Squier Expands Contemporary Series with New Jazz Basses
Squier’s Contemporary Series got a little bigger at the Summer NAMM Show this year with the introduction of three new Jazz Basses: the Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH, the Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH V, and the Contemporary Jazz Bass. Notably, the four and five-string active models offer a more modern take on the Jazz Bass with a set of humbuckers and a 9-volt preamp. The Squier SQR ceramic humbucking pickups produce a “high fidelity tone,” Fender says, while the preamp offers stacked boost controls for bass and treble.
The passive model’s single-coil pickups also feature ceramic magnets and come in a standard Jazz Bass control layout. All of the new Contemporary Jazz basses are setup for “speed-demon bass runs” with a slim “C”-shaped neck profile and a 12-inch fingerboard radius. Where the active models have a maple fingerboard, the passive is built with one of Indian Laurel.
The new Squier Contemporary Series Jazz basses will be available in August with prices of $349 for the Contemporary Jazz Bass, $399 for the Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH, and $429 for the five-string Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH V.
Squier Contemporary Jazz Bass Features:
| Body Material: | Poplar |
| Body Finish: | Gloss Polyurethane |
| Body Shape: | Jazz Bass |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Natural Satin with Gloss Matching Headstock |
| Neck Shape: | “C” Shape |
| Scale Length: | 34? (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard: | Indian Laurel |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12? (305 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
| String Nut: | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.5? (38.1 mm) |
| Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt Squier |
| Pickups: | Ceramic Single-Coil Jazz Bass |
| Controls: | Volume/Volume/Tone |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle Standard |
| Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Standard Open-Gear |
| Pickguard: | 3-Ply Parchment |
| Control Knobs: | Black Plastic |
| Colors: | Dark Metallic Red, Ocean Blue Metallic |
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH Features:
| Body Material: | Ash |
| Body Finish: | Matte Polyurethane |
| Body Shape: | Jazz Bass |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Natural Satin with Gloss Matching Headstock |
| Neck Shape: | “C” Shape |
| Scale Length: | 34? (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12? (305 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
| String Nut: | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.5? (38.1 mm) |
| Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt Squier |
| Pickups: | Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Blend, Master Tone, Bass/Treble Boost |
| Bridge: | 4-Saddle Standard |
| Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Standard Open-Gear |
| Pickguard: | 3-Ply Black or White |
| Control Knobs: | Metal Dome |
| Colors: | Flat White, Flat Black |
Squier Contemporary Active Jazz Bass HH V Features:
| Strings: | 5 |
| Body Material: | Ash |
| Body Finish: | Matte Polyurethane |
| Body Shape: | Jazz Bass |
| Neck Material: | Maple |
| Neck Finish: | Natural Satin with Gloss Matching Headstock |
| Neck Shape: | “C” Shape |
| Scale Length: | 34? (864 mm) |
| Fingerboard: | Maple |
| Fingerboard Radius: | 12? (305 mm) |
| Number of Frets: | 20 |
| Fret Size: | Narrow Tall |
| String Nut: | Synthetic Bone |
| Nut Width: | 1.875″ (47.6 mm) |
| Neck Plate: | 4-Bolt Squier |
| Pickups: | Squier SQR Ceramic Humbucker |
| Controls: | Master Volume, Blend, Master Tone, Bass/Treble Boost |
| Bridge: | 5-Saddle Standard |
| Hardware Finish: | Chrome |
| Tuning Machines: | Standard Open-Gear |
| Pickguard: | 3-Ply Black or White |
| Control Knobs: | Metal Dome |
| Colors: | Flat White, Flat Black |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
