Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt

About the Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt

Built in Fullerton, California, this Jazz Bass has a three-bolt neck joint, Micro-Tilt angle adjustment and a bullet truss rod at the headstock. The switch from four bolts came during 1975, so a 1975 can have either. Bodies are ash or alder under a thick polyester finish; the maple neck has a bound maple or rosewood board with pearloid blocks, a 34 inch scale, 20 frets, a 7.25 inch radius and a 1.5 inch nut (measured 38.7 to 39.3 mm). Necks measure 0.81 to 0.92 inch deep at the first fret, 0.89 to 1.02 inch at the twelfth. Two gray-bobbin single coils feed two volumes and a master tone; the bridge has four saddles. Finishes include natural, black, Olympic White, sunburst and walnut (mocha); 1978 Antigua basses have a matching pickguard. Weighed 1975 to 1981 basses run 9.3 to 13.1 lb (4.2 to 5.9 kg), many over 10 lb.

Dating: until about 1976 the serial is six digits on the neck plate, then a headstock decal. S8 serials point to 1978 but ran into 1981 and 1982, so neck and pot dates settle it. Heel stamps often fade; CTS pot codes give year and week after 137 (1378110 is week 10 of 1981). The original pickguard has the serial on its back.

The original case is black tolex; some keep the manual, inspection tag and strap, but chrome covers and thumb rest are often missing. Expect refrets and new nuts; replaced pickups, pots, bridges (often a Badass II) and necks; truss rods with little travel left; battery routes; refinishes.

In one paragraph

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Sellers are asking a median of €3,574 for the Fender Jazz Bass 3-Bolt today, 37% over the €2,600 it actually sells for (13 recorded sales, last 6 months; most sold between €1,800 and €3,150). There are 24 listings live right now across Reverb, eBay United States, eBay Germany, from €1,954 asking. Figures computed 18 October 2026 by Doirado from cross-platform listing data.