We Found The HOLY GRAIL Fender Jazz Bass (Bass Tales Ep. 14)

[@davidosborn146]

Super cool! Leo gave an early production pre release jazz and a brown face concert amp to my father, Joe Osborn in '60, as he was about to go on a world tour with Ricky Nelson. The bass didn't have the mutes as shown. The bass is now in the musicians hall of fame museum in Nashville TN. Your bass is capable of getting his tone, and is a beautiful example of the jazz bass.

[@EddieG1888]

David, your dad is one of my bass heroes. And likely an inspiration to most of the people commenting here, whether they know it or not. He can stand proudly alongside Jamerson, Babbitt etc in the story of the electric bass, and where it is today.

[@davidosborn146]

@@EddieG1888 Thanks man. Dad died in December 2018 so I took his old concert amp to the musicians hall of fame museum so it could be with the bass.. seemed like the right thing to do. Dad and Babbitt we're friends, I have several pics of them together. If you are ever in Nashville, the musicians hall of fame museum is a must see.

[@joelediger1728]

Interesting! So when you know the original, what do you think of the reissue of the 61 in collab with Flee, the road worn shallow pink „Flee Signature“? I’ve heard some people say it’s pretty close.

[@davidosborn146]

@@joelediger1728 Close is a good description.

[@vintagebassvault443]

David Thanks for the cool history, huge fan of your father. This bass actually belonged to one of Ricky Nelson’s sons. Wish I knew it’s exact history and the stories it could tell.

[@brokenguillotine6988]

I think the coolest part about this bass is that it has been played and used.

[@mikegreenebass]

That bass and, more importantly, how he plays it really makes that tone.

[@adroit57]

My jaw dropped when I heard it has an "olympic white" finish! The years have done a number on it i guess

[@arlenvandersmagt5560]

That’s actually a good way to tell if a bass was original. Whether the Olympic white colour has yellowed. Same with a maple neck, it gets darker and a slight yellow tinge over time.

[@chris2fur401]

I have a 73 jazz sunburst original with the original case. My dad handed it down to me and definitely priceless to me.

[@ruffian1868]

Now THIS is a vintage bass ! The 1960-65 Jazz Basses are the "real deal" ! And what a beauty this one is :)

[@christianfreimann1674]

I will watch this video a hundred times 🥰 i love basses with history

[@zaklange]

The mutes give it that White Album sound. Very cool!

[@sputumtube]

Amazing. Two wonderful things came out of 1960. This awesome bass and me..!! ;) Lol...

[@juzzybassgrove4354]

Ray’s such a great player and has an awesome IG site

[@andrewpappas9311]

Okay, that is such a gorgeous bass, man, that finish is just unreal

[@zepmarq]

Wow....that's one gorgeous bass! Vintage instruments are simply amazing. I can't wait for my 2023 MIM Jazz bass to become vintage...lol. Of course, I'll be long gone by then.... 😄🎸

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Those Mutes ❤️ This is a Platinum Bass. Nothing sounds like a Fender 🖤👌🏿 Brilliant playing too 👌🏿 👌🏿 Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤

[@jameswiley1682]

That tone!!!!!! On that mug goes so hard

[@ifgwelf]

Everything about this bass is amazing but there's something special about that pickguard damn

[@NGH99999]

Those individual felt mutes shipped with every Fender American Vintage '62 Jazz Bass through 2012. If you search, you should be able to find a set to try out. They definitely mute the strings quite a lot.

[@philipmcadam5339]

So quiet, It sounds really lovely.

[@shamrock3639]

What a pearl of a bass.

[@MrKrampyHands]

Mmm I dream of a old jazz bass I want a 70-75 maybe even as early as a 68 I currently own a 2017 American elite jazz and live it to pieces best I’ve ever owned but a lake placid blue 1970 jazz was the best I ever played it was magical I played it at Phil Jones house along with close to a 100 other basses but that 70 fender is most certainly imo the crown jewel in his collection and he’s routinely got some very pricey stuff coming through there’s a reason all other basses are judged by these old jazz basses big win for Leo if only he could be here to see what it’s become

[@paddydaddyo]

00:51 it sounds just like the plastic Sears guitar I got for Christmas when I was 5 years old! Thanks for the memories! 😂

[@rhimiles]

Fascinated to hear that was an Olympic White! I love the surprising ways instruments age.

