Featured, Music »

A few days ago, January 23rd, would have been the 100th birthday of Django Reinhardt.
Reinhardt is still one of the most renowned jazz guitarists ever to have lived. That he was a peerless musician is certain. And, as most people know, what makes this even more astonishing is that, at the age of 18, he was injured in a fire in his caravan (he was a gypsy) and was very badly burned. Along with other injuries, Django lost most of the use of the third and forth …

Bass, Featured »

Fender are celebrating half a century of Jazz Bass goodness by introducing the limited edition, 50th Anniversary Jazz Bass.  The idea is that this bass incorporates design elements from several important periods in Jazz Bass history.
This baby includes features from a few different eras (even if ‘modernised’ versions of them).
From the 60’s:

Nitrocellulose finish in Candy Apple Red.
60’s style headstock logo
C-shaped neck
Chrome pickup and bridge covers
Pearloid block inlays on the fingerboard

From the 70’s:

Bridge pickup placement
Thumb rest

From today:

High-mass, vintage-style bridge
Modern tuners
Posiflex neck support rods

Personally, I’ve always liked Jazz basses with block inlays …