Fender PJ with Rosewood neck (unicorn?)

Hello, all. I'm looking for a little advice or guidance on my next bass. About ten years ago, I picked up a MIM Jazz with a Rosewood neck. It's been a solid back-up for me (I also play a Ric 4003, and have a Schecter Stiletto 5 that I'm selling). My son (16 yo) is using the J in his High School Jazz band, so I'm looking to pick up something similar. However, I'm thinking about trying to find one with a PJ pickup configuration, just to have a little more flexibility in tone. My problem is that while I'm not that picky about body style, I do have some strong preferences when it comes to certain things. Specifically, I like the thinner J necks, I really want passive electronics, and I prefer the feel of a Rosewood fretboard. I also prefer full scale. I see that Fender did the FSR Special Edition a few years ago that has the J neck, but the fretboard was maple. There are several for sale on Reverb, so if I can't find something similar with Rosewood, I'll probably just pull the trigger on one of those. There are the Mustangs with all of those other features, but they're short scale.

Is there a model out there, that I'm just not finding through my searching, that has all of those things (PJ pup, passive, J neck, Rosewood fretboard, 34" scale)? Or am I looking for a unicorn? Thanks, in advance, for any tips or advice on what to look for.
 
Aerodyne?
1727546913403.png
 
To add to the list:

American Performer (passive)
American Ultra (active/passive capability)
Duff McKagan (both models, passive)


Prior series that can be had used:

MIM Deluxe (active)
MIM Okume Special Edition (active)
American Elite (active/passive capability)

The Performer has a relatively slim neck, as does the MIM Deluxe, and Okume Special. The Elite and Ultra’s have slender necks. The Boxer I mentioned earlier has a jazz style neck.
 
There are many MIA PJ with Rosewood available from the 90s. See avatar. However the J neck makes it a little more picky. It's possible. But far less likely.

There are also some more recent MIM batches.

But as far as new? I'm not versed enough in Fender's currently shipping products.
 
  • Like
Reactions: urkel3000
A couple of years ago I got the yen for a PJ with a jazz neck and ended up shopping the classifieds here for a used fully loaded PJ body and separately for a fully loaded J neck. Four bolts and a setup and I ended up with a nice bass for under $700. I subsequently swapped the pickups because I didn’t much care for the stock ones.
 
New Duff P bass
1727582533984.png




Used Fender JP 90
1727582419431.png



Or, cheapo but nice playing and good sound. Slim P neck. ~ Squier Vintage Modified PJ.
1727582653981.png


I been own one with MOD.
d620c08b-96af-4818-ab0b-5f3bb53a989c_progressive.jpg
YAP_2343.JPG
 
Last edited:
The Boxer is a great bass if it has to be a Fender. If you willing to look outside Fender, try the Yamaha BB. The 7 series and professional both have rosewood, slim necks and are really nice.
I was in my local shop yesterday for another reason, and was talking to the owner about my quest. He suggested the BB as well. I'm looking at the 434 (since this will be a back-up, that's closer to the price point that I'd like to be in). The neck is 1.58 (so, just a touch wider than a jazz, and most have rosewood necks). From what I can tell from the video reviews, it doesn't QUITE have the tonal variation that's possible through some of those higher-end Fenders. But for less than $550, it still seems like a good deal.
 
Last edited:
The Aerodyne, as mentioned, and also the Fender Jazz Bass Special. Made in the 80's, but still available on the used market. Punches way above it's weight class. The Duff is based on this bass. Jazz neck and PJ pups.
One more vote for the Aerodyne! Mine served me very well as my entry to playing bass!

Just to clarify, the original, '80s Jazz Bass Specials had Jazz necks. Duff's sig-bass has a Precision's nut-width. (I suspect he somehow ended up with a factory boo-boo that got shipped to The States.🤔)

Another possibility, but it might be a longshot to find one, is the Fender Reggie Hamilton signature Jazz. On the downside, while it can switch between active and passive, there's no tone control in passive mode. However, a different preamp isn't a terribly difficult mod to have done.

0138700306_frt_wlg_001.jpg


0138700300_frt_wlg_001.jpg


Speaking of the Reggie-sig, it wasn't a huge mod to turn my Mighty Mite Jazz into a similar P/J. All I did was buy a WD Music pickguard to use as a template and handed both over to a great guitar tech I know. Violá! :smug:

If someone finds a Jazz that feels really good in their hands, not only could it receive such a treatment, but it could be reverted back to a J/J with the original pickguard and pickups.

1zU857m.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: odarellmc
I would try to find a Fender Am STD Precision Limited Magnificent 7 bass.
I think it fully meets your preferences:
-PJ
-rosewood
- jazz neck

This line was producing in 2016 for a limited run.
 

Attachments

  • 05FE3A6C-C846-4F69-B765-3BC350E5D03A.jpeg
    05FE3A6C-C846-4F69-B765-3BC350E5D03A.jpeg
    5.6 MB · Views: 3