I seriously doubt the “QC” is any different between different series of instruments that are made in the same plant. The same people, the same CNC machines, I’ll bet the same program is being used to cut neck pockets. If the finish looks different, yeah, that’s something that is actually different, but Fender thrives on making things the same as much as possible - any factory does that as much as they can.
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Fender 1966 Jazz Bass
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I seriously doubt the “QC” is any different between different series of instruments that are made in the same plant. The same people, the same CNC machines, I’ll bet the same program is being used to cut neck pockets. If the finish looks different, yeah, that’s something that is actually different, but Fender thrives on making things the same as much as possible - any factory does that as much as they can.
Love that track! You would love Victors playing on Kevin Eubanks "Songhouse", from the album Shadow Prophets.
Quick Victor Bailey story:
When I was a senior in high school (1979) I had a friend who was a freshman at Berklee, a trumpet player. I went up to see him, ended up sleeping on his dorm couch overnight so I could make a circuit of the Boston Guitar stores of the day, including EU Wurtlitzer, Daddy's Junky Music, and a few other Mom N' Pops. I ended buying an SVT (my first amp) at EU, nearly herniated myself getting it into the car! His room mate was a skinny 18 year old guy named Victor Bailey. He had just bought what I 99.99% believe was this 66' CAR Jazz bass, and had yanked the frets out a-la Jaco. He must have had it re-fretted later. I had my Rickenbacker 4001 with me, woke up on the couch to see him playing it around 6:00 in the morning, absolutely blowing the doors off. He kinda turned up his nose at the Ric, but I got to play the Jazz for a minute, a pathetic attempt since I'd never even touched a fretless, and had only been playing for a year. He gave me a few tips (basically "relax") and went back to sleep. I've never been that close to a player of that caliber, before or since, and remember hearing he was playing with Weather Report a couple years later. I coveted that bass for years, saw an old thread from 2012, a TB'er ended up selling it right here. Really sorry to hear he passed a while back, he was still a relatively young guy.
Victor Bailey Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass
When I was a senior in high school (1979) I had a friend who was a freshman at Berklee, a trumpet player. I went up to see him, ended up sleeping on his dorm couch overnight so I could make a circuit of the Boston Guitar stores of the day, including EU Wurtlitzer, Daddy's Junky Music, and a few other Mom N' Pops. I ended buying an SVT (my first amp) at EU, nearly herniated myself getting it into the car! His room mate was a skinny 18 year old guy named Victor Bailey. He had just bought what I 99.99% believe was this 66' CAR Jazz bass, and had yanked the frets out a-la Jaco. He must have had it re-fretted later. I had my Rickenbacker 4001 with me, woke up on the couch to see him playing it around 6:00 in the morning, absolutely blowing the doors off. He kinda turned up his nose at the Ric, but I got to play the Jazz for a minute, a pathetic attempt since I'd never even touched a fretless, and had only been playing for a year. He gave me a few tips (basically "relax") and went back to sleep. I've never been that close to a player of that caliber, before or since, and remember hearing he was playing with Weather Report a couple years later. I coveted that bass for years, saw an old thread from 2012, a TB'er ended up selling it right here. Really sorry to hear he passed a while back, he was still a relatively young guy.
Victor Bailey Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass
Why did you sell the Geddy? I think I remember you writing about how much you liked it. Just curious.
I could have kept it, but it was never going to be my number one because it is a four. That is why looking at this ‘66 will come to nothing too.
Wow, you never had anything bad to say about that bass.
You know, Nino Valenti could build you a 5 string equivalent to a Fender Geddy. He’s done it before more than once, with pretty much exactly that order description. Wouldn’t be inexpensive but might be a destination bass for you.
I admire your pragmatism. I have at least two bass guitars that will never be my #1 and which I should offload. One is a boat anchor Sting P bass (I have a second one that is almost 2lbs lighter) and some Fender Commemorative 60 year anniversary p bass which I am ostensibly saving for my son if he becomes bass-inclined. DM me if anyone wants a Sting P bass!
Trying a Bass out first is always best advice.
I love the look of this '66 but I already had a Jazz Bass neck with a U shape and I found it uncomfortable to the point where it caused hand cramps.
My hands were made for flat wider C shape necks.
We're all individuals so what is ideal for some isn't necessarily ideal for others.
I love the look of this '66 but I already had a Jazz Bass neck with a U shape and I found it uncomfortable to the point where it caused hand cramps.
My hands were made for flat wider C shape necks.
We're all individuals so what is ideal for some isn't necessarily ideal for others.
Well did manage to at least break too. I probably would not have let it go at a loss.
I've been jonesing hard on the Jazz and the P of this new line. Of course in 3TSB and tort for me!
I liked his thinking on following Jaco. I'm paraphrasing but it was like, to me, Jaco was great and all, loved him, but I'm here now.Victor Bailey’s bass playing is like a breath of fresh air! His tone is indeed glorious on that Fernandes! He was acknowledged to be a great one and underrated at the same time.
He had his own swagger.
Statistically, 85% of all bass purchases are made when one is not in the market.
(I just made that up!
)
@ToddB1963 Steps Ahead NYC - have that cd somewhere, was just thinking about their tunes recently!!! Nice clip, enjoyed that!!!!!
Quick Victor Bailey story:
When I was a senior in high school (1979) I had a friend who was a freshman at Berklee, a trumpet player. I went up to see him, ended up sleeping on his dorm couch overnight so I could make a circuit of the Boston Guitar stores of the day, including EU Wurtlitzer, Daddy's Junky Music, and a few other Mom N' Pops. I ended buying an SVT (my first amp) at EU, nearly herniated myself getting it into the car! His room mate was a skinny 18 year old guy named Victor Bailey. He had just bought what I 99.99% believe was this 66' CAR Jazz bass, and had yanked the frets out a-la Jaco. He must have had it re-fretted later. I had my Rickenbacker 4001 with me, woke up on the couch to see him playing it around 6:00 in the morning, absolutely blowing the doors off. He kinda turned up his nose at the Ric, but I got to play the Jazz for a minute, a pathetic attempt since I'd never even touched a fretless, and had only been playing for a year. He gave me a few tips (basically "relax") and went back to sleep. I've never been that close to a player of that caliber, before or since, and remember hearing he was playing with Weather Report a couple years later. I coveted that bass for years, saw an old thread from 2012, a TB'er ended up selling it right here. Really sorry to hear he passed a while back, he was still a relatively young guy.
Victor Bailey Candy Apple Red Jazz Bass
Nice story and you got to see genius up close. This is the first I ever heard of him trying to go fretless, but given he was a Jaco disciple, that makes sense.
Doc you need some tums for all that GAS !
Funny thing is that I am nowhere near the top in buying basses around here. I lead in talking about cool basses I wouldn’t mind owning.
For what its worth, I have a Fender CS, 1960 Jazz that is probably the most comfortable Jazz I've ever played, next to my '95 MIA Jazz, and is a pound lighter. I actually really dig the concentric knob configuration and always wondered why it never caught on. Plays very easily, and the two tone knobs give some different options as opposed to just having one. But you probably wouldn't like this one either as its a 4 string. Came with the individual string mutes, but I prefer the " under the bridge cover " Fender mute.
