1965 Fender Jazz Bass
Guitarist|November 2024
"They made them later on, but it's not something I've ever seen this early.
1965 Fender Jazz Bass

I can't say for certain that it's the only maple-cap Jazz Bass Fender made in 1965, but we have asked around online with all the guitar-based communities and so far nobody has reported seeing another one.

"It has a regular alder body construction and inside everything is as it should be.

There's a transition logo and the 'A' neck is on the narrow side, but it's very well balanced and doesn't dip at the headstock or lean into your body too much when you're playing it on a strap. It's in the mid-8lb range, so not super light or heavy by bass standards.

"I bought this from a dealer friend of mine last November and it's funny how things go because when we acquire the only example of something, I usually expect it to sell right away. It's different with basses because a guitarist or guitar collector may have 10, 20 or even 100 guitars, but a bass player will usually just have their bass and most don't collect.

"There's always the hope that someone will want an instrument right away and sometimes I'll know who will buy it as soon as I get it. But the weird thing about the guitar business is that you might have an instrument for over a year and nobody will call, and then the very next day three people will be fighting over it.

This story is from the November 2024 edition of Guitarist.

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This story is from the November 2024 edition of Guitarist.

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