Fender Introduces Four New American Vintage Basses

Fender has expanded its American Vintage series with four new basses including the ’58 Precision Bass, the ’63 Precision Bass, the ’64 Jazz Bass, and the ’74 Jazz Bass. As with the rest of the line, the new basses are reimagined to bring new life to the original designs. Each bass was picked for significant milestones in the model’s lifespan.

Fender American Vintage ’58 Precision Bass

Fender American Vintage ’58 Precision Bass

1958 was the first year that the Precision bass was available in 3-color Sunburst finish, and the new American Vintage ’58 Precision honors that and more as it is also comes in White Blonde and Black finishes. Other features include an alder body (ash on the White Blonde version), a thick “C”-shaped maple neck, a gold anodized aluminum pickguard with lacquer finish, and a new American Vintage ’58 split single-coil pickup.

Fender American Vintage ’58 Precision Bass Specs:

  • Finishes: 3-Color Sunburst, White Blonde, Black
  • Body: Alder (Ash on White Blonde)
  • Neck Shape: Large “C”
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style
  • Fingerboard Radius: 7.25? (184.1 mm)
  • Fingerboard: Maple
  • Neck Material: 1-Piece Maple
  • Nut Width: 1.735? (44.1 mm)
  • Scale Length: 34? (864 mm)
  • Truss Rods: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
  • Pickup Configuration: Split Single-Coil
  • Middle Pickup: American Vintage Split Single-Coil ’58 Precision Bass
  • Controls: Volume, Tone
  • Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
  • Bridge: American Vintage Bass with Threaded Steel “Barrel” Saddles
  • Bridge Cover: Includes Chrome Bridge Cover
  • String Nut: Bone
  • Tuning Machines: American Vintage Reverse Open-Gear
  • Pickup Covers: Chrome Pickup Cover
  • Unique Features: Mounted Chrome Pickup and Bridge Covers, Lower-Mounted Finger Rest, Black Dot Position Inlays
  • Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
  • Street Price: $1,999

Fender American Vintage ’63 Precision Bass

Fender American Vintage ’63 Precision Bass

The American Vintage ’63 Precision Bass commemorates the year Fender introduced a new round-laminated rosewood fingerboard to the P-bass. It also has a slightly wider “C”-shaped neck with clay-colored dot fingerboard inlays, a three-ply mint green pickguard, lower-mounted finger rest, and chrome pickup and bridge covers. The pickup is a new American Vintage ’63 split single-coil made specially for this bass.

Fender American Vintage ’63 Precision Bass Specs:

  • Finishes: 3-Color Sunburst, Olympic White, Faded Sonic Blue, Seminole Red
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck Shape: “C”
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style
  • Position Inlays: Clay Dot
  • Fingerboard Radius: 7.25? (184.1 mm)
  • Fingerboard: Round-Laminated Rosewood
  • Neck Material: Maple
  • Nut Width: 1.74? (44.19 mm)
  • Scale Length: 34? (864 mm)
  • Neck Plate: 4-Bolt
  • Truss Rods: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
  • Pickup Configuration: Split Single-Coil
  • Middle Pickup: American Vintage Split Single-Coil ’63 Precision Bass
  • Controls: Volume, Tone
  • Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
  • Bridge: American Vintage Bass with Threaded Steel “Barrel” Saddles
  • Bridge Cover: Includes Chrome Bridge Cover
  • String Nut: Bone
  • Tuning Machines: American Vintage Reverse Open-Gear
  • Pickup Covers: Chrome Pickup Cover
  • Unique Features: Mounted Chrome Pickup and Bridge Covers, Lower-Mounted Finger Rest, Clay Colored Dot Position Inlays, Auxiliary Strap Button on Back of Headstock
  • Control Knobs: Knurled Chrome
  • Street Price: $1,999

Fender American Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass

Fender American Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass

In 1964, the Jazz Bass’s C-shaped maple neck got slimmer, and it was also the last year for clay-dot fingerboard markers. These features are included on the American Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass, as well as a round-laminated rosewood fingerboard, a lower-mounted finger rest, and chrome pickup and “F”-stamped bridge covers with vintage-accurate positioning.

Fender American Vintage ’64 Jazz Bass Specs:

  • Finishes: 3-Color Sunburst, Lake Placid Blue, Olympic White, Black
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck Shape: “C” Shape
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style
  • Fingerboard Radius: 7.25? (184.1 mm)
  • Fingerboard: Round-Laminated Rosewood
  • Neck Material: Maple
  • Nut Width: 1.48? (37.59 mm)
  • Scale Length: 34? (864 mm)
  • Truss Rods: Vintage-Style Heel Adjust
  • Bridge Pickup: American Vintage Single-Coil ’64 Jazz Bass
  • Neck Pickup: American Vintage ’64 Single-Coil Jazz Bass
  • Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
  • Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
  • Bridge: American Vintage Bass with Threaded Steel “Barrel” Saddles
  • String Nut: Bone
  • Tuning Machines: American Vintage Reverse Open-Gear
  • Unique Features: Mounted Chrome Pickup and “F” Bridge Cover with Vintage Accurate Positioning, Lower Mounted Finger Rest, Clay Colored Dot Position Inlays, Auxiliary Strap Button on Back of Headstock
  • Control Knobs: Black Plastic
  • Street Price: $2,199

