The Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass Relic in 3-Color Sunburst is a premium vintage-inspired bass built around one of the defining periods in Jazz Bass history.

This example features a 2-piece alder body finished in nitrocellulose lacquer, a rosewood fingerboard with vintage-style 7.25" radius, 20 frets and the comfortable ’60 Jazz Bass “U” neck profile. The narrow 1.5" nut gives it the compact feel at the lower frets that has long made the Jazz Bass popular with players who prefer a slimmer neck.

Finished with a 4-ply tortoiseshell pickguard and Fender Custom Shop Relic treatment, it delivers the visual character of a well-played vintage instrument without requiring ownership of an original 1964 bass.

This Pre-Owned example is offered in Excellent condition and includes a hardcase.

At A Glance

Pre-Owned Condition Report

Excellent Condition

This Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass Relic is offered in Excellent condition.

Excellent condition reflects a carefully owned Pre-Owned instrument that remains particularly well presented.

As this is a factory Relic instrument, intentional checking, finish wear, hardware ageing and other simulated signs of use form part of the original Custom Shop aesthetic rather than conventional cosmetic damage.

No faults, repairs or modifications have been supplied for this listing.

What’s Included?

✔ Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass Relic
✔ Hardcase

✘ No Additional Accessories Included

Condition Notes

The aged appearance is an intentional part of the Fender Custom Shop Relic treatment.

This bass has been graded Excellent based on its overall Pre-Owned condition alongside that deliberately aged factory presentation.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

This Pre-Owned Fender Custom Shop Jazz Bass has been inspected and assessed by the Fair Deal Music team before sale.

Our checks include:

• Both pickups tested
• Individual volume controls checked
• Master tone control tested
• Output socket checked
• Frets inspected
• Rosewood fingerboard assessed
• Neck condition checked
• Tuning machines inspected
• Bridge and saddles checked
• Hardware assessed
• Tuning stability checked
• Overall playability assessed
• Hardcase checked for basic usability

Service / Setup Work

All Pre-Owned bass guitars at Fair Deal Music are set up and checked before leaving the shop.

Our assessment includes:

• Action checked
• Neck relief checked
• Frets inspected
• Intonation checked
• Tuning stability checked
• Electronics tested
• Pickup output checked
• Bridge setup assessed
• Hardware checked
• Overall playability assessed

Please note that setup can shift slightly during delivery because changes in temperature and humidity can naturally affect wooden instruments in transit.

Why Choose The Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass Relic?

Classic Mid-’60s Jazz Bass Formula

The combination of an alder body, rosewood fingerboard, narrow nut and vintage-radius neck captures many of the characteristics players associate with an early-to-mid-1960s Jazz Bass. Fender’s current Custom Shop 1964 base model continues to use alder, a ’60 “U” neck and 7.25" rosewood fingerboard specification.

Slim 1.5" Nut Width

One of the defining ergonomic differences between a Jazz Bass and Precision Bass is the narrower Jazz Bass neck at the nut. Fender identifies roughly 38mm / 1.5" as the characteristic Jazz Bass dimension, giving the lower fretboard a compact feel.

7.25" Vintage Radius

The curved 7.25" fingerboard radius gives the bass a distinctly vintage Fender feel, particularly for fretting traditional bass lines and working across the lower and middle areas of the neck.

Nitrocellulose Relic Finish

The nitrocellulose lacquer and factory ageing are central to the Custom Shop Relic concept, giving the instrument an already played-in appearance rather than the pristine presentation of a modern gloss bass. Fender continues to specify nitrocellulose lacquer for its 1964 Custom Shop Jazz Bass base model.

Dual-Pickup Jazz Bass Versatility

The Jazz Bass format uses two single-coil pickup positions, giving players access to contrasting neck and bridge sounds as well as blended settings. Fender identifies this dual-pickup format as one of the major innovations that separated the Jazz Bass from the Precision when it appeared in 1960.

Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass vs American Vintage II Jazz Bass

An American Vintage II offers Fender’s production-line vintage approach, while the Custom Shop model is aimed at buyers who value greater attention to vintage-style detailing, hand finishing and a deliberately aged Relic presentation.

Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass vs Fender Custom Shop Precision Bass

A Precision Bass provides the direct punch and simplicity of a single split-coil design, while the Jazz Bass offers a narrower neck and two-pickup layout for greater tonal blending and a more focused bridge-pickup character.

Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass vs Modern American Jazz Bass

A modern Jazz Bass may offer a flatter fingerboard, larger frets and contemporary neck shaping. The ’64 Custom Shop is better suited to players specifically looking for a traditional 7.25" radius and vintage-influenced playing feel.

Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass vs Original 1960s Jazz Bass

An original vintage bass offers genuine period provenance, but can bring significant cost and preservation considerations. The Custom Shop approach is designed for players wanting vintage inspiration in an instrument intended for regular use.

Who Is It For?

Vintage-Style Bass Players

If your priority is a traditional Jazz Bass neck, rounder fingerboard and aged finish rather than contemporary specifications, the ’64 format is an obvious choice.

Funk And Soul Bassists

The two-pickup layout gives access to articulate, rhythmically defined bass sounds that work extremely well for fingerstyle and more percussive playing.

Rock And Blues Players

The neck pickup can provide plenty of body for supportive bass lines, while blending in the bridge pickup introduces additional attack and definition.

Session Musicians

The Jazz Bass remains useful in recording environments because the two pickups can be balanced to alter midrange character without relying entirely on external EQ.

Fender Collectors

Custom Shop Relic instruments also appeal to players and collectors who enjoy Fender’s historical design language but want an individual instrument built specifically around that aesthetic.

Suitable Genres And Uses

• Rock
• Classic rock
• Blues
• Soul
• Funk
• R&B
• Pop
• Jazz
• Indie
• Alternative
• Motown-inspired bass
• Fingerstyle
• Pick playing
• Studio recording
• Live performance

Jazz Bass vs Precision Bass: Which Feel Is Right For You?

The most immediately noticeable difference for many players is the neck. Fender describes the Jazz Bass as having a narrower, more tapered feel at the nut than a Precision Bass, which can make fast passages and position changes particularly comfortable.

The electronics are equally important. A Precision focuses on one fundamental pickup voice, while the Jazz Bass uses two single-coils that can be blended to change the balance of warmth, definition and bridge-pickup growl. Neither approach is inherently better; the Jazz Bass simply suits players who want greater control over their basic passive tone.

Looking for advice on choosing the right Fender Custom Shop bass, Jazz Bass or premium Pre-Owned bass guitar? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

Story & Context: Fender ’64 Jazz Bass

Fender introduced the Jazz Bass in 1960, nine years after the original Precision Bass. Conceived as an upscale companion to the Jazzmaster guitar, it introduced the familiar offset-waist body, a slimmer tapered neck and two single-coil pickups.

Rosewood fingerboards had become standard across Fender’s range by the beginning of the 1960s, giving instruments from this period the dark-board aesthetic now strongly associated with pre-CBS Fender guitars and basses.

By 1964, the Jazz Bass had developed into the specification that inspires this Custom Shop model: alder construction, rosewood fingerboard, tortoiseshell guard, narrow neck and traditional passive Jazz Bass layout. Fender’s modern Custom Shop still lists a dedicated 1964 Jazz Bass as one of its core historical base models.

The Relic treatment adds another layer to that concept, recreating the visual character of an instrument that could have accumulated decades of stage and studio use while keeping the bass itself firmly within the modern Fender Custom Shop world.

Technical Specifications

Specification Note

Fender Custom Shop instruments can be ordered with individual option changes. No serial number, build sheet or Certificate of Authenticity specification has been supplied for this listing, so pickup winding, neck timber cut, fretwire type, hardware specification and other build-specific options have not been guessed.

Power Requirements

No battery or external power supply is required for the passive electronics.

Connect the bass to a suitable bass amplifier, pedalboard, modeller, DI or audio interface using a standard 1/4" instrument cable.

Why Buy Pre-Owned From Fair Deal Music?

