You do not intonate your basses when you put new strings on them? I do it every time. I don't want to argue but I read what Dkelley wrote, he is 100% correct.
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curious. Why does Fender sell the Jaco Pastorius bass with flatwound strings?
- Thread starter trickyric
- Start date
You do not intonate your basses when you put new strings on them? I do it every time. I don't want to argue but I read what Dkelley wrote, he is 100% correct.
On my fretlesses, no, as it isn't worthwhile work one way or the other. On my fretted basses, absolutely I intonate them and every time I make any changes that could affect their intonation.
You can probably recover the FL bass intonation threads with a search in the hardware forum if you're interested in the exchanges about the issue.
L
I don't need to, I know how to intonate a fretless bass and can do it in less than 5 minutes. Basses need to be in proper intonation, especially a fretless bass. It is possible of course to adjust to an improperly intonated fretless bass but why would anyone want to even do that?
+1The Artist model is definitely a mystery. It's kind of in between just a plain jane replica of a '62 jazz bass and something like the Kaufmann CS basses. It's got the fretted clay dot looking dot pattern/fret slots cut in the board, but a simpler poly finish on it (almost certainly much easier to mass produce). There's no attempt to "relic" the finish, but it's got some Jaco touches like P bass knobs on it. The pickguard is also not installed, but a beautiful Tort pickguard and the two vintage ash trays are included in the case with the bass. The backplate has "Jaco" written on it in cursive (unknown if it's actually a replica of Jaco P's actual signature).
Go figure. What was on the mind of Fender? Anyone's guess is as good as any other.
But I'm glad they make it, because it's probably my favorite Jazz bass of all time. I'd only trade mine for one of the Kaufmann sigs + however much cash I could rob from the local bank. I'm not into the CS relic'ed version.
It has all the same charming problems a '62 JB has too, like the sticky/siezey Plutonium reverse tuners, the total PITA to adjust TR nut, the old-timey strap nut on the back of the headstock, etc. that really bring a smile to your face when you pick it up.
So to me, it's one of the true gems in the Fender sig line, like the Tony Franklin....
L
I have zero doubt that there are some highly workable gems among both the CS and non-CS versions.
In fact, most Fenders can be made into highly useful instruments with just a bit of informed elbow grease. Excepting the hopeless clunkers, which one encounters from time to time.
One of the misperceptions that I think inexperienced players get is that they somehow think that by shelling out the coin for a (for example) Jaco signature bass, that they will automatically have the cat's sounds out of the box. That's just usually not the case. The artist makes the tool, not the other way around.
And, BTW, I'm quite fond of those idiosyncrasies you mentioned on my '62.
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@trickyric - The intent was for 100 to be produced, but only 35-50 were ever built so they're actually much more rare than advertised.
A project like this had never been done before. If I'm not mistaken, we were the first shop to commission the Fender Custom Shop to build a limited run of instruments exclusively for our store (The Bass Centre, Los Angeles.) We worked with both James Jamerson, Jr, on The James Jamerson Tribute Bass, and with Kevin Kaufman on The Jaco Pastorius Signature Bass (as well as with Jaco's Estate and consulted with others who knew Jaco well) to do everything possible to get the details right. As it turns out, these 2 basses may be the first "signature" basses that Fender ever produced, with the Stu Hamm Urge Bass being the first production signature bass they ever produced not long afterward.
I can't speak to the Jaco models that Fender has offered over the past 20 years or so, but the basses the FCS produced for us were truly unique and will never be repeated.
Hi @luciens -
You have a good memory!
As stated above, only 35-50 of these were ever produced. Our intent was for 100, but the number of orders fell short. This was all pre-internet, so advertising was limited to Bass Player Magazine, walk-in traffic and word of mouth.
Thanks, @wysiwyg248. Yep, that was the Jaco Bass crew - Kevin, yours truly, and John & J from the FCS.
Yep, the whole board was epoxied. However, the putty (if I remember right) that Jaco used to fill the frets wouldn't last and would crack. This is why the decision was made to use a similar colored plastic insert on the Jaco Signature bass (and not putty.)
Here are some of the details:
What it comes with:
Comes with Original style chrome hardware, including reverse tuning machines and bridge, Rotosound RS66 Swing Bass strings- the same set used by Jaco, original style brown hardshell case, engraved neckplate with Jaco's signature and serial number, certificate of authenticity signed by John Page of the Fender Custom Shop (see picture), original leather strap and cable, cleaning cloth and tags.
We provided the Fender Custom Shop with the Rotosound strings, just as we had done with providing them with the La Bella Deep Talkin' Flats for the Jamerson Bass.
I remember those vaguely, I'm pretty sure those were exact replicas with marine epoxy on the necks and came stock with Rotos. I never understood why when they became production models they put some light coating on the necks and shipped them with flats. I wonder how many people ordered them and surprise surprise? To me that would be like reissuing a 1968 Roadrunner that originally came with a 383 V8 with a modern V6 in it.
I ordered a regular American fretless Jazz somewhere around 2000 and was surprised that it was lined and surprised than it came with flats. I tried Rotos on it and the neck seemed to be getting pitted rather quickly so I returned it.
I just got to play them briefly during setup sound check. Obviously allot of the tone came from Jaco's hands. But from what I remember they felt like an old pair of broken gloves. There is nothing like the feel of a well worn in Fender. I don't remember too much more other then how much awestruck I was! Lol. Many years later I got to try Bobby Vega's '62 Jazz and it did feel similar to Jaco's basses.
You're correct, Bob - the basses we commissioned were shipped with RS 66's.
This post early in this thread makes perfect sense to me why Fender chooses to ship their fretless basses with flats:
This is a custom one I have. MJT body, based on the BOD, with Fender Original Jazz pups. The neck is from a Fender Japan Jazz and has also been reliced. The seller planned to get the 'board epoxied but it was going to cost him a bit more than he anticipated so the Luther guy just shot poly over it. I love this bass.
You had or have one? I'm impressed. I also agree with the post you included, but my point is why didn't they continue to use epoxy and ship them with Rotos? Kind of misleading to me but I have no dog in this hunt.
I like my TF fretless better than any fretless bass I've ever had.
I've never owned one, and only know what we had the Fender Custom Shop build in '90/'91. I can't speak to the features or choices made by Fender on models which were produced since.You had or have one? I'm impressed. I also agree with the post you included, but my point is why didn't they continue to use epoxy and ship them with Rotos? Kind of misleading to me but I have no dog in this hunt.
Did you or do you still work for Fender? I'm even more impressed then. I'll spare you the experience of the first time I played a white, approx 1966 Fender Mustang guitar then and what it felt like and after my Japanese piece of doo doo.
Edit: Never mind, I see that you already addressed that.
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buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
True, and we here at Talkbass know better.
If you're trying to sound like Jaco you can just get a regular production fretless Jazz. Jaco didn't have no Custom Shop!
I managed The Bass Centre L.A. from when we opened in '86 until mid '93 (the store closed in January '96.) Although I worked with the FCS on the 2 projects mentioned, I never worked for Fender.
Yep, here's #031 from '91. With roundwounds!
Thanks for posting, @Flaked Beans! Yep, I caught this on Youtube about a year ago. I conversed with the guy that posted the video afterward. He bought the bass from an auction site in the U.K.
