There are few electric basses more instantly recognizable than a great early-'60s Fender Jazz Bass, and this Fender Custom Shop 1964 Jazz Bass Journeyman Relic captures that classic combination of style, feel, and unmistakable Fender tone. Finished in Lake Placid Blue over an alder body, this bass has the look of a well-loved vintage instrument while incorporating the careful wood selection, handwork, and attention to detail you'd expect from the Fender Custom Shop.
The alder body provides the balanced, punchy foundation that has made the Jazz Bass such a versatile instrument for decades. At 9 lbs. 9 oz., this particular bass has a substantial, solid feel while still remaining entirely within the realm of what we'd expect from a vintage-style Jazz Bass. The Journeyman Relic treatment gives the Lake Placid Blue finish and hardware the appearance of natural wear and years of use, adding plenty of character without making the instrument look excessively beaten up.
The neck is made from quartersawn maple and carved to a '60s Jazz Bass U profile, measuring .790" at the 1st fret and .990" at the 12th. It's a comfortable shape that gives you some substance in your hand without feeling like a baseball bat. The AAA-grade rosewood fingerboard features a vintage-correct 7.25" radius and medium-jumbo 6150 frets, creating a playing feel that's comfortably familiar while giving you plenty of room for expressive playing. The 1.5" bone nut width keeps the string spacing unmistakably Jazz Bass.
Handwound Vintage Jazz Bass Pickups
This Jazz Bass is equipped with a pair of handwound Vintage J-Bass pickups, giving it the articulate, punchy character that has made the Jazz Bass a staple across virtually every style of music.
The two-pickup design provides an enormous range of sounds simply by balancing the individual volume controls. Roll back the neck pickup for more bite and definition, favor the neck for a warmer and fuller sound, or blend the two together for that unmistakable Jazz Bass growl. A master tone control lets you take the edge off when you need a little more warmth.
It's a wonderfully straightforward setup—two volume controls and one master tone—but that's part of the magic of a Jazz Bass. There isn't much between your hands and the sound.
The combination of Lake Placid Blue, alder, quartersawn maple, AAA rosewood, handwound vintage-style pickups, and a '60s U neck makes this a particularly attractive Custom Shop interpretation of the 1964 Jazz Bass. It has all the familiar ingredients of the classic instrument, with the refinement and consistency that make a well-executed Custom Shop bass such a pleasure to play.
The Music Gallery has been a Fender Custom Shop dealer since 1987, and we've had decades to develop a pretty serious appreciation for these instruments. We've played and sold plenty of Jazz Basses over the years, and there's still something special about a great one—the combination of the offset body, two-pickup tonal flexibility, and comfortable neck just works.
This 1964 Jazz Bass Journeyman Relic comes complete with its Certificate of Authenticity and original hardshell case.
