My favorite Bass: Ode to the Jazz Bass

Although there are many great instruments on the market for me the Fender Jazz bass is THE BASS. Besides it's lines and looks it is just a awesome sounding instrument. It's also the favorite of many famous bassplayer's like Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller and Flea.

The Jazz bass was first released in 1960, its shape was some different than most basses at that time because it's body was less symetric, a kind of a 'drup' or 'tear' shape. The primary purpose for Fender to build the Jazz Bass was to make it more easy for double-bass players to switch to the electric bass.

Originally the Jazz Bass is a 4-string bass with two passive elements and three pot-meters for volume (2x) and tone (1x). But during it's evolution Fender released also different kind of models like 5-string's , 4- and 5-string with active electronics. Also they released different kinds of quality based on the location they were build (US, Mexico or Japan) and the wood they used for the instrument. although the Basses from Mexico for instance are a lot cheaper than the ones crafted in the United States, those are still good instruments with that typical Fender Sound.

A lot of bassplayers wanted, in that time, to sound just like Marcus Miller and bought the Fender "Marcus Miller" signature. A great Jazz bass in looks and sound.... But unfortunately you need more than his bass to sound like him ;)

Fender Jazz bass 'Marcus Miller' Signature

Fender Customshop

Besides the new bassguitars Fender also has its own customshop where the customize guitars and basses. It is here where the craft the reissue / relic basses.

First time I saw one was at Paul's bassmatters , Paul has a great bass-store in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He had a reissue of Jaco's fretless bass. First I thought it was the original because I looked all worn out.. But that is the thing with those relic's. They make them just like if they came right of stage in exactly the same way that the bass of Jaco looked in his success-days. With everything along it, sweat spot's on the neck, rusty screws in the body and the scratches and paint of the body.... Unbelievable.....

Source: Fender Custom shop

Here's a video of a review of the Jaco relic.

For me the Jazz bass is number one of basses....

I don't own one (yet) but my custom made Bass is on the basis of Jazz bass.. And my next (additional) will be one for sure..

Have a great day and keep up that music !!

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