1962 Fender Jazz Bass — Olympic White

For your consideration, Garrett Park Guitars presents this 1962 Fender Jazz Bass.

Introduced in 1960, the Fender Jazz Bass quickly established itself as a more refined and versatile counterpart to the Precision Bass, offering a narrower neck profile, dual-pickup architecture, and a tonal palette that would go on to define countless recordings across jazz, soul, rock, and studio work throughout the 1960s and beyond.

This 1962 example, bearing serial number 97157 and neck date stamp 7MAY62A, presents in excellent condition with honest, average wear consistent with careful long-term use. Structurally, the instrument remains exceptionally clean and stable, showing no breaks, cracks, or repair history. The bass remains 100% original, including its electronics and hardware, and is accompanied by its original hardshell case.

Constructed with an alder body finished in classic Olympic White nitrocellulose lacquer, this Jazz Bass carries the restrained elegance of Fender’s early-’60s aesthetic, now subtly aged into a warm, broken-in patina. The instrument’s 9lb 10oz weight gives it a substantial, grounded feel without sacrificing balance, contributing to a solid resonance even before amplification.

The original dual single-coil pickups and wiring harness deliver the unmistakable voice of early J Basses: a deep, articulate low end paired with a pronounced midrange presence and a naturally open top end. The tonal range remains highly interactive with touch and technique, shifting effortlessly from warm, rounded fingerstyle textures to a more forward, burpy bridge pickup articulation that sits perfectly in a mix. The factory pairing of Stackpole 250k potentiometers and original .05µf tone capacitor preserves the instrument’s vintage taper and response, offering a smooth, musical roll-off rather than abrupt tonal shifts.

The neck exhibits the characteristic early Jazz Bass feel: a comfortable Medium C profile with a 7.25" radius and the fast, familiar 1.50" nut width that helped define the model’s reputation among working bassists. Combined with its slab rosewood fingerboard, clay dot inlays, and original frets, the instrument retains the tactile immediacy and slightly pliant feel that players associate with well-preserved early-’60s Fenders.

This 1962 Fender Jazz Bass stands as a highly original and exceptionally well-preserved example of one of Fender’s most enduring designs.

Specifications

All components original

Model & Year

• Model: Fender Jazz Bass
• Year of manufacture: 1962
• Serial Number: 97157

Body

• Material: Alder
• Finish: Olympic White nitrocellulose lacquer
• Weight: 9lb 10oz

Neck

• Date Stamp: 7MAY62A
• Material & Construction: Maple, bolt-on
• Fingerboard: Rosewood slab
• Profile: Medium C
• Radius: 7.25"
• Nut Width: 1.50"
• Depth: .76" (first), .99" (twelfth)
• Inlays: Clay dots
• Frets: Original
• Tuners: Kluson

Hardware

• Bridge / Tailpiece: Original
• Pickguard: Tortoise
• Knobs: Original

Electronics

• Pickups: Single-coils
• Potentiometers:
  • Neck Volume: Stackpole 250k (304-6218)
  • Bridge Volume: Stackpole 250k (304-6218)
  • Tone: Stackpole 250k (304-6218)
• Capacitor: .05µf ceramic disc
• Wiring: Cloth-bound

Condition: Excellent

• Cosmetic: Excellent, with average wear for age
• Structural: Excellent, free of breaks, cracks, and repair
• Originality: 100% original, comes with OHSC