Listen to The Beatles White Album. Paul uses his 1966 Jazz Bass on it quite a bit, Glass Onion, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Yer Blues. Very cool tone.
I just got my first P bass, a Player series Mexican, but it’s flawless to me. The thing is I’ve had a home studio for years and never realized how much better a P bass or any Jazzbass sits in the mix with flats on it. I’ve opened a new door! Gosh that is a great bass, beautiful brilliant colors and that pick gaurd is just really outstanding! I bought a new one for the new P bass and it is a PHOTO of one like yours that is out of focus even. You would think that they would have at least got it in focus. Hey thanks for sharing!
That is one sweet bass ya got there! I have an all original 1962 P - but in nowhere near as pristine condition as that one. But, I still feel as you do that we're extremely lucky to have them. Thanks for sharing!
Great bass 🙂,My 1969 jazz bass has the paddle tuners with the black bold fender decal by the way, heard you might find them up to 1970 basses, haven't seen one tho.
My Jan '66 has pops. Dot inlays. Hootnanny strap button. Threaded saddles Incredible Jazz tone. Pawn shop purchase 1977 $325.00. Yeah- I'm that old. Worth 10 times that now. Me, not so much.
I had this exact model, back in 1970 - lollypop pegs, sunburst, plastic knobs, and all. Stripped the paint and stained it walnut, dropped out of college and sold it. Nice to hear it again
Yup sounds like a jazz bass with the la bella flats on it, which is a decent sound. I run lz bella flats on my Mexican p-bass along with a 0.1uF orange drop capacitor gets really ThUmPy. Easiest way to change the tone of a bass is to change the strings & caps. I generally run my Jazz with D'Addario ground wounds a a 0.047uF cap.
very good conditions. my 66 is very worn in the back .. the usual belt ... i dig more the dots and bindings 66 but this one looks lovely, i dig the pick guard too, most of the tortoise 66 p.g are plain and dark
In reality im not much of a materialistic person but i dont know when it comes to fender instruments especially basses and guitars i go nuts. man my all time favorite Bass! thats the Cats Pajamas right there! thanks for showing that beauty! some day ill get one...
Now THIS ONE sounds great my friend. When you hung on that fretted D for a few seconds, it seems as if it could have resonated FOREVER. '66 was a fickle year as CBS was running rampant and Q/C was on it's way down. You got a GOOD ONE!
one of the most beautiful fender bursts i've seen. i love when it wasn't blended as well. of course on rics the poorly blended can be hideous. thanks for sharing. :)
Don't know if you're still answering any questions but I played a 66 Jazz for many years, lollipops, headstock strap button, block inlays (sunburst finish had been removed before I bought it) anyway the way I always played it was with the tone pot on full treble & both volumes up full, I'd then back the bridge pickup volume back just a very slight bit and sound would bloom getting much fatter, full with a thick deep tone ! I own several G&L JBs that I play now and the tone or wiring just will not do this big fattening up with just a very slight roll back on the bridge volume. Do you know if this one has that characteristic also ?
The tone definitely gets more full with just a bit of bite when I roll back the bridge p/u volume slightly on this '66. I can't say it "blooms" so much but you can definitely dial in a warmer, more full, tone. All of my Fender jazz basses behave this way. My Sadowsky also gets a bit "fatter" when I roll back the bridge slightly.
Thanks for the reply @@jonathangroomsbassist what you're saying sounds similar, being a fan of the Fender Jazz bass I've gravitated to the G&L Jazz bass being Leo's last company, owning quite a few (I'd rather leave the 66 at home) none have the same fattening of the low end with a slight roll back of the vol pot, they also use 250k CTS pots with a .05 cap on the tone pot (not a disc) I think early Fenders have a .05 disc cap. I'll have to open the 66 & take some readings with a VOM to compare. Again thanks.
Hi Jonathan, congrats…outstanding bass and playing! You may solve a big doubt I’m around from some times, owning both an AV ‘64 and an original ‘66. First of all, would you say that the original 66 sounds better than the AV 64? Now, I am looking for a reissue and I am strongly undecided between a ‘66 and a ‘64. Your ‘66 is exactly, aesthetically, what I am looking for (sunburst with blocks in the fretboard which weren’t available before than ‘66), but I am not sure whether a 66 reissue mounts the famous AV 64 pickups I’d love to have, or different ones. In case, would you suggest an american vintage (necessarily used) or an american vintage 2 (still in production)? Not many people could solve my case as you own the this 2 very specific instruments and can answer both my questions. Would really appreciate your help! Thanks!
That's a difficult question to answer. If you really like the look and aesthetics of the 1966 I would go for a reissue of one of those. It will sound very similar to the 1964 reissue. I have a Custom Shop 1964 also and it is far superior to the 64AV in my opinion. The 64AV did not seem to have enough warmth to my ears. It was very thin sounding compared to my other jazz basses.
Mmmh, that’s interesting. A CS ‘66 may be a solution for me. Do you believe it would be as warm and full as the CS ‘64 you described? Not easy to find around for direct testing. Thanks again!
we should give you the lollipop guild award , I'm just jealous you have such nice basses and you play well. My bass is like yours but Lake Placid blue . Thank you very much
Wow! that bass looks like someone stuck it in case back in 66 and left it there for 50 plus years! Now thats a survivor!!! John you are one lucky dog!! I'd kill for that bass! Only drawback is I would be afraid to take it out gigging.
I don't blame you, if I took it out to a show, I would not let it out of my sight. If I had to use the toilet during a break, it would be sitting on my lap! LOL!
Kinda like John Paul Jones and his 62 Jazz bass from the Led Zeppelin days. I saw an interview with him and he said he still has the bass but he NEVER takes it out on gigs anymore. It is strictly studio use now its got so much history and its like a family member now. Not to mention with the history of that particular bass and its vintage, its worth more than the average 62 I'm sure.
Alright, I've come to terms that I can never get my Jazz bass to sound exactly like this. I have a MIM Fender Jazz bass deluxe with a Badass II bridge. Do you guys think that adding Seymour Duncan Antiquity II's will bring my sound closer to the throaty "bark" as you call it? or Do I stay with the stock PUPS?
Difficult to say as I've heard many MIM Jazz basses sound quite good with stock pickups. If yours are not cutting it, the Duncans wouldn't hurt. Honestly, for your MIM bass I would suggest Dimarzio Ultra Jazz pickups. I think they will provide the throaty bark you are looking for.
