Up for sale, a 1966 Fender Jazz Bass in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. This Jazz Bass is a soulful example, 100% original save for a professional refret, boasting all the hallmarks of the '66 model year including a bold nitro lacquer three-tone Sunburst finish, a bound rosewood fingerboard with pearloid block inlay, and lollipop-button tuners. This bass was purportedly originally owned by Joe Bouchard, co-founder of Blue Oyster Cult, and while no supporting documentation of Bouchard's ownership has been retained, the story merits inclusion.

Tonewoods include an alder body and maple neck, and this bass is naturally resonant and lively-sounding, weighing 9lbs 4oz. The original black bobbin pickup pair is both articulate and meaty, with plenty of upper midrange presence and burp, and smooth growl with the bridge pickup favored. The sound has plenty of breadth too and a punchy thump with the Tone knob rolled back to taste. This Jazz Bass has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 45-100 roundwound strings, comfortable action, and spot-on intonation.

The maple neck has a medium depth U-shaped profile carve at the nut, with a gentle increase in additional heft further up the fretboard, measuring .830” deep at the 1st fret and .980” at the 12th. The bound rosewood fingerboard features pearloid block inlay, freshly refretted with pristine medium jumbo fretwire and playing cleanly up the 34” scale with a straight neck and a responsive, optimally-adjusted truss rod. The nut measures 1 1/2" in width, and the headstock retains the original "lollipop" Fender-embossed tuning machines with positively gleaming chrome plating. The bold August, 1966 date stamp is intact on the neck heel, with all the original factory markings and stamps present on the heel and in the neck pocket.

All of the electronics function as intended, with the original black bobbin pickup pair wired to Stackpole pots that date to the 37th week of ‘66. The chrome-plated hardware has plenty of shine, including the control plate and “ashtray” bridge cover. The bridge base and two of the threaded saddles are original, with two new Fender USA saddles aged to match. Plastics comprise the original trio of knobs and the four-ply red nitrate "meatball" tortoise pickguard.

The Sunburst gloss nitro lacquer finish is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, exhibiting lacquer checking and a small area of concentrated wear on the bass side of the pick path. There is moderate buckle rash on the back, and various dings and scuffs from decades of consistent use. The nitro lacquer on the neck profile has a smooth, worn in feel.

A modern hardshell case is included.