[@anthonygreen6219]

I just got my hands on a used American made Longhorn. Loooooove it!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

How do you get ahold of one of these that’s a $20k bass!! That rosewood is absolutely beautiful!! Looks almost like ebony I would give my right ball 🏀 to jam on that bass for an hour!!! Lol why would they have it refinished it after only 3 years??

[@JAK0449]

Indeed it s the HOLY GRAIL!!! how lucky are you!!! what a piece of beauty and art and what a sound!! I dream to have, even a custom shop, stacked knobs 160-1962 jb...but I can't afford it lol..in my town shop they have one for several months plus a PB from 68 with Jazz neck and lollipop tuners..it's like the 2 basses are perfect and waiting for me....but it's just a dream!!

[@jessecharles3171]

The idea that it was refinished in '63 makes sense. I've been told that the 60-62 olympic white instruments were just 1 layer of acrylic lacquer and didn't get the nitro clearcoat that was common-ish later, causing OG paint from that time to not yellow the way your specimen has. Seen a couple other Oly white basses from that era with original paint, and they are def not yellowed.

[@johnbachini9045]

My Olympic White 1960 Jazz Bass has yellowed - slightly towards a golden hue. I believe this is because its has been kept in the original case which has an Orange insert. This orange insert turns the body that colour (color), after so many years as well as all of the cigarette smoke from playing in clubs, etc. By the way, that is a nice JB, slightly darker than mine but the mutes look brand new or have never been used because mine are well yellow and have not been used for many years. It really rings without them. Also, the Volume knobs on that lovely bass are not original, shame.

[@SunderlandMorrow]

Makes sense that it was repainted. I was going to say, it should have a matching headstock. Beautiful bass!

[@TonyPuleo1]

Love Ray and dig that you are using a Tsunami Cable 😎🤙🏽💥

[@keithjackson4990]

Beautiful axe Bro! Sounds great… 🎸🎸🎸

[@praxismobius6037]

Oh man, that thing is dreamy.

[@edwinrivera5695]

Wow! How special is this?! Thanks so much for sharing this!

[@devinebass]

Thanks for watchin' Edwin!

[@qwargy]

The playing is great, really tight rhythms

[@dean-marr]

Absolutely beautiful tone. Thanks

[@jmacc9876]

That's a really cool sound

[@richardharden4437]

Thanks for the video, totally bitchin' Jazz! I have a '65 Jazz neck on my self-made custom Frankenfender. Now I want to find those individual string mutes, love the sound.

[@danmorrison8194]

I have a ‘75 Mustang that similarly has gone from “Arctic White” to what I call Smoker’s Teeth Yellow.

[@DanParker9000]

Amazing. Sweet sound.

[@domagojoinky8262]

Amazing bass, how sweet the sound.

[@handybunny]

That's ridiculously cool.

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

I believe that the stack pots were fazed out by early to mid 62. I have a 62 with them. Although John Paul Jones' 62 has the 3 knob configuration.

[@JAK0449]

nope..late 62, early 63 they finished to let go the last stok....so some 63 are stil with stacked knobs but they are rare, as the 3 knobs was already as yousaid, in 1962, like JPJ but also Jaco Pastorius used a 3 knobs 62 jb..he had a Stacked one but didn't like the dynamics a=)in those old 360 amps...Bobby vega did the same by switching wires and transformed the 2 staked in a "3 knobs"..Jaco did this too, but when he found the bass of doom, that was it..his stacked knobs was black! but Im sure that they are staked knobs from early 63 (again, very rare) and many in 1962 .I 'd think half of the production..nowadays they are part of the custom shop legends if you want to..they make more and more 62 staked knobs for a few years, especially since Flea and Bobby Vega pushed them in the front of the public eyes, and now that the amp are better..staked knobs is the best configuration, even more versatile..they should start to think about re create a new jb model from nowadays, in serie, with staked knobs...like if you just want this concept and you're not into vintage things or can't afford a custom one....

[@jeffreyjohn2037]

@@JAK0449 there's no 'nope' on my take.

[@teslacoil3286]

I love everything this bass and i'm a guitar player.

[@Beatlemaniac1983]

I was lucky enough to play one of those, it was awe-inspiring, though I ended up not buying it. The decay, indeed, scared me when it comes to these sums of money, when eventually I want a bass to work with. Still looking for my early-60s dreambass.

