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Post subject: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 5:03 pm
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I`ve been trying with no luck to find out when Fender produced the first fretless Jazz Bass. I know the P Bass has had a fretless since 1970 or so but I haven`t seen anything definite about the Jazz ...Thanks! :?


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2012 6:28 pm
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I don't remember Fender ever offering a fretless Jazz bass before 1985. I say 1985 because I suspect that the first fretless Jazz was not of American Manufacture.
I have an early Fender Japan fretless Jazz bass and it dates from the late 80's if not early 90's.
I am not the original owner so I can only guess how old it is.

It is ironic that the only fretless Fender bass widely advertised was the fretless Precision bass.


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 5:08 pm
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It is ironic but the fretless Precision came first and that was in 1970. I believe that a fretless Jazz option was offered by CBS at some point. The earliest one I've ever seen was a 1977 and it was touted and appraised to be all original by a vintage authority. I haven't seen many of these CBS fretless J-Basses at all ever, I only remember seeing 3, but the '77 was the oldest. This 77 had a rosewood unlined fretboard with the correct decal, heel marks, etc or it wouldn't have gotten past the vintage appraiser. Fretless didn't really catch on until the 80's and then faded in the mid 90's and like everything else has a resurgence in popularity then another fade. A CBS era factory fretless Jazz is most extremely scarce for sure and rarely ever seen. It is more common to see a vintage fretless P-Bass but still those are rare.


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 3:58 pm
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I have also been wondering about the answer to this question.

I own a nearly 100% original (body stripped from sunburst to natural) 1968 Fender Jazz, with all of the certs. I have always wondered if this was the first made. It seems to be about the right time for someone to order a custom build.

I would be interested to know what other fretless jazz's people have seen or peoples opinion on the first release of a fretless jazz?


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 10:36 pm
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The First known Fretless Jazz Bass was a 1962 Jazz Bass that Jaco Pastorius de-fretted, ...sadly Fender never capitalized on the popularity of the Fretless Jazz bass bass sound made popular by Jaco........Many bassists could be heard from the late '70's onward "doing a Jaco" by playing prominent, melodic bass Lines-whether on production Fretless instruments or do-it yourself de-fretted basses Fender suprizingly did not produce a fretless option until the mid '80's; such apparently obvious marketing was left largely to Oriental makers & custom builders......( this last part is a direct quote from Tony Bacon & Barry Moorhouse book titled..."The Bass Book" History of the Electric Bass) :)


Last edited by James Coderre on Mon Dec 10, 2012 7:05 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 12:34 am
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Steve Bailey is one of the numerous artists who brought the fretless bass into the "extended range" territory. His shortlived signature bass was the only 6-string fretless Jazz Fender has ever made.

Image

Alas, this model was discontinued in 2011 after Steve moved to the Warwick camp.


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:03 am
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chromeface wrote:
Steve Bailey is one of the numerous artists who brought the fretless bass into the "extended range" territory. His shortlived signature bass was the only 6-string fretless Jazz Fender has ever made.

Image

Alas, this model was discontinued in 2011 after Steve moved to the Warwick camp.


And lucky me I have one of the last 2011 models. Except mine's fretted. Fantastic bass.

C/S,
Rev J


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 10:34 am
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Rev J wrote:
And lucky me I have one of the last 2011 models. Except mine's fretted. Fantastic bass.

C/S,
Rev J


You're a lucky guy Rev J, I think the Steve Bailey Bass might be worth something some day... it was a really cool looking bass, I never got to take one for a run as music stores in my area never stocked them... :(


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:03 pm
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James Coderre wrote:
Rev J wrote:
And lucky me I have one of the last 2011 models. Except mine's fretted. Fantastic bass.

C/S,
Rev J


You're a lucky guy Rev J, I think the Steve Bailey Bass might be worth something some day... it was a really cool looking bass, I never got to take one for a run as music stores in my area never stocked them... :(


Yeah. I had to order mine and wait 9 months for it. The only complaint I have is minor. I did wear a divit into the finish around the bridge pick up where I rest my thumb in the first month I had it. But the reason I got a Sunburst one is that I like how they look when they get beaten up a`la SRV's Number One Strat or Jaco's Bass of doom.

C/S,
Rev J


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2012 9:26 pm
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Yeah Sunburst Basses do distress nicely.


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:38 am
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Prior to Fender and Warwick Steve endorsed Aria, Kelly and Ibanez basses.

Unlike his Aria and Warwick signature models which are also available with 4 and 5 strings, his Fender Jazz Bass was offered only in a 6-string version.

The AVB-SB4 was endorsed by famed bass granny Carol Kaye.


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 11:51 am
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chromeface wrote:
Prior to Fender and Warwick Steve endorsed Aria, Kelly and Ibanez basses.

Unlike his Aria and Warwick signature models which are also available with 4 and 5 strings, his Fender Jazz Bass was offered only in a 6-string version.

The AVB-SB4 was endorsed by famed bass granny Carol Kaye.


Yeah before they came out with the Fender I always said that if they made a 6-string 24 fret Jazz bass I'd have one. Then low and behold.

As was pointed out by the shop where I bought it it was "The only bass they ever sold that actually appreciated in value before leaving the shop".

It almost makes me paranoid to leave the house with it.

I've almost considered getting the Warwick too. Not because I'm a Steve Bailey Fanboy. More because I love the Fender so much and there are some really unique features like the asymetrical neck profile that I really dig. Plus it wouldn't be a particularly "Rare" instrument. But the cool thing about the Fender being a rare instrument is that if it gets stolen it will be easy to find.

It's also a great instrument because the tone is versatile. It has a classic Fender tone with the modern 18 volt active edge. I'm a total doofus in regards to controls on my equipment. Straight up "Set it and forget it." So I pretty much just solo the bridge pick up with the EQ set flat through a Boss Dynamic Wah (for a clavinet meet's Bootsy type of sound), a Behringer limiter/enhancer pedal, Boss Graphic EQ Pedal, a Digitech Digital Delay, a Boss Bass Chorus Pedal, and a Boss RC 20 Loop Station Pedal. When I'm in a band situation the EQ and Chorus Pedals stay on all the time while the other effects come and go as needed. When I'm practicing at home they all come and go just so I don't get bored.

From that practicing perspective my "At Home" practice runs from Death Metal, to Funk, to Afro/Cuban, to Classic Fusion, to Modern Fusion. I'm primarily a Jam Band bassist but from more of the jazzier/funkier/world end of that spectrum a`la the Aquarium Rescue Unit or Motet. The Steve Bailey Jazz Bass can handle all of those styles and the only thing I change is plucking hand position and volume settings on the bass.

I'm sorry for derailing the thread with a gear review just finished my third cup of coffee this morning.

C/S,
Rev J


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Post subject: Re: First factory fretless Jazz Bass
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2012 8:40 pm
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Rev J wrote:
I'm sorry for derailing the thread with a gear review just finished my third cup of coffee this morning


Please don't apologize.....it was a very informative post, thanks for sharing.... :)


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