A poly finish. I saw the price of the flea jazz bass is up to $2000. Absolutely ridiculous. It's MIM and has no features other than the distressed nitro.
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Fender James Jamerson 62 Precision - limited run?
- Thread starter facetsquared
- Start date
I’m partial to 62 P basses as that was my first real bass. I enjoy that particular neck feel.
Having said that, most folks (maybe not here) don’t seem to remember that whatever bass he would play from whatever year, was a stock bass you could have bought off the rack of any music store that was a Fender dealer. As seen by the debate of what year of a bass he was playing at what time.
What bass he played he always sounds the same. I think to be true to James one only needs a stock P bass with the bridge cover and sponge rubber mute like the ones that came on most pre 70s basses, and a set of La Bella strings the 1954 flats 52-110. Myself I would try to find an early 60s or a 62 P reproduction, as that is a neck shape I like, and be done with it.
Any P bass would really work. Again I would go for the AV II, Vintera models to grab that vintage feel. Though even the Squier Classic Vibe 60s P bass would work, anything with a 3 tone sunburst and a tort guard
Whatever you use, you are not gonna sound like him, it’s all in the hands and note choices
Oh I don't know
Most of the stuff I have handled from the Road Worn line, like the Flea 60s Jazz, has had a nice neck feel and usually a lighter and more resonant body. I think those are a couple of things in its favor
Mine just arrived today, & I’m very pleased with it. I have a real 1962 Precision in Olympic White (before clear coats, so it is perfectly white), and a 1992 Sunburst American Vintage reissue ‘62. Now I’ve got the 2026 James Jameson. As far as I have noticed, the biggest “deficiencies” the 2026 JJ has are the gear ratios of the tuners & the lack of the full metal shield under the pickguard. I am elated that the pickup cover, tug bar, and bridge covers were factory installed…and the mute was affixed to the inside of the bridge cover! Nice touches that even the Custom Shop often don’t have. It’s been a long time since I’ve purchased a new American Fender; I usually go the used market route. I don’t like the heavy relic Custom Shop basses…they look and feel what they are…overpriced fakes. The Jameson by comparison is well worth the price to me. Just my humble opinion. I’ve been a Fender owner & player since 1965.
I think the MIM road worn stuff is all great, but the prices have exploded lately.Oh I don't know
Most of the stuff I have handled from the Road Worn line, like the Flea 60s Jazz, has had a nice neck feel and usually a lighter and more resonant body. I think those are a couple of things in its favor
- Jul 11, 2005
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I’m thinking they must. The family shut down La Bella from using the name James Jamerson strings and changed the name to 1954 strings. I don’t think Fender would use his name without consulting the family and I would imagine some kind of remuneration is involved.
I’m sorry for misspelling Mr. Jamerson’s name…it was a long day!
They took measurements from a sample of 1962 P-basses. Likely they included some things from that one in the museum that Jamerson might have handled (but has been confirmed by the family it’s not one of his actual instruments).
Wasn’t it also because Duck Dunn was also a lifelong user of the same strings?
Roberto probably just unintentionally mangled Fender's explanation that it took measurements from actual 1962 Ps for the JJ.
I feel like if people comment, you should be at least slightly familiar with the current Fender line. This would be most similar to an American vintage II. They now cost $2500. This costs 500 more, it has a relic job which they charge for, LaBella strings and it’s a limited edition. There’s your price. Yes, everything Fender is very overpriced, but there should be no surprise with this model in particular. It’s very much in line with what they offer and what they charge. In fact, if you compare it to a custom shop 62, which is pretty much the only other place you could get a bass like this that is aged, it’s a damn good deal.
What exactly would you expect to be included in the package and what would you like to see them charge for it? It’s just a limited edition bass, if you don’t like it or agree with the price then you just don’t buy it. Is that simple.
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Yeah…it kind of sounds like that—but it’s really about 3 color sunbursts. I also have a 3 color sunburst’58…like Duck Dunn and Suzi Quatro. It’s got the original tweed case in excellent shape.
This pretty much sums it up, right here. I have no idea why this model would be controversial in any way. If you like what it offers at the price, it’s worth it. If you don’t get something else that suits your needs better.
Totally fair opinion, but what other features would you want on a vintage style jazz bass? It kind of is what it is…
Wouldn’t ask for more features on either the flea or this one, just a lower price.
A lower price is a premium feature. One of the most costly, as a matter of fact.
