1968 Fender Jazz Bass Vintage Electric Bass Guitar Sunburst Collector-Grade w/ Case

Up for sale, a 1968 Fender Jazz Bass in collector-grade, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Recently acquired from its previous caretaker since '71, this Jazz Bass is visually stunning with a tonal breadth to match. Produced in the first quarter of '68 and retaining all the specifications of the previous model year, the bass boasts one of the last full gloss nitro lacquer finishes found on a '60s Jazz Bass (poly would be introduced later in the year), while also featuring untouched solder joints, cloth-covered leads on the gray bobbin pickups, a flawless tortoise pickguard, small waterslide headstock decal, lollipop tuners, and original "ashtray" pickup and bridge covers.The original pair of gray bobbin pickups deliver a round, articulate sound accentuating the sweet treble growl of a fresh set of 45-100 roundwound strings. The bass has plenty of upper midrange presence and burp, with a thick, balanced thump when rolling the Tone knob back to taste. The bass weighs 9lbs 15oz "fully clothed" with the chrome ashtray covers, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with comfortable action and spot-on intonation.The maple neck has a slender C profile carve at the nut with round, inviting shoulders in every register, measuring .815" deep at the 1st fret and .975" at the 12th. The bound rosewood fretboard features pearloid block inlay and original medium jumbo fretwire which has a low factory fret dress, showing just a touch of wear on the 1st fret and virtually no wear further up the fretboard. The neck is straight and while the truss rod nut is notably recessed, the rod is functional. The nut measures 1 1/2" in width, and the headstock retains the original "lollipop" Fender-embossed tuning machines with positively gleaming chrome plating. The bold February, 1968 date stamp is intact on the neck heel, with all the original factory markings and stamps present on the heel and in the neck pocket.The electronics function flawlessly with untouched solder joints and the original gray bobbin pickup pair wired to CTS pots which date to the 31st week of '66. As Fender purchased a huge lot of pots in '66, it's customary to see 1966 date codes extend on these components on instruments produced through the end of the decade. The bobbins are both hand-dated, and the harness features cloth-covered leads and a Mallory "tropical fish" tone cap. The chrome hardware is nigh flawless and all accounted for including the bridge with spiral saddles, control plate, and ashtray bridge/pickup covers. The bridge position chrome cover even retains its still-viable mute foam, and the foam beneath both pickups is still spongy and serviceable too. The nitrate tortoise pickguard is a deep red which accents the bold three-tone Sunburst gloss finish.The finish is 100% original with no touchup or overspray, and the finish shows zero fade, with a bold central ring of red and no loss of saturation when comparing the exposed finish to that which has been protected beneath the pickguard for over half a century. Cosmetic wear is limited to a few scattered marks on the body parameter, faint localized buckle rash on the edge of the belly carve and a few additional light scuffs, mostly relegated to the back. The neck profile gloss is flawless.The original black tolex hardshell case is included and equally as well-kept as the bass, with functional latches, original handle, and small Fender badge on the exterior.