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Here for sale we have a Vintage Fender Jazz Bass Electric Bass Guitar that has been refinished in Natural Gloss Buckeye Burl finish. Made in the USA in 1978, this bass guitar consists of an Ash body, a Buckeye Burl top, a Maple neck, and a 20-fret Rosewood fingerboard. A previous owner commissioned renowned luthier, Brian Eastwood, to fit a new Buckeye Burl top to this bass guitar as an innovative solution to a previous modification.
Other appointments fitted to this bass include the original open-gear tuners, a Hipshot A-Style bridge, Mother-of-Pearl block inlays, a Fender 1982 Single Coil pickup in the bridge, a Fender 1978 Single Coil pickup in the neck, and a John East UNI-PRE 4 Knob Preamp has been installed. This pre-amp has controls for bass, treble (pull for bright), mid, mid frequency sweep, volume, pickups blend, and passive tone (push/pull active/passive).
The Maple neck plays very well, with the 'C' profile filling the hand nicely for a substantial yet articulate playing experience across the register. The 'shoulders' of the profile feel a little broader than some of Fender's other 'C' profiles, which adds a sense of dependability and character to the instrument. The neck binding and block inlays are a rather unique twist for a Fender instrument, providing a sense of exclusivity whilst helping you stand out from the crowd. The smooth lines of the offset Jazz Bass body are as comfortable in the arms as ever, providing uninhibited access to the upper register and feeling nicely balanced in both standing and seated positions.
The bass is fitted with one of the original single coil pickups from 1978 in the neck position, and a Fender single coil pickup from 1982 in the bridge position. Perfect for balanced tone with authentic Fender sonic DNA, offering all of the classic Jazz Bass tones you know and love, perfect for a broad range of genres. The bass has also been fitted with a John East UNI-PRE 4 Knob Preamp that consists of a Volume/Blend module and detailed EQ. Internal edge wheels allow individual custom voicing for both the bass, mid, and treble control spectrums. Instrument qualities can be enhanced in conjunction with tone-shaping to match playing styles, perfect for players who love to fine tune their tone.
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.
Fender 1978 Jazz Bass Buckeye Burl Top Electric Bass
Brand- Fender
Model- Jazz Bass
Finish- Gloss Natural
Year- 1978
Made In- USA
Top- Buckeye Burl
Body- Ash
Neck- Maple
Neck Profile- 'C'
Fingerboard- Rosewood
Fingerboard Radius- 7.25"
Frets- 20
Scale Length- 34"
Nut Width- 1.5"
Pickups- Fender '82 Jazz Bass Pickup (B), Fender '78 Jazz Bass Pickup (N)
Controls- John East UNI-PRE 4 Knob Preamp: Bass, Treble (Pull for Bright), Mid, Mid Frequency Sweep, Volume, Pickups Blend, Passive Tone (Push/Pull Active/Passive)
Our ID: 1070925133330
Weight: 9.8lbs
Serial: S842781
Aesthetic Condition:
Headstock: Overall good condition, the front face demonstrates consistent light scratching and indentation, some of these markings are immediately apparent whilst others require closer inspection under direct lighting at certain angles. The top edges demonstrate consistent indentation, scuffing, chipping of the finish and paint transfer. Further consistent indentation and smaller chips to the finish are apparent around the perimeter of the headstock, most notably to the treble side edges. The rear face demonstrates similar markings to the front face, with a moderate chip about half way down the treble side edge revealing the wood beneath.
Neck: Overall good condition, the rear of the neck demonstrates chipping of the finish to the edges, particularly along the treble side edge where chipping of the finish has exposed the wood beneath, causing discoloration. Light to moderate indentation is apparent throughout the register of the rear, which can be somewhat felt beneath the thumb when playing but does not affect the playability of the instrument. The fingerboard demonstrates light indentations throughout the register which cannot be felt beneath the strings.
Body: Overall very good condition, the top of this instrument has been replaced with Buckeye Burl seated on a 10mm rosewood slab. This work was performed professionally by Brian Eastwood, and has been carried out to an exceptional standard most would struggle to re-create. The porous surface of the burl is apparent through the finish with small dips in some of the wilder parts of the grain. The rest of the body has been refinished to accommodate the work mentioned. A control cavity has been routed to the rear to accommodate the new pre-amp, this demonstrates some uneven edges visually to the rear but functions correctly.
Condition of Frets:
The frets demonstrate moderate signs of use, with roundwound markings and flattening of the crown throughout the register. This does not affect the playability. There is not enough material remaining for further fret work.
Current Set Up:
Truss Rod: Fully functional. Truss rod tool (1/8" hex) not included.
Hardware: Fully functional with light signs of wear. The bridge has been replaced, originally included. Original pickguard included, however, was previously amateurly modified to accommodate Precision bass pickups between the two jazz pickups.
Structural: No concerns or issues to note.
Height of the string from the 12th Fret-2mm - Bass 2.5mm
Please be aware that the action on a guitar may move slightly in transit and this measurement is the current height.
Strings on Guitar - 45-100
Electrics: Fully functional. The bridge pickup has been swapped for an '82 jazz bass pickup which is somewhat microphonic. The original '79 jazz bass pickup is included in the sale. The electronics have been replaced for a John East Pre-amp, a well known and respected active pre-amp. Original harness included.
Case & Accessories
Original Fender hard case
The case demonstrates moderate signs of use with notable oxidation of the latches and staining of the interior. Remains fully functional.