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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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1966 Fender Jazz Bass Refin White

1966 Fender Jazz Bass Refin White

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

$7500

... more
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FENDER POWER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL 1984-1987 MADE IN JAPAN

FENDER POWER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL 1984-1987 MADE IN JAPAN

Apple Valley, California, 923**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1200

FENDER POWER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL 1984-1987 MADE IN JAPAN
Bass is used in good condition
Bass has been tested and is in great working condition
NOTE: Bass does have scratches / scuff (deep scratches in the back and the head)
Refer to pictures for item condition
Items in the listing pictures are the actual items you will be receiving
(we tried to take as many pictures to show the condition of the items)
ITEM IS BEING SOLD AS IS
I HAVE DESCRIBED THE ITEM TO THE BEST OF MY ... 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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Fender ?? 1966 Vintage Jazz Bass Custom Color Olympic White Matching Headstock w /

Fender ?? 1966 Vintage Jazz Bass Custom Color Olympic White Matching Headstock w /

Brookfield, Connecticut, 068**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9500

Here was have a one owner 1966 Olympic White Fender Jazz bass! The only this I see that has been changed is the knobs. All electronics are original. When we got the bass in, there was a short in the back pickup that we had repaired by Tom Brandtley. Other than that it has remained untouched. There is a very small piece of neck binding missing by the nut and it looks like the thumb rest has been reangled. There has been a Fender body guard protector on the bass since it was bought which is very ... more
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Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass Guitar Sea Foam Green #2082

Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass Guitar Sea Foam Green #2082

Robertsville, Missouri, 630**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1950

This is an absolutely beautiful bass guitar that plays just as good as it looks! It was made in 2023 and has been kept in its case most of its life. The electronics sound great and work perfectly. There is no fret use at all and it plays smoothly. This bass is in brand new condition besides one incredibly small ding on the bottom of it. This doesn??t affect anything and is almost impossible to see. This is shown in picture 19. Also included is all of the original papers, case candy, and the ... more
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1974 Fender Jazz Bass a factory Left Handed clean example Black w / a Maple Neck.

1974 Fender Jazz Bass a factory Left Handed clean example Black w / a Maple Neck.

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

$6995

Just in is an insanely rare all original factory left handed 1974 Jazz Bass w / all the right features in exceptionally clean shape, its has an original Black finish w / a few dings here & there over an Alder body, its White Bound 3-bolt Maple Neck is very clean, its original White pickgard pulls this all together making it one of Fender??s best & last period ??Geddy Lee?? type lefty Jazzes, its 2 pickups are super smooth w / that quintessential ??Jazz Bass?? sound !, its pot codes date ... more
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1968 Fender Jazz Bass (All Original) With OHSC

1968 Fender Jazz Bass (All Original) With OHSC

Lake Havasu City, Arizona, 864**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9500

1968 Fender Jazz Bass (All Original) With OHSC

Totally original and ready to roll! A true closet classic. Original paint, original covers, pickups, case, etc!

This bass is being sold as-is due to the nature of its age
... more
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1980 Fender Jazz Bass, Natural finish, original

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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Fender Jazz Bass 1976 Black With Maple Block Neck

Fender Jazz Bass 1976 Black With Maple Block Neck

Long Island City, New York, 111**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3849

Rare 1976 Fender Jazz bas Black custom color painted over Sunburst from the factory heavy relic for decades of touring through out the world . This bass sounds and plays amazing Comes with original hardshell case . The case in in solid in good condition... more
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Fender Jazz Bass 93 - 94 - Sunburst Japan

Fender Jazz Bass 93 - 94 - Sunburst Japan

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

$1099

For sale is a Fender Jazz Bass 93 - 94 - Sunburst Japan in Very Good Condition!
Just cleaned, restrung and set up with low action!
Case: Soft
Scale Length: 34 "
Nut Width: 1 5 "
Fret Wear: 9 5 / 10
Action at 12F (6th): 5 / 64 "
Action at 12F (1st): 5 / 64 "
Weight: 9lbs 5oz
Overall Condition: 8 / 10
Cool Factor: 11 out of 10


