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engage757 « A Tribute to a bass virtuoso! »
Published on 10/04/11 at 08:20This is a USA-made Fender Artist Series Jaco Pastorius Jazz bass. Modeled after Jaco's own Sixties Jazz, this fretless features a lined Pau Ferro Fingerboard on a rock maple neck, Alder body, sixties style truss rod adjustment, Jaco neck plate, knurled Precison bass knobs, two American Vintage Jazz pickups and an American Vintage bridge and reverse tuning machines. Volume controls are your standard Jazz bass controls of Volume, Volume, Tone. Finish is a flawless 3-tone sunburst that shows lovely grain beneath. American Vintage basses are the top-of-the-line Fenders before you get into the Custom Shop price range. Includes a G&G Vintage case.
UTILIZATION
The sixties jazz bass is one of the most iconic basses in history, and when playing this re-issue, it is easy to see why. Ease of operation and ease of play is at a maximum. Go from a full on upright bass sound to a burpy jazz tone with the twist of a knob. Jaco's tone is EMBEDDED in this bass, and it becomes obvious the more and more you play this instrument. Nice and thick mids, warm lows and a crisp top end makes this Jazz a winner. This particular one weighs in under nine pounds as well! The jazz neck is amazingly comfortable for most people, with a 1.5 inch nut width, exceptionally fast. Flatwounds will give you a phenomenally mellow, warm upright sound with this one!
SOUNDS
Through a Gallien-Krueger 1001 RBII and an Ampeg SVT Classic, this bass shines, but if you want the full on Jaco tone, you should run it through an SVT Tube head. Incredibly warm and useful for just about any style of music!
OVERALL OPINION
Fit and finish of Artist/American Vintage basses are phenomenal. You really can't go wrong with a bass from those series of Fenders. This one is a dream come true for any Jaco-lover. If you want a fretless and can shell out the cash for it, then this is a viable option. If you need more tonal options than a standard jazz, then this bass may not be for you, but if you are looking for a Vintage styled, Vintage tone-filled, fretless Jazz Bass, then Fender's Artist Series Jaco Pastorius Tribute is a great way to go.
UTILIZATION
The sixties jazz bass is one of the most iconic basses in history, and when playing this re-issue, it is easy to see why. Ease of operation and ease of play is at a maximum. Go from a full on upright bass sound to a burpy jazz tone with the twist of a knob. Jaco's tone is EMBEDDED in this bass, and it becomes obvious the more and more you play this instrument. Nice and thick mids, warm lows and a crisp top end makes this Jazz a winner. This particular one weighs in under nine pounds as well! The jazz neck is amazingly comfortable for most people, with a 1.5 inch nut width, exceptionally fast. Flatwounds will give you a phenomenally mellow, warm upright sound with this one!
SOUNDS
Through a Gallien-Krueger 1001 RBII and an Ampeg SVT Classic, this bass shines, but if you want the full on Jaco tone, you should run it through an SVT Tube head. Incredibly warm and useful for just about any style of music!
OVERALL OPINION
Fit and finish of Artist/American Vintage basses are phenomenal. You really can't go wrong with a bass from those series of Fenders. This one is a dream come true for any Jaco-lover. If you want a fretless and can shell out the cash for it, then this is a viable option. If you need more tonal options than a standard jazz, then this bass may not be for you, but if you are looking for a Vintage styled, Vintage tone-filled, fretless Jazz Bass, then Fender's Artist Series Jaco Pastorius Tribute is a great way to go.