Fender Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass - Lake Placid Blue Antigua

The Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass captures a moment when the Jazz Bass had fully stepped into its own identity. Originally developed as Fender’s sleeker, higher-end bass, the Jazz Bass paired an offset body with a narrower nut width and dual single-coil voice that gave players a faster feel and more tonal range than the Precision Bass. This 1966 recreation brings that mid-'60s formula back with an alder body, gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, bound round-laminated rosewood fingerboard, paint-matched headstock and Pure Vintage '66 Single-Coil Jazz Bass pickups. The result is a period-focused Fender bass with the balance, articulation and visual detail that made the Jazz Bass a studio and stage standard.

Pure Vintage '66 Pickups Deliver Jazz Bass Articulation

The Pure Vintage '66 Single-Coil Jazz Bass pickups are voiced for the clear attack, open midrange and flexible response associated with mid-'60s Jazz Bass tone. The middle pickup supplies the rounded body and fundamental needed for supportive bass lines, while the bridge pickup adds tighter definition, bite and upper-mid presence. With separate volume controls for each pickup and a master tone, players can blend the two voices for everything from full, balanced low end to sharper bridge-focused articulation. That simple passive circuit remains one of the reasons the Jazz Bass works across so many styles.

Alder Jazz Bass Body With Gloss Nitro Finish

The alder body gives this American Vintage II Jazz Bass the focused response and balanced midrange that helped define countless Fender bass recordings. Its offset Jazz Bass shape sits comfortably against the player while giving the instrument a sleeker profile than earlier Fender bass designs. A gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish keeps the feel and appearance period-correct, with the kind of thin, traditional finish approach associated with vintage Fender instruments. The body, matching painted headstock and 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard lean fully into the distinctive look of the 1966 Jazz Bass.

1966 U Neck With Bound Rosewood Fingerboard

The maple neck uses a 1966 U profile for a substantial but comfortable feel, while the 1.5" bone nut preserves the narrower Jazz Bass spacing that made the model feel fast and accessible. A bound round-laminated rosewood fingerboard gives the neck one of its most recognizable mid-'60s details, pairing a 7.25" radius with 20 vintage tall frets for a familiar vintage playing surface. White pearloid dot inlays, black side dots and 1-ply white neck binding complete the period-correct look. For players who want a vintage-style neck that still feels direct and playable, this setup is a major part of the instrument’s appeal.

Pure Vintage Hardware Completes the Era-Correct Build

Fender equips this bass with Pure Vintage hardware that reinforces the 1966 feel from the bridge to the tuners. The 4-saddle bridge uses threaded steel saddles and 5-screw vintage-style mounting, giving the strings a traditional anchor point with the adjustability players expect from a Jazz Bass. Pure Vintage lollipop tuning machines, a chrome bridge cover, black plastic control knobs, vintage-style strap buttons and a serialized 4-bolt neck plate with F logo all support the instrument’s period-correct construction. These details shape the way the bass feels, sets up and connects to Fender history.

A Mid-'60s Jazz Bass Built for Vintage Fender Players

The Fender American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass is built for players who want the look, feel and tone of a mid-'60s Jazz Bass without hunting down an original. It has the narrow-nut comfort, bound rosewood fingerboard, paint-matched headstock, tortoiseshell guard and Pure Vintage pickup voice that define this era of the model. The included vintage-style black case with orange interior adds the right finishing touch for transport and storage. For bassists who value classic Fender articulation, offset comfort and historically grounded details, the American Vintage II 1966 Jazz Bass delivers a faithful take on one of Fender’s most important bass designs.