Up for sale, a 1966 Fender Jazz Bass in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. This Jazz Bass was produced early in '66, heavily played and extremely resonant, featuring an alder body, maple neck, and rare padauk fretboard, as Fender was experimenting with alternatives to rosewood on select examples from 1965-66.

At 9lbs 2oz, this Jazz Bass has a balanced and deep-sounding natural acoustic tone channeled faithfully through the pickup pair. The gray bobbin pickups deliver a bold, articulate sound with plenty of upper midrange presence and burp, offering a more woody, round sound with the neck pickup favored, and thicker thump with the Tone control rolled back. This Jazz Bass benefits from a professional setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with fresh 45-100 roundwound strings, easy-playing action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

• Wood: Maple
• Shape: Full U, measuring .890” 1st fret, 1.005” 12th fret
• Fretboard: Padauk (new binding, small side dots), 7 ¼” radius, dot inlay
• Frets: Medium jumbo (refret), light wear on frets 1-5
• Length: 34”
• Nut: 1 1/2”, bone (replacement)
• Tuners: Hipshot lightweight (modern, lollipop buttons)
• Serialization: Six-digit stamp on “F” neck plate
• Factory Markings: February, ‘66 stamp on neck heel

Body Specs:

• Wood: Alder
• Pickups: Gray bobbin single coil x2
• Controls: Volume x2, Tone
• Harness: CTS pots date to the 12th week of ‘66
• Hardware: Bridge with steel barrel saddles, control plate
• Plastics: Four-ply nitrate tortoise pickguard, pointer knobs

The gloss Sunburst finish exhibits buckle rash across the upper bout on the back, some finish loss on the body perimeter, and various dings and scuffs from 60 years of loving use. There is also a prominent groove between the pickups with a few small doweled holes (both in the tortoise pickguard and the alder) from a finger rest of some sort. The neck has been fully rebound with new side dots, and this work was done long ago, with ambering of the binding and general aging. The lacquer finish on the neck is smooth and heavily oversprayed, while the peghead retains the original finish and decal.

The original black tolex hardshell case is included; all three latches are functional and the original handle is present.