1960 FENDER JAZZ BASS

1960 Fender Jazz Bass

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In late 1960 Fender debuted the Jazz bass. It featured a thinner neck at the nut, two single coil 8 pole black bobbin pickups controlled by two stacked concentric volume/tone knobs, individual string mutes, an exposed bridge ground wire, an added strapholder on the headstock back, a one piece logo applied on top of the finish including "PAT. PEND." with no individual patent numbers, Kluson no-name riveted clover reverse tuners, clay dot fret markers, slab rosewood fretboard, bone nut, neck butt pencil date, fifth hole on neck butt for hanging while painting, no neck pocket paint stick, body nail holes (for painting/drying), tortoise shell/white/black/white pickguard on all colors, thumb rest under G string, ground shields under pickups, pickup cavity pencil date, small panhead shaped fastening screws on chrome bridge/pickup covers and on pots assembly plate, CTS (Chicago Telephone Supply) or Stackpole potentiometers, ground shield under pots assembly, 2 large cylindrical tone capacitors with blue stripe, two small resistors, cloth covered electrical wiring, Switchcraft input jack, coarse threaded bridge saddles, light brown tolex case with gold interior or black gigbag.

Serial numbers ranged from roughly 44000 to 58725, although there are many overlapping exceptions. For more precise dating, cross reference the serial number with the instrument's neck butt date, body date and potentiometer codes. The serial number is occasionally located at the bottom of the neckplate instead of at the top.