[@massimilianoparis6728]

Fantastic sir!!! I envy you!!! 😁😁😁

[@svetlakarcina6430]

I like that staccato sound, but if i heard this only by ear i would never recognize a jazz bass

[@beatlesrgear]

Approximately September 1962 was when the 3 knob system was started and the concentric knobs were discontinued.

[@AndreaAustoni]

The clay dots are not centered in the frets, they're all closer to the next fret. I doubt if that's a result of the refret, it seems like that's how they were made in the factory.

[@steviemac8075]

Any cellulose paint on cars goes flat as it ages therefore need polishing usually with a cutting compound then wax to keep lustre. Also after a certain age at appears as if it’s cracking up. So if finish is like that. It simply is true to its age. What a history that bass has had. Oh if it could talk.

[@jeffthemarshall]

That is a unicorn, for sure! Total dream bass! I’d be curious how much it weighs compared to some of the shoulder crushing jazz basses of the 70s. Also, any idea what it’s worth? Beautiful bass!!

[@Tubulous123]

, "how much it weighs?" agreed.

[@vintagebassvault443]

Thanks! It’s actually really light. I’ll weigh it for exact and post.

[@changemeahh]

I held and played a 1960 Jazz that is Jonathan Noyce’s main bass and yep very light, similar to a Strat and not a heavy lump like I’ve done to expect!

[@beatlesrgear]

My guess is that is worth around $35-40,000 with OHSC.

[@rustyshackleford6811]

I love my new fender jazz....😜

[@maxmatson1578]

Holyshit! your base playing on Machines of Loving Grace's "guilt" album is some of the greatest I've heard and we can't forget about your time with "two"🎸🎧💫😵😎👌🙏✌

[@arnlmndza]

I want one. Gary Lunn has one, and love his sound.

[@devinebass]

🧡🧡🧡

[@PhullyNo1]

My Olympic white jazz is not quite as yellow but people always ask where I got a old yellow bass. When a new chip of paint falls off it’ll show some white.

[@degeest5571]

Incredible bass

[@martinheath5947]

Absolutely stunning 😊

[@adamwalcott_official]

My holy grail jazz bass will always be a black '72 w/ maple neck and black block inlays.

[@gwheat63]

What a tone! Absolutely beautiful! Can you buy the individual string mutes anywhere today?

[@reggaebass1857]

Fender did sell them but they stopped for some reason, my 62RI came with a set, you do see them for sale occasionally

[@brettb7000]

It's a crime not to let us hear that bass without the mutes 😭

[@murilohumbertocmcb]

if it's not muted it ain't a 60's bass

[@josipbroz8250]

beautiful bass. It was late 64 not 65 that they switched from clay to pearloid to dots (I have one from 64!). Also it's not the paint that yellows but the clear coat. The original white is still there underneath which you can see in the spots where the player's thumb and arm wore down the clear coat.

[@peter_king]

Yes. Please.

[@SupRec]

Beautiful tone!

[@Brook987]

Beautiful.

[@jimbrowncreates]

That was so great!!!

[@stubmandrel]

Sweet.

[@Rabbit895]

Been trying to get a set since I saw an original ad back to the days! I have researched everyone and no one sells it!

[@ajsteven]

I have a set of those. Fender shipped their vintage reissues with them….

[@RootsBassCanada]

That sounds great!

[@TheRumbleMunky]

Damn, that sounds so good

[@jmcbeady8210]

I wonder if this gentleman plays banjo also. He has great finger picking skills.

[@absoluteai41]

Generally bassists can use their fingers instead of picks and get good at plucking. Les Claypool plays banjo too. It would be a familiar feel to switch to the banjo from the bass probably.

[@gabedestellano]

Ray's the shizzy...

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

Awesome !

[@erivers71]

Dope riffs and that bass is amaze balls. Were you playing flat wound strings?

[@DrDooDah]

Sweet!

[@kempenglish]

That's cool - but I bet if you keep saving up, you'll be able to afford a shiny new Fender Jazz Bass eventually. If you can stretch your budget, you might be able to get a used mint condition one that was made in USA instead of the MIM.

[@michaelanthony9068]

I’ve never heard a stand-up double bass referred to as a “dog house bass” ! Hilarious !

