Fender Classic 70's Jazz Bass

[A-Step-Towards]

If you want a Geddy Lee with a thicker neck then you for sure want the MIM classic 70s. I owned both a Geddy and a classic 70s at the same time. The classic 70s neck is literally almost double the thickness of the Geddy and I really dislike the Geddy's thinness everyone else seems to love. I decided to sell both basses and posted them on craigslist, a guy came to look at both and he to preferred the classic 70s. Mine didn't have any of these neck issues discussed here and it was a beautiful bass, burst.

 

[bassman74]

If you want a Geddy Lee with a thicker neck then you for sure want the MIM classic 70s. I owned both a Geddy and a classic 70s at the same time. The classic 70s neck is literally almost double the thickness of the Geddy and I really dislike the Geddy's thinness everyone else seems to love. I decided to sell both basses and posted them on craigslist, a guy came to look at both and he to preferred the classic 70s. Mine didn't have any of these neck issues discussed here and it was a beautiful bass, burst.

Thanks, that is exactly what I wanted to hear...

 

[Felix1776]

I'm gassing so hard for one of these in sunburst.

 

[casbonano]

I've owned one for about a month now and my personal take is that I feel that if I returned it, got my money back and purchased a MIA Fender Bass I would very possibly be downgrading. At the very least, I would be spending more for the same quality instrument. But I have definitely played many 2016 MIA P and Jazz Basses that would be a straight up downgrade. Maybe I am just lucky but every MIM fender I have owned has been excellent, to the point that I now look at the MIM line 1st, find a good one, and then compare it to the best MIA available. Everytime, the MIM has won. That's just my experience. Whereas the Squier classic vibe Series is great but will probably need some hardware upgrades (tuners, pickups..) the MIM- especially the higher end MIMs are good to go. I am even hesitant to change the pickups because I love what I hear. Though I will probably change out the controls for Stacked knobs simply because that's what I dig ($80).

 

[Felix1776]

I still really want one of these! One day...

 

[basslust]

I have a 70s Classic Neck that I put on a 60s Classic body and that bass is currently my #2. I dig the neck, have had no issues with it and with the 60s body, I get a nice warm tone. I dig the look of the rosewood and blocks and it looks great next to my current #1, my MIJ Geddy. The 70s Classic bass I got the neck from was stellar.
View attachment 821044

Are the necks on the 70's and 60's Classic not the same? I just tried out a 70's in the store and ordered a 60's based on my impression that it was the same neck, minus the inlays and binding. They are both 7.25" radius and 1.5" nut width, correct?

 

[basslust]

While we're at it, are the pickups in the 60's Classic and 70's the same? I thought so based on the name on the website, but after reading around more about it, I'm not so sure. Honestly, the pickups weren't my favorite part of the 70's that I played in the store, so I wouldn't be upset if they weren't the same (though it could have just been the strings that were overly bright). I played it next to a 90's MIA Jazz that sounded a bit better but was in a finish I didn't like and only had a string through bridge.

 

[totallywink]

Are the necks on the 70's and 60's Classic not the same? I just tried out a 70's in the store and ordered a 60's based on my impression that it was the same neck, minus the inlays and binding. They are both 7.25" radius and 1.5" nut width, correct?

The 60s Classic neck (actually whole bass) I bought in, I think, 2008, so I dont recall any specifics about the neck. I feel that it was ever so slightly chunkier than the 70s Classic but while still retaining the C shape and 1.50 nut. The 70s neck I got from a TB'er here (actually, I got the whole bass) and I have to say its kinda skinny - not Geddy Lee Jazz bass skinny but skinny. I really just wanted a rosewood neck with blocks (70s neck) on a sunburst body (60s body).

 

[totallywink]

While we're at it, are the pickups in the 60's Classic and 70's the same? I thought so based on the name on the website, but after reading around more about it, I'm not so sure. Honestly, the pickups weren't my favorite part of the 70's that I played in the store, so I wouldn't be upset if they weren't the same (though it could have just been the strings that were overly bright). I played it next to a 90's MIA Jazz that sounded a bit better but was in a finish I didn't like and only had a string through bridge.

Again, I do not recall what pickups where in the 2008 (?) 60s Classic Jazz bass but I really like'em. The band digs my sound with that bass (I call it my Faux 66 - haha) as I use DR Lo Rider Nickels 45-105 (on all my basses) plus its going through my TH500 and two 1/12 Aggie cabs. This bass is my #1 at the moment. Its light and after playing it for over 5 years now, its broken in.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Are the necks on the 70's and 60's Classic not the same? I just tried out a 70's in the store and ordered a 60's based on my impression that it was the same neck, minus the inlays and binding. They are both 7.25" radius and 1.5" nut width, correct?

The VM Squier '77 Jazz has a 9.5" radius. I don't know if a real '77 Jazz has a flatter neck, but the VM, is not a 7.25" radius.

 

[hypercarrots]

Fender Classic Series ´70s Jazz bass Club

70's reissue Jazz Bass

 

[Birdbrain]

I have a 70s Classic Neck that I put on a 60s Classic body and that bass is currently my #2. I dig the neck, have had no issues with it and with the 60s body, I get a nice warm tone. I dig the look of the rosewood and blocks and it looks great next to my current #1, my MIJ Geddy. The 70s Classic bass I got the neck from was stellar.
View attachment 821044

I did the same with this bass. 70's neck on a 60's style body. LOVE the neck!

 

[BasEd]

I have a Fender Classic Series 70s Jazz bass and love it. I did replace the pickups with Lindy Fralins though. Mine is from 2008 with no neck issues. The binding is like that on old Gibson guitars where the frets go into the binding so you don’t feel the fret edges which is good. Their neck looks chunky because of the thicker binding but it’s the same width and thickness as my other Jazz basses so a bit of an optical illusion. It does sound a bit trebly but you can dial that out with the tone knob. I like it because of that as it has that classic jazz bass throaty rasp. Best jazz bass I’ve owned and I’ve had a few.

 

[IPA]

Just won one of these on auction, should be here at some point. I had a black one ages ago that I liked well enough, but sunburst with a replacement tortoise is my ideal Mel Schachter/Dickie Peterson/CF Turner kind of look.

Hopefully no twisted necks!