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Fender Jaco FRETTED jazz bass

miles'tone

miles'tone

Feb 26, 2008
975
353
Wales, U.K
#1
Hi y'all. Hope you can help me find the bass of my dreams... About 4 yrs ago I played a Fender Jaco fretted jazz bass at my local store - I had seen it high up on the wall for a couple of years and took it to be the usual Jaco fretless - this particular day it was right by the check out (as it wasn't selling!) so I could see then it was a fretted Jaco. It looked amazing and I HAD to play it. Well this has been the best bass I've ever played in my life! The tone and the quality of the construction was second to none. It was just full of mojo, so easy to play and was a world away from my MIA jazz (which is a nice bass) and made me play things I can't on my own jazz. It wasn't a custom shop model as it wasn't "reliced" and had the Jaco signature neck plate so it must have been an artist model. The sunburst finish was top-notch as well.
Anyways it was out of my price range at that time but when I actually raised the funds, it was gone. It has spoilt bass guitar playing in a way coz that was the sound and feel I always hankered for.
Now I rang up Fender U.K. and asked them if I could order one through them and the guy there said Fender had never made a fretted Jaco! He wouldn't have it at all.
I know They are out there somewhere 'coz there's a couple of reviews on harmony central (each person on it had the same reaction I did) and I saw one on ebay-Austrialia but it had gone too (old ad). I have thought about buying a fretless Jaco and getting it fretted (Seems a silly idea as I'd have a fretted bass with an epoxied fretboard. Why not just get a fretless and keep it that way? Well I play upright bass and don't need or want a fretless B.G.) Also I might add, I don't care about sounding like Jaco (wouldn't even attempt it!).

Does anybody know the history of these elusive Fretted Jaco's? They must have been a VERY limited edition (even Fender doesn't know they made them!) Any idea's on how to get one or has anybody even seen one for that matter?
Please help. I haven't had a good nights sleep since!:help:

p.s. I've been playing a long time and have owned alot of gear over the years (blah,blah) but I know what I need from a bass - just to let you know this wasn't the first decent bass I've ever picked up.
Thanks guys.
 
#2
This could be many things.

A Jaco with a replacement neck?

A CS body with the Jaco neck plate and a standard neck?

Or even just a simple RI Jazz which had the Jaco name plate.

Im not a high model Fender expert, just speaking some ideas. :smug:
 
#5
I read somewhere, I think in the tour book from the Snakes & Arrows tour, that Geddy used both a fretted and fretless Jaco model during the recording of Snakes & Arrows. Custom Shop stuff I'm pretty sure. If you can't find one, I'm with the other guys, get the fretless and swap out the neck for a fretted neck. I saw a fretless at a shop in Houston a few weeks ago and the finish on the body was beautiful. The sunburst really pops without a pickguard.
 
#6
Good ideas guys. I'm really wary of buying a bass online, (never mind a bass in bits on line) I've really got to sit down with an instrument and spend some time with it before I buy these days. I like the idea of a Warmoth bass but what if after alot of time and money I end up with a bass that is no better than the Fender I already have? (the Jaco has a thin nitro finish which Warmoth don't do) Can't risk it and I'd LOVE to be able to order a bass from the Fender custom shop but that is WAY out of my price range.(as is a '64 time machine come to mention it - that could be a future answer though) I've played '62 RI jazz's and while they can be great this bass wasn't one of them. They had one in at the same time I tried this Jaco and the neck on the '62 just wasn't the same quality. (The Jaco bass had no pickguard or holes where one had been)
On the Geddy front Fender gave him a Jaco relic fretless from the custom shop and he was so blown away by the feel of the neck he asked for a fretted version. (saw that on youtube or bassplayertv - forgot which)

The search goes on. Anyone...Anyone.....
 
#7
Yes they did make them for quite a while.
The 'regular' Jaco signature was available in fretted and fretless, they were built on the same production line as the AVS 62RI Jazz...in other words they are nothing more than a 62RI, but with the 3-knob setup, and the pickguard screws holes were not drilled-although the pickguard is included in the case, and it was priced very similar to the 62RI too.

I think in my last Fender Frontline book, they only list the fretless version available anymore.

The Custom Shop 'relic' Jaco bass is an entirely different model.
 