USA Seller, check my feedback to see how I value my customers and see my other listings for more rare Japanese ... more
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VINTAGE 1960S FENDER JAZZ PRECISION BASS STRING TREE

VINTAGE 1960'S FENDER JAZZ PRECISION BASS STRING TREE

Fort Mill, South Carolina, 297**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$65

Up for sale is a vintage Fender 1960's Jazz Bass or Precision Bass string tree. This string tree came from a set of 3 1964 Bass tuners I am currently selling in pieces due to the three part. Good piece to make anyones vintage bass back to being all original again. If you have any questions please feel free to email me at anytime. Please continue to follow my listings for more vintage guitar parts and accessories to be listed in the following weeks also. Sorry about the shipping price but ... 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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2023 Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass Olympic White Underwood Aged

2023 Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass Olympic White Underwood Aged

Lexington, Kentucky, 405**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2800

Excellent condition!
Neck Measurements: 1st- .78 12th- 1 02
Featuring a neck that's narrower at the nut for a faster and more effortless feel, plus sleek new body style that mirrored the offset contoured style of the Jazzmaster, the first Jazz Bass models were developed after Fender Salesman Don Randall requested a more sophisticated, high-end bass model. By 1966, the evolution of the instrument reached new heights with striking new features.
The American Vintage II 1966 Jazz ... more
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1973 Fender Jazz Bass  Left Handed  Black a Maple Neck. 4 Bolt !

1973 Fender Jazz Bass Left Handed Black a Maple Neck. 4 Bolt !

Buffalo, New York, 142**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$5999

Nice checking . custom color, black four bolt neck, ships in gig bag .. unmolested, beautiful maple neck with pearl inlay hard to find left-handed!
... more
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Used Fender Jazz Bass - Sunburst (1978)

Used Fender Jazz Bass - Sunburst (1978)

Plainville, Connecticut, 060**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3100

Pre-owned Fender Jazz Bass in Sunburst, from 1978. In very good vintage condition. Some light paint chip, dings / dents throughout, but mostly on the top. The back has a few spots where the clear coat has worn, in the buckle rash area mostly. The bridge was replaced with a Badass Bass II, the original bridge / cover are not included. Metal pickup cover is also missing. Tone pot date shows 1979, serial is S8850735. Weight is 9lb 4oz  Comes with a Mono gig bag  
Make: Fender
Model: Jazz ... more
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1970s-1980s Vintage Fender Jazz Bass / Precision Bass / Telecaster Bass Case USA

1970s-1980s Vintage Fender Jazz Bass / Precision Bass / Telecaster Bass Case USA

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

$269

Up for sale is a Vintage 1970s-1980s Fender Jazz / Precision / Telecaster Bass HardShell Case
This case came with a 1978-1979 Fender Precision Bass
VERY GOOD working and cosmetic condition! ~ All latches work! ~
Buy It Now before somebody else does!
SHIPPING: USA: $97 WORLDWIDE: $197... more
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1975 Fender Jazz Bass Natural Vintage Bass w /  Case

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
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1981 Fender Jazz Bass International Series ARCTIC WHITE

1981 Fender Jazz Bass International Series ARCTIC WHITE

Carbondale, Illinois, 629**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$2790


Add Me to Your Favorite Sellers
Olivia's Vintage would like to present this 1981 Fender Jazz Bass from the International Series in its original Arctic White finish. The color has yellowed quite a bit. It has the original white pickguard and black pickguard screws that were exclusive to this series. It has a great playing neck with great frets. It's all original with the only exception being the two screws for the bridge cover. It is also 100% complete with the exception of the chrome ... more
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1971 FENDER JAZZ  BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage

1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage

Brooklyn, New York, 112**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$425

1971 FENDER JAZZ BASS BRIDGE USA Original Vintage
Very Good + Condition. With original mounting screws
There's a slight bend near the head of the E String intonation screw that doesn't effect use
Shipped Fully Insured!... more
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Vintage 1984 Fender Jazz Bass

Vintage 1984 Fender Jazz Bass

Flossmoor, Illinois, 604**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1000

Vintage fender jazz bass. Excellent condition plays beautifully. Tones are smooth as can be and easy to play. You won??t be disappointed. See recent appraisal. Happy bidding any questions feel free
... more
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