Used Vintage 1973 Fender Jazz Bass

Sonic Evaluation

The Wildwood Bass Department is a contentious place with many voices making their opinions known, but we rarely reach a consensus except for in special cases like this 1973 Jazz Bass, which we all agree is a world-beater. It has some serious power and a stunning capacity for clank, but it also has an exceptionally wide dynamic range. Depending on your left-hand velocity, it can sound sweet and open or positively rude and aggressive when you dig in. The attack is percussive and articulate with lots of ensuing note bloom, and that musical "squish" effect on the front end of the note is pure magic.

When you play with a light touch, it that sounds as open as the sky above the Rockies with a sonorous quality that calls to mind the image of a hundred-foot-tall opera singer. When you dig in, it growls and snarls like a wooly mammoth-sized junkyard dawg. Low notes are D E E P and full-bodied, the mids are punchy, and the highs are quite fat. It can go from righteously smooth to downright dangerous depending on your mood, and that makes for a wonderfully expressive playing experience.

If you're seeking a monster Jazz Bass, everyone in the Wildwood Bass Department believes you owe it to yourself to take this one for a spin, because it is truly magnificent. We have no doubt you'll love it as much as we do!

Condition Report

This 1973 Jazz Bass sounds massive and is dripping with vintage mojo! It shows the typical wear we expect to see on an instrument of its age (checking, scratches, chips, dings, burn-throughs, etc.) and it looks super-cool. A previous owner drilled a hole in the back (likely for a strap button), and one small area by the control plate has been touched up, probably a long time ago. All of the parts look to be original, although it looks like the pickups have been removed and re-installed at some point. The frets also look original, and they show moderate wear. Finally, there are some small cosmetic cracks in the fingerboard that do not affect its stability. They look like they've been there a long time. And, to top it off, it comes with its original hardshell case!