Incoming soon: Fender Original 60's Jazz (alternative to CS)

[CaptainWally]

The overall Zeitgeist seems to be tepid towards this un-evolutionary iteration.


I really like the 60's Jazz thing. I'm a happy Fender Road Worn owner, but I've been interested in an "upgrade" for a while. I've been checking out Fender CS Relic Jazzes, but they are 1) usually too heavy, and 2) freaking expensive!

These kind of look like a good alternative. It's not relic, but that's not really the point for me. Anyway, I spotted one of these @ 8 lbs. 8 oz., so I decided to go for it. I've never so much as seen one of these in person, so I'm taking a risk. But they look pretty cool. I hope it's a keeper.

I'll report when I get it.

 

[Malak the Mad]

Overall, it sounds like you have a nice Jazz incoming, especially at that weight. I hope it works out well for you.

The overall Zeitgeist seems to be tepid towards this un-evolutionary iteration.

Yeah, I've come to refer to them as the "Vintage In Name Only™" series. Honestly, if it were my money to spend…which it is not, so grab a grain o' salt…and if I wanted an American-made, vintage sounding, sunburst Jazz with vintage-style hardware, I would try snagging a Fender American Special Jazz, then make any necessary modifications to bring it even closer to my aesthetic and sonic goals.

 

[CaptainWally]

Cool. Is it the 9.5 radius peeps don't dig?

I noticed even CS is using this radius on their relic stuff.

Or is it the C profile?

I am ok with both...I think.

 

[Midak]

Overall, it sounds like you have a nice Jazz incoming, especially at that weight. I hope it works out well for you.

Yeah, I've come to refer to them as the "Vintage In Name Only™" series. Honestly, if it were my money to spend…which it is not, so grab a grain o' salt…and if I wanted an American-made, vintage sounding, sunburst Jazz with vintage-style hardware, I would try snagging a Fender American Special Jazz, then make any necessary modifications to bring it even closer to my aesthetic and sonic goals.

I believe that the American Original would be a better build than the American Special. Many think that there are negligible differences between various Fender models, but, having played quite a few, IMHO there are differences in feel and sound.
Of course, it does come to the individual's specific liking and preferences.

Before ordering my CS '64 Jazz, I tested a CS '64, a NAV '64 and a NAV '74 at a shop; all felt (to me, at least) better than any American Standard, Special, Highway One, Standard etc. The CS felt a bit more solid, too, so I decided to go that route and I couldn't be happier - my CS '64 is my definition of a top-quality old-school passive Jazz. I don't need anything else.

Cool. Is it the 9.5 radius peeps don't dig?

I noticed even CS is using this radius on their relic stuff.

Or is it the C profile?

I am ok with both...I think.

The non-vintage specs are the 9.5" vintage radius and the non-mounted covers, everything else is actually in line.
CS basses come in a variety of specs, but you can order anyone with your desired specs.

 

[CaptainWally]

Cool - thanks. I'm happy with both the 7.5 and 9.5 radius I think. The newer Journeyman Custom Shop jazzes seem to have 9.5.

Fender Custom Shop 1962 JOURNEYMAN RELIC® JAZZ BASS® - Aged olympic White - 8.9 pounds- R92439 - The Bass Place

I had a chance to try one, and I liked it just fine. My road worn has 7.5, and it's good too. The original will have a C neck...but it's a "thick" C neck. It's probably fine.

If I could have found a CS @ 8 lbs. 8 oz, I probably would have bought one.

I'm very happy they don't screw the pickup covers on these new Originals. I don't mind the holes on a relic, but that kind of sucked with AVRIs you've got holes on your new bass if you don't like the covers. And most don't, or so I imagine.

There are two tings I really like about the 60's Fender jazz basses. The sound. That boingy, passive sound. I've had plenty of boutique jazzes that sound great, but they are doing something else entirely sonically I also like the body contour for the right hand. Seems to be a personal issue, but a surprising number of basses don't have a nice slope for one's right arm to drape down. Thick slabs without sufficient contour (for me) really bug me, and a lot of premium boutique jazz basses are cut this way.