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1979 Fender Jazz Bass – Overview

Construction & Specs

• Wood & Tone: By the late 1970s, Fender typically used ash bodies and rosewood fingerboards, making the bass heavier and giving it a brighter tone compared to earlier alder models.

• Pickup Spacing: The wider 4-inch spacing between pickups was standard by this time, further enhancing brightness, especially from the bridge pickup.

• Finish Variations: While typical finishes included sunburst or black, maroon tones like "Walnut" (which often leaned red or mocha-like) are known from the era. Community sources mention that some of these finishes appear quite red and were produced in limited quantities.

1979 Fender Jazz Bass – Features

Body & Finish

• Body Wood: Usually ash, especially for natural, black, and custom color finishes like maroon.

• Finish: Likely polyurethane (very glossy and durable).

  • Maroon color may be a variation of Walnut, Burgundy Mist, or a custom factory finish.

Neck & Fingerboard

• Neck Material: Maple

• Fingerboard Options:

  • Maple (with black block inlays)

  • Rosewood (with white block inlays)

• Binding: Present on most necks from this period.

• Neck Profile: Slim, narrow C shape

• Truss Rod Adjustment: Located at the heel

• Frets: 20 medium jumbo frets

• Nut Width: ~1.5” (classic narrow Jazz neck)

• Scale Length: 34”

Electronics

• Pickups: Two vintage-style single-coil Jazz Bass pickups

  • Wider spacing between pickups than earlier models (bridge pickup moved slightly closer to bridge).

• Controls:

  • Volume (neck pickup)

  • Volume (bridge pickup)

  • Master tone

• Shielding: Often included copper foil or metal plates under the pickguard and control cavity.

Hardware

• Bridge: Fender vintage-style 4-saddle bridge (stamped steel)

• Tuners: Fender open-gear "elephant ear" tuners

• Pickguard: Usually 3-ply black or white, depending on body color

• Knobs: Black plastic knurled “barrel” knobs

• Neck Plate: 4-bolt (with serial number starting with S8 or S9)

 Unique 1979 Features (CBS Era)

Tone Characteristics

• Bright and aggressive due to ash body + pickup spacing

• Slight mid-scoop, classic J-bass growl

• Tight low end, ideal for funk, rock, punk, disco, and even jazz fusion