History of the Fender Jazz Bass | CME Vintage Bass Guitar Demo | Marc Najjar

Our resident bass guru Marc takes on a tour of the creation and evolution of the venerable Fender Jazz Bass. From the instrument's introduction thru it's notable transition years to the latest and greatest models.
Fender Jazz Bass at Chicago Music Exchange
www.chicagomus...
History of P-Bass
• History of the Fender ...
1961: Concentric stack knobs. Addition of two more patent numbers to the two originally found below the headstock logo. Late '61 saw introduction of three-knob (vol, vol, tone)
1963: Individual below-string mutes replaced by simpler all-string mute glued to the inside of the bridge cover; slab fingerboards replaced by round-laminated fingerboards.
1964: Three-ply white nitrocellulose pickguards replaced by three-ply white vinyl pickguards; clay fingerboard inlays replaced by faux pearl inlays.
Other design changes and options were implemented throughout the remainder of the 1960s and 1970s, although their infrequency might only underline how little the Jazz Bass has changed in 50 years. These other changes included:
1966: White binding added to the neck; pearl block inlays replace dot fingerboard inlays by late '66; medium jumbo frets replace previous smaller frets; Fender-produced paddle-shaped ("lollipop") keys replace clover-shaped tuning keys; tuning machine gears no long turn backward.
1969: Larger and bolder logo decal replaces traditional headstock logo; headstock strap button removed; "lollipop" tuning keys discontinued; maple fingerboard option with black binding and black block inlays introduced.
1972: Bridge pickup moved 4/10” closer to the bridge; a small move that nonetheless introduces noticeable tonal change (the older spacing returned to the vintage reissue Jazz Bass models of 1982).
1974: Three-bolt neck plate introduced; white binding and block inlay option for maple fingerboards introduced.
1976: Headstock logo again redesigned; serial number moved from neck plate to headstock logo.
1977: Control knobs changed to black plastic with numbers.
Songs played in this demo:
'Gush' - Bobby Vega
'That Jaco Riff' - Jaco Pastorius
'Beastly' - Vulfpeck
'Eat That Question' - Frank Zappa
'Hair' - Graham Central Station
'Bop Gun (Endagnered Species)' - Parliament
'Tom Sawyer' - Rush
'Detroit' - Marcus Miller
'I Keep Forgetting' - Michael McDonald
Gear Used:
Milkman Half and Half Bass Head
Emperor 2x12 Bass Cab
1961 Jazz Bass 3TS
1962 Jazz Bass 3TS
1964 Jazz Bass Olympic White with Matching Headstock
1966 Jazz Bass 3TS
1967 Jazz Bass 3TS
1968 Jazz Bass 3TS
1974 Jazz Bass 3TS
1976 Jazz Bass Olympic White
1978 Jazz Bass Antigua
Check out our Giveaways page to win gear! - www.chicagomus...

[@patrickhunter]

Marc + beautiful jazz basses + a history lesson? THANK. YOU.

[@strangernajjar]

Patrick Hunter bless u

[@basslines667b9]

That 64 is pretty BEASTLY

[@BlueCrewSlackers]

basslines 667b white with the tort pickguard and he just got in the zone

[@dxyzstudios2144]

I thought i was the only one who caught the bassline!

[@zr2700]

basslines 667b Joe Dart would be proud!!

[@jonmuir13]

ZJ R lmao joe dart just has some Mexican from the early 2000s.

[@anyone-f2r]

1963 was the last year fender used the felt mutes.

[@bassfan6]

My bass playing heart belongs to Jazz basses 😍

[@tonymovshon6006]

History of the rickenbacker pls :3

[@och70]

Yes! Then maybe the Ernie Ball/Music Man Stingray.

[@Mako_Marshmallow]

:3

[@chrisbettis9601]

I love the punch and look of mid 70's Jazz Basses. Great video!

[@budandbean1]

Really interesting review. In 1978 I was given a new Jazz Bass as a high school graduation present and really developed a true respect for it. It was so easy to play well.

[@stevedixon8567]

just had this on in the background while working.. then I heard Vulfpeck... then I heard Zappa...! muchos respect - great stuff

[@Neodude991]

Finally after 2 years with the P Bass history we get a jazz bass one!

[@pdubs2k10]

Marc, your reaction at or around the 1 minute mark, to guitar players cracks me up!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

It’s great to see you back at CME.

[@strangernajjar]

Below Average Joe thanks! though i am currently working for Sandberg!

[@Below-Average_Joe]

marc najjar - Bass Dad that’s cool. Sandbergs are great. I want a VM5.

[@jake42ner]

I love Antigua green, awesome bass

[@patrickhaynes2692]

my favorite style of bass. love jazz pickups.

