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11-26-2011, 03:03 PM
| | | | 80s Jazz Bass Special vs. Deluxe Active P Bass Special
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I'm looking at two basses, a 1980s Jazz Bass Special and a newer Deluxe Active P bass. From what I've read, it seems the two are nearly identical other than the active/passive. Can anyone tell me what the difference is between these two?
Last edited by ThreeKoolCats : 11-26-2011 at 04:17 PM.
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11-26-2011, 03:39 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky | | | Is it a Power Jazz Special with active electronics, or the passive Jazz Special with the TBX tone pot?
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Sean- Fender Precision Bass #823, Fender Jazz Bass #740, Drop Tuned Bassists #11
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11-26-2011, 04:16 PM
| | | | passive. |
11-26-2011, 04:30 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky | | | The active P is exactly that, a P/J with a 3 band active EQ.
The Jazz Special is something special. It's got a very nasal honk that doesn't happen with every bass. They're also rarer and of better quality than the MIM P.
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Sean- Fender Precision Bass #823, Fender Jazz Bass #740, Drop Tuned Bassists #11
Boston Red Sox fan.
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11-26-2011, 04:42 PM
|  | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Catbuster  The active P is exactly that, a P/J with a 3 band active EQ.
The Jazz Special is something special. It's got a very nasal honk that doesn't happen with every bass. They're also rarer and of better quality than the MIM P. | I've owned a couple of each, and agree with the above - the only hitch is, the older MIJ Jazz Special is more likely to be in rough shape, and the active Deluxe P Bass Special offers far greater tonal variation...
Both in the same condition, same price??? - In that case, I'd take the MIJ Jazz Bass Special... A good deal for either in good condition is $400 or so - maybe a little more...
- georgestrings |
11-26-2011, 04:46 PM
| | Registered User | | | | Here's my current Deluxe P Bass Special - after a light level and crown, it plays as good as anything you'll pick up - and sounds great... This one is definitely a keeper, whereas I don't have the others anymore... 
- georgestrings |
11-26-2011, 11:43 PM
| | | | The Jazz is going for 400, the P for 430. I really liked the tone on the Jazz, but it's really beaten up, while the P is nearly mint. |
11-27-2011, 07:16 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bethel CT | | I love my 85 Jazz special. Its got plenty of scars but it plays and sounds great. There was just one on ebay with a squier neck that sold for $140  |
11-27-2011, 07:46 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Edinburgh, Scotland | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by ThreeKoolCats The Jazz is going for 400, the P for 430. I really liked the tone on the Jazz, but it's really beaten up, while the P is nearly mint. | Tone and feel wins over cosmetics. I'd go for the Jazz based on what you said so far.
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11-27-2011, 08:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Louisville Kentucky | | Quote: |
Originally Posted by ThreeKoolCats The Jazz is going for 400, the P for 430. I really liked the tone on the Jazz, but it's really beaten up, while the P is nearly mint. | Then the JBS wins.
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Sean- Fender Precision Bass #823, Fender Jazz Bass #740, Drop Tuned Bassists #11
Boston Red Sox fan.
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11-27-2011, 09:19 AM
| | Registered User | | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Catbuster Then the JBS wins. | To me, it would depend on the necks, and which one would suit his needs the most... If the Jazz is "really beaten up", that could mean the neck's pretty rough, too - if not, the body could always be spruced up for not that much money...
One thing's for sure - those MIJ Jazz Bass Specials were great instruments - the necks and all hardware were top shelf, IMO/IME...
- georgestrings |
11-27-2011, 01:38 PM
| | | | Jazz Bass Special. just my opinion... |
11-27-2011, 02:08 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | | JBS IF you like the nasal honk they have. I don't and ultimately wound up replacing everything on mine except the neck and three tuning machines. It was a factory fretless I got in December 1987. I replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan 1/4 Pounders, the bridge with a Schaller roller bridge, the guts with Duncan/Basslines Steve Bailey pre-amp, the fingerboard with a thick chunk of ebony, and finally the body with a chunk of heavy koa- and only then did it started sounding like I wanted it to sound.
That bass is also the reason I don't mod things anymore if they don't sound right to me.
John
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