I went looking for 60s Jazz (to go with my 60s style fretless Jazz) ... but they didn't have the one I wanted in stock.
They tried to tempt me with the Classic Vibe. Nice bass, VERY good value, but like the 6 stringers I've tried... didn't quite speak to me.
Not like this completely (for me) left-field option...
Two big firsts for me:
a) It's second hand
b) It has this, er, "70s" thing going on
But, they put it in my hands, and it is fabulous. SO solid in feel, easy to play, and it sounds YEAH!
I wasn't too sure about the looks, at first, though (for me, that is - bear in mind I was expecting rosewood board, 3-tone sunburst, tortoise-shell guard when I went out this morning).
I got them to put it on hold for an hour and went for a wander (almost bought another strat!
).
Went back, played it again, and... bought it.
I own several Fenders, guitars and bass, but this is the very first USA made Fender I've ever owned.
It's an American Vintage 75 Re-issue Jazz Bass (I've checked the serial number, it was made in 2007).
It's well played-in and set up. The previous owner has already stripped the back of the neck (luckily, I'm into that type of thing). Sadly, it hasn't got all the bits that would have come with it originally - bridge and pickup cover, and thumb rest... but it's only the thumb-rest I'd actually be vaguely interested in.
And... it was less than half the price that it would have been new if they still made them. I've since had a little search to see wot real bassists think of it - quite a lot, apparently. Who cares, though? It plays like a bar-steward and cost the same as the Mexican Jazz I went out looking for.
Ladies & gentlemen: the new bass!
