Fender Jazz Bass Lake Placid Blue 1964
Fender Jazz Bass, lake placid blue, made in USA 1964. Launching in 1960 under name Deluxe Model, the Jazz Bass made quite a stir. The slim neck, offset body and dual pickups were all pretty spicy ideas in the early 60s, and players took kindly to the slick feel and look. This example shows a neck date of November 1964, very early in the life of the model, and notably before the 1965 takeover of Fender by television giants CBS. First things first: it got a pretty major overhaul around 1978 by renowned Tasmanian luthier Neil Laughlin. The body was originally finished in lake placid blue, but the finish was a little worse-for-wear, so it got a fresh coat of lake placid all over the body, new clear coat on the neck, new headstock decals, a new tort guard and a new genuine Fender bridge pickup. The work is beautifully executed and the bass has been kept in excellent shape since. It's worth noting the new finish is thin poly, as per the preferences and methods of the 1970s. If this was wearing the original blue, there's plenty of evidence to support a price tag in the A$30-50k bracket, so take the refinish for what it is: an opportunity, and a joy to behold. The neck is in great shape: original frets, no ramping, nice and straight and feeling fantastic. The fretboard is a gorgeous dark piece of Brazilian rosewood: you can't fake the good stuff, this is it. Plug it in, and wow. The full, round fundamental note is remarkable. The original neck pickup has that Precision-like fatness and weighty low end, it's very satisfying. The late 70s era bridge pickup is also great, and adds a sublime punchy snarl to the mix when added in. It's a fast, responsive, warm, full tone that sounds like a finished record from the get-go. These come up in this part of the world approximately once in a (lake placid) blue moon, so you've probably got one shot at this. Most excellent.
Model: Fender Jazz Bass
Made: USA, November 1964, Fullerton factory
Serial: L59220
Finish: lake placid blue, gloss poly clear topcoat, refinished body and neck c1978
Body: alder
Neck: maple, radius laminate Brazilian rosewood fretboard, 7.25" radius, 34" scale, 60s C
Weight: 4.195kg
Mods: refinished body and neck, decal replaced, pickguard replaced, bridge pickup replaced, all that done in 1978. Later on c2010, it got new saddles and was re-wired with new pots and new strap buttons
Pickups: Fender original single coil (neck), Fender replacement single coil c1978 (bridge)
Accessories: Stamford hard case, two original pots included in case, ashtray bridge cover
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some scuffs on the end and some dimples on the bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back and some discolouration under the new clear coat only. The back has minor scuffs in the elbow area, middle of the body and some dimples in the bottom corner and bottom horn. The sides have minor dimples in the elbow area, bottom corner and bottom horn. The front has dimples near the knobs and in the elbow area and some scuffs around the bridge and top horn, and some minor play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing Condition Notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 45/105 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only, frets appear to be original