Recently acquired from its second owner who'd owned the bass since late 1966, this 1965 Fender Jazz Bass in original 3-tone Sunburst finish is about as close to having one owner as it gets for a two-owner instrument.
Originally purchased by the previous owner's friend new in late 1965 at Wurlitzer Music in Boston, MA, it was rather quickly sold to the gentleman we acquired it from, who spent the next 56 years playing it. We first got wind of this Jazz Bass in 2022, when the owner walked in with his 1963 Fender Jazzmaster that he purchased new, also from Wurlitzer. He was still actively playing this bass up until just recently!
One look at this Jazz Bass and it's clear - this was as cherished as it was relied upon for so many years. Like the '63 Jazzmaster that it once sat alongside, it was gigged with on the regular, yet not once modified or put in the hands of a service tech. Besides the original thumb rest and the bridge cover screws, this Jazz Bass had never been apart. We took the neck off and adjusted the truss rod for the first time since it left the factory, and removed the pickguard and control plate in similar fashion.
The discovery was as uneventful as it was exciting, revealing all internal components to be untouched - original solder joints throughout, clean original finish, etc. Just a perfect example of an early CBS-era Jazz Bass.
A well balanced mid-weight J, it has an amazing playing neck with the perfect Medium C profile that is more rounded, complementing the 1 1/2" nut width very well. The original grey bobbin pickups are smooth yet punchy (see that highly effective tone knob) with great output that'll give the player freedom to explore anything from Jazz, Motown, and R&B to Funk, Rock, and Fusion with ease.
Played-in enough to conquer the stage, yet with a level of originality and provenance that would satisfy a Golden Era Fender collector, this '65 Jazz Bass is a world-class example of one of the most famous 4-string electrics out there.
Priced with original 'no logo' Fender hardshell case.
**If you're a sucker for a vintage outfit, this Jazz Bass is available with the super clean 1966 Ampeg B-15 Portalflex amp that it came in with (purchased new by the bass owner!) - contact us for more details!**
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