HERE'S AN attractive and S-W-E-E-T sounding Fender Jazz Bass made in Fender’s original factory in Fullerton, California, with a nice mix of traditional and new, circa 1983.

On the traditional end, this all original Jazz Bass boasts Fender’s original Fullerton era red and black bobbin passive Jazz Bass pickups, exactly the same ones used in the Fender Jazz Bass from the beginning through the Fender American Vintage Jazz Bass (AVRI), which also debuted in 1983-84.

This bass really has that vintage Fender Jazz Bass sound because it REALLY IS a vintage Fender Jazz Bass. In fact, this was the last year the Fender built Jazz Basses in its original plant in Fullerton, CA, with all the original procedures, jigs and materials that Leo Fender established.

On the new end, this bass features the Fender licensed Schaller tuners, which I consider Fender’s best tuners ever. Not surprisingly, these tuners also graced Fender's top of the line Precision Bass model in 1983, but not the 1983 Fender AVRI Jazz Bass.

Plus, the 1983 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass has the pickups positioned closer to the bridge in the more modern 1970s style.

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THE NECK ON on this beautiful bass is straight, the biflex truss rod and micro-tilt feature all work as they should, and the frets show negligible wear. All the electronics are also fully functional.

I believe everything is original on this bass, except for the addition of a small Fender “stealth” string-tree on the A string, which Fender now puts on all its top-of-the-line basses. (I put these on all my Fender basses too, but it can easily be switched out, if you want. The original tuning machine washer is in a zip lock bag in the case compartment.)

Also, a couple months ago I had my luthier replace the output jack, but the original output jack is similarly enclosed in the storage compartment in the case.

Visually, the bass presents very well. In fact, I’d call it a beautiful bass. But if you look closely you’ll see that there are some small dings in the clear coat on both the front and the back of the bass. There are also a few small dings that go to bare wood on the bottom back of the bass and the tummy tuck, a small dent on the back of the headstock, and a small surface crack on the back of the headstock near the E string tuner that looks like it has been stable for decades.

The names of respected Fender builders Lopez and G. Garcia are stamped in the neck pocket and the back of the neck.

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1983-84 WAS THE only time that Fender USA manufactured this type of one-piece, Precision Bass-like pickguard/control plate for the Jazz Bass, making this model 1983 Fender Jazz Bass perhaps the rarest factory-run Fender Jazz Bass in history.

There is an article on the Internet by Michael K. Smith that says that the original 1961 Fender stack knob Jazz Bass and the 1983 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass are the two rarest American-made Jazz Basses in Fender history. "Most 1983 Fender Jazz basses are found in 3 Tone Burst or Black," Smith wrote. "The models in Ivory are much rarer with a Sienna Burst being the hardest to find."

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ANOTHER HISTORICAL note -- 1983 was the first year that Fender used the "American Standard" model name, but it was dropped after 1984, until Fender brought it back in the 1990s and made it a "standard" model in the Fender Jazz Bass lineup.

In truth, the "American Standard" name was always something of a misnomer for this bass. Looking at the components in the 1983-84 Fender American Standard Jazz Bass, it appears that Fender intended this bass to combine the best of its premium basses like the Elite and the AVRI, with a hip modern twist in sweet sounding pots from newly established Fender Japan. Despite the modern connotations of the "American Standard" name, this is a premium instrument.

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THIS IS THE lightest of my current Fender Jazz Basses, weighing in at 9.4 pounds on my digital scale.

The bass ships in the original hardshell case (OHSC), which is also in Very Good condition. Currently strung with my favorite strings, d'Addario Half Rounds.

Finally, I just had this bass set up by my go to luthier in Belligham, WA, WJW Guitars. It's ready to go, although you may of course wish to modify the setup to match your own preferences.

I had intended to never sell this bass, but unexpected medical bills force this sale.

This is honestly a very nice bass.

Yours in the groove…

Bruce