#8
Guys,

There WAS a production model Jaco bass. They stopped making it a few years ago. All it was was a 62 reissue, 3 knob control plate, and no pickguard attached. Just a standard jazz, regardless of the marketing hype Fender slings. The basses you tried miles'tone wer probably a very good fretted Jaco bass, and a bad MIA 62 RI. They are made from the exact same build part. ZERO difference between the necks Fender used. They both came from the same source. One of my best friends works at fender and re-affirmed this.

If you asked Fender UK, I'm not surprised they don't have the answer. I have a Fender Frontline lying around somewhere with a pic of the fretted Jaco bass.

Go to Allparts, order all the parts you need to build a jazz, find a luthier to cut a nut for you/assemble, and you're there. I **** you not. A good bass, yes. But nothing special. You'll probably end up with better fretwork this way.

There really wasn't anything unique about the fretted Jaco, other than the neckplate.
 
#9
Thanks Man, that gives me some hope one might show up. Yeah this one was about 200 notes more than a '62 and way off CS prices. I had a feeling the one I saw had been in the store for a long time.
As for Fender U.K. I guess the guy on the phone was just looking at the same Frontline catalogue.
 
#10
jacochops said:
Guys,

There WAS a production model Jaco bass. They stopped making it a few years ago. All it was was a 62 reissue, 3 knob control plate, and no pickguard attached. Just a standard jazz, regardless of the marketing hype Fender slings. The basses you tried miles'tone wer probably a very good fretted Jaco bass, and a bad MIA 62 RI. They are made from the exact same build part. ZERO difference between the necks Fender used. They both came from the same source. One of my best friends works at fender and re-affirmed this.

If you asked Fender UK, I'm not surprised they don't have the answer. I have a Fender Frontline lying around somewhere with a pic of the fretted Jaco bass.

Go to Allparts, order all the parts you need to build a jazz, find a luthier to cut a nut for you/assemble, and you're there. I **** you not. A good bass, yes. But nothing special. You'll probably end up with better fretwork this way.

There really wasn't anything unique about the fretted Jaco, other than the neckplate.
Click to expand...

Wow, info from the inside! That's very interesting news indeed. Thanks Jacochops. Guess what they say about the gamble of production line Fenders is true. Makes me sad in a way that the bass I tried was unique.
 
#12
jacochops said:
Go to Allparts, order all the parts you need to build a jazz, find a luthier to cut a nut for you/assemble, and you're there. I **** you not. A good bass, yes. But nothing special. You'll probably end up with better fretwork this way.

There really wasn't anything unique about the fretted Jaco, other than the neckplate.
Click to expand...

I couldn't disagree more. The bass miles'tone played in the store spoke to him in a very distinct and powerful fashion. Hell, he's lost sleep over missing out on that opportunity. It's quite likely that this particular bass would feel different from any other Jaco fretted production bass, even if he could find one. Even mass produced instruments have a uniqueness that cannot be denied. Miles'tone, I strongly recommend against trying to build a suitable substitute. Persevere, be patient, and wait until you lay hands on the one that feels right. Good luck,

James
 
#14
I couldn't disagree more. The bass miles'tone played in the store spoke to him in a very distinct and powerful fashion. Hell, he's lost sleep over missing out on that opportunity. It's quite likely that this particular bass would feel different from any other Jaco fretted production bass, even if he could find one. Even mass produced instruments have a uniqueness that cannot be denied. Miles'tone, I strongly recommend against trying to build a suitable substitute. Persevere, be patient, and wait until you lay hands on the one that feels right. Good luck,

James[/QUOTE]

Thanks James, you're right. It wasn't about owning or even trying to build a replica of Jaco's bass, it could've said "Donkey Kong" on the neck plate for all I care. I'll just have to be patient and see what basses cross my path.
Thanks to all for your feedback.
 
#15
Hello,

I have artist series Jaco jazz bass and a 62 fretted jazz bass, both are very fine, but I donot exchange the necks to test the sound. But the necks are very confort and similar fellings.......

Regards and good luck,
Man-Ho
 
#17
Now that it has been confirmed that they did indeed make one (I played one once) I strongly recommend you to try a Road Worn Jazz Bass. I have one with a neck that is just unbelievable, the closest thing I have ever played to a Pre-CBS Jazz in feel. The sound is also incredible. They do vary, so try a few out if you can. When you find the one, you won't believe it.
 
#20
I sent my Jaco Bass neck to United Lutherie in Ohio 740-767-2221 and had it fretted, dotted and put in a bone nut. I rewired the controls to volume, balance and tone. Just what I wanted!
 

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