Probably the Finest 1966 Jazz Bass Extant!

One of the very few early 1966 Jazz Basses featuring binding added to the dot inlay neck, an upgrade consistent with other high-end instruments in the Fender line and their competitors. The bound neck was purely cosmetic, and was augmented by block inlays by mid-1966. This very lightweight bass guitar weighs just 9.30 lbs. and has a very narrow nut width (compared to the Precision Bass) of just under 1 1/2 inches and a scale length of 34 inches. Solid alder body, one-piece maple neck, and rosewood veneer fretboard with 20 frets and inlaid pearl dot position markers. Headstock decal with "Fender" in gold with black trim and five patent numbers in black below it, "Jazz Bass," "Trade Mark," and "Electric Bass" in black in three lines beside it, and "Offset Contour Body" at the ball end of the headstock. Single round string tree. Individual Fender tuners with oval "paddle" metal buttons. Four-bolt neck plate with the Fender backward "F" logo and the serial number ("137163") above it. Two eight-polepiece pickups with outputs of 5.96k and 6.39k. Tortoiseshell/white/black/white plastic pickguard with bevelled edges. Three controls (two volume blend controls, one for each pickup, and one master tone control) and jack socket, all on metal plate adjoining pickguard. With the original thumb rest on the treble side of the pickguard. Black plastic knobs with white markings. Combined four-saddle bridge/tailpiece. With both original bass pickup and bridge pickup covers, the bridge cover with the original mute. The neck is dated "7 JAN 66 A" and the pots are dated "137-6612" (the twelfth week of 1966). A couple of minuscule marks on the back of the guitar, otherwise this phenomenal bass guitar is in mint condition -- as if it has never been played! Housed in the original Fender black hardshell case with dark orange plush lining (9.25). Complete with original black leather guitar strap, original lead, original numbered hang tag, original brown envelope with case keys, original packing slip, and original receipt.

"After the introduction of the Jazzmaster in 1958, Fender needed an upscale model to augment the bass line. In 1960, Leo's new Jazz Bass borrowed the offset waist and part of the name from the Jazzmaster. It also featured a narrower neck width, which was faster playing than the Precision Bass" (J.W. Black and Albert Molinaro, The Fender Bass, p. 25).