Fender Jazz nitro options

[Jim C]

I've been thinking about this, and while I think nostalgia/sentimentality has us pining for old and vintage instruments I wonder how much of it has to do with practicality. Probably a lot of junk was made back then too... I just don't think the crap or average basses lasted long due to necks warping and people getting rid of the garbage they didn't want to mess with.
Those rare basses where everything came together perfectly -- well behaved necks, perfect joints, etc -- probably were appreciated more, modded less, less likely to be sold, etc.

Agreed; IMO some of the best basses or guitars have the most warn finishes because they were good and played by working musicians.
As with any high production item made of wood; there are winners and junk be it instruments or furniture.

I think many like the Pre-CBS instruments because:
* It's cool to own an old instrument
* Possibly some connection with old and worn identified by the player. I once played with a guitar player that had a real, clean, old Strat. He was very proud of it and suggested that was what made him a good player. The rest of the guys on the session didn't think it mattered at all since he wasn't that good.
* Many PRE-CBS were from older growth wood and were very dry
* All in all, I think the older are lighter in weight
* The worn nitro on the back of the neck feels good; not long ago there was no nitro or non-gloss poly for neck finishes.
* Don't discount how the 70's poly finishes age. I have a 73' Olypic white that is really yellowed and brown.
Also have a 72' sunburst that has checking and faded finishes
As stated above, they made winners and loosers along the way.

 

[tjh]

They must be rare, because the only two black highways I've seen have been posted here! Haven't looked seriously though, but out in the wild I've only seen the reds and the creams....

… flat black was offered all model years of the Hwy One ('07-'11), but I don't think they were released in numbers comparable to the 3TSB, Crimson Red Transparent and Honey Blond … I have seen probably half dozen besides the 'P' that I owned … there is one for sale now on Ebay, but it is in Japan and priced almost 2x (US) what I would ever consider paying ...

 

[The Bass Clef]

For about $400 total (with shipping), you can order a black nitro body from MJT guitars, specifiy no relic (aka “closet clean”) or whatever degree of aging/checking/fading you want, what wood you want, the pickup spacing, and the even the approx. weight (a 4.5 lb. body normally = a right under 9 lb. full jazz bass). Then just buy whatever jazz bass you want, and do a body swap. Or just find a neck and build the whole bass yourself.

 

[hypercarrots]

 

[Lammchop93]

Order an MJT body to your liking, and buy any neck and pickups you'd like .

 

[57pbass]

This is a 64 Custom Shop relic with a nitro finish. An amazing sounding bass. I'm not quite sure what stock pickups are installed but they are very warm sounding unlike any other Jazz Bass pickups I've heard in the past.

 

[Midak]

Very nice, and way too nice tort on there.

Do you know the year? If it is pre-2015 I would expect it to have Fender Originals.
Or, you can email Fender CS with your serial number and ask about its Shop Floor Traveler, enlisting all the specs.

 

[57pbass]

Very nice, and way too nice tort on there.

Do you know the year? If it is pre-2015 I would expect it to have Fender Originals.
Or, you can email Fender CS with your serial number and ask about its Shop Floor Traveler, enlisting all the specs.

I’ll do that. Thank you.

 

[Midak]

You are welcome.

 

[57pbass]

From the Fender Custom Shop. This was in the case.

 

[Craig4003]

What they don't tell you is that the lacquer they're using today is very different from the lacquer they used back in the '50s. See my previous comment on page 1 in this thread.