Looking for a player's Fender Jazz Bass - any advice?

[2cooltoolz]

Originally Posted by monti2889

"this bass was buried in my grandpa's attic for 30 years." to me is a better story than
"this bass just came off the assembly line in California."

Yeah, but one of those strories has a chance of being true.

[2cooltoolz]

Here, I went shopping for you. This is the best Jazz bass in the world under a thousand dollars. Just buy it. You're welcome.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Fender-...item3a7b275c4d

[Jawbone]

Originally Posted by Gyver

Thanks for the replies, I have played the Geddy Lee and other Japanese Jazz basses and I have not been as impressed with them as the American Jazz basses. I guess the question is whether spending more for an actual 70s era bass is worth the money or if a newer model is going to be better. And if the newer models are consistently better players does anyone have a preference over the standard, deluxe, reissues, etc. The new deluxes seem nice with the active/passive switch, but there are not many used ones around yet. I have a MM Sterling (active) so I am thinking a Standard would be better just to have one of each.

Smart man! The GL's aren't that great - just a cultish follwoing on TB that thinks they are the bomb.. From what I've read the AVRI's are the value deal. Especially used. Good luck.

[Stilettoprefer]

If you want a player, i highly recommend building exactly what you want from parts. My main bass is a parts build that cost less than $300.

I love making parts basses, I get to make my own memories with it right from when the body arrives in the mail. With my main bass I can say: "this body fell off the paint hook and landed in a pile of dusty horse shat while I was spraying clear" "that huge gouge in the back is from my very first rock gig, after that I was careful about my belt selection" "those dents are from falling down some bleachers during high school pep band" "the hairline cracks are from sitting in my car for a few weeks" and much much more.

The beauty of a parts build is that you don't have to take a Pre assembled bass and mod it to how you like. And it really isn't that hard to do a build this way.

[C.Linton]

All I can say with any certainty is the BESt bass I've ever played is my '08 MIA AM Std. Jazz bought new in '09, Im sure you could find one just as good used for a decent price.
They (whoever THEY are) say that Fender has stepped up in the overall qualiity of their basses, starting in '08. If my bass is any indicator at all, I'd say that's true.

[lowphatbass]

To me the term "player's bass" implies that it meets all your needs and probably overachieves sonically in relationship to it's monetary value and/or appearance. I would recommend keeping an open mind and playing as many J-basses as possible. Some of the best Jazz basses I've played were not terribly expensive. IMO, a really great neck is a vital necessity.

[georgestrings]

Originally Posted by 2cooltoolz

Here, I went shopping for you. This is the best Jazz bass in the world under a thousand dollars. Just buy it. You're welcome.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Fender-...item3a7b275c4d

You need to work on your shopping skills more, and give advice less - I could definitely do better than that for $1k if I was looking for a player...


- georgestrings

[Gyver]

Originally Posted by lowphatbass

To me the term "player's bass" implies that it meets all your needs and probably overachieves sonically in relationship to it's monetary value and/or appearance. I would recommend keeping an open mind and playing as many J-basses as possible. Some of the best Jazz basses I've played were not terribly expensive. IMO, a really great neck is a vital necessity.

Exactly. I am not opposed to paying a good amount for a great bass or paying a smaller amount for a hidden gem. Just want one that feels and sounds great, it can look great too or like total crap, appearance is unimportant.