Fender '74 USA Jazz Bass

I purchased this guitar in 1974 at a Mom & Pop store in Fairhaven, Mass. The body in natural Ash, with maple fretboard inlay with the block mother-of-pearl. The pickguard is black and I still have both ashtray pickup covers, and the original case, plus the Fender tags. The standard pickups are still the punchiest I've ever played, and I've played many types of bass guitars over 35 years of gigging, and I'm still "running back home to Mama" to my JazzBass, when I want that fat punchy tone.

Having played this guitar for 33 years, I can get any tone I ask of it. Blending the pickups has become second nature to me, allowing this to be a very versatile bass guitar.
I have not found a style of music that this guitar can't master. I've used mid-1970's Acoustic bass amps, a 1967 Blackface Fender Bassman stack, Hartke XL stacks, and presently an Ampeg SVT410HLF with a SVT6PRO amp. It still sounds rich, deep and punchy.

I did set it up as I desired; lowest action possible, arrow straight neck. Plus, I pulled up the neck pickup just a bit. The guitar was very, very nice when I bought it in 1974, I just learned over the years how to make it better.

Over the past nine years, I have used this guitar 60 nights per year, playing gigs in bars, clubs and private parties. You do not need a backup with this instrument.

Never had to think about the warranty.

I've been playing for 43 years. Over the years, for fun I have picked up several other bass guitars (1965 Gibson EBO, Epiphone EB-3 five string, a Brice five string Korean Bass), but always kept my JazzBass. I have recently bought a new MusicMan Stingray 5 that I enjoy very, very much (the five string Fender's are a little wide at the nut for me...). This is a bass guitar that has no peers. I hit the home run buying this guitar, after helping the owner move to a different location he sold it to me at cost; $310.00 in September 1974.

my bass was made in 1974 it has thesolid maple kneck with the white edging and pearl inlays it comes with the two volume and one tone controls and is passive The kneck is maple as is the body ,all one piece.She's finished in Mocha (very rare) After 30 years she plays and looks great
Her value is forever increasing as theese become rare but for me they are always going to be a players bass so I'll be selling her now to a gigging musician who will ,I hope keep her for another thirty years These are not museam pieces as Marcus miller and Joe
pastorius have proved.Probably the finest bass of the century.
I have now a Musicman ,again a fine instrument of its time . But the jazz is still King.I rate itat nine because nothing is perfect.

Every style of music can be played on this bass the action and kneck lends itself to a good technician the tones are soft or attacking ,deep but not muddy or mid to sharp for the slap and pop of modern styles. Like its name suggests Jazz chords are its best feature and harmonics are sweet to hear . Leo fender created a masterpiece and everyone has tried but failed to copy it.I love it ,its a friend,an old friend . Nothing to dislike about it except it will out live me.

The action on this one is superb .Played by my son a lot ,A GOOD TECHNICIAN ,Classic guitarist . He said its the best he has tried and I agree EFFORTLESS.

I played this bass for 14 years semi professionally Itr has never let me down . Never needed a back up,It has been used ar home for about the same amount of time . The keck is as true as the first day I bought it ,but Ihave to say I have taken great care of it, It needs refretting within a year or two but thats to be expected

Never needed to get a repair ,Never spoken to the Fender people
Im very lucky ,we havee a Fender agent and Luthier in Brighton.
I think hes starving to death!!All I can say is I hope you have the same luck.

Cant fault this bass I doubt I'll buy another one Im too old now.
Ilove the fact that other bass players love the bass and admire it after all these years