[@E6963]

Muito da hora !!! 🙏👏👏

[@TheSDC81]

Amazing😍

[@Gliam1205]

I wonder if there are still some original 51 p basses around with no mod installments

[@jerryayon4120]

Fender Basses have bin on more Hit records than any Bass made to day… A Forever classic…

[@markfdesimone]

Does anyone know if he would have been using a noise gate, or something like that to get the sound so clean? I have an old jazz bass that's awesome, but the hum is kind of a buzz kill if you'll pardon the pun. I hate to mess with any of its electronics trying to address it so I'm not sure what to do.

[@user-ps4hw4rh5v]

really like the tone of this instrument. i have the same bass and am struggling with the sound. would you be so kind as to tell me your pickup height dimensions for both pickups? i'd love to try what you have going there.

[@jeremiahwilliams7809]

Jeez I wished I could find some of those string mutes like that........

[@och70]

All of that beautiful, natural, honest wear looks amazing. It makes that Custom Shop faked relic nonsense look like trash.

[@OgagaOkwah.]

Awesome

[@PorchBass]

The mutes sure sound different to foam.

[@henrytuttle4256]

Bruh I live in Phoenix I’m gonna find this fool

[@mikemarkowski7609]

Very cool but would like to hear it without the distortion

[@waynegram8907]

What are the brands that remake that mute systems called? because I want to put that mute system on my jazzbass

[@dean-marr]

I just put a thin cut sponge and get a similar effect. But this is so cool. Never seen this

[@eirikkvalbein1568]

Awesome. Thomastik on it?

[@garybobst9107]

Droooooool.....

[@sornord]

How are the mutes removed? I have an EB-3 with a string mute that I can switch up and down to use it or not use it. Don't see how there's an option here on the JB. Looks like they're there full time. (FYI - I have three JBs, inc. a '64, which had a now-rotted sponge foam under the cover.

[@ОлександрРаєв]

With screwdriver

[@atta1798]

A Rickenbacker was designed that way

[@bapt_andthebasses]

Nut width and profile are two different things though. You can have a 38mm nut width (pretty Jazz Bass classic) and a thick D or U profile. Worst cases are 38mm with slim C neck, I hate theses. And they can't last long with 45-105 strings

[@BobHolland1949]

Looks like a refret. 😉

[@shakyblues2099]

Looks great. Genuine ageing and wear is wonderful (never a fan of factory "road worn"). Also that you love it so much is another great factor. Everyone should love the instrument they play. Not a fan of that muted tone though. Sounds like rubber bands to me. I like a bit more twang and bite. Just a personal opinion though, each to their own...

[@josephzummo9685]

Does it have reverse tuners?

[@eldorado5319]

😍😍😍

[@rosendaniel1258]

I have a 1968 but can't adjust the neck. The screw in stuck inside.

[@fraggan753]

olympic white looks different nowadays

[@jburtonca]

Notice that the headstock reads "Electric Bass"? It's not a "bass guitar" like so many say. When people ask me how many "bass guitars" I have I say "Zero".

[@Ricobass0]

Did the use of clay dots really end in '65? If so, my Precision, which I bought second hand in '72, is older than I thought! Or was that just on the Jazz?

[@YTPartyTonight]

If the dots are tan or brownish clay, not pearloid, it’s not a ‘65, it’s older/earlier. That’s the case whether it’s a Fender Jazz or Precision bass. The butt end of the neck heel, by the truss rod nut, should have ink-stamped production date on it. It could even be dated with a pencil if it was made early enough.

[@jan-a26]

You never checked the serial number? You might be onto something here.

[@YTPartyTonight]

@@jan-a26 Parts can be switched by previous owner modifications e.g. wrong serial-numbered neck plate from another year. I’ve seen it plenty of times, it happens. It’s best to cross reference the stamped serial number on the neck plate, the date marked on the neck itself, date codes on the CTS pots, date marking on the bottom of the pickup rout, and date marking on the pickup bobbins. They should all correlate within an approximately 1 to 4 month timeframe.

[@Carehuea]

Once Fender was sold to CBS, they kept using the old parts that they had until the ran out. And that is why you can still occasionally find clay dots on some 65 models - although the vast majority do indeed have Pearloid dots.

[@YTPartyTonight]

@@Carehuea About as rare as hen’s teeth. Very early in the year. I once owned an L-serial-number ‘65 Jazz bass with pearl dots and no binding.

[@mv9787]

Did they used to do better tuners in the 80s and before that?

[@erhock92]

Love those concentric knobs, they always seem to sound better.