[@basslinephunk3441]

Nice video man. Thanks. What a dream.... in a room full of Jazzes!!!!

[@gimmeagig]

You know the history AND you can play your ass off. Thanks for the great rundown.

[@alanscharrer5255]

Thank you Marc. Always been a P Bass guy but the Jazz definitely does its thing well

[@dangracia7805]

I bought a 1965 Fender Jazz in 1966. It had the mother of pearl dots and the rosewood fretboard was a lighter shade of rosewood than I've ever seen elsewhere. I bought it from a bass player who was going to be the keyboards guy instead of bass player in 1966 and I was taking over on the bass. He gave me a good price on it and terms. Loved that bass! Toured with it for 3-years in the early 70's playing nightclubs 5-nights a week, 50-weeks a year for three years. And then, in '76, it was stolen along with my amp and mics. The one thing that stood out as wrong to me was your 1966 Jazz Bass. I had purchased a '66 Fender Bassman amp from this music store and they were "jazzed" to show me the new 1966 Jazz Bass. It looked really cool with the binding and the bar markers...not dots...bars. I thought, "hmmm, maybe I should trade my 65 in on this." Then they pulled it off the wall an put it in my hands and my immediate thought was CBS used cheap wood on the neck and had to make it this thick to keep it straight. In 1966 the neck was a Deep U-shape neck. Was terrible! After getting used to the 60's shallow C-shape the '66 felt like the fat end of a baseball bat. I was so glad at that point that I had a 1965 Jazz. After my '65 was stolen, it took me almost 10-years to find another Jazz bass that had the same shape to the neck and that's the one in my avatar. It's a late '82 or early '83 Jazz in Olympic White with maple neck that I bought in 1985. It has white binding on the neck, white pickguard, white pickup covers, and white strat-type control knobs. I put a white 3½" strap on it too. It has the 70's-era 4" pickup spacing. It plays just like my 65 but has more sustain than my '65 did. It's a great sounding and great playing bass and I promised to pass it on to my son in my will.

[@dangracia7805]

Apologies about the '66 Jazz comments. That was actually a new 1967 Jazz bass

[@marklowe7431]

In 25 years of playing, one of the best videos on the subject.

[@AndresSanchez-pp3ho]

Just bought a decent 66 for 200 in Waco Texas haha missing the last 3 frets

[@staplecrab]

Marc is the man. Funk me up brother.

[@paniccleo]

God damn I love Jazz Basses. I started out as a bass player primarily and I have tiny hands, so that was great for me. But also that growly and snappy tone is just bliss.

[@YKBass]

Aaaahhhh...! So many vintage Jazz basses...😍 Thanks so much for sharing 🙏

[@learnmusic488]

i don't know if you (or comment sec.) mentioned this, but 1976 was a Multi-Revisioned year for the headstock/serial# as well very early in the year, it still had the ‘Groovy "TV" Logo (with the serial still on the back plate) then later in the year, they changed it to the basic spaced *_“Sans-Serif”_* Black Font, that they used until the 1984 buy-out.. and now the serial was on the headstock directly below the logo, with an "S" signifying the decade followed by the number of the year (i.e; S6, S7, S8, E0, N2,..etc.) however, for a very brief time, the first run of these new Headstock Serial#’s, had *"76"* instead of *"S6"* ...thus pretty easy to identify what part of 1976 it was produced..

[@violet.candies]

i looooooovvve the 66' jazz bass soooo beautiful!

[@jamescroy9464]

Every of those basses sound different but great! Thats what I love about quality guitars.

[@McCartneyTELEPHONE]

I've been waiting for that video for a long time ! Thank you guys !

[@csanadsajo2395]

I'm here looking at these awesome historical jazz basses, refreshing my love for them, and I feel so blessed to have my own american jazz bass (2010) and to be able to feel it, play it. I cannot be more thankful to God for this!

[@rodimusprime9599]

The Lord Jesus bless is with another great bass guitar of your liking.

[@pneumatic00]

Excellent history of the J-bass with the good assortment of examples. I didn't know about the treble pickup move towards the bridge. Now I see it. For a guitar player, I've owned a fair number of J-basses over the years. They just came to me in trades.

[@hahabass]

You're a beautiful and humble dude. Rock on, my friend. Peace.

[@8polar]

Beastly at 4:44 !

[@bassimprovjams3772]

Litterly the most iconic basses in that room!!, Jazz!!! P!! Rics!!! Stingers!!!

[@TiredLessGary]

Amazing video. Ruined by the final 78’ that colour should stay in the 70s!! Love the demo and lesson!! 👍

[@baldbassclef]

I love that riff.

[@baldbassclef]

I should be clear that I'm talking about the first riff, but they're all nasty.

