Fender American Series Jazz Bass

2002 USA Fender Jazz bass, 3 color sunburst, parchment pick guard, chrome hardware, rosewood fret board it has the American standard fetchers...upgrades made buy first owner; Pickups changed to EMG J-bss set...the 9volt battery is under the control panel, which works great!

I love the feel and playability of the Fender Jazz & Precision bass guitars. I didn???t like the sound or tone from the EMG at first, but after listing to few live recordings is was big improvement over my MIM Precision with DP122 pickup which has great bottom end but lacks on the upper freq, I was amazed how great the EMG sounded, what a big difference in tone! lots of bottom end nice mids and upper freq's has well balanced warm tone!!!

The finish looks great!!
fits my playing style...
The action had to be redone, string buzz all over, the heel of the neck had a shim inserted which made the heel of the neck set higher, so the bridge had to be set higher to remove string buzz, not good???after I remove the shim adjust the neck to fender spec checked the intonation, it was right on...now! it played better, and was able to get the pickups adjusted closer to the strings for better balance & tone!

not a problem!!!

I traded my 40th Anniversary USA Fender Strat with Texas Special pickups sunburst with all maple neck as even trade but little on the skeptical due to the Strat had more sentimental value to me but forced my self to do it, I was more then happy with the trade. I own two MIM fender bass with dimarzio pickups and badass bridges and they play and sound incredible but the USA fender jazz is little litter and sounds just fantastic. I have several bass amps but my main rig is Ampeg STV Pro-3 older model and Ampeg BTX410HL bottom???what great combo!!

I???ve been playing guitar for 22 years, bass for little over year, but! I have learned and do appreciate the bass player more then ever! my good friend said; bass is just mud...but after going through ton of equipment changes to get the tone I was after! he now understands it???s not just mud? but a nice warm fat tube tone with killer bottom end with warm mid's & highs! that make it sound so sweet!!!

Made in USA 2000. I got the first shipment @ Sam Ash, almost off loaded the truck. Trade a Trace Elliot Big Ben amp and a couple bones for it. Graphite Truss rod, Alder body in black, parchment 3-ply pickguard, stringed thru the body and came with contour hardhell case. I changed the pickguard to 4-ply tort. added thumb rest and chrome pickup cover. I also removed most, not all of the black finish, it looks like a relic.

I play mostly Reggae, Rock and Pop stuff, no effects thru an Ampeg (only amp for a bass player) B100-R. Bass has a little noise if pickups are not fully dialed in, which is just the way I play it, tone knob rolled competely off. Sounded good in 2000 and it keeps getting better, especially since I removed most of the paint. Nice wam tone with some growl behind its teeth.

Bass setup was awright. Lowered it a bit. Finish was nice, but when I replaced the pickguard it looked kind of gnawly under the hood. I play everyday and it stays in tune perfectly most of the time.

I am Fender Player, love everything Leo ever touched. But, I must stress one thing, for his bass or any other. You must learn the instrument, explore its curves, find its sweet spots. Make that baby yours, the tone is in your fingers, the way you caress, tug, pull and release.

Got it in 2000 and it is now 2006 and it is still going and going, and going....

Never had a problem, never called.

Started out as a guitar player, but please don't hold that against me. Been playing bass now for about 8 years. Currently using an Ampeg (Rocket Bass) b-100R and Fender bassman 25 for practice. Apart from the Fender Jazz, I own a Fender Reggie Hamilton Standard, (which hopefully I will trade for a Geddy Lee) Spector Rebop DLX 4 and an OLP Stringray copy. But this is still by favorite bass, it took be awhile before I added to my stable, but she always be my main lady. If she bolted would replace her but not with he new Fenders w/S1 switch, don't like them

2000 American Series Fender Jazz. Ash body, natural finish. Maple fingerboard. String through body bridge. Came with white 3-ply pickguard, which I replaced with a black one (it seems that in the last few years Fender has wised up to the fact that most people HATE white pickguards and has started offering black pickguards on the American stuff). Controls are standard jazz bass, V-V-T. This bass precedes the current S1 series/parallel switching option. Came with a fitted hardshell case, strap buttons, Fender strap and adjustment wrenches.

When I got into playing bass again seriously about 5 years ago, I forked out the $$$ for this to replace my old MIM P-Bass. Since then, I have aquired a number of other basses including Fender, Carvin and some cheapies. They all are great, but if I had to part with all but one, this is the axe I would keep. It is very versatile sound-wise, although not nearly as versatile as it would be with an onboard preamp. Due to the ash body and maple fingerboard, it has that classic bright & punchy Fender 70's jazz bass tone. With the neck pickup soloed, you can get into pseudo P-Bass territory. Bridge pup gives you that classic thin, mid-rangey bite. Overall, however, the bass sounds best IMO with both pickups up full.

