Fender American Series Deluxe Jazz Bass

2004 American Deluxe Jazz Bass.

This is the same famous bass guitar of the late '90s, but now upgraded with Samarium Cobalt Noiseless Jazz Bass pickups and new deluxe Lite-Bass tuners with vintage-style cloverleaf key. All other features are almost identical to the earlier versions, except for the addition of a 5-bolt neckplate, a new 18V power supply and a chrome-plated bridge with solid, nickel-plated brass saddles since January 1st, 2002. - Sorry, no fretless versions available yet, 9 points for this category!

The new Deluxe J-Bass comes equipped with the newly designed Fender Samarium Cobalt Noiseless (SCN) Jazz Bass pickups, which had been designed by legendary pickup designer Bill Lawrence, who worked closely with Fender?s engineering team to create a noiseless pickup that is both responsive and articulate, thanks to their miniature Samarium Cobalt magnets and special alloy pole pieces. The result is the classic Jazz Bass growl without the infamous 60-cycle buzz which is synonymous with the "stock" single-coil pickup.

Like the other American, Artist and Deluxe Series basses, the American Deluxe Jazz Bass features the new Fender? Posiflex? truss rod system. This ingenious device, specially designed to prevent neck warping consists of two rods placed in the neck just beneath the fingerboard on either side of the truss rod. The truss rod functions for normal neck adjustment but much smoother and more accurately over the length of the neck, eliminating any "humps, bumps and curves" - just one smooth continuous curve. The stability over time and under various climatic conditions is unparalleled when compared to normal wood construction. Fender? Posiflex? technology borrows from graphite tube design. Graphite cloth is wrapped around maple dowelling in such a way that the stiffness of the tube varies over the length of the rod. The stiffest areas are at each end, becoming more flexible as you approach the most flexible point of the neck (centred under the 7 th and 8 th frets). By wrapping the composite material around the maple rods we have minimal impact on the normal neck material. The beauty of the Posiflex? is that it delivers modern composite stability without compromising the tonality of the basses that changed the course of modern music.

The neck half of the alder body is the main difference - the top horn being about 3cm shorter than the traditional shape, the bottom about 5cm shorter (based on a comparison with a 1982 Squier). This gives the bass a more slimline feel and helps afford easy access to the higher registers. It's more familiar at the bridge end: traditional forearm chamfer; slightly bulbous bottom corner. Flip it over and you've got the ribcage chamfer and evidence of more modernisation and development - string thru ferrules and a battery compartment 'cos, yep! this beast is active. The maple neck is reinforced with graphite for extra strength and stability. Fender has chosen not to miss with headstock design, in either shape or tuner configuration, though the logo is less burdened by peripheral information. Besides, you'll find the usual abalone dot inlays on the fretboard's face and top edge and the frets themselves are superbly fitted. The other main development in the new American Deluxe Series is in the electronics department. There are two active Dual-Coil Samarium Cobalt Noiseless pickups and a more complicated EQ section. You get the familiar retro-styled, centre-indented volume and pan controls, mid EQ and one stack-knob-in-a-hat arrangement - the brim being bass and the crown treble. All three controls work in a cut or boost manner, so the Fender tonal horizon is ever widening.

Can't contact Fender for getting a Customer Support Service about this priceful electic bass guitar - no opinion.

The American Deluxe Jazz Bass is a stunning piece of classic Fender craftsmanship. This bass features a new deluxe Lite-Bass tuning machines that offer light weight, great gear ratio and positive feel with vintage cloverleaf key and two SCN Jazz Bass pickups that offer the ultimate in superior tone and flexibility. Excellently set-up, the American Deluxe Jazz really was a pleasure to play and plugging it in was a rewarding experience. It not only exhibited a superb, even full-range response across all four strings but also gave us an immediately useable sound without the need for any tonal tweaking. There's just something about a classic, two-pickup Jazz tone - that clarity across the whole tonal spectrum and the biting yet never overly aggressive top-end. That the active ADJ has all of these qualities is a testament to the durability of the basic Fender concept. Spoon in bass EQ to maximum and you've got thud, width and oodles of clarity. It really wants to fill the space and still be heard. Dials in similar amounts of treble to get the fat, funky thumb sound of your dreams. It's pretty good for fingerstyle, too. The highs are beautifully controlled and there's not a hint of clank or excessive fret noise. Cutting both EQ's is strangely rewarding. There's bags of clarity. Restoring bass and treble and pumping-up mid EQ put the ADJ in a really aggressive mood. Radical increases in output level and tonal size were matched by biting highs without mid frequency ever overpowering or cluttering up the tone. Ditching the mid range and boosting bass and treble only goes to prove that a Jazz can be an out-and-out rock machine with a smooth bass end that demands pumping eighth notes. The bridge pickup sound has the familiar cutting, almost compressed aspect. The nasal edge is never unpleasant. Need we mention Mister Pastorius? With added bass weight most people found a sound that will cut through the densest guitar mire and leave no tonal void. Ladling in a bit of treble subtly increased the cutting edge and boosting mid left the tone verging on enjoyably out-of control. In neck pickup mode the ADJ was earthy and organic. Many serious bassists found tons of width but chucking some bass in to the equation, they were rewarded with a tone that can shake the room while still retaining that growling element. Boosting mid accentuated this further. Finally dialling in treble produced a truly in-yer-face rock tone. Very tasty - and you've probably only scratched the surface!