The decades-long standard for bass tone and playability.

The Fender American Jazz Bass approaches Custom Shop quality with its premium ash or alder body, slim graphite-reinforced neck with rolled edges, highly detailed fret and nut work, and U.S. Jazz Bass pickups. It also features an S-1 switch that changes the pickups from parallel to series when engaged, creating a fatter, wider, almost humbucking tone similar to that of a Precision bass. 9-1/2"-radius fingerboard, 34" scale, and 1-1/2" nut width.

Fender American Jazz Bass Features:

• Premium ash or alder body
• Rosewood or maple fingerboard with 9-1/2" radius
• 20 medium-jumbo frets
• Graphite-reinforced maple neck
• Rolled fingerboard edges
• 2 U.S. Jazz Bass single-coil pickups
• Volume/volume/master tone controls
• American string-thru-body bridge
• Cast, open-backed machine heads
• Chrome hardware
• 34" scale
• 1.5" nut width
• S-1 switching (parallel/series)
• Molded Fender hardshell case

Fender American Jazz Bass Includes:

• hardshell case

It's the kind. Don't think about it; just get it.

Fender American Jazz Bass

Write A Review

Average of 71 User Ratings

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Customer Reviews

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

The One

Posted by deluxe fan from Ireland on Oct 28, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock/Country

I have been a bass player for over 40 years and played some rubbish axes until I got a Fender. What a vast improvement but the bum C,C",D on the G string put me off until I bought the American Deluxe and it is the one the perfect one. A wonderful slim playing neck and board, great sound and excellant value.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Fantastic Bass

Posted by AnthonyA from Glasgow, Scotland on May 25, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Aspiring Session Bassist

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Metal, Blues, Jazz, Alternative

I set out wanting a 5-string active bass, my ideal catch being a 5HH Musicman Bongo. The Bongo was fine, but what I realised was that active basses sound kinda artificial to me :/ And the painted neck on the Bongo was horrible. The salesman then came out with an American Jazz and it feels amazing. The neck is great, smooth, heavenly even :P I still sit there with the bass in my hands while browsing the net etc, it feels so good. As for sound, well with the stock Fender strings the tonal versatility isn't too great. I got about 3 decent tones, one being from the S-1 switch. If you get this bass, change the strings (I'm using DR HiBeams and they are perfect, the bass hits every tone that was muddy before perfectly) and you'll be set for life.

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Awesome

Posted by T-Money from Lexington, KY on Apr 20, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Rock, Alternative

I bought this bass about three months ago and haven't quit staring at it or playing it since. It is simply amazing and I wouldn't sell it for anything. The maple fret board is flawless. If you dont have it buy one, or check out the music man sting ray

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

A wonderful instrument

Posted by Wil from Portland OR on Jan 11, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Blues, rock, jazz, country

I've had my jazz bass for about a month now and the more I play it the more I like it! Mine is black and has a capped maple fret board, with no skunk stripe! Mine came from the factory setup perfect, the intonation, action and truss-rod adjustment were dead on! I love the S-1 switching, you can get just about any sound you want from this bass!

Overall

Quality

Features

Value

Fender IS American Jazz

Posted by YankeeBayonet from Springfield, Mo on Jan 6, 2008

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Indie, Folk, Jazz, Rock

I just recieved a used 2001 F.A.J.B. and couldn't be happier! Thankfully, it lacks the S-1 switching. The neck is so easy to move around, and the bass' tone is a delight. Very versatile. With a few amp tweaks, you can bring it from round and punchy to an evicerating growl! You absolutely cannot go wrong!

View more product reviews »

If you would like to write a review, please see our product review guidelines.

Fender American Jazz Bass

Read 71 Reviews