• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Another Vintage Fender Jazz ID Question

This is advertised as an all original 1969 jazz. It looks pretty good (so far) to me but what do I know? S/N indicates 66-67. I am confused about the thumb rest position over the years though. Any thoughts? I'm going to try and look at it tomorrow.
 

Attachments

  • bass.JPG
    bass.JPG
    17.5 KB · Views: 128
  • bass1.JPG
    bass1.JPG
    34.1 KB · Views: 146
The guard is obviously a replacement, since the thumbrest didn't move to that location before 1974, and the blackguard is something from '75. It looks like the bridgepickup is in the 60's position, which places the body at the right era. Same applies for the headstock. It looks like a matching headstock, which was something that wasn't done in the seventies. Also the CBS-tuners (non-Schaller made) and the big TV-friendly-logo with the "curly script" and the trussrod at the heel are correct. Thumbrest has a "brownish hue" to it, which I saw before on late '60s basses.

It's hard to see on the pictures, but the bridge seems to miss the longer intonation screw on the G-saddle, while having the barrel-saddles, and that is period correct.


I think it's safe to say this could be very well a 1969 Jazz Bass, but with a replaced pickguard.

EDIT: This is a '68, with the correct guard on it: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
Obviously the pickguard was changed to a late 70's style gaurd, and the finger rest moved. So if you remove it you'll most definitely see a few redrilled screw holes.
The body definitely has the early 3.6" pickup spacing, so it seems correct for the era it's claimed to be.
The brigde has the regular length (short) G intonation screw.
 
I ended up buying it because it played well and sounded good. I'll probably start another post with some pics later. It is one cool bass IMHO. The funny thing is that earlier today I found another pic of a very similar '69 bass with the same pick guard, rest and yellowed finish. Strange.