NBD... Squier James Johnston Jazz

aproud1 · #1 11-23-2012, 01:58 PM

So I am a sucker for matching headstocks and have been really diggin Lake Placid Blue lately. Unloaded a few basses recently and needed a cheap jazz bass to get me by until my new Clement arrives. Also like to have a bass to travel to hotels with. Played a few MIM jazz basses and couldn't find anything I liked. Played a few CV that were nice but once I saw the James Johnston Jazz I pretty much had to get one. Ordered one from Sweetwater because weight and pickup alignment can be an issue.

Out of the box it played pretty good and the finish looks very nice. It is pretty much a CV 60's jazz with a matching headstock. The knobs are super smooth and everything works as it should I could have unboxed, tuned and played this bass at a gig. It did go through whatever sweetwaters made up inspection is so that may have been why it played well.

The vintage frets were very well dressed and didn't really need any work but I brought a few down that were just slightly high. If I didn't like super low action this would have not been a problem.

The original tuners worked fine, the bridge is nice and solid and the pickgaurd was perfectly cut. I had a Hipshot bridge , some Res-O-Light tuners and a 4 ply tort gaurd laying around so on they went.

I did a 3 card slice shim which is totally ordinary for just about any bolt on bass I've owned. The finish is certainly not as tough as the MIA fenders and really is the biggest difference I can find. It looks good but chips easily. Not sure if this has anything to with the terrible, evil basswood body. I will say I was slightly weary of Basswood but man does this bass sound good! Actually no this bass sounds great! The pickups are single coils so they can be noisy but no worse than any other single coil I've used. I bought this bass ready to throw some others pickups in but after playing it a lot the past week I no longer want to change the pickups. It sounds like a juicy 60s jazz bass.

Oh as someone else said, the nut is some sort of new super crappy material so that will get replaced by a Tusq when it gets here. But I do that with most basses anyway. The existing nut works but is not even good enough to be called "synthetic bone" aka plastic?

Anyway figured throw this up so anyone who was curious about this bass could have just one more questionable opinion.

spiritbass · #2 11-23-2012, 02:11 PM

I too dig blue and matching head stocks, so I agree that it's lookin' good! The nuts are absolutely the weakest component on the Squiers I've had in my hands. I know it doesn't matter much functionally, but I like it when the strings line up with the pickup poles (visually obsessive, I confess

) like they do on yours.

Are you getting a jazz-influenced Clement?

aproud1 · #3 11-23-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiritbass

Are you getting a jazz-influenced Clement?

Yes. It will be a Mike, Spanish cedar body with a Walnut top, Maple neck w/Bolivian Rosewood fretboard. Fender Super 55 jazz pickups and a Glockeklang three band pre.

So a modern bass with a jazz heart.

So next year I'll get a CV 50's precision...........

bh2 · #4 11-24-2012, 08:32 AM

Looks ver cool... LPB used to be my fave colour but I've gone off it.
Now if that was sonic blue I'd be all over it...

As far as the hardware goes I'd definitely swap out the machines for some reverse types.

I was impressed by the sound of the pups also, really does capture the old 62 vibe.

Been thinking of getting a CV Jazz and turning it into this....

!!!!

aproud1 · #5 11-24-2012, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bh2

Been thinking of getting a CV Jazz and turning it into this....

!!!!

I'd rock that!

blindrabbit · #6 11-24-2012, 11:39 AM

I've had my eye on the JJ Jazz as well, so this is both good to read and increasing the temptation! I've really been enjoying my VM jazz over the past 4 months, but every time I grab a CV jazz in the store I'm so impressed with how they feel, look, and sound. Normally I wouldn't think that having two of the same bass made sense, but in this case...

aproud1 · #7 11-24-2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blindrabbit

I've had my eye on the JJ Jazz as well, so this is both good to read and increasing the temptation! I've really been enjoying my VM jazz over the past 4 months, but every time I grab a CV jazz in the store I'm so impressed with how they feel, look, and sound. Normally I wouldn't think that having two of the same bass made sense, but I this case...

