1969 Fender Jazz Bass, Sunburst

By Fender
£4,650.00

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1969 Fender Jazz Bass in three tone sunburst, classic late sixties spec with block and bound neck. The bass has plenty of vibe with honest players wear throughout.
Introduced in 1960 as Fenders deluxe bass with an offset body shape bringing the bass in line with the aesthetes of the newly released Jazzmaster the Jazz bass would remain in production until the early 1980’s with the introduction of the Standard Jazz.
Like the rest of the Fender range the Jazz Bass would see a few changes to its construction and cosmetics before and after the purchase of Fender by CBS in 1965. For the most part though it would remain unchanged until the early’ 70s and the adoption of the bullet truss rod and three-bolt neck, change in pickup spacing and preference for ash over alder for the body wood. These changes were significant in the overall tone of the Jazz bass with many players finding the ash body and bridge pickup moving closer to the bridge give the instrument an overall brighter tone than those constructed in the ’60s

Our example although having been played has remained mainly original. The ‘block and bound’ neck bears an April 69 date stamp, nut width is the customary ‘A’ Jazz width. The decal is the third version the Jazz Bass that debuted in ’69 and ran until ’76. The new logo would bring the Jazz and Precision Bass in line with Fenders 6 string stablemates.
The Alder body has the customary offset Jazz Bass shape with contours for forearm and belly. the three tone sunburst finish has plenty of wear to the finish focused to the areas of playing contact and an area of buckle wear to the back. The body has had no repairs or modifications and the original finish has taken on a really nice patina. The combination of rosewood board, sunburst finish and Tortoiseshell pickguard is to many the quintessential ’60s Jazz Bass with the 1969 Fender Catalog displaying the Jazz Bass in this configuration.
The Pots are all matching CTS dated to the 42nd week of 1966, the pickups have a mix of cloth and plastic wire often seen at this time of production and both appear original to this instrument. The original bridge has the long G string intonation screw and single groove barrel saddle seen between ’69 and ’73. The tortoiseshell guard is free from warping or damage with the finger rest in the lower position seen until ’74. The original Fender tuners have been replaced with a set of reproduction Schaller tuners with no additional holes drilled.
The Bass comes with its original Fender case.