New Fender Exotic Wood Jazz Bass Models
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Victor Bailey J-Bass
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American Deluxe Jazz Bass FMT
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July 22, 2001Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) will unveil two new exotic wood Jazz Bass models this summer with the introduction of the American Deluxe Jazz Bass FMT and the Victor Bailey Signature Model Jazz Bass. As part of its 50th anniversary celebration of the Fender electric bass guitar, FMIC is proud to bring these new exotic wood models to the forefront of its NAMM show offering.
Fender’s new Victor Bailey Signature Model Jazz Bass pays homage to one of today’s most revered performing bass innovators. Upon assuming the bass duties in Weather Report after Jaco Pastorius’ untimely passing, Victor readily took the reigns and has continued to break new boundaries at every turn, crafting a diverse style and sound that has garnered him legenday status and a burgeoning solo career.
Beautifully crafted, the exotic wood Victor Bailey Signature Model Jazz Bass incorporates a host of newly designed features from Fender’s R&D department, as guided by Victor Bailey himself. The body is comprised of a Koa top over rosewood and mahogany, with a maple neck and rosewood fingerboard. Fender’s new Noiseless Bass pickups were designed in parallel with the new active electronics, which together add distinctive warmth and a more defined low end that is an excellent complement to the hardwood body’s natural clarity and brightness.
The new active electronics on the Victor Bailey Signature Model Jazz Bass are the product of two years of comprehensive research and development between Fender’s team of engineers and professional bass players from all walks of life. The circuitry has been tweaked at the input stage (pre-shape, boost and EQ settings) to complement the unique sonic nature of the exotic woods. The Bass EQ is centered at 40Hz ± 12db with a 4db per octave slope, and the Treble is centered at 8 kHz ± 10db with a 2 db per octave slope. The Treble cut works as a passive control for warm organic tones. The Mid-control is centered at 500Hz + 10 db and -15db with a wide-band slope bringing out the growl and other distinctive voices. The circuit is powered by a new 18 Volt supply (two 9Volt batteries) to give this bass as much headroom as possible.
US MSRP is $1,999.99.
The American Deluxe Jazz Bass FMT (Figured Maple Top) is the ‘cream of the crop’ in Fender’s newest offering of electric basses. Presenting a host of new features including pickups, electronics, neck and body - all the latest refinements from Fender’s R& D team.
This hand-crafted American Deluxe Jazz Bass has a figured maple (flame or quilted) over alder body and rosewood fingerboard on the 4-string version, or pao ferro fingerboard on the 5-string version. Again, Fender’s new Noiseless Bass pickups serve as an excellent compliment to hardwood body’s natural clarity and brightness, offering an extremely dynamic range of tonal possibilities.
The circuitry has been tweaked at the input stage (pre-shape, boost and EQ settings) to complement the unique sonic nature of the exotic tone woods. The Bass EQ is centered at 40Hz ± 12db with a 4db per octave slope, and the Treble is centered at 8 kHz ± 10db with a 2 db per octave slope. The Treble cut works more as a passive control for warm organic tones. The Mid-control is centered at 500Hz + 10 db and -15db with a wide-band slope bringing out the growl and new distinctive voices. The circuit is powered by a new 18 Volt supply (two 9Volt batteries) to give this bass as much headroom as possible.
US MSRP is $2,249.99 (4-string), and $2,399.99 (5-string). For more information, visit their web site at www.fender.com. | 
