Fender Am std Jazz 5 vs Deluxe 5

PastorofMuppets · #1 12-27-2011, 08:27 PM

I am thinking about doing a bit of selling to get hold of a good fender jazz. I have wanted for years to own a solid quality fender and I think now might be the time. I love the olympic white.

I am interested in either the American deluxe jazz 5 string or the American standard 5 string.

I would like to buy used and I think that the deluxe will be harder to find used but I can be patient. A quick search didnt come up with much. I am looking to sell my lakland skyline 55-02 deluxe with case to help finance the deal.

I know the deluxe has a active system. I need some opinions on what I should do and if the extra cost for the deluxe would be worth it. Also how much more cash would you think i would need to come up with after selling my lakland. I am thinking I can get close to 1200 for the lakland.

I thank you all in advance.

Ivan M · #2 12-27-2011, 08:39 PM

Only YOU can answer if the extra for the active is worth it. To me yes, i have always believed that it is better to have and not need than need and not have. There is one that the GENT is looking to trade for in the classifieds, you never know he may end up trying to sell it. Its an Olympic white DLX V, 2011. Good luck with your search.

Mike M. · #3 12-27-2011, 10:00 PM

What's best is going to be...what works best for you and for your musical situation?

After a lot of comparing between the Deluxe and Standard 5's, I finally settled (this past Friday) and the Standard 5 Jazz model. For me and for what works best for me, less is best. We're all differant, but to my ears the Standard I bought just seem to have a fuller sound as compared to the Deluxe's "passive" mode. Not knocking the Deluxe models at all as a lot of folks here have them and have nothing but praise for them. I was just being honest with myself and realized that I prefer passive over active.

All I'm saying is if you do decide to go with the Standard model that you won't regret it. It's a very well built, very sturdy instrument with a great feeling low B. Fact is, I couldn't believe how even the string to string tension is on this bass. I didn't think it was possible but I found it.

Really, of what I can tell you can't lose with either model. You know your needs better than the rest of us. Take your time, shop and compare and you'll know when you've found the right one. Took me six months but I finally found the one that works for me!!

PastorofMuppets · #4 12-27-2011, 10:23 PM

Thanks mike.

Its actually great advice to say wait until you find the right one.
I think i needed to hear that. I can play the mia standard anytime but cant easily get my hands on the deluxe, and thats sorta why i was searching for opinions on the active sound. I have had bad luck before with fender B strings, but that was with a P5 and I dont think the jazz will be as hit or miss as the P.

**Jeremy Allen** · #5 12-27-2011, 10:28 PM

I am so happy that I stopped messing with Fender clones and got a good, simple, cheap (used) Fender. American Standard Jazz V, and I couldn't be happier with it. I don't enjoy active electronics anyway, and I will plug the bass into a Sadowsky preamp if I want that vibe, so I think Standard all the way.

Some important upgrades were made in 2008, so if you can find something from that year on you're good. (not that the instruments before that aren't worth considering, it's just that Fender really made some nice upgrades in '08 and has continued to do so since then.)

Mike M. · #6 12-27-2011, 11:26 PM

You're very welcome!

There's one thing I forgot to mention about the Deluxe 5 string models while I was conducting my search that may or may not matter to you.

Can't figure out why, but I noticed a definate differance in the feel of the necks when I compared the necks with a rosewood fretboard vs the necks with the maple fretboard on the Deluxe models. I tried a few of each at differant locations and the results were always the same. The necks with the rosewood fingerboards all felt fatter to me and I don't know why. The action had nothing to do with it either. I could grab one or the other at say, the 12th fret and could feel the differance everytime. Strange, because according to the Fender site the neck dimensions on either neck are suppose to be identical. But they sure didn't feel it to me. In terms of sheer playing comfort based on MY findings, if I were to have bought a Deluxe model it would have been the all maple neck model with the black binding and the black, block inlays. Much, much better players right off the rack compared to the rosewood fretboard models.

YMMV, but it's something you may want to consider. Nothing worse than buying a bass only a week later to find another one that plays better.

(Been there, done that.)