap at 8lbs 11oz. The ... more

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

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

$167

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

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

FENDER JAZZ BASS 1975 w / 1981 PRECISION NECK CELEBRITY 'MOTOWN' OWNED REFINISHED

Ferndale, Michigan, 482**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2650

Here we have a fully original 1975 Fender Jazz Bass except for the 1981 Fender Precision rosewood neck, pickguard, and it's a refin. The grey bobbin pickups are stamped 1975 and the pots are all date matched 1377536 or the 36th. week of 1975. The bridge, bridge cover, and wiring harness are fully original. The pickguard was replaced. The neck is almost new with no fret wear whatsoever, a gorgeous hunk of a rosewood board, and the tuners are holding it in tune very well. I seasoned and ... more

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

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

1962 Fender Jazz Bass Black / Reverb. In Excellent Condition.

Oroville, California, 959**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$10000

Fender Jazz Bass-Electric Bass guitar, 1962
Made in Mexico. Well kept guitar. It??s black and has the Reverb feature. A real Classic piece
... more

1983 FENDER PRECISION BASS 62 OR 57 REISSUE 250K CTS POT ALSO FOR R / I JAZZ BASS

Berlin, New Hampshire, 035**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$59

FREE USA SHIPPING!
This is a nice original 1983 Fender CTS pot in superb condition. I've had it for quite awhile and guarantee it came out of a 1983 Fender '62 Reissue Precision Bass. 8312 date code for the 12th week of 1983. Parts like this are getting difficult to find and remember, it's over 40 years old! Of course you can also use it in 'regular' 1983-84 USA P & J basses
FREE USA SHIPPING and a 30-day return privilege if you are not happy for any reason. The Bass Palace will be ... more

Used Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass 3-Color Sunburst With OHSC

Santa Monica, California, 904**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2300

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The Fender® American Vintage II series presents a remarkably accurate take on the revolutionary designs that altered the course of musical history. Built with period-accurate bodies, necks and hardware, premium finishes and meticulously voiced, year-specific pickups, each instrument captures the essence of authentic Fender craftsmanship and tone
When Don Randall at Fender Sales requested a more sophisticated, high-end bass model, the now iconic ... more

left-handed. 1962 fender jazz bass, old reunion, blues gig bag

Wallingford, Connecticut, 064**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9000

left-handed. 1962 fender jazz bass, old reunion, blues gig bag. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS Ground Advantage.... more

American Vintage Fender Jazz Bass - Natural Finish 1975

Gainesville, Georgia, 305**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$7000

1975 Fender Jazz Bass. All original, including the leather strap that was bought new, back in '75. We bought it new, and have had it ever since. Ready to move it on to a new owner. This is the original case also
I will quote shipping and insurance to the winning buyer. Please ask all questions before buying
For an instrument this old, it is in good condition. The stainless steel string cover (guard) on the front appears to be slightly rough, but I believe it could be buffed to ... more

1983 Fender JV '62 Jazz Bass Stack Knob JB62-115 Sunburst Lacquer w /

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

$3000

Up for sale, a 1983 Fender Jazz Bass ?62 vintage reissue model JB62-115 in perfect working order, complete with a molded hardshell case. Produced in the second year of Fender Japan production, this "Japanese Vintage" (JV) series bass is a rare top-tier model accurate to the Jazz Bass??s introductory specs with ??stack knob?? Volume / Tone pairs, the same pickups used on the Fender USA Fullerton factory reissues from the same year, and a three-tone Sunburst nitro lacquer finish
Produced at ... more

1980 Fender Jazz Bass, Natural finish, original

Laguna Niguel, California, 926**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2400

Up for sale is a CBS era Fender made in Fullerton, CA 1980 Fender Jazz bass with all original parts in it's original natural finish, albeit with over 40 years of natural relic-ing. Bass body has had the common finish reaction with the interior fuzzy lining of the hard case in which it sat for so many years. This was fairly common for late 70's early 80's Fender instruments with the polyurethane finish reacting with the glue or adhesive fumes used on the lining of the hard cases back then. Not a ... more

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