NBD: 97 7ender American Deluxe Jazz V

[markwrob]

Hi All,
Just picked this up Monday from a local gentleman who's still got what it takes but is thinning his herd. Please excuse the lighting, it's threatening to sprinkle here this afternoon.

All original, the PO attests. The finish looks to me to be mint condition, and nice grain under the burst both front and back. Neck is straight, action low like I like it, plays like 'buttah'. Took it to practice that evening, sounded great and easy to get a good tone.

Two niggling issues I will address: bottom strap pin is stripped and the bass is a tad neck-heavy. New Levy's M4GF will hopefully take care of the latter. I might restring, but not just yet. D'addarios on it presently. Oh yes, pups with adjustable pole pieces

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Those Suhr era Fender Deluxes are special basses. I think that a lot of people missed them once they were gone.

 

[markwrob]

Those Suhr era Fender Deluxes are special basses. I think that a lot of people missed them once they were gone.

Thanks, Doc. I have not removed the guard yet to take a peek, but may do so soon. I'll post a pic if I do. I had read a bit on the Suhr era there and his own brand following that so I was looking forward to hearing this one. I'm no connoisseur but it does sound very very nice to me so far.

For the moment I'm working to take care of the loose strap peg. I have another in my stable with the same problem, a Carvin. I think I will practice on that one first.

 

[GreyBeard]

I had a 4 string version of that bass. I ended up trading it for a 5 string.

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Nice score!

I had no idea that those pickups had staggered (radius) pole pieces. it looks like John Suhr really had a fantastic idea of the next-era Jazz bass…it is unfortunate that even John doesn’t make them like that any more…

 

[80jazz]

I had read a bit on the Suhr era there and his own brand following that so I was looking forward to hearing this one. I'm no connoisseur but it does sound very very nice to me so far.

When I first got into bass, the American Deluxe series really captured my ears.

One day, I will track one down and add it to the collection.

Enjoy that score. Those Suhr-era pickups are fantastic.

 

[jim nolte]

Do you know what the string spacing is at the bridge, my first 5 string 30 years ago was a Jazz Bass Plus 5 which I think was the predecessor to yours, 5/8ths of an inch was too narrow for me yours looks to be wider, I’ve always wondered when Fender went to wider spacing.

 

[markwrob]

Do you know what the string spacing is at the bridge, my first 5 string 30 years ago was a Jazz Bass Plus 5 which I think was the predecessor to yours, 5/8ths of an inch was too narrow for me yours looks to be wider, I’ve always wondered when Fender went to wider spacing.

Thanks Jim, great question. I pulled out a suitable device to find the spacing is 18mm nominally. See pic. I also noted the clever grooves in each saddle so user could adjust the spacing or alignment with the fretboard if they chose, I hadn't seen that feature in saddles before.

And finally for today, I popped open the pickguard and electronics cover, pics included.

ETA: 5/8 is about 16mm nominally.

 

[JazznFunk]

Those are such great Jazz V's. The downsized body, the Suhr preamp.... the tone that they produced was very special. Thick, burpy, modern, and very present. If I could add just one Fender back to my arsenal, it'd be one of those from '97/'98, the years I started playing. Jason Scheff (from Chicago) was playing a custom one when I saw them in the summer of '97 (my first big concert I ever went to as a teen) and I was hooked on that sound.

 

[jim nolte]

Thanks Jim, great question. I pulled out a suitable device to find the spacing is 18mm nominally. See pic. I also noted the clever grooves in each saddle so user could adjust the spacing or alignment with the fretboard if they chose, I hadn't seen that feature in saddles before.

And finally for today, I popped open the pickguard and electronics cover, pics included.

ETA: 5/8 is about 16mm nominally.

View attachment 4800632 View attachment 4800636 View attachment 4800638 View attachment 4800639 View attachment 4800642

Those grooves in the saddles are the old school Fender style, my ‘65 Jazz have them, a great feature that IMHO should be standard issue on Fender bridges.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

I played one similar ('99) and it was a great playing and sounding instrument. If I was in the market, it would have been tough to pass up.

 

[markwrob]

I played one similar ('99) and it was a great playing and sounding instrument. If I was in the market, it would have been tough to pass up.

Well I already had 7 others in my stable (1 Squier with upgrades, no other 7SOs) and this was still very hard to pass up!

 

[brianrost]

I owned one in Lake Placid Blue, my first 5 string ever. It was in mint condition and I only paid about $500 for it complete with the chainsaw HSC. Those were the days

 

[erratick]

Wild. Are those the original pickups?

I haven't seen single pole piece under a string on a jazz from Fender. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just haven't seen it.

 

[markwrob]

Wild. Are those the original pickups?

I haven't seen single pole piece under a string on a jazz from Fender. Doesn't mean it doesn't happen, just haven't seen it.

As per the PO, who's also the OO, everything is original. (Though the Gotoh tuners has me wondering...)

 

[Dust2Dust]

I've never seen a string-thru Jazz before , (or anything full scale)
and I never seen 5 tuners in a row before either (always 4+1, or 3+2)

Happy New-Vicious Monster-Day

 

[JRA]

it sure is immaculate --- it's nice to score one that looks that pretty! the "two niggling issues" can be remedied and then you're off to the races! nice score, congratulations on your new instrument!

 

[erratick]

As per the PO, who's also the OO, everything is original. (Though the Gotoh tuners has me wondering...)

I doubted it at first because of the pickup/tuner style but:

SOLD - FS: 1997 Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass V

There is evidence for this exact load out from the factory. It was confusing to me I believe there is a later bass also called American Deluxe V, and the pickups are 2 poles/string.

So I think you and the PO/OO are correct. It's all original.

It is a model/loadout I didn't know about. However there are plenty of models I didn't know about. Some Fenders Precisions in the 90s came with odd schallers and lace tuners. If I didn't have one, I probably wouldn't have known about it.

 

[markwrob]

Thanks erratic, that's some great homework. I did a quick search for examples and found a couple with the single pole pups but not with Gotohs. Great find.

(The OO did not have the paperwork for it.)

 

[CletusMarley]

Nice score!