The Fender Standard Jazz Bass is back and poised to take your bass playing higher! A performance- and value-packed instrument for a new generation of players, the Standard Jazz Bass is powered by updated ceramic single-coil pickups to deliver the iconic J Bass tone that rocked the music world when the model was first introduced in 1960. At the time, Fender felt that the instrument, with a thinner neck and greater tonal flexibility than the Precision, would appeal to jazz bassists — and indeed, it did. In addition, it caught the attention of rock, funk, and fusion bass wizards such as Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones, Sly and the Family Stone’s Larry Graham, and Weather Report’s Jaco Pastorius, who famously removed the frets from his axe, and in the process created a new instrument category: the fretless Jazz Bass. As different as their music was, these musicians (and countless others) were drawn to the Jazz Bass for its fast, slender neck and the expanded tonal spectrum offered by its two single-coil pickups, which can be blended to taste using the individual volume controls.

Fender Standard Jazz Bass at a Glance:

• Poplar body with gloss finish
• Fender Standard ceramic single-coil J Bass pickups
• 4-saddle bridge with satin chrome saddles
• “Modern C”-shaped maple neck with satin finish
• 4-Saddle Bridge with Single-Groove Steel “Barrel” Saddles
• 9.5"-radius fingerboard

Impressive tonal versatility

While preamp-equipped models of the Jazz Bass with active EQ may offer the ultimate tonal customization, the classic passive Jazz Bass provides a surprisingly broad sonic palette without having to deal with added complexity and dead-battery angst. With both pickups full up and the instrument’s tone pot fully open, the Jazz Bass produces a wide-range, hum-canceling signal with blooming bottom, sparkling highs, and slightly scooped mids. It’s this tonal richness that funk players exploited with the new playing techniques that emerged in the 1970s. On its own, each pickup brings something different to the tone party. While the bridge pickup delivers the aggressive Jazz Bass growl that can easily plow through a thick rock or fusion track, the neck pickup (which is actually positioned in the middle of the body) serves up a warm, rounded tone that can approximate an upright bass, making it ideal for sparser arrangements, ballads, and of course, small-ensemble jazz.

Balance, comfort, and speed

Radical when it was introduced, the offset waist of the Jazz Bass body moves left-side body mass toward the neck in a way that aligns with the angle at which most bassists hold their instrument when standing. When playing seated, most (right-handed) players rest the guitar on their right thigh, and the offset design, in this case, aligns the rear body contour with your torso, where it belongs. Another significant feature of the Jazz Bass is its neck shape. The nut on a 4-string Jazz Bass neck is 1.5 inches wide, whereas most other 4-strings on the market have a nut width of 1.625 inches or more. This detail makes a world of difference in playing feel, particularly when playing in the low register — the meat and potatoes range. Jazz Bass aficionados at Music Experience like that the shorter distance between strings in the low register allows for greater dexterity and speed, as they don’t have to stretch as far to reach, say, a low G. This makes the Jazz Bass better suited to players with smaller hands. The Jazz Bass neck profile is also quite rounded, making it comfortable for a variety of fretting techniques, including thumb-over. Whatever your playing predilections, you can’t go wrong with a Fender Jazz Bass!.

What Fender Says...

Launched by Fender® in 1960 and positioned as a deluxe model to compliment the P Bass®, the Jazz Bass® provided jazzers with dual pickups for added sonic variety and brightness, a more ergonomic offset-waist body, and a slim neck shape that invited fast, agile performance. Built to accompany players on their formative musical adventures, the Fender Standard Jazz Bass delivers the approachable playability and inspiring tone that made Fender an icon of rock & roll. Powered by a set of Fender Standard pickups for high-output sonic character and an inviting “Modern C”-shaped neck for superior playing comfort, this J Bass® truly sets the standard for the Fender experience.

Fender Standard Pickups

Designed for high-output authentic Fender tone, these pickups provide undeniable versatility for players pursuing any musical avenue.

Modern "C" Neck Profile

This neck is designed for comfort and performance, with a “Modern C”-shaped profile and a smooth back finish— ideal for almost any playing style.

Satin Chrome Bridge Saddles

This 4-saddle bass bridge features steel saddles with a satin chrome finish for a smooth feel.