Who is the Fender Jaco Pastorius signature bass named after?

It is named after Jaco Pastorius, an influential bassist of the 1970s and 80s known for his work in jazz, funk, and rock. He is famous for pioneering the use of the fretless electric bass.

What is the body material of this bass?

The bass features a body made of select alder. This wood is chosen for its balanced tone and is a traditional material for Fender Jazz Basses.

What type of fingerboard does this model use?

It uses a fretless pau ferro fingerboard. This material provides a durable and smooth surface that contributes to the instrument's signature 'singing' fretless tone.

What finish is applied to the Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass?

The guitar features a nitrocellulose lacquer finish in 3-color sunburst. Nitrocellulose is preferred by many for its vintage-accurate look and the way it allows the body wood to resonate.

How many strings does this model have?

This is a standard 4-string bass guitar. It follows the traditional configuration used by Jaco Pastorius throughout his career.

What genres is this bass suitable for?

It is designed to be highly versatile, suiting jazz, funk, rock, blues, and Latin music. The fretless design allows for a wide range of expressive playing styles across these genres.

Is this a fretted or fretless bass?

This is a fretless bass guitar. It is designed to offer the smooth playing feel and distinct sliding sounds associated with Jaco Pastorius's technique.

What is the typical price for this instrument?

The typical price for the Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass is approximately £2,799. This reflects its status as a high-end signature model.

How does this compare to a Fender Player II Jazz Bass?

The Jaco Pastorius model is a specialized signature instrument with a fretless fingerboard and nitrocellulose finish. The Player II Jazz Bass is a standard fretted production model with different specifications like a rosewood fingerboard.

What neck wood is used on this model?

The neck is constructed from maple. This is paired with the pau ferro fingerboard to provide a stable and resonant playing experience.

Does this bass provide a vintage or modern sound?

It is designed to offer a vintage-inspired sound. The selection of alder, maple, and the nitrocellulose finish are all intended to replicate the tone of Jaco’s original 1960s-era Jazz Bass.

What is the significance of the nitrocellulose finish?

The nitrocellulose finish is a vintage-style coating that is thinner than modern polyurethane. It is often cited by players for improving the instrument's resonance and aging gracefully.

Gear article

Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass

The Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass is a signature 4-string instrument designed to replicate the specifications of the bass used by the influential 1970s and 80s musician. It features a fretless pau ferro fingerboard and a vintage-style alder body, aimed at providing the expressive, singing tone associated with Pastorius's work across jazz, funk, and rock.

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Background and History

Jaco Pastorius is widely regarded as one of the most iconic bassists in musical history, known for his work in the 1970s and 80s that bridged the gap between jazz, funk, rock, and Latin music. He is particularly credited with redefining the role of the electric bass by removing the frets from a standard Fender instrument to achieve a more fluid, vocal-like quality. This signature model from Fender is a tribute to that legacy, designed to replicate the specific feel and tonal response of Pastorius's modified equipment.

Design and Key Features

The instrument is built around a select alder body paired with a maple neck, a classic combination for the Jazz Bass platform. A distinguishing feature is the fretless pau ferro fingerboard, which provides a smooth playing surface essential for the 'mwah' sound characteristic of fretless playing. The guitar is finished in a 3-color sunburst with a nitrocellulose lacquer, which allows the wood to breathe and age naturally over time, adhering to vintage specifications.

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Sound and Character

The Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass is designed to offer a wide range of tones, from punchy bridge-pickup growl to warm, woody neck-pickup resonance. The lack of frets allows for seamless transitions between notes and more expressive vibrato. It captures the distinct sound of the fretless Fender platform that Pastorius used to innovate within the jazz and fusion genres.

Target Audience

This bass is intended for professional musicians and serious enthusiasts who require the specific tonal flexibility of a high-end fretless instrument. Because it facilitates a wide range of genres including blues, jazz, and funk, it suits players who need an instrument capable of traversing multiple musical landscapes. Its premium price point of approximately £2,799 reflects its status as a signature American-made instrument.

Comparison to Alternatives

Within the Fender ecosystem, this model sits above the Player II and American Professional II series in terms of vintage-specific signature appointments. While the Squier Classic Vibe series offers budget-friendly active 70s-style Jazz Basses, the Jaco signature model focuses on passive, vintage accuracy and the unique nitrocellulose finish. For entry-level players, fretless alternatives like the Chicago Fretless Bass offer a more accessible starting point, though they lack the premium materials and signature specifications of the Fender model.

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Frequently asked questions

Who is the Fender Jaco Pastorius signature bass named after?: It is named after Jaco Pastorius, an influential bassist of the 1970s and 80s known for his work in jazz, funk, and rock. He is famous for pioneering the use of the fretless electric bass.
What is the body material of this bass?: The bass features a body made of select alder. This wood is chosen for its balanced tone and is a traditional material for Fender Jazz Basses.
What type of fingerboard does this model use?: It uses a fretless pau ferro fingerboard. This material provides a durable and smooth surface that contributes to the instrument's signature 'singing' fretless tone.
What finish is applied to the Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass?: The guitar features a nitrocellulose lacquer finish in 3-color sunburst. Nitrocellulose is preferred by many for its vintage-accurate look and the way it allows the body wood to resonate.
How many strings does this model have?: This is a standard 4-string bass guitar. It follows the traditional configuration used by Jaco Pastorius throughout his career.
What genres is this bass suitable for?: It is designed to be highly versatile, suiting jazz, funk, rock, blues, and Latin music. The fretless design allows for a wide range of expressive playing styles across these genres.
Is this a fretted or fretless bass?: This is a fretless bass guitar. It is designed to offer the smooth playing feel and distinct sliding sounds associated with Jaco Pastorius's technique.
What is the typical price for this instrument?: The typical price for the Fender Jaco Pastorius Fretless Jazz Bass is approximately £2,799. This reflects its status as a high-end signature model.
How does this compare to a Fender Player II Jazz Bass?: The Jaco Pastorius model is a specialized signature instrument with a fretless fingerboard and nitrocellulose finish. The Player II Jazz Bass is a standard fretted production model with different specifications like a rosewood fingerboard.
What neck wood is used on this model?: The neck is constructed from maple. This is paired with the pau ferro fingerboard to provide a stable and resonant playing experience.
Does this bass provide a vintage or modern sound?: It is designed to offer a vintage-inspired sound. The selection of alder, maple, and the nitrocellulose finish are all intended to replicate the tone of Jaco’s original 1960s-era Jazz Bass.
What is the significance of the nitrocellulose finish?: The nitrocellulose finish is a vintage-style coating that is thinner than modern polyurethane. It is often cited by players for improving the instrument's resonance and aging gracefully.