Fender 50th anniversary Jazz vs 75 American vintage

[icemangee]

Hi everyone!

I'm looking into buying a new Fender Jazz Bass.
I'm between the 50th anniversary Jazz Bass & the 75 American Vintage.

I play mostly Funk & jazz (I like Marcus slap sound & Jaco bridge P.U. sound)

I have to order this basses from the internet so I cant try them.

What do you advice me ?

I have already a Fender Jazz 62 reissue , a Fender Jaco tribute (custom shop) & a Roscoe LG3000 , but have this gas for a new Jazz.

Thanks & Regards

[Jeff K]

I've never played the new 50th Anniv. Jazz, but somebody on here posted a very nice review of his recently. He was very impressed with it, both aesthetically and tonally.

I've had an AV '75 Reissue since 2000, and it's a very sweet bass as well. Does one hit your "hot button" more than the other? Some people really like the Natural/maple/black blocks & binding on the '75 Reissue (which is the version I have). Others prefer that Candy Apple Red/rosewood/white blocks of the '50th. If you can't play them first, either one should be a safe bet for you. I think since they're both high-quality instruments, you might want to let your visual preference be the deciding factor.

One difference though that I can think of: I'm assuming that the '50th Anniv. has the "'60's spacing". The '75 Reissue has the '70s spacing (bridge pup slightly closer to the bridge).

[king_biscuit]

The spacing difference makes a pretty big tonal difference, both from the bridge pickup being closer to the bridge and from the phase difference from the wider pickup spacing.

[Buster Brown]

I own a 75RI and have played the 50th ANV...


Damn it's a hard choice....I mean, seriously!

I absolutely LOVE my 75...it's my "go to" Jazz and I wouldn't give her up for anything....but the 50th ANV plays (if not exactly) very nearly as well....(IMO)

That is one choice I would really have to consider closely...

I would hate to be in your shoes and I would LOVE to be in your shoes!


Good luck in your decision! I really doubt that you would go wrong with EITHER choice!

[DanHibiki]

Both the 50th anniversary and the 75RI have 70s spacing.

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by DanHibiki

Both the 50th anniversary and the 75RI have 70s spacing.

Good catch!

[Bijoux]

Buy both!!!

[seungkoo]

if you can find a 75' reissue fsr in candy apple red with matching headstock you're a winner

[king_biscuit]

Originally Posted by seungkoo

if you can find a 75' reissue fsr in candy apple red with matching headstock you're a winner

Those are very nice! Or the elusive sonic blue version, perhaps!!

[icemangee]

Jeff K --> I like the Candy red of the 50th anniversary :-)

I found a shop who had the 75RI here & tried it today , honestly I compared it to my 62RI & both me & my drummer preferred the 62RI , but on my 62RI i have installed Fender Jazz 60s custom shop pickups & have a good good setup with Elixir strings.The 75RI had a high action & Fender strings.

The 75RI didnt have the same depth in the sound & clarity.
I guess I prefer Alder/Rosewood more than Ash/Maple+ mike the 60s pickup space more.

Thanks & regards

[JB8]

the 75ri can be had with rosewood finger board as well, i have one and really love it

[ASQTec]

I have them both. I've always felt that the '75 Reissue Jazz was Fender's best kept secret. Here are a few of my observations:

'75 has a thick polyurethane finish that will take a beating - 50th has a thin nitro finish that won't. Personal preference rules here.

'75 has bound fingerboard, 50th doesn't.

'75 has three bolt tilt neck, 50th has four bolts. I keep the neck on both my '75's bottomed out.

My '75 with maple fingerboard has an ash body, 50th is alder, as is my rosewood board '75. Definitely a difference in sound, but neither is better than the other.

'75 is string-through-bridge, 50th is string-through-body. Who cares?

As with all basses, sound, resonance, and weight vary within the same model.

If I had to sell one of them, it would be the 50th Anniversary ONLY because I could get more on the resale.

[Jazzy75]

I believe the 50Th anniversary has the modern 9.5" radius and graphite rods (the AV75 has 7.25") and from what i've heard it sounds more dark then the AV75, if you already have the 62 RI (for the Jaco sound) i'd go with the AV75 with a maple fretboard.
Check the review Ed Friedland did on the 50th anniversary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQNM-Whctd4

[BSW]

I have a 50th ann and the bass is super great no issues at all. I love the sound tone and feel of this bass. Fender put all the best aspects of there great basses into the 50th ann. I love it. I don't see to many left for sale