Fender American Special Jazz Bass (Candy Apple Red) Reviews

5.0/5.0 based on 3 customer reviews

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Customer Reviews

Robert Watson
from El Dorado, AR
September 12, 2012Music Background:
Hobbyist

Fender American

The instrument was exactly as described. The staff answered all my questions. I couldn't ask for a better experience.

Kerry Shead
from Shea Elkhart IN.
January 17, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician, Drummer, Producer, Songwriter

A Bass You Wont Want to Put Down

This Bass Replaces the Highway One with a Vengeance!
In the Guitar Room at Sweetwater I was able to dial in a honking bridge pickup Jaco tone, a sweet neck pickup Motown tone, and a thumping dual pickup Jazz/ Precision tone with just a turn of a dial!
And this was through a small amp!
The greasebucket tone knob made all the difference by keeping the bottom pure while rolling off the highs.
it keeps the low there when you want to honk it without bloat or breakup.
The maple neck is slimmer then the American Standard and much more Playable, it just feels great in your hands.
And the color? Candy apple sparkle like a customshop color.
This Bass Blows the MIM's Blacktops, Modern Players, and Geddys away, hands down
Its $300 less than a American standard and Plays better.
I recorded with it tonight and it sits in the mix beautifully.
Own it and start owning today!

Stephen Gaudet
from San Francisco,CA
November 14, 2011Music Background:
Bass Lover

Ordering from Sweetwater was Sweet!

What can I say. Ordered my J bass online on a Sunday, 3 days later it was delivered to my front door. Doesn't get any better than that.

inSync Review

Mitch Gallagher
8-26-2011

"Built by the people, for the people & within your reach" is the slogan on 's website describing the new American Special line of guitars and basses. And it's an apt descriptor: the new instruments are made in the USA and come in at stellar prices. I had the chance to check out five instruments: a Telecaster, a Stratocaster, a Stratocaster HSS (with a humbucker at the bridge), a Jazz Bass, and a Precision Bass.

All five instruments were top notch. They were solidly constructed, well set up right out of the box, and primed for making music. I ran them through a Fender Mustang III amplifier (see sidebar for more on this amp). Each one produced the tone I've come to expect from a high-quality Fender instrument, from the twang of the Tele to the quack of the Strat in the in-between position to the crunch of the HSS humbucker to the rolling thunder of the two basses.

We're talking classic good looks combined with classic tones. Each of the instruments rang well, with plenty of sustain. The pickups were solid, offering full, rich tones. And the hardware was of the quality you'd expect from an American-made guitar or bass. These were U.S.-made Fenders all the way.

How much did I like the American Specials? Well, I ended up spending my hard-earned dollars to buy the Precision Bass for myself, and I couldn't be happier. It plays great, it's light, it rings like a bell, it sustains well, and the tone is true P Bass all the way. The same can be said for the whole American Special family; they all deliver the real thing at a great price, and they're made in America - very nice!
BONUS: Mustang III
I had the opportunity to play the American Special guitars through the new amplifier. This is a pretty amazing piece of work from Fender: 100 watts, 12" speaker, built-in effects, and excellent-sounding amp models of all types. Whether for home practice -- yes, it sounds great at very low volume levels despite the high power rating -- rehearsal, studio work, or live performance, there's a ton of tone in this lightweight, highly affordable amp. It's the first Mustang I've played through, and I'm sure it won't be the last -- Mustangs rock!