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Average Price: $546
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$400
$1001+
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Description
The Fender Jazz Bass Special is a dynamic fusion of style and sound, designed specifically for bass players who crave versatility and precision. This electric bass offers a unique combination of P/J pickups, providing a vast tonal range that allows musicians to traverse genres with ease. Whether you're laying down the groove in a jazz ensemble or driving the rhythm in a rock band, the Jazz Bass Special ensures each note resonates with clarity and power.
Crafted with precision, this bass features a modern C-shaped neck that ensures comfort and playability, even during extended jam sessions. The smooth fretboard allows for effortless movement across its 20 medium jumbo frets, making it ideal for both intricate solos and solid bass lines. Players will appreciate the subtle contouring of the body, which not only enhances aesthetics but also contributes to a balanced weight distribution, reducing playing fatigue.
The Fender Jazz Bass Special is equipped with a robust bridge design that enhances sustain and maintains intonation, making it a reliable companion for both studio recordings and live performances. This bass is built to withstand the demands of the stage while delivering consistent performance every time.
Key Features:
- Unique P/J pickup configuration for a wide tonal range
- Modern C-shaped neck for enhanced playability
- 20 medium jumbo frets
- Robust bridge design for improved sustain and intonation
- Versatile sound ideal for various musical genres
Product specs
| Brand | Fender |
| Model | Contemporary Jazz Bass Special |
| Finish | Black, Brite White, Burgundy Mist, Candy Apple Red, Frost White, Ice Blue, Pewter, Razz Berry |
| Year | 1985 - 1990 |
| Made In | Japan |
| Categories | 4-String Basses |
| Active / Passive Pickups | Passive Pickups |
| Active Preamp | No Preamp |
| Body Shape | P-Style |
| Color Family | Black, Blue, Red, Silver, White |
| Finish Style | Gloss |
| Fretboard Material | Rosewood |
| Model Family | Fender Jazz Bass |
| Neck Material | Maple |
| Number of Frets | 19 |
| Number of Strings | 4-String |
| Offset Body | Offset Body |
| Pickup Configuration | Split-Coil / S |
| Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
| Series | Fender Contemporary |
FAQs
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What type of pickups does the Fender Jazz Bass Special use?
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The Fender Jazz Bass Special features passive pickups with a split-coil and single-coil configuration, offering a versatile range of tones suitable for various music genres.
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Is the Fender Jazz Bass Special suitable for beginner bass players?
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Yes, the Fender Jazz Bass Special is suitable for beginners due to its comfortable neck profile and versatile sound, making it an excellent choice for players at any skill level.
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What is the neck material of the Fender Jazz Bass Special?
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The neck of the Fender Jazz Bass Special is made from maple, providing a smooth playing experience with a bright tonal quality.
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How does the body shape of the Fender Jazz Bass Special affect its playability?
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The Fender Jazz Bass Special features a P-style body shape with an offset design, which offers ergonomic comfort and easy access to higher frets, enhancing playability for both seated and standing positions.
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What finishes are available for the Fender Jazz Bass Special?
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The Fender Jazz Bass Special is available in several finishes, including Black, Brite White, Burgundy Mist, Candy Apple Red, Frost White, Ice Blue, Pewter, and Razz Berry, allowing players to choose a style that suits their personal preference.
Videos
Mateusz Piotrowski
Fender Jazz Bass Special PJ Japan 1994 Demo
Fender Jazz Bass Special PJ Japan 1994 Demo
Mateusz Piotrowski
Fender Jazz Bass Special Japan - это жаба или пресс?
Гитарный хлам
"It's All Legal" Fender Jazz Bass Special
Squidfarm Music
Fender Jazz Bass Special PJ-555 E-serial Japan обзор
Red Wave
FENDER JAZZ BASS SPECIAL black / pearl white DEMO 1984-1987 MIJ
Bassklasse
BASS DEMO: Fender Japan Jazz Bass Specials Comparison/Demo/Review
Bass Japan Direct
Fender Jazz Bass Special Japan’93 performed by Victor Levchenko
Victor Levchenko
Reviews
PROS
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Slimline Precision body with a Jazz neck offers unique playability
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P/J pickups provide versatile tonal options
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Lightweight design makes it easy to handle during long sessions
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Punchy and articulate tone with both pickups activated
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High build quality due to Japanese manufacturing
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Offers a unique sound bridging Precision and Jazz Bass tones
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Perfect for 80's rock, punk, and metal tones
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Durable and solid construction ensures longevity
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Gold hardware adds a stylish, distinctive look
CONS
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Bridge pickup alone is not very useful
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Preamp may benefit from an upgrade for better sound control
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Fender Jazz Bass Special.