Fender American Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass

Fender American Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass

Fender started to overhaul the Jazz Bass in 1974. The bridge pickup was moved half an inch closer to the bridge the year before, and 1974 was the last year for four bolt necks for a while. Its neck profile was changed to a U-shape with a walnut “skunk stripe”, and white fingerboard binding and pearl block inlays made their debuts. It was also the first year for headstock “bullet” truss rod nuts, and black pickguards took the place of tortoiseshell. The American Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass follows suite and comes with or without fingerboard binding and a choice of maple or rosewood fingerboards.

Fender American Vintage ’74 Jazz Bass Specs:

  • Finishes: 3-Color Sunburst, Natural, Olympic White, Black
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck Shape: “U” Shape
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Fret Size: Vintage-Style
  • Position Inlays: Pearloid Block
  • Fingerboard Radius: 7.25? (184.1 mm)
  • Headstock Binding: White
  • Fingerboard: Round-Laminated Rosewood or Maple
  • Neck Material: Maple
  • Nut Width: 1.475? (37.46 mm)
  • Scale Length: 34? (864 mm)
  • Truss Rods: Bullet Style
  • Bridge Pickup: American Vintage Single-Coil ’74 Jazz Bass
  • Neck Pickup: American Vintage ’74 Single-Coil Jazz Bass
  • Controls: Volume 1. (Middle Pickup), Volume 2. (Bridge Pickup), Master Tone
  • Hardware Finish: Nickel/Chrome
  • Bridge: American Vintage Bass with Single Groove Steel “Barrel” Saddles
  • String Nut: Bone
  • Tuning Machines: American Vintage ’70s Stamped Open-Gear
  • Unique Features: Mounted Chrome Pickup and “F” Bridge Cover with Vintage- Accurate Positioning, Upper-Mounted Thumb Rest, “Bullet” Truss Rod Adjustment, Four-Bolt “F” Neck Plate, Walnut “Skunk” Stripe, White Neck Binding with White Pearloid Block Position Inlays
  • Control Knobs: Black Plastic
  • Street Price: $2,399

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Leave a Reply to Mike Riddle Cancel reply

  1. $2000 and up! Hell no. I built a Franken-P I named Fucker Precision Badass and for well under $700 dollars it feels better than any Fender over $1000 I’ve played. Only reason I built it and play it is because I appreciate what Fender did for the Bass world. But I really feel like they are nothing but an over priced chunk of wood.

  2. Street Price 2330€ at thomann.de :) for the maple fretboard nature finish. shipping in april.

  3. Was hoping for a re-issue with stacked pots.

  4. loving the blue jazz!

  5. Brace yourselves everyone… here comes the “OMFG WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR FENDER SX ARE WAY BETTER IT SHOULD BE $1000” comments….

    • No disrespect Scott but,that IS too much for a remake…even if it is of a old classic.I happen to still have my first bass that my mom bought for me…an actual ’74 Jazz and I get offers in that price range all the time.Don’t get me wrong,I respect the quality of craftsmanship these “vintage” basses are probably made but,these basses aren’t vintage.That’s just the facts my friend.If I’m gonna pay $2000 and up,I’m gonna have a bass made that no one else has or it has to be an authentic vintage axe,not something you can just grab at your local Guitar Center.

    • Thanks mate, but both me and fender have something in common. Neither of us asked you what you would pay for a bass and neither of us really cares ; )

    • @[743890189:2048:Jackie Clark] I agree bro… just too much. Fender keeps making the same “re-issues” in different colors and jacking up the price – especially now, with the fact that every Fender bass has a 50% chance it’ll be a lemon. I’d much rather do a custom boutique bass for that kind of money. It’ll certainly be much better quality.

  6. So Fender are following Gibson and using laminate rosewood ‘boards now.

    • “Round Laminated” on Fenders usually refers to the shape of the board; curved to match the radius, rather than planed flat on the bottom edge. Hopefully that’s still what they mean here.

  7. Take the pick guard off and there will be a big hole for the pick up. This is annoying and lowers the value.

  8. WAY overpriced! WAY!

  9. It’s strange because the MiM 60’s jazz reissue doesn’t have the big pick up hole. Buy the MiM but check under the pick guard before you buy. I emailed render and told them I’ll won’t buy an American until they change the routing.

  10. It’s been years since Fender announced a “New” bass. They just change a pickguard, finish and maybe the pickups and they have a “New” product. What a joke.