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NBD - '66 Jazz

deekay911

deekay911

Nov 4, 2007
1,387
96
London, UK
#1
I have been looking for a nice '66 Jazz for a while, and this last few weeks the stars aligned and with the help of a smooth transaction with TBer Gearhunter, this pristine '66 Jazz arrived...

Sunburst, 100% original and untouched, looks like it has hardly been played in its entire life. The bridge cover has the mutes intact, even the case looks new, with key and working locks!

:hyper::bassist::hyper::bassist:

It needs a setup, but the sustain and tone is incredible.

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#2
Noice!!! Congrats. I also have a '66 100% straight but it's a blocked neck and shows a bit more wear. Only on the front though - the original owner had a body guard on it from day 1. It now sports a similar guard.

I have a lot of Jazz basses and love them all - but none of them sound like my '66. I know I got a great one.

Best of luck with yours. Make sure you gig it - that's where the magic truly shows!
 
#3
Beautimous! You can tell the bridge cover was on for a long time before it was removed, the red extends farther in that area because it faded less.
I had a nearly identical '65 back in the '70s. It didn't have the neck binding. Still kicking myself for trading it.
 
#5
Thanks guys - the dilemma now is whether to gig this beauty. Seems a shame for it never to see the light of day....I think I'll be selective and use it from time to time, but be careful to keep it nice and safe...what do you guys with vintage basses as nice as this one do?
 
#7
Well, selective is better than not.

I don't own any basses I won't take out, regardless of their condition. It'd be like owning a car you don't drive. I mean, it's great to have something pristine, but it really sucks to have something pristine.

Though some concern is understandable - the magic is hearing this thing sing in a band situation. It ain't in your living room......

These babies have to be played.
 
#8
deekay911 said:
Thanks guys - the dilemma now is whether to gig this beauty. Seems a shame for it never to see the light of day....I think I'll be selective and use it from time to time, but be careful to keep it nice and safe...what do you guys with vintage basses as nice as this one do?
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I'm not a collector so I only keep basses that I gig. I would gig it, but I would also case it between sets and make sure that it was very secure on stage without me!

Good luck, she's a beauty!!
 
#13
Play it until it starts to look like this.....

The original owner left the bridge cover on all the time - note the sweat (beer?) grunge that got under it and ate into the nitro.

The forearm wear on the lower bout was from playing (normally) near the neck; the wear spot near the PG is from resting his hand on the cover and cranking it with a pick. The back is nearly perfect because of the body cover - but who cares?;)

I take it out on gigs regularly, and whenever I encounter a person "in the know" all they say is "Don't ever sell it!"

Now - don't you want your bass to bring that same reaction?
 

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#18
Beautiful bass! My favorite J combo, dots and bindings, butterbean tuners.

Mine is identical save for a few thousand hours more worth of wear!

Play the heck out of it- if you take care of it it will just look better and better. Nitro wears beautifully and the layers fade beautifully around the arm area, etc.
 

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