Features and functionality
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The Jazz Bass Special features a passive TBX tone control, acting as a normal tone from 1-5 and a bass/treble boost from 6-10.
Source -
The Jazz Bass Special is noted for its Jazz profile neck, typically a 1 1/2” nut width compared to the standard Precision's 1 3/4”.
Source -
The Deluxe model reportedly offers active/passive switching, which significantly impacts tonal versatility, particularly useful for varied musical styles.
Source
Setup and maintenance
Comparisons
Use cases and applications
5.0 out of 5
Based on 2 Reviews and 12 Ratings
367
Great P+J Bass
Since sometime in the 80s, Fender has had a P+J bass in their catalog, but they've never been sure what to call it. In the mid and late 80s, they called it the "Jazz Bass Special." It was made in Japan and combined a Jazz Bass neck with a Precision Bass body and had P-Bass split coil in the neck position and a Jazz Bass single coil in the bridge. This iteration had a three-way toggle switch for selecting either pickup or both together as well as a volume knob for each pickup and a "PBX" tone control with a dented center position.
It was a great bass: playable, durable, and solid. Using just the P-Bass pickup, it sounds like a P-Bass. Using both pickups together, it sounds a bit like a jazz but beefier. Using the bridge by itself, well, that's not good for much, really. But two out of three ain't bad.
Essentially, the Jazz Bass Special gave you the playability of a Jazz wth the looks of a Precision and a sound that bridged the gap between the two. It was--and, in it's more recent incarnations, still is--a fine option for bassists who like the look of a P but want a bit more tonal diversity than a P can deliver.
103
Very versatile bass
If you want that 80's Duff rock punk metal tone it will be perfect. And still will be good for other genres.
Artist usage
Add artist
In a photo found on Pinterest, James Hetfield is seen playing a white Fender Jazz Bass Special with a blue cover plate, white pickups and black bridge pickup
“I’ve always played Seymour Duncan,” Duff says. “Always. Guitar, bass. The first Fender bass I bought when we got our record advance in ’86, I saw this bass in Guitar Center and I was one of those dudes coming in playing shit they could never afford to buy. But we finally got our record advance and I could afford it, and the bass was still there. It was a Japanese-made Fender Precision Bass Special with Seymours, and that became my sound, that bass. It’s a sweet bass. But the combination, even the pick I use, that pickup and those strings, you can really get that sound. I didn’t know anything about the pickups back then. There wasn’t an internet back then and I wasn’t a techy guy so all you had was what you had to make your sound.”
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/backstage-pass/talking-bass-with-duff-mckagan
In this picture, Simon can be seen playing a black Fender Jazz Bass Special, also known as the Fender PJ-555
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You can see Mike playing this bass around 4:11 in the video
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he used this bass on the we die young music video and on the early live peformens and he sanded the paint job off
Alex can be seen using a metallic red fender pj 555 though he also owned a white one of the same model. He can be seen using the white one in various performances in the early 90s during the leisure tour before he started using a normal precision bass, a music Man stingray later in the 90s and then his sunburst precision with the gold pickguard.
In this photo, Rose can be seen playing McKagan's Fender Jazz Bass Special.
In this photo, Googe can be seen playing a Fender Jazz Bass Special.
in this photo dirk is seen playing a fender jazz bass special, this video can be found in the @iamdirklance instagram account
In this Instagram post Ian plays Cliff Burtons riff for Metallicas For Whom The Bells Tolls on a chrome red 95 Fender Jazz Bass Special through some pedals; the MXR M287 Sub Octave Bass Fuzz, a white CryBaby Wah, and the Way Huge WHE214 Pork & Pickle Bass Overdrive & Fuzz.
You can see him using a Red Jazz Bass in the Walk of Life video,
Album Usage
The Fender Jazz Bass Special has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Fender Jazz Bass Special, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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