[@sylart57]

I'm picking up my Fender Jazz American Elite Bass five string in two weeks!! That baby is a BEAST!!!!!!!❤

[@funkyjones]

Another great video.

[@Robert-xn3jb]

Nice segment! Thanks for sharing the info.

[@NelsonSegura]

Your playing is amazing! 🎉

[@IceBass29]

Love this... whatever the equivalent is for “so-and-so could sing the phonebook, and I’d still love it”... figure out the equivalent of that for playing bass guitar. That’s Marc. Much love man... that ‘64 sounded delicious.

[@jerryglenn5150]

I remember holding Dad's Jazz in the 60's like an upright to play along with him on his real upright. I was barely tall enough to reach the top of it. I was reminded of it in a backward way when they took a polaroid of my big cousin sitting on our couch and playing the upright with it resting on his right leg. That cousin got himself a five string Jazz for Christmas last year. By the way, narrow necks were not just for those coming from guitar. Dad and I both have short stubby fingers.

[@aussiecoastie72]

I adore the Jazz bass , I own one and it’s my favourite 😻

[@luvbasses5487]

Marc...you covered just about every nuance that I can think of....and I'm a pain in the ass...as you know.... The patent number sequence was huge...on the '61. You'd be surprised how many would-be Fender geeks DON'T know about that. I've owned a few 1960 stacks and not one of them featured patent numbers in the logo. It's like when the clock ticked to 12:01 am, 1961 the new logos were put on! Thanks Marc...

[@rrdream2400]

he didn't mention they went from tort shell to black or white pickguards around 1973. And they changed the wood from alder to ash around the same time. And in 76 they changed the TV logo to the smaller logo and the knobs had volume and tone written on them

[@luvbasses5487]

Bingo! I see you’re on to these little things too huh....

[@jacktowers7533]

0:21 *Fanatically googles "1959 Fender Jazz Bass Prototype"* *See's a J bass with Beautiful JM style pickups* "I N E E D I T"

[@BobWadeGuitar]

Nice collection! I have a 65 Jazz - black with black headstock - everybody wants it ;)

[@hodaridaniels8786]

Good history on the jazz bass

[@neilbeatson9147]

Awesome video. Love the 64 Jazz, my favourite for sure

[@cribrebo7375]

Nice. Played a Jazz in my first "real" band. Loved it.. Should have bought one...

[@deltanine6497]

Rock on Marc!

[@thebassbuilder]

The first 2 were my favorite tone and looks wise. Good job and awesome selection of bases.

[@johnhopkin365]

That 64 is aaaaamaaazzzzzzing. Thick, warm, like a bloody blanket. I want one!

[@blindsidedka]

Love the Bobby Vega licks. Great video!

[@petethescalemodeller6130]

dam , that 78 sounds so sweet , ty cme :)

[@drforjc]

Love my '78

[@GravyHucker]

Thank you for being a keeper of the past and sharing your knowledge with us! Nice basses BTW

[@strangernajjar]

Leo Fender ❤️🙏❤️

[@Jim-d4y4z]

Leo Fender WAS Fender. He was a radio repairman with a vision into the future and he actually changed the world of music with the onset of the Broadcaster guitar, which who's name was changed to Telecaster and brought to the market a viably produced electric guitar. The design was shocking to many country music players. Soon after, though he didn"t invent it, he introduced a bass guitar that was commercially producable at an affordable price and that was the Fender Precision Bass. In 1969 I bought an early 60's Precision Bass for $150 when I was just 15 years old and that bass determined my musical direction. Unfortunately it was lost in a traffic accident in 1971 and I've never learned the year of its manufacture. In 1983 I bought a 1963 Fender Jazz Bass for $500 and I still use it as my main bass today! Leo Fender was a genius!

[@1966kairo]

I BOUGHT MY 66 JAZZ FROM YOU GUYS... HAVE 3 OF THEM NOW AND A 66 & 67 FENDER P BASS.

[@GregSturmon]

Great job Marc!!!! Jazz basses rule and it was awesome to see you go through some of them. I wish your videos were longer though bro!

[@MuammarHamed]

Mark thank you so much for all of your beautiful tutorials keep it coming man! And I'll keep watching! Lol (you do your job and I'll do mine!) Much love all the way from San Diego!

[@IMEANCEREAL]

MARC BUSTING OUT VULFPECK IS THE GREATEST THING MY EARS HAVE HEARD TODAY

[@andrewskillful]

loved your choice of basslines! Joe, Jaco etc...

[@shaolinzendragon4737]

Yo!!! Nicely Done. 😁👍🏿🎸

[@AntonioOliveira-em4cd]

Marc is amazing! Thx for the videos guys!

[@aussiecoastie72]

Such a cool video ! I love the jazz bass .

