New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

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Matt R.
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New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

My first truly custom bass has arrived, and it's one I never thought I would be able to own, so it's really a dream bass for me in every sense of the word.

About a year ago I conjured up an idea to do a Jazz Bass that was a mix of specs from the 60's to the present, combining a few of my favorite features from each era. All in all it's a 70's Jazz with heavy mods.

I have a 60's Custom Shop Jazz, so the only nods to that decade on this one are the alder body and the heavy relic nitro finish, with Olympic White over Sunburst. I have always been more or less ambivalent about relic finishes- I never really made it a goal to own a bass with one, but I also never got why people have such an aggressive hatred for them (it's just a damn finish option after all). Anyway, I've always had a weakness for the solid color over burst thing, especially after I saw a buddy's CS Strat with a surf green over burst finish. So here we are.

The 70's part- well, most of it. Blocks, binding, pickup spacing, 3 bolt neck with bullet truss. It's my favorite era of the Jazz Bass aesthetically speaking.

The 80's part- Had to leave that out, sorry.

The modern part- A silky smooth 9.5 fingerboard radius, and posiflex graphite stiffening rods in the neck. I'm able to get this neck dead straight with the lowest of action. This thing practically plays itself. I couldn't be happier with a bass. I've been a Fender Jazz Bass fan ever since I was a kid, and now I feel like I own the coolest one on the planet!

Here's the porn:

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tim
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by tim »

Holy smokes! :shock: :shock: :shock:

That IS cool!
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

Thanks man, I certainly agree! I’m so hyped about it!
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jayceofbass
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by jayceofbass »

Boosh and/or KAKAOW!!
Sometimes I think, maybe I'm lucky I'm left handed. If I could play any bass I wanted, my collection would REALLY be out of control.

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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

jayceofbass wrote:Boosh and/or KAKAOW!!

You are correct sir
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andrew
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by andrew »

:shock: Holy smokes. Congratulations.
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superheavydeathmetal
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by superheavydeathmetal »

Yeah, that's awesome! I hope you are thrilled with it forever!
Gilmourisgod wrote:I never really "got" what a Rick is capable of until I ran it stereo a few times in my college band. We used to call it the "Piano of Doom". You get all the bottom and all the top in total a**kicking mode.
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NoXX
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by NoXX »

Wow! What a giant collection of bad-assery bass awesome-sauce! I think the rest of your bass collection will be jealous of the new “old” kid on the block, as I bet you’ll have a hard time putting it down.. wicked!

Now after downsizing, and convincing myself I was ok without a bass to tinker with, I want a Fender Jazz again, damn you... :lol:
In the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is often useful...
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

DO IT
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paulo
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by paulo »

Image
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NoXX
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by NoXX »

Matt R. wrote:DO IT
:mrgreen: will start planning...
In the topsy-turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is often useful...
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Jeroen
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Jeroen »

Lovely! I'm never a fan of relic finishes over sunburst, but this is by far the nicest I've seen!
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AzWhoFan
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by AzWhoFan »

Congrats Matt, I hope she sounds better than she looks! And she does look fine indeed. Was that a team build? How long did the build take? And could you clue me in to what size/style frets are on it?
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

It’s ‘custom built’. Frets are 6150 “narrow tall” like on the current American Professional stuff.
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pjmuck
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by pjmuck »

That looks truly amazing. Do they actually finish the bass entirely in SB first and then apply the white over it? :o

Congrats!
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

pjmuck wrote:That looks truly amazing. Do they actually finish the bass entirely in SB first and then apply the white over it? :o

Congrats!

I assume so
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donahue
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by donahue »

Holy shit that's awesome! The relicd finish over a relicd finish! Kudos to the custom shop and to you for such a cool idea!
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

Post by Matt R. »

donahue wrote:Holy shit that's awesome! The relicd finish over a relicd finish! Kudos to the custom shop and to you for such a cool idea!

Thanks! It plays and sounds as good as it looks too.
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Matt R.
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Re: New Fender Custom Shop heavy Relic Jazz Bass

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