What gets closest to a 50th Anniv Jazz?

duke2004 · #1 01-06-2011, 08:13 PM

Played the new red 50th jazz today and was highly impressed. Aside from the high quality overall feel, the neck felt great and pickups really sweet. The price also impressed me...lets just say its above what im willing to spend at this time. Yes im sure its worth it for a "semi custom shop" jazz but my question, for those who know this bass....

As the two main components, to me, are the neck and pickups:

What less expensive jazz might have a similar feeling neck?

Are those pickups a special run? Can they be purchased as Fender parts? Perhaps one of you jazz-heads can guess-timate which pickups can cop that sound?

I would like to keep the finished assembly below $1000 on this idea.

christw · #2 01-06-2011, 08:16 PM

An MiM or MiJ with upgrades maybe?

ghoulbug · #3 01-07-2011, 04:25 AM

make sure you remember the 50th's 70's pickup spacing! (that sounded odd)

BuffaloBass · #4 01-07-2011, 04:37 AM

Used Valenti or Lakland JO.

mouthmw · #5 01-07-2011, 06:09 AM

A Squier CV 60's Jazz with a few downgrades.

Outsider · #6 01-07-2011, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouthmw

A Squier CV 60's Jazz with a few downgrades.

I was browsing talkbass, I think I was searching for "classic vibe" and I saw a person comment that the CV Jazz was better than the 50th Jazz.

Personally, I like the look of the 50th Jazz. As for the tone, I don't know the CV or the 50th, so I can't say.

duke2004 · #7 01-07-2011, 07:15 AM

I owned a CV Jazz until recently and thought i was amazing, though the neck is not at all as chunky as the new 50th Anniv. and the pickups were also a bit "thinner" to my ears. So, there is probably a neck that feels a bit more like what is in the 50th.
As for pickups, sounds like they might be using something that has been insalled in another vintage model, or perhaps not.

tjh · #8 01-07-2011, 11:17 AM

your two priorities are the neck ....

which in that configuration of 9.5" radius, medium jumbo frets, and graphite truss rod would only be available on the Highway One (2007-current), and the American Series (2000-2008) and the American Standard (2008-current) Jazz basses, which would also have the rolled edge fretboard as the 50's Anniv as well ...

and the pick-ups ...

you may have to differentiate here, is it the pick-up itself that you are after, or the pick-up spacing (70's style w/bridge pup 1/4" closer to bridge) ... if it is the pick-up, do a little research as to what specific they are using, and go for as close to that, but probably more important, is the spacing ... here you have a few options ... the 70's Jazz out of the Classic Series may be one of your first choices, although correct spacing, it would be considered a 'vintage' pup with the Alnico ... also with 70's spacing is the Geddy Lee (neck would not be similar to the 50's Anniv. J at all), but this is a MIJ body, so you may need a MIJ neck to fit the pocket (perhaps the Jaguar with its blocks and painted headstock?) ... but, keep in mind, the 50's is a STB (String Thru Body), and also a higher mass bridge, which together may have an influence on the sound you are hearing, and none of these bodies are STB ...

Bottom line ... if you want a nice bass that looks like 50's with some of the features, paint a Geddy Lee body red and put a red headstock Jaguar neck on it ... 70's spacing, vintage pups, blocks on neck, and red headstock ...

if you want something that is built similar, a US 2000-current body (red I would assume) with STB, and then any US made neck (for above reasons, which in essence other than the aesthetics of blocks and binding would be virtually the same neck as the 50's Anniv)... the only thing you are really giving up here, is the 70's pup spacing ...

hope this helps a bit ... whatever you end up with, it will be a nice bass, and if you buy stuff right, you will be able to sell it for close to what you have into it when the 50's Anniv start popping up in the used market in a range closer to what you can afford ... or, you can just be patient and watch diligently for that underpriced 50th Anniv. that may or may not ever show up ... good luck, and as always, these are JMHO's ...

Baird6869 · #9 01-07-2011, 02:53 PM

I have a few Jazz basses including a 50th and the 50th is the best Jazz I have ever owned (I have had 10+ MIA Jazz basses).

I would start with a bass with 70's PU spacing and buy a set of Fender '75 RI pickups. A Geddy Lee Jazz might be a good option, but the rosewood neck on the 50th is one reason why it sounds the way it does.

duke2004 · #10 01-07-2011, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjh

your two priorities are the neck ....

which in that configuration of 9.5" radius, medium jumbo frets, and graphite truss rod would only be available on the Highway One (2007-current), and the American Series (2000-2008) and the American Standard (2008-current) Jazz basses, which would also have the rolled edge fretboard as the 50's Anniv as well ...

and the pick-ups ...

you may have to differentiate here, is it the pick-up itself that you are after, or the pick-up spacing (70's style w/bridge pup 1/4" closer to bridge) ... if it is the pick-up, do a little research as to what specific they are using, and go for as close to that, but probably more important, is the spacing ... here you have a few options ... the 70's Jazz out of the Classic Series may be one of your first choices, although correct spacing, it would be considered a 'vintage' pup with the Alnico ... also with 70's spacing is the Geddy Lee (neck would not be similar to the 50's Anniv. J at all), but this is a MIJ body, so you may need a MIJ neck to fit the pocket (perhaps the Jaguar with its blocks and painted headstock?) ... but, keep in mind, the 50's is a STB (String Thru Body), and also a higher mass bridge, which together may have an influence on the sound you are hearing, and none of these bodies are STB ...

Bottom line ... if you want a nice bass that looks like 50's with some of the features, paint a Geddy Lee body red and put a red headstock Jaguar neck on it ... 70's spacing, vintage pups, blocks on neck, and red headstock ...

if you want something that is built similar, a US 2000-current body (red I would assume) with STB, and then any US made neck (for above reasons, which in essence other than the aesthetics of blocks and binding would be virtually the same neck as the 50's Anniv)... the only thing you are really giving up here, is the 70's pup spacing ...

hope this helps a bit ... whatever you end up with, it will be a nice bass, and if you buy stuff right, you will be able to sell it for close to what you have into it when the 50's Anniv start popping up in the used market in a range closer to what you can afford ... or, you can just be patient and watch diligently for that underpriced 50th Anniv. that may or may not ever show up ... good luck, and as always, these are JMHO's ...

Much thanks for the analysis. Looks like starting with a vintage series 70s jazz and finding 75 pickups will get me most of the way there

tbird36go · #11 01-07-2011, 06:31 PM

Just go to Warmoth.com & build one.

tjh · #12 01-07-2011, 06:37 PM

you betcha ... much easier to reply to something on here than running through a few licks like I should have been doing ...

... good luck with your projec

DTF · #13 01-07-2011, 07:28 PM

jaguar neck, custom shop 60's pups , classic 70s mim body , american standard hardware, if you want string through get some ferrules and a drill press