How accurate are Fender catalogs?

[Gabe Langfur]

Hi all, first post.

I recently bought a US-made Jazz Bass. S/N dates it to 2006. Based on the color and specs, I'm having a hard time figuring out exactly what model it is based on the catalog that's available online.

Do you generally see a lot of variation from the published specs in those catalogs?

 

[Gabe Langfur]

I guess a related question is: how accurate is Fender's serial number dating?

 

[Trouztrouz]

I don't recall seeing anyone express skepticism over Fender's serial number.

Post a few pictures here and I'm sure the talkbass hivemind will come to a consensus.

 

[Gabe Langfur]

I can give some specs...S/N is Z6+6 numbers. it appears to be Candy Cola Red with a white pickguard - which I only see available on a J model in 2007. It's got the 60th anniversary sticker on the back of the headstock. The truss rod is accessed under the pickguard. The bridge is the Fender vintage style, and the tuners are Schaller open gear. It came with a bridge cover and has holes in the pickguard for a pickup cover as well. Seller said the pickups are Fender Super 55 Jazz Bass Pickups, which I don't think are original - in any case, the tone pot was rewired incorrectly at some point. Standard V/V/T configuration.

 

[FenderOli]

Z6 could also be an overlap in to an 07 production date.

Sounds like a "highway one" model.

Post some pics, is it similar to this?
Fender 60th Anniversary Highway One Jazz Bass Black

 

[Gabe Langfur]

That's what I thought, too. The headstock is identical on both sides. But the bridge is different, and that color was not offered for that model in either 2006 or 2007.

 

[FenderOli]

Is it a transparent red lacquer?

 

[Gabe Langfur]

No. Here's the reverb listing: Fender Jazz Bass American (Made in U.S.A.)
The color is a little less purple and a little more red than it appears in these photos.

 

[FenderOli]

Phew. Added ashtray, changed "F" plate, changed pickguard, color looks like burgundy mist - don't know if they came that way (looks cool).

 

[Stranger Danger]

It appears to be a parts bass. It’s definitely not an American Standard and it’s not Candy Cola.

 

[wraub]

Possibly an assemblage, I think...

 

[Rolling Thunder]

It appears to be a parts bass. It’s definitely not an American Standard and it’s not Candy Cola.

Bergundy mist?

 

[Double E]

No. Here's the reverb listing: Fender Jazz Bass American (Made in U.S.A.)
The color is a little less purple and a little more red than it appears in these photos.

If it is some exclusive special run of burgundy mist or other similar metallic finish, then I suppose it could be a legit 2006 Highway One Jazz... which is a budget US made instrument. See the brochure below that shows the finishes available for this bass that pretty much didn't change for the ensuing years.

More likely, it is a refinish, an aftermarket body or a cannibalized body from another bass with a Highway One neck installed.

 

[FronTowardEnemy]

The neck is a HighWay One.
The body? Need to pull the neck to see.

 

[Brain Fog]

I'm going to say that it's a Highway One bass that's been refinished, with the Badass bridge replaced with a vintage bridge so that an ashtray cover could be installed.

 

[Brain Fog]

This is of course from the later run of Highway Ones with a Badass bridge and a CBS logo on the headstock.

 

[tjh]

That body is possibly a Fender FSR from '01/'02 … in essence, it is MIM 60's Classic Series Bass, with the special Burgundy Mist finish and the original neck had a matching color headstock … The vintage style bridge with threaded saddles would be correct stock piece for that body as well … take the pickguard off, if there is no channel routing, this would be correct also and likely confirm the above … I will attach a link to pics of that FSR ...

Fender Jazz Bass 2002 Burgundy Mist Metallic FSR - Super Nice

The neck would be a Hwy ONE (as mentioned), if it was made before July 1, it would be an '06 model, after it would be a '07 model … the dime size 60th medallion went on every bass that was built in '06 (60th Anniv of Fender) … the neck likely had a D-Tuner at one point, and the owner at the time probably got rid of the stock machine, then somewhere along the line it was switched back to original style, as it does not match …

There is no such thing as an 'Anniversary Model' Hwy One in '06… every color got the dime sized medallion if produced in '06, but none were considered a specific Anniversary Model ...

 

[BlueShox]

A few years ago I bought a no-name chinese jazz body off of ebay for $80, it came in a variety of metallic colors. The one I bought was shoreline gold, but they had a burgundy mist that looked very similar to the one in the reverb listing. This is the body I bought.

Not saying that yours is this, but it is certainly possible somebody slapped a US neck and a few nice looking parts on it to make a sale.

 

[Gabe Langfur]

I don't think it's Burgundy Mist. The color in person looks more red and less purple than the pictures in the listing.

 

[tjh]

I don't think it's Burgundy Mist. The color in person looks more red and less purple than the pictures in the listing.

… well FWIW, the original body with that neck would have been Midnight Wine Transparent, that was made the 2nd half of '06, so it is/was an '07 model year bass … pic is Mid Wine in the Hwy One satin nitro finish ...