I replaced the stock pups with an EMG JV set after I'd had the bass for a while. The stock pups actually sound just fine (obviously you have single coil hum with either pickup soloed, but that comes with the territory). I only replaced them out of curiosity - the main advantage of the EMGs is that they are DEAD QUIET, both when soloed or combined.

Factory setup wasn't too bad, but it could have been better. I needed to do an action and truss rod adjustment. The only minor flaw is that the bridge pickup rout seems to be every so slightly skewed. I don't think I even noticed it until I'd had the bass for a year or two. The finish was perfect. No issues there.

A real highlight of the bass construction is the fretwork and fingerboard edges. Very well done. Sides of the neck are very smooth and have a nice broken-in feel (I think Fender started "hand rolling" the fingerboard edges when they went from the "American Standard" to "American Series" moniker).

Control cavity is well shielded with conductive paint, which keeps the noise to a minimum. Electronics are of good quality and the soldering was well done.

This bass has been used extensively in live situations, without a backup. I am confident all aspects of it will withstand many more years of live use. Absolutely no gripes.

Never had to deal with Fender, which is a testament to the quality of the instrument.

I have been playing for 12 years, seriously for the last 5. As I mentioned above, this would be the "last bass standing" if I had to do away with all my others.

I think the quality and sound of this instrument is what you'd expect after paying $1000.

An active preamp would be nice, but classic Jazz Basses don't have this, so Fender is sticking to the traditional vibe of the instrument.

Mine is a 2001 in 3 tone sunburst, with rosewood fretboard. I bought it used, but the plastic/stickers were still on the pickguard. There are a couple tiny signs of use, but it looks basically new. The jazz bass and has been basically the same for over 40 years, so the features are adequate.

A thing of beauty. Well rounded. It can be smooth, aggressive, punchy---it can play just about any style of music, and it has. I changed strings to D'Addario Chrome flats. The upper register sings like you wouldn't believe. Awesome! Pickups are a little noisy at times, but not in a live setting, or when recording. Fantastic sound comes out of them, though!

Even being bought used, the action was perfect. I changed strings from the stock taper-wounds and still haven't needed to adjust the trussrod. Can't argue with that! The fit and finish is gorgeous, par for Fender. The jazz neck is one of the best necks available. In fact, it is the most comfortable neck out there, in my opinion.

Of all the Fenders I've owned, I haven't ever had a problem with the build quality or reliablility (save of a MIM Jazz fretless--sub USA standards.) This jazz bass had the strap lugs loosen---the holes became sloppy inside, and I needed to perform the toothpicks and glue trick. It has been perfect ever since, but things like this shouldn't happen. I know it is common on Fenders, but why is it common? This ongoing problem should be addressed at the Fender factory. Even so, deserves an 8. It would get a 10 if the straplugs didn't loosen.

Never used them.

Great hardware, comparable to the best in the business. Great finish to rival other top makers. Extremely versatile pickups; sound is superb in all areas. Has the Fender legacy, and lives up to it at all times. Playability is about the best of any bass I have ever played.

2003 American 4-strings fretted, ash body transparent red, maple neck, 2 jazz pickups. Bought Jan 2004.

Annoying humming noise from the single coil jazz pickups, especially with tone knob turned all the way up. Brought the bass to a Fender shop who said that was just normal and there was nothing they could do about it. If you like a constant 'normal' humming noise, get this bass, otherwise get something else.

Finish is gorgeous and solid. Action is fine though I find my cheap Yamaha RBX270 more playable (has a faster neck).

Weights and built like a tank. My Yamaha RBX270 feels featherweight in comparison.

Fender shop was nice and friendly but not very helpful with regards to the humming noise.

I like the sound (rich and bright) but not the noisy single-coil pickups. Tried it on various amps. I also own a cheap Yamaha RBX270 (P-bass type pickups) that has no humming noise (though not such a rich and bright sound). Played seriously for one year. Won't get a Fender bass again. Planning to trade for something with humbucker pickups, like MusicMan.

I just bought a 2001 New-old stock American-made "American Series" Jazz Bass on February 14, 2004. It had been hanging in the store for a while. I got a sweeeeet deal. $599 out the door. Saved about $400 or so.