The VM's are cool too but there is just something about the Classic vibe. Neck is very similar to the 62 AVRI Jazz I just sold. Plus matching headstocks are awesome.

jeffwo · #8 01-06-2013, 12:40 PM

I'm probably the guy you read about complaining about that nut material - looks and acts liked baked putty! It's actually worn itself in between the string wrappings. For the life of me I can;t figure out why they couldn't spend the extra 50 cents for a decent piece of plastic!

That said I still cannot believe how nice this bass is for the price. Sounds unbelievable for what it is. I was thinking about a pickup swap as well, but these damn things sound way too good! Going to eventually put a preamp in, but I have played this thing much more than some of my more expensive basses lately.

aproud1 · #9 01-07-2013, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffwo

I'm probably the guy you read about complaining about that nut material - looks and acts liked baked putty! It's actually worn itself in between the string wrappings. For the life of me I can;t figure out why they couldn't spend the extra 50 cents for a decent piece of plastic!

That said I still cannot believe how nice this bass is for the price. Sounds unbelievable for what it is. I was thinking about a pickup swap as well, but these damn things sound way too good! Going to eventually put a preamp in, but I have played this thing much more than some of my more expensive basses lately.

You were spot on. Weirdest nut material I've seen. It was a pain to remove too. Didn't just tapout like most do.

I am always ready to change pickups but don't feel the need to on this bass. It is my backup though and travels with me for work so it doesn't get plugged in very much. I did play a gig or two and was very happy with the sound. The neck is awesome though. Probably my favorite part of this bass. Even though I prefer precision necks.

Wallace320 · #10 01-07-2013, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aproud1

You were spot on. Weirdest nut material I've seen. It was a pain to remove too. Didn't just tapout like most do.

I am always ready to change pickups but don't feel the need to on this bass. It is my backup though and travels with me for work so it doesn't get plugged in very much. I did play a gig or two and was very happy with the sound. The neck is awesome though. Probably my favorite part of this bass. Even though I prefer precision necks.

+1
I installed a Hipshot BT1 bass extender on it, and Bartolini ultra low/mid front pickup and Seymour Duncan HotStack rear pickup on my former Classic Vibe Jazz bass but many congrats to you for this Biffy Clyro's James Johnston (d'ya like the band too?)

Cheers,
Wallace

aproud1 · #11 01-07-2013, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallace320

+1
I installed a Hipshot BT1 bass extender on it, and Bartolini ultra low/mid front pickup and Seymour Duncan HotStack rear pickup on my former Classic Vibe Jazz bass but many congrats to you for this Biffy Clyro's James Johnston (d'ya like the band too?)

Cheers,
Wallace

Never heard of them until I saw this bass. Checked them out but not really my thing. He does have excellent taste in basses.

Laylas Daddy · #12 01-07-2013, 12:25 PM

Very Nice!!!

christopherogut · #13 01-07-2013, 12:31 PM

awesome, thanks for the write-up. i've been thinking about one of these...

buckeyebragi · #14 02-04-2013, 11:07 AM

Just put one of these on lay-a-way. This bass growls like a beast! That neck is awesome...no different from a Japan Fender I once had and I love the vintage frets.

EagleMoon · #15 02-04-2013, 11:12 AM

That looks great with the tort guard. I've not seen one of these in person yet to compare but if it's a CV in different clothes then it's got to be a good bass.

aproud1 · #16 02-05-2013, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

That looks great with the tort guard. I've not seen one of these in person yet to compare but if it's a CV in different clothes then it's got to be a good bass.

Thats exactly what it is. Neck feels a little to close to my 62AVRI.

I have pretty much returned this bass to the original setup with the exception of Gotoh Res-O-Lite tuners. It's my travel around for work bass. Pretty sure I'm going to unload it for a Precision or unlined fretless though. Not a fan of vintage frets and find myself preferring precision necks lately.