Fender Classic 70's Jazz Bass

[bassman74]

There is not much information on the web except for the specs on these great looking jazz basses.

The reviews I found were 50/50. It was either love or twisted neck...

What is your experience with these babies please?

 

[mdogs]

Had one, made a very bad trade, total crap, sold it.

 

[meatwad]

Nothing more classy than a 70's Jazz.

 

[bassman74]

Had one, made a very bad trade, total crap, sold it.

What was wrong with it?

 

[mdogs]

What was wrong with it?

Sounded like garbage, terrible fret work and the neck was completely unstable. I am sure that there are other things that I don't remember. It was the second worst bass I ever owned, next to my very first bass that was a really bad import from back in the 70s.

 

[MovingPitchers]

Or there's an alternative. The Geddy Lee model

 

[petrus61]

For some reason, these don't seem to be as esteemed as the other basses in the Classic line...perhaps for good reason? I almost never see them here. I did briefly play one in person that another bassist was showing me at a jam and I couldn't really make a judgement call. Can't judge em all by playin just one anyway, so...

 

[Malak the Mad]

Mine was great! It hit all my criteria…LOOKS, FEEL and SOUND. There are more details on this thread…

Unveiling ~ Part One: That '70s Jazz Bass

 

[paulcicero]

I got one in 2008 - first batches. It had a slight buzz on the 12th fret, which gradually evolved into a horrible twist. It also sounded very trebly and harsh to me, especially through my SWR SM 400. Apart from the buzz, the neck had a nice chunky profile, which suited me best, since I am mainly a P player. That said, I played one in 2015 in a music shop and playability was wonderful. In addition to that, it sounded more than decent through a Fender Rumble series combo.

 

[phangtonpower]

I have a neck on one of my basses. it's really weak.

 

[BassHappy]

I ordered a natural ash Fender Jazz in 1972 with black blocks from the PX in Germany while I was in the service. Got it in early 1973. It was a total disaster. Four completely dead notes and four more adjacent notes with very little sustain on the D and G string. Wondered if Fender were sending all the "seconds" to Germany. Maybe they were. Loved it anyways and I was in denial about the dead spots for a couple of years. Ended up switching to a Rickenbacker and found the slightly shorter scale much more to my liking. Own 8 fantastic Fenders and Fender replicas now with 3 more on the way - but they are all medium scale - of course - with zero dead spots. Will never own a Fender standard long scale again. It was "classic" alright.

 

[bassman74]

Or there's an alternative. The Geddy Lee model

I usually prefer meatier neck. The Geddy Lee neck is kind of too skinny for me and I can afford tge geddy lee U.s. version at the moment.

 

[lukatch]

Had one, made a very bad trade, total crap, sold it.

So an authentic replica of a real deal late 70s Jazz

 

[bassman74]

Most of the neck problems I've read about were from the early years 2008-2010.

What is your neck experience with recent ones???

 

[jasper383]

I had sunburst one for a while a couple years ago. Was a 2012 or 2013.

Looked great, sounded great, no neck issues.

I wasn't crazy about the neck binding. It seemed kind of plastic-y and "cheap" for lack of a better word.

 

[Kukulkan61]

Lotta love for Squiers Vintage Modified 70s Jazz Bass...

 

[FirewalZ]

I have a "real" 1977 Jazz Bass, my brother originally bought in the 80's. It sounds and plays great, fantastic neck, etc......unfortunately it weighs 13-ish lb's and I really can't gig with it anymore, it's just to heavy.

 

[jasper383]

I have a "real" 1977 Jazz Bass, my brother originally bought in the 80's. It sounds and plays great, fantastic neck, etc......unfortunately it weighs 13-ish lb's and I really can't gig with it anymore, it's just to heavy.

Wow. 13 pounds. Just amazing a 4 string could weigh that much.

 

[BlueAliceOasis]

Wow. 13 pounds. Just amazing a 4 string could weigh that much.

A Gibson RD haw about 1 pound on that, but that makes a world of difference. And T-40s.

 

[FirewalZ]

Its that heavy Ash they started using for bodies, along with the inch thick poly and whatever they else they sprayed on. Its rare that I come across a heavier 4 string....