[@F1emingo]

I'd love to see a video on the history of the rick 4000 series!

[@dWindytree]

Great video, Marc! Thanks for the chops, too! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@joeojeda9393]

Thank you for such an informative insight on the legendary J-Bass and a walk through J-Bass memory lane. It was a great history lesson, sir.

[@Dyna_Bruh]

This was an excellent video ...

[@thewaldfe9763]

Eat that question!

[@fireemblemistrash75]

I love the Pbass, but I traded it for a MIM Geddy Lee Signature Jazz and fell in love with it, and not only is it good for metal but I feel it’s more comfortable to slap.

[@P-Tree]

First time watching. Very nice video.

[@chicagomusicexchange]

Thanks! Subscribe for more!

[@joshdreben3170]

Love that VULF around 1:45 and 4:50

[@shomaxx]

This is a great lesson on Jazz Bass history. PS: @ 8:46 COD MW’s Captain Price

[@jacobchaffin2663]

Finally!! Been waiting for this since highSchool 😂

[@toolate2112]

FINALLY A HISTORY OF THE FENDER JAZZ BASS

[@1993wethebest]

+1 for the Zappa tune

[@gorandelac]

Marc you rule! Great vid!

[@groovybasslines]

Excellent !! 💯

[@thebreakfastmenu]

That 76 Antigua is SUCCULENT

[@GravyHucker]

I don't understand why that finish is so hated....

[@aberman0]

Actually, the Antigua was a '78. I would know, I bought it from CME a couple of months ago!

[@OKellyTube]

Such a cool history lesson! Love the Rush bass runs :-) Makes me want to buy and play bass!!! Well done and thanks Marc and CME

[@gustavoroeder1221]

Todo los Fender son espectaculares en sonido y diseño los mejores!!!

[@jdubbjazzbass]

the best bass on the goddamn planet.. period!!!!!

[@pkramerable]

Very informative. And you're a good player too. Nice demos. 👍

[@chicagomusicexchange]

Thank you kindly!

[@tinyb69]

Props for the Alex Dmochowski licks. Dude is criminally underrated.

[@jquill6]

I love em but I love Ps aswell . They are both legends

[@rrdream2400]

Those 60's Jazz basses are beautiful and valuable and sound nice but I prefer the tone of those heavy, clunky mid to late 70's Jazz basses every time.

[@JamesMartinBass]

Good stuff. Can you do on on P+J basses? From Fender or from anyone. My first real bass--I still have it--was a 1985 Fender Jazz Bass Special. I also have a fretless one from '88 and a Precision Bass Special from just a few years ago. I love Fender P+J basses. They don't seem to get the love that the P-Bass and the Jazz Bass do.

[@fonkamex]

Thanks! That was great

[@billyrhythm]

Dang Mark, you’re funky.

[@strangernajjar]

Billy Rhythm especially with my socks off...

[@BankruptBassplayer]

the Basses are great , and you are a great player!

[@devilmate969]

70s j basses sound like heaven

[@anyone-f2r]

Bellonius .Funk Thank CBS for moving the bridge pick up towards the bridge so the pick up height adjustment screws couldn’t be seen sticking out from the bridge cover.

[@rrdream2400]

@@anyone-f2r it's also the ash body that gives it that tone

[@hhhydeee]

70s are killer love it

[@niramchristian3385]

1976 olympic white 😍

[@lawrencevillegas7152]

Super inspiring stuff right there. You’re the best marc! 🤘🏼❤️

[@rickrogers4894]

Thanks so much for a great presentation. Played guitar for years but just now getting into the bass. Presently I'm using an octave divider with my six-string electric to approximate my "bass experience" but as I look through the many possible prospects for my "first purchase" I am a bit taken aback by the many decisions one should consider. Your video helped me get a good feel for "the sound" of the Fender Jazz Bass line and this will assist me as I listen to your second video about the Fender Precision Bass and then think about choosing between the two. (Sorry if this sounds naive or stupid.) Thanks again.

[@chuckshipley9917]

My 91 Jazz Plus is my rock. They've come, they've gone, she will never leave my side.

[@shawnhuff6024]

I have a great American fender elite Jass bass n4 noiseless pickups and a passive active switch and pot tuners cool

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

thank you man ! J's rule ! best bass ever .

[@raulplaysbass4865]

Thanks Marc, Subscribed! I make that same face when I play that part of Tom Sawyer!!

[@anyone-f2r]

The 1960 jazz bass came with four felt mutes. They were changed to a foam rubber mute (in the bridge cover) in 1963.

[@daftdoggo7662]

Love the Tom Sawyer riff

[@gustavofonseca1083]

Great video, history of the musicman stingray please

[@adaltonvieirarodrigues9070]

Solos no baixo elétrico vocês são maravilhosos