String-thru body. Non locking tuners. Maple neck. Rosewood fretboard. 20 frets. Alder body. Chrome Red finish.

I bought this bass because every bassist in every band that I like either currently plays or at one time played a Fender bass......Mike Dirnt(Green Day), Sting, Flea, Hoppus, Ramones, Tommy Shannon (SRV, Double Trouble), Marcus Miller etc.

I read reviews of many, many other basses, and it seemed that they all tried, to some degree, emulate Fender basses. Whether it be the P-Bass or the J-Bass. These are truly classic intuments. Well-made and built to be played.

I've been playing a Fender Strat for 9 years and one thing I know is that Fenders are built to last. That had alot to do with my decision.


This bass does not have "Tons of Features" but the features are pretty nice. It has aeverything you need in a passive bass.
I rate it a...........

My band is very much influenced by Band of Gypsies, The Dead, Green Day, Janes Addiction and SRV. We play different styles. Blues-Rock, Hard Rock, Punk and Improvisation.

I play an Ampeg SVT Classic head through Eden cabs.
I use a Digitec Bass Squeeze Compression pedal and that's all.
I use Tara Lab speaker cables and Monster intsrument cables.
I use DR strings.

This bass is a beast through my rig. It just growls and rumbles and does what I want it to. It's really beefy sounding. It sounds incredible! I'm very impressed with its sound. It's versatile.

Like the guys on the other posts have mentioned, if you move the tone knobs in the opposite direction of each other, you will experience hum or noise. It's kind or annoying actually but that's the price to pay with a single coil set up. I point both the tone knobs facing the same direction about half way up. I get a really thick sound that way. The compressor helps a bit. Good cables help too...maybe.

In stock trim, this bass is great for Rock and Blues. It's punchy and sustains very well. It was pofessionally set up at the shop and acoustically, sounds excellent. It snaps!

Alot of my sound has to do with my rig as does yours.
In my head, I knew the sound I wanted. After that, I had to figure out what gear was going to help my achive that sound. I took a look at what the bassists that influenced me played or are playing and made my decision from that. I think I've got it. SVT, EDEN, FENDER JAZZ.

You cannot ask for a better-sounding bass for under $650....especially when it normally retails for about $900-1000.
Fender did a good job on this one and I rate it a......

Excellent. Professionally set up at the shop.
Good to go. Thanks!

It's a Fender. Rock Solid!

How long have I been playing?.....I've been playing music for almost 20 years. Since I was 7. Drums, Guitar and Bass. I've been playing bass for four years. I started on a MIM Jazz...sold it and bought a 1970 Univox Coily Custom Semi-Hollow Body Bass. That bass rocks and is gorgeous. I still have it.
If it were stolen or lost?......I'd be really pissed, and then really bummed. Once I came to my senses, I would buy another Jazz bass.
What do I love?......the deep, fat, thick, creamy, sound.
What do I hate?......nothing. But, I don't particularly like the pickup noise.

I may look in to getting hum-cancelling pickups if they're available and don't cost a fortune. Other than that, the bass is so nice.
I really got lucky.

Thanks for reading.

Mine is a 2-tone sunburst fourstring built in 2002, MIA.
It's got 20 frets on a rosewood fingerbord glued to a maple neck.
It has a solid alder body, which is made of one piece (no glue marks shining through the transparent paint).
It has 2 standart single coils controlled by 2 Volume and 1 tone controls, all passive.
It does not feature the S-1 system, but thats O.K., if I want a p-bass sound I take my p-bass.
The bridge is the standart Fender L-type, but it features both string-through-body as top-mounted.
The tuner are tight but comfortably to turn, it stays in tune for several days.
It's a longscale, of course.
It came with a molded hardshell case made for Fender by SKB, tools, security locks and a cable.
I love Jazz basses, I don't need active electronics, the jazz has all the features I desire, full ten.

The sound of this bass is a dream...
With the one-piece-alder-body, it consists of only 3 different slabs of wood, and you hear that.
The string-through bridge and the graphite reinforced neck develop a sustain singing all night through, it's sound is really lasting for a long time.
The sound is very bright and slightly metallic.
With the two single coils you get enough variety to play blues or funk with the same instrument.
Luckily the 60 cycle hum is not very loud on this bass, all you hear is a little buzz, but also only with one pu turn full up and the other full down if you're standing right in front of your amp.

The bass was set up at the store, so I don't know how the factory setup was.
Fit & finish just perfect, the polyurethane finish is a real mirror.

