Is This Fender Jazz American Special Real?

If nothing else, the dates are consistent with the Fender American Specials. They came out roughly around the same time I got into playing bass.

From what I've read around these parts, they were that generation's Highway One/1 models; American-made body and neck, but with hardware you'd expect to find on a Mexican-made Fender and a Greasebucket tone control.

My personal experience with them is limited to a brief sampling of one hanging on the wall of a Guitar Center. Fortunately for my wallet, the store was about to close for the night. If I'd been there earlier, I might've tried to haggle with a salesperson, then drop a down-payment on it, 'cuz it felt very nice in my hands.

 

I don’t see anything remotely fishy about that at all. I vote legit.

 

Those are nice basses, but not likely to be counterfeited. Not enough mark up from less expensive models to make it worth it.

Not saying it never happened, but in this case think not. Those proof marks look pretty standard to me.