Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass

All That Jazz

Wildwoodians, we're downright jazzed about this entry in the American Vintage II series. Okay, we'll show ourselves to the door after that pun, but not after we've told you about how awesome this 1966 Jazz Bass is! It's a tribute to the mid-'60s Jazz Basses that took the low-end world by storm after their introduction in 1960. Designed to provide a luxurious playing experience for jazz musicians, the Jazz bass wound up capturing the hearts of players of all styles thanks to its comfortable feel and versatile tone.

This American Vintage II iteration captures all of the details that made those original Jazz basses so special. It all starts with a resonant alder body with a period-correct nitrocellulose lacquer finish that allows the wood to breathe like a real vintage Fender. The vintage vibe continues with the pair of Pure Vintage '66 Jazz Bass single-coils, which give you tons of sonic colors with which you can paint your low-end masterpiece. By blending the pickups using the volume knobs, you can tap into all sorts of tones from deep, thumpy warmth to bright, cutting snarl and everything in between. As a result, it's a truly versatile beast that can handle business in just about any genre or context.

It's also insanely comfortable to play thanks to its slim 1966 U neck profile and its 1/2" nut width. Many bass players find this thin neck absolutely addictive, and when you sit down with this bass it's immediately apparent why--it's like a little red sports car! It also has a 7.25 radius and vintage tall frets for a true-to-life vintage playing experience.

And, all the little vintage aesthetic details are here too, including the bound round-laminated rosewood fretboard, the 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard, and lollipop tuners. So, it looks as good as it sounds!

All in all, the Wildwood Bass Department gives the American Vintage 1966 Jazz Bass two thumbs up, and we have no doubt that its comfortable neck, versatile pickups, and stunning good lucks will help you reach low-end Valhalla.