I think this bass will last a life long - hey, it's a Fender, I would always rely on their instruments as long as they're passive.
Strap-locks, graphite reinforced neck, heavy duty tuners, what do you want more?
Up til now even the bridge does a good job (switched to a badass on the precision - brigde too crappy).
I would always take a backup.
I would blindly rely on the bass, but not on the strings.

Never dealt with them. Limited lifetime warranty. I'll die before it.

I've been playing for 3 years now, my other gear is a heavily modified precision bass and a Marshall B65 amp.
If the Jazz Bass were stolen, I would be with my P-Bass again.
Until I'm able to afford an American Jazz Bass again.
I love the whole bass.
I was going to buy a mexican classic, but I found this new American for a good price and bought it because of it's superior quality and sound.

This bass is natural finish and a maple fret board. It is part of a collection I have been putting together recently. I started playing bass in 1968 when my bass player at the time got in trouble with the law and was sent away by Mom, but left his bass and SUNN bass amp. Heh, heh.

I bought my first jazz bass in 1969 and played it through a SUNN 200S. It was great for live and super for studio work. You plug it into the board and it is clear and clean and bottomy without mushiness...a problem I had with Gibson EB 0 bass.

Like I said, its very clean and punchy without mushiness. The 60's basses came with a bridgecover that had a piece of neoprene in it to mute the strings. This was a sound popular with jazz guys at the time. Luckily the new basses don't have this.

The Jazz bass has it all over others including the Precision for action. It plays really easily in all styles and its thin neck at the nut is great for guys like me with short chubby fingers.

Are you kidding. The jazz bass I replaced this with went out of my hands in 1975. So, although it took a few years to replace (25), I wouldn't want ANY other bass.

I have never needed to contact Fender about any of my guitars or amps over the years, I know they have great customer support.

As mentioned above, this is part of my collection...the only bass I want in that collection. Its all you need in a bass(I never have figured out what to do with a fifth or sixth string)

This bass is a 2002 Fender American Series Jazz Bass in 3-Tone Sunburst Finish with a Rosewood fingerboard. Passive electronics with volume controls for each j-style pickup and a combined tone control. Also has a string-thru body bridge, and fender tuners. Came with a HSC including the truss rod tool, cable, strap, and straplocks.

I play mostly rock/jazz and the jazz suits it perfectly. I'm running it through a fender keyboard amp with something like a 100W and a 15" woofer. I would say the sound is somewhere between a warm/bright sound using the standard fender strings it came with.

The bass was set up at the store after I purchased it, so it played excellent when I received it. The action was set about medium to low which is how I like it, and the pickups were set up perfectly. Couldn't really find any flaws when I received it.

Seems real solid, but I haven't gigged with it yet so I can't really comment.

Haven't dealt with Fender yet.

I've been playing for three years and this is the first semi-expensive bass I've purchased. I also own a couple of other basses such as a Peavey T-20 and a P-Bass knock-off. If the jazz was stolen I would definitely replace it with another one. The only other bass I compared it to when I was looking was the American P-Bass, which I also liked, but since I already had a P-Bass knock-off I went with the Jazz.

Black Alder body, graphite reinforced maple neck, rosewood fretboard, non locking tuners, 2 passive jazz pickups. 2 volumes, one tone, and a propellor. Made in 2001. has a string through body bridge with all sorts of adjusties. i got a deal on it, which included no hard case, but usually it comes with one.

i play lots of stuff, and this will work for everything. reggae, ska, punk, metal, rock, blues, jazz, funk (maybe). It's famous for the both pickups on dark growl, but it's also got lots of sounds if you solo either pickup. all of them are usable. much less bottom end than a p-bass. if i was doing just funk or blues or country, I'd get a p. for a strong mid range and a really deep low end, this is perfect. if you want more low-mids, definitely get a p-bass. in my opinion.

it was set up perfectly in the store by GUITAR CENTER, nothing wrong with it. (this category isn't fun to write so i'm making it short).

this is rock solid. no extra bells or whistles on it to break, the knobs are sturdy. what do you want with a whistle playing bass anyway? i would definitely play this without a back up assuming that I learned out to change a string in .0003 seconds from Mr. Miyagi.

I called them with some questions, and aside from having no 1-800 number that i could find and being on hold (LONG DISTANCE... GRRR) for about 30 minutes, they answered my questions. The warranty is supposedly lifetime. hurrah.

It's a jazz bass, a classic, standard of the industry. Second only to a p-bass in heritage, and better than a p in terms of prettiosity.