A Pre-Owned Fender Custom Shop bass can be an excellent way to access a premium instrument with vintage-inspired specifications while avoiding the substantial cost and ownership considerations associated with an original 1960s example.

Relic instruments are particularly practical in the Pre-Owned market because their deliberately aged finish means the instrument is intended to look played rather than cosmetically untouched.

At Fair Deal Music, our Pre-Owned basses are individually checked and assessed before sale, helping customers buy premium and specialist instruments with greater confidence.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Fender Custom Shop ’64 Jazz Bass Relic 3-Color Sunburst is a strong choice for bassists who want the traditional Jazz Bass experience taken firmly into premium territory.

The combination of the narrow 1.5" nut, ’60 Jazz Bass “U” profile, 7.25" rosewood fingerboard, alder construction and nitro Relic finish gives it the vintage-focused feel buyers expect from this particular Custom Shop concept.

Best suited for: Experienced bassists, session players and Fender enthusiasts looking for a premium vintage-inspired Jazz Bass.

Customers usually upgrade from: Fender Player, American Professional and other production Jazz Bass models.

Most commonly paired with: Quality valve or solid-state bass amplification, compression, overdrive, DI systems and studio recording equipment.

Our tip: Make full use of the two pickup volumes. Small adjustments to the bridge-to-neck balance can change the midrange character significantly without touching your amplifier EQ.

Showroom feedback: The narrow neck and vintage radius give the ’64 concept a noticeably different feel from many modern Jazz Basses, while the Relic finish makes it an instrument that invites regular playing rather than careful preservation.

Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

When you buy from Fair Deal Music, you're choosing one of the UK's most established, independent family run music retailers since 1987.

From our Birmingham showroom, our knowledgeable musician-led team helps players find the right equipment whether they're purchasing their first serious instrument, upgrading an existing setup or searching for something special within the premium Pre-Owned market.

When you shop with Fair Deal Music, you can buy with confidence thanks to:

• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians
• Carefully checked new and Pre-Owned musical equipment
• Competitive prices on leading music brands
• Secure UK-wide delivery
• Friendly support before and after your purchase
• A trusted independent UK music retailer with decades of experience
• Extensive experience buying, selling and assessing premium bass guitars

Trade In. Trade Up. Save More.

Thinking about upgrading? Your next piece of gear could cost less than you think.

We're always happy to consider part exchanges and trade-ins on a wide range of musical instruments and equipment. Whether you're looking to upgrade your bass, guitar, amplifier, keyboard, drum kit or studio gear, your existing equipment could help reduce the cost of your next purchase.

Simply get in touch with our team for a no-obligation valuation, and we'll be happy to discuss the options available.

It's an easy way to unlock the value of the gear you no longer use while making your next instrument even more affordable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the ’60 Jazz Bass “U” neck feel like?

It has more defined shoulders than many modern C-shaped bass necks, while the narrow 1.5" nut keeps the lower frets compact and recognisably Jazz Bass-like.

Is a 7.25" radius comfortable for bass?

Yes. The rounder vintage radius works particularly well for traditional fingerstyle, pick playing and supportive bass lines. Players accustomed to much flatter modern boards may notice the difference initially.

What is the benefit of a nitrocellulose finish?

For this Custom Shop model, nitrocellulose lacquer is primarily part of the vintage-inspired construction and ageing approach. It also allows Fender’s Relic treatment to reproduce checking and wear associated with older instruments.

Is Relic wear considered damage?

No. The factory-applied ageing is an intentional part of the instrument’s original specification. Any individual Pre-Owned wear needs to be considered separately from the factory Relic treatment.

Can this Jazz Bass be used with pedals and modern amp modellers?

Yes. Its passive output works with conventional bass amplifiers, pedalboards, DI boxes, multi-effects processors, amp modellers and recording interfaces.

Is this a good bass for recording?

Yes. The ability to blend the two pickups makes the Jazz Bass particularly useful for adjusting attack and midrange character to suit different arrangements.

Can I request a closer look before purchasing?

Yes. Our Request a Video Demo option is particularly useful for a Custom Shop Relic bass because it allows you to examine the ageing, finish and overall individual condition more closely before purchasing.