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Fender Jazz Bass Special

Photo of Fender Jazz Bass Special and more gear in a live, bass, and closeup

Photo of Fender Jazz Bass Special in a bass

Fender Jazz Bass Special

$550.73 Price Tier: Standard

5.0 (12)

2 Reviews

Find out who is using Fender Jazz Bass Special

5 community setups

12 wishlisted

34 saved

Page last updated Jul 04, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated July 4, 2026.

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Reviews

Price

5.0 (4)

$550.73 12 available Used

View Deal

Average Price: $551

Standard/Professional

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Electric Basses category, Fender Jazz Bass Special is priced in the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

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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

What type of pickups does the Fender Jazz Bass Special use?: 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.
Is the Fender Jazz Bass Special suitable for beginner bass players?: 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.
What is the neck material of the Fender Jazz Bass Special?: The neck of the Fender Jazz Bass Special is made from maple, providing a smooth playing experience with a bright tonal quality.
How does the body shape of the Fender Jazz Bass Special affect its playability?: 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.
What finishes are available for the Fender Jazz Bass Special?: 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

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Mateusz Piotrowski

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

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PROS

Slimline Precision body with a Jazz neck offers unique playability
P/J pickups provide versatile tonal options
Lightweight design makes it easy to handle during long sessions
Punchy and articulate tone with both pickups activated
High build quality due to Japanese manufacturing
Offers a unique sound bridging Precision and Jazz Bass tones
Perfect for 80's rock, punk, and metal tones
Durable and solid construction ensures longevity
Gold hardware adds a stylish, distinctive look

CONS

Bridge pickup alone is not very useful
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
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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”.
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The Deluxe model reportedly offers active/passive switching, which significantly impacts tonal versatility, particularly useful for varied musical styles.
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Setup and maintenance

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A 21-fret neck can complicate intonation if bridge placement is set for a 20-fret neck, requiring potential bridge repositioning.
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One owner found that their Jazz Bass needed professional setup due to poor initial intonation, which they later adjusted themselves for better playability.
Source

Comparisons

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The Duff McKagan model's neck is wider at the nut than the original Jazz neck, with the truss rod adjusting at the bottom.
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A user compares the craftsmanship of their Special P Bass favorably against their MIJ Jaguar, noting the ease of pulling harmonics on the P Bass.
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Use cases and applications

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Known for its association with Duff McKagan, the Jazz Bass Special is favored for rock music, offering a distinct aesthetic and sound.
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A player influenced by funk and jazz prefers 4-string basses for their ability to "dig in" more compared to 5-string basses.
Source

User experience

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It's noted that different basses of the same model year can vary significantly in feel and quality, emphasizing the importance of personal testing before purchasing.
Source

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 2 Reviews and 12 Ratings

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1 star

jamesnotjim

367

about 7 years ago

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.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Composer

Genres:

Rock Folk, World, & Country Blues

jedail

103

over 4 years ago

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.

Roles:

Guitarist Music Producer

Genres:

Electronic Rock Pop

Artist usage

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Igor Tikhomirov

Bassist

KINO

Verified via Photo

In this YouTube video of Kino performing live in Minsk, Igor Tikhomirov can be seen using a Fender Jazz Bass Special at 6:53. The distinctive body shape and pickup layout confirm that it is a Jazz Bass Special model. https://youtu.be/XE_MwmoLiMA?si=tk1oKexlYFfRBfXQ&t=413

Daniel Fox

Bassist, Music Producer

Girl Band

Verified via Photo

On the cover of GB's live at Vicar St Album Fox can be seen using a Fender Jazz Bass Special

Michael Bishop

Singer, Bassist

Gwar

Verified via YouTube

Back when he was the original beefcake the mighty of gwar his first bass he ever toured with was a Japanese Fender Jazz Bass Special custom painted to look like a steak. He later retired the Jazz Bass Special for the Steinberger XM3 bass.