Recent content by Jim Kuzman

Oh, there's no "need" here. None whatsoever lol. I'm irrational but not delusional!

Wow! I had no idea this even existed. This looks really, really interesting... Thanks for further muddying the waters! :-) I say that in jest, of course. I'm grateful you pointed this out. Choices are good. Much appreciated! Jim

I'm considering adding a P-Bass (or a P-Bass-style alternative) to the family. The Fender Player Precision ($699) seems a little underwhelming to me on the hardware front - tuners, pickups, bridge - so I'm looking at a couple of alternatives. I'm considering the G&L Tribute LB-100 ($549)...

Here's my take. An entry level bass, properly set up, can yield results beyond its modest origins and price tag in the hands of a good player and serve most of us well for as long as we care to hold onto it. Likewise, a $1,500 MIA instrument is not going to make us expoentially better...

If it makes you feel any better, I picked the bass up three years ago when I turned 50. I'm a life-long musician (organ and piano) but I've always wanted to try the bass. I doubt if I could tell you most of the lyrics to even my favorite songs and I never "hear" guitar, ever, but I'm...

Riis and Jeff, Thank you for taking the time to reply. I removed and re-installed the string per Riis' suggestion. To my surprise (since these are factory-installed strings) there was a pretty serious twist to it in the first and second wrap coming out of the tuner. The break angle hasn't...

I recently bought a new Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V - my first five string - and noticed that the E string is really quiet in comparison to all of the other strings. I've been blaming it on poor technique until just tonight when I noticed what I think might be the reason: That E string as it...

I am relatively new to playing bass but I've been a lifelong musician, so wrestling with this decision myself not so long ago was quite the learning experience. I'm sure not everyone will agree with me on these points, but I found them to be valid and true for me. 1) GOOD SETUP IS...

Every time I visit GC and start picking up basses, I always come away impressed by the Ibanez GSR200. In many ways, it impresses me more than their higher-line models. More than once I've almost walked out with one just because it was fun and rewarding to play. For someone just starting out, I...

Is it still possible to get a number for the Schecter Owners Club? If so, I'd like one please as the happy owner of an Omen Extreme-4 (pictured here next to my Fender Deluxe Active Jazz V). JimMy Basses by Jim Kuzman posted Nov 28, 2016 at 11:36 AM

Amen and amen. I am not a professional bass player but I've played piano professionally for 30 years. We're human and we goof now and then despite skill and practice. It happens. How you react to it and your ability to instantaneously recover from it is what matters and one of the things that...

While I believe every musician (bassists included) should strive for technical excellence and develop strong foundational skills, it is pretty heartening to hear isolated bass tracks that are not technically *perfect*. Never once have I listened to and enjoyed "Panama" and thought, "Huh... the...

After much deliberation and research (and plenty of hands-on time with various options) I opted for the Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass V. Wow, what an instrument! Beautiful finish, solid hardware, and perfectly set up (probably due to the guys at Sweetwater more than anything else). No fret...

Schecter Omen Extreme-4 in Vintage Sunburst, Fender Deluxe Active Jazz Bass V in 3-Color Sunburst. My Basses by Jim Kuzman posted Nov 28, 2016 at 11:36 AM

Just went through a similar dilemma myself in search of a 5-string. I was really leaning toward wanting a 5-string Precision, but there is no MIM version (which would be in my price range). Alternatives from the Fender "family" would be the Fender 5-string MIM Jazz (passive), the Fender Deluxe...