I just bought a white Fender fretless Jazz and I am looking to modify it to look like an early '60s Jazz with pickup and bridge covers and the whole nine yards. I want to see pictures of your white jazz basses. They don't have to have all of the mods that I am looking at doing to my bass, but I just want to see ideas of what I can do to mine. Thanks in advance.
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Pictures of your white Jazz Basses
- Thread starter blues_bassist
- Start date
This 1965 Jazz Bass used to be Olympic White, but its turned a pale yellow over the years. There must have been something in the water in Fullerton, California back then. Its got a matching headstock and both covers are original.
Wow that's sharp. Does the pickup cover of the neck pickup ever seem to get in your way while playing?
Yes, the pickup covers get in the way when playing. When I first got the bass 32 years ago I took off the neck cover but left the bridge cover on, but I was playing only big band jazz and surf music. When I started playing rock, I took the bridge cover off and didn't use them for many years. Its only been recently that I've put both covers back on, only because I think it makes the bass look good. This is now only a "safe gig" and a special occassion bass, so the hassle they cause is only a minor inconvenience.
Plus, I tell myself that since Leo Fender designed the bass to be played with the covers on, I'll stick close to the original sound he intended.
Plus, I tell myself that since Leo Fender designed the bass to be played with the covers on, I'll stick close to the original sound he intended.
It is the nitro-cellulose finish, ALL white nitro instruments turn yellow over the years...I have seen some white guitars that now look almost like a banana yellow.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6732129&highlight=#post6732129
TB won't let me post pics here for some reason
TB won't let me post pics here for some reason
Here is a picture of this same JB, but taken about 30 years ago, when it had just the bridge cover. I didn't know this photo even existed until a friend put it on her Facebook page under "high school year photos" (she was the girlfriend on one of the band's singers). This pic was from my first live gig with a rock band; we played only Beach Boys and other surf music.
You're right about the nitro-cellulose finish. One flaw is that some guitar stands contained chemicals that left marks on necks that had the nitro finish ... mine has a nasty dark stipe on it from a cheap guitar stand. I was told that it can't be removed without refinishing the entire neck. So you live with it.
Fender CIJ 62RI w/ Nordstrand NJ4's and Stacked Knobs / Control Plate
Sadowsky Metro RV4
Both are 'Sweet" Basses; one vintage sounding, one modern. The best of both worlds!
Sadowsky Metro RV4
Both are 'Sweet" Basses; one vintage sounding, one modern. The best of both worlds!
body only refin '60.
Whey! Think you're the first TB'er I've seen with an old "stack-pot" jazz!
Do you get many more tonal options with 2 tone controls?
This photo was taken around 1988 or so. The bass was a Fender Japan Jazz. My main bass for many years. Ended up selling it to a girl body builder in Wyoming!
jazzyitalian
Supporting Member
jazzyitalian
Supporting Member
Here's some photo's of a white fretless bass we made. Actually we built two. One went to a guy in Norway and the other went to a dentist in Wisconsin.
It's a lined fretless. We don't paint the lines. I use maple inserts.
It's a lined fretless. We don't paint the lines. I use maple inserts.
