Fender jazz details history

[Btone]

Do any of you know when Fender went back to their original jazz ('60s) pickup spacing (from the previous '70s spacing)?

and

when the three-bolt MicroTilt was discontinued?

Are there jazzes around with '60s spacing AND the three-bolt MicroTilt (late seventies, early eighties?)

 

[r379]

I may be wrong, but I think all micro-tilt neck basses had '70s pickup spacing.

I don't remember when the pickup placement changed or when micro-tilt was discontinued. I don't think both went away at the same time; I think the micro-tilt went away first.

 

[Stuggi]

I think micro-tilt was included with all jazzes during the 70's, which probably also had the different spacing. I would take an not so educated guess at it and say that they probably both went away at the same time, around late 70's, early 80's.

 

[prattguy]

I think micro-tilt was included with all jazzes during the 70's

one of my Jazz Basses is a ´73 and it isn´t a micro tilt.

 

[dewbass4]

Does anyone have the exact measurements of the different pup spacings in question?

 

[r379]

Does anyone have the exact measurements of the different pup spacings in question?

I think the only difference was that the bridge pickup was a half-inch closer to the bridge on the '70s Jazzes.

 

[Stuggi]

one of my Jazz Basses is a ´73 and it isn´t a micro tilt.

Wierd... But hey, it's a Fender, and they've probably never been consistent when it comes to specs vs. year.

 

[Low Class]

I think the only difference was that the bridge pickup was a half-inch closer to the bridge on the '70s Jazzes.

The difference is 1/4" closer to the bridge. This change happened in 1966, so it isn't exactly a '70's thing. The Micro Tilt happened in mid '75. The '75 jazz is the easiest to spot as it was the only ones with the serial # on the 3 bolt plate. '76 and later had the serial # on the headstock.

 

[blipndub]

I've seen 78's that were three bolt without early 70's spacing.

 

[jenderfazz]

The difference is 1/4" closer to the bridge. This change happened in 1966, so it isn't exactly a '70's thing. The Micro Tilt happened in mid '75.

Actually, though some may have changed earlier, I haven't seen any late-60s Jazzes with the 70s spacing. The first ones seem to show up in 1970. Micro-tilt became almost exclusive by around 1974 or 75, but there was a lot of overlap between 4 bolt and 3 bolt (Microtilt) in 1973 and 74.

 

[Low Class]

Actually, though some may have changed earlier, I haven't seen any late-60s Jazzes with the 70s spacing. The first ones seem to show up in 1970. Micro-tilt became almost exclusive by around 1974 or 75, but there was a lot of overlap between 4 bolt and 3 bolt (Microtilt) in 1973 and 74.

You might want to do some more research as I believe you are mistaken.

 

[r379]

The difference is 1/4" closer to the bridge.

Actually, I'm pretty sure it's one-half inch. Maybe someone else will stop by and confirm this one way or the other.

 

[coreyfyfe]

1/4" - the fender custom shop 1970 closet classic page

"The sound comes from twin vintage-style Jazz Bass single-coil pickups (bridge pickup is 1/4” closer to bridge than normal)."

 

[coreyfyfe]

if you check out the pictures of the 64 relic and 75 american reissue, you can see the edges of the pickups sticking out from under the cover, but on the 1970 closet classic you cant, so its possible they switched back to 60's spacing in the mid-70s.

 

[3dbdown]

Not sure about the pickup changes, but the Micro-tilt was one of the first things to happen when Fender was bought by CBS. Most, if not all, were 4-bolt in the pre-CBS days

 

[Kenny Allyn]

Yes there were some 1975 basses without a three bolt neck (although I usually get kicked for saying it) there was a thread on this just recently ...

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4872748&postcount=33

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=4873411&postcount=35


... I just measured, the pickup was moved 1/4th inch I have several Jazzes with both spacings.

 

[coreyfyfe]

goodguys music has a 1983 usa jazz with a 3 bolt plate, bound neck, white dots, and gold lined fender logo. some interesting overlap there.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Actually, though some may have changed earlier, I haven't seen any late-60s Jazzes with the 70s spacing. The first ones seem to show up in 1970. Micro-tilt became almost exclusive by around 1974 or 75, but there was a lot of overlap between 4 bolt and 3 bolt (Microtilt) in 1973 and 74.

You might want to do some more research as I believe you are mistaken.

According to Black and Molinaro's "The Fender Bass An Illustrated History" book, he's correct.

"The wider spacing introduced in about 1970 or 1971... and in 1982 the narrow location returned to the vintage reissues" P.59
The wider spacing is 1960-early 1970s
1982-present on vintage reissues
1988-present on US Standared and Deluxe series.

According to the book...

It also mentions on P. 107-108 that the 3 bolt neck debuted on the Telecaster bass in 1972/73 and "Three bolt necks are becoming the norm on the Jazz Bass..." in 1974/75. It also mentions the discontinuation of the 3 bolt design in 1981.

1/4" - the fender custom shop 1970 closet classic page

The original spacing is 3.6" and the wider spacing is 4.0" with the extra .4" going closer to the bridge.

 

[r379]

The original spacing is 3.6" and the wider spacing is 4.0" with the extra .4" going closer to the bridge.

So maybe it's .4". If it ain't 1/2" I'll bow to superior knowledge whether it's 1/4" or .4".

 

[Btone]

Thanks, guys.

I've seen 78's that were three bolt without early 70's spacing.

That answers part of my question, basically. Means that Fender Japans micro-tilt three-bolt "reissue" basses

Invalid Link Removed

with "normal" pup spacing aren't historically incorrect (when it comes to these two Fender details, at least). Although they call them '75s.