FENDER JAZZ BASS (1983-1984)

  • Fender Jazz Bass 1983
    Fender Jazz Bass 1983

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • bass guitars

Series name: 

Variant of: 

Dates of manufacture: 

1983 to 1984

Mike Smith gave the following information on the 1983 Fender Jazz Bass: This bass also came with deluxe "F" tuning machines, Biflex tress rod, micro tilt neck and the pickups are located in the 70's Fender bass position. 1983 was the last year Fender manufactured the "Standard Jazz Bass" in the USA for a decade. And it was also the last year of the Fullerton built basses on the original equipment. Very few of these basses were produced in 1983 due to Fender building the new plant and being in the process of moving locations. Also available in ivory finish: # 549 on the Fender Color Chart in 1983. It is often called "Cream" or Olympic White by the uninformed.

Specifications (14)

Controls

Tone controls1 tone control
Volume controls2 volume controls

Electronics

Pickups configuration2 jazz bass style pickups

General

Finish colorsivory finish
Made inUSA
Number of strings4 strings

Body

Body shape featuresdouble cutaway
Body stylejazz bass body style
Pickguard materialwhite pickguard

Fretboard

Fingerboard materialmaple fingerboard
Fingerboard position markersdot fingerboard position markers

Neck

Neck materialmaple neck
Number of frets20 fret
Tuner layoutfour-in-a-row tuners

Prices (5)

DatePriceConditionNameComments
1983$835.00newMichael K. SmithCame with Fender Hard Shell
1983$835.00newMichael K. Smith Color: Cream with White one piece pickguard and White Control Knobs; Came with Fender Hard Shell
2018R10000worn
1986$550.00newBought at Sol Betnun's Betnun music store on Larchmont and Melrose in Los Angeles, California.
1985$600.00newJoeGreat bass, completely stock, still sounds amazing in 2022

Reviews (3)

FENDER JAZZ BASS (1983-1984) reviewed by Anonymous

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
I have an 83 standard jazz bass with maple neck and the deluxe tuners, ivory or cream colored with white pickguard. Great intonation all the way down to the twentieth fret position.

FENDER JAZZ BASS (1983-1984) reviewed by Michael K. Smith

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
The 1983 Fender Standard Jazz bass USA was the last Standard model jazz produced in the USA for over 10 years. All of Standard Fender basses came from Japan or Mexico and production of a true American Standard bass didn't take place again until about 1995. You will find the Longhorn Jazz basses being manufactured in 1993 but most bass players don't consider it a true Standard Jazz but a separate Fender bass line of its own.

FENDER JAZZ BASS (1983-1984) reviewed by Michael K. Smith

5
Average: 5 (1 vote)
During the Mid 1970's Fender had gotten into trouble because CBS had been more concerned with increasing production numbers than with the quality of their product. By 1980 it was clear Fender was on the wrong track and a change had to be made or there would be no more Fender. That change came with a shake up in management and bringing Dan Smith in to work on designs and improving quality. The Fender Jazz bass had gotten a very poor reputation by this time for having problems with the 3 bolt necks and other quality issues. Fender went back and studied the earlier and better built basses and by the end of 1982 Jazz Bass production had been brought to a halt. Employees were completely retrained and each bass was inspected closely until the quality was up to early production Fenders. When the 1983 Fender Jazz Bass, with the one piece pick guard, came down the production line it was built to what would now be considered Custom Shop quality. Due to Fender also being in the process of being sold to the employees and private investors along with a new plant needing to be built, few of the new design 1983 Fender Jazz Basses were produced that year . Overall, total production was about the same number as the 1960 Jazz bass with stacked knobs. This makes a 1983 Fender American Jazz bass very rare and also the last Jazz produced at the Fullerton Plant. It came in 4 colors, 3 Tone Burst, Black, Ivory, also called Cream by the uninformed and Sienna Burst. Most 1983 Fender Jazz basses are found in 3 Tone Burst or Black. The models in Ivory are much rarer with a Sienna Burst being the hardest to find. Also, the 1983 model Jazz Basses with serial numbers of E 8 plus 4 digits are of extra importance because they were hand built one at a time to insure quality and were suppose to go out to Musical Artist sign with Fender as Demo Models for them to use in recordings and at concerts. Due to an error in shipping some were distributed to music stores and sold to individuals by mistake. If you find one of these basses you have a piece of true Fender history in your hand and somewhat of a Goldmine. The 1983 Fender Jazz Basses also have the rear pickup placed closer to the bridge which gives them more growl like the mid-70's bass. As far as how they play, well, they play great because they are the very point at which Fender got its groove back! As far as rumors go that Fender guitars from 1983 until Fender was sold are cost cutting design guitars, is far from the truth! Fender spent big money and took major production losses to bring the 1983 model Jazz Bass and other guitars and basses to market. Due to limit production of the 1983 Jazz Bass model it could be the most expensive bass Fender ever produced cost wise to the company. But, the proof is in the pudding and playing a 1983 Fender Jazz will settle the issue. There is much more interesting information about the 1983 model bass and those built in 1983 but had 1970 design parts and serial numbers but that is information for another time!

Gallery (2)

Players (0)