Fender American Deluxe Jazz Bass Worth The Price???

csmolins · #1 08-05-2010, 07:01 PM

Basically they have everything I want ...active and passive pickups....s1 switch....a Jazz neck...with pearloid blocks and binding....but does anyone think they are worth the 1600 dollar price tag?

**pacojas** · #2 08-05-2010, 07:14 PM

i'd buy one in a heartbeat if i had the sum of one million dollars.

king_biscuit · #3 08-05-2010, 07:15 PM

Compared to the competition, they look like a good deal.

busta_bird · #4 08-05-2010, 07:35 PM

Personal opinion, not even close. It's all in your hands though. Try to play a Lakland or a G&L.

Dbassmon · #5 08-05-2010, 07:42 PM

You will have your answer when you play that bass.
The price does not determine if it's a good one. It's a fair price if its a great bass.

moorewr · #6 08-05-2010, 07:45 PM

Anybody know if a 1998-1999 American Deluxe Jazz will go passive? If so, what makes that happen? A switch, a pull up knob? I can't find this info in the Fender owner's manual on the web.

Thanks,
Bill

B String · #7 08-05-2010, 08:03 PM

I'm actually more of fan of the American Deluxe basses starting about 2005. The SCN's are very good pickups. The weight and shape of the basses are great. (mine weighs 8.75lbs) It was a killer deal used. I just had Nordstrand reshape the neck so it feels like a Nordy. YES, YES, Yes.
Installing is passive switch is pretty cheap.

I'm not as impressed with the 2010 Deluxe's. I'm not loving the pickups or the heavier weights and larger bodys. The preamp has a passive switch but the bass sounded like ass when I did that.

Dr. Cheese · #8 08-05-2010, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moorewr

Anybody know if a 1998-1999 American Deluxe Jazz will go passive? If so, what makes that happen? A switch, a pull up knob? I can't find this info in the Fender owner's manual on the web.

Thanks,
Bill

If stock, it is active only.

melarson · #9 08-05-2010, 08:47 PM

I played one a friend had for review before they came out. It was beautiful to play, I would love to own one my myself if I could justify another bass...

**Ryan L.** · #10 08-05-2010, 09:11 PM

Like has been said, it's worth it if you like it.

I demo'd one (a 5 string) a couple months ago. The sound just didn't quite do it for me. Looks, playability, and weight were all great, but when A/B'ing it with my Roscoes, it was just completely lost in the mix compared to them.

So, for me, it wasn't worth the price.

rojo412 · #11 08-05-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moorewr

Anybody know if a 1998-1999 American Deluxe Jazz will go passive? If so, what makes that happen? A switch, a pull up knob? I can't find this info in the Fender owner's manual on the web.

Thanks,
Bill

You can add a DPDT On-On switch to the bass. Essentially you'd have to look at the Aguilar or Sadowsky diagrams to tell you what needs to be done and it takes a little "modificating".
However, in a nutshell, yes. It can be done. You send the pickup signal to it and then the signal from it is switched to either the preamp or the output jack.

Check the "Electronics" forum on TB for a ton of info on that.

And as a 2002-2003 Am Dlx owner, I say mine is worth more than any bass I've ever played... to me. I got it used and switched the neck to an FMT and have an East preamp in it. But the bass is killer and I'll never get rid of it.

Kwesi · #12 08-05-2010, 11:13 PM

I'm one of those guys that believe that there are next to no bases worth there prices new unless they're custom. I love the Fender American Deluxe basses, I own one (just because it's for sale doesn't mean it isn't amazing)! But would I buy one new? Probably not. I will say that they are great deals when you can find them used though.

Rocksolid · #13 08-05-2010, 11:55 PM

Yep - I have only ever purchased 1 new bass. 2nd hand is value for money everytime. Just to put it in context I purchased my Reggie Hamilton Custom shop 5 for not far off the $1600 price point for the deluxe you are looking at.

csmolins · #14 08-06-2010, 12:38 PM

Thanks everybody for the feedback....I guess I just gotta head down to good ole Sweetwater and try one out....if anyone else has experience with it let me know

j.kernodle · #15 08-06-2010, 01:07 PM

I tried one at bass central about a month back. I'd give it an A for looks (big 70's logo, bound and blocked rosewood neck, sweet finish) matching headstock and cooler paint color options other than the done to death colors that they offer on every single bass from the MIM on up to the Deluxe would've made it an A+.

Sound was also an A. It sounded as good as any high end j-bass that I tried that day and that includes Laklands, Sadowsky Metros, and the Spector Coda.

Playability was an A-. The Lakland Skyline DJ had it beat for neck feel, smoother contour to the back. Slinkier action (without buzzing). Fender still played very well though. And the fretwork looked great.

Active passive worked well too, and it retains a passive tone control when set to passive mode. Something a lot of active basses with bypass don't have.

They're great basses, and when compared to Sadowsky Metros (higher price point), Lakland Skylines (lower price point, but great basses) and the like, they hold their own.

TolerancEJ · #16 08-06-2010, 01:10 PM

If the store has more than 1 model of the same bass, try a few of them. Maybe you the first one won't satisfy you, but the others could feel/sound good.

KsPiNeSh · #17 08-06-2010, 02:55 PM

For you, maybe. For me, nope.

**RaginRog** · #18 08-06-2010, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TolerancEJ

If the store has more than 1 model of the same bass, try a few of them. Maybe you the first one won't satisfy you, but the others could feel/sound good.

True with any bass...but it also could be as simple as one having dead/dirty strings, or the pickup height isn't consistant from one bass to another.

No two Fenders ever seem to be the same, yet I still love them!

ahbassman · #19 08-06-2010, 03:37 PM

I have a friend who bought a new one, but was a previous years model so he got it for like 1200 or something. Amazing bass.

vince a · #20 08-17-2010, 11:21 AM

I have played a couple of the 2010 models of this bass . . . and I love them! I compared them to my '04 Fender Am Std Jazz bass, and the deluxe IS worth the extra $$$ . . . they're more quiet, more detailed, and sounds, well, like a Fender Jazz, which they are. It felt just like my 4, even with the compound radius fretboard. The pickups are not active, only the 18v preamp is - from what I hear?

I do love my Am Std, but am seriously madly in love with the Am Deluxe Jazz V. I've already made an offer well below the post $1599 price tag . . . that offer was accepted. It's on order - black, black pickguard, maple board V string . . .

BTW . . . I played the Deluxes in a nearly identical-to-mine Eden rig (750 watts/212/210). . . the B string was awesome . . . the low rattled the store!