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'08 MIA Fender Jazz V - b-string quality?

tranceFusion

tranceFusion

Supporting Member
May 15, 2008
1,130
109
Frederick, MD
#1
How do you guys feel about the b-strings on the 08 American Standards?

I just got a Jazz V in the mail today and am disappointed thus far in the b-string. It isn't floppy, it just sounds anemic.. It isn't HORRIBLE, it just doesn't sound like the other strings. Maybe part of the problem is how great the rest of the string sound.. they have a nice punch, and the B just seems dull. I have been messing with the pickup height and can't seem to get anything that isn't too growly or too muddy.

Just wondering if there's a problem with the bass or if they are all just like this..
 
#3
I would try raising the pups. Interesting, I have a '08' Jazz V and the B string is very full, deep and low sounding; like the way the low B sounds. I like the strings that came with it, infact I just put on new Fender 8250-5M Super Bass 5-string Medium Strings and they sound great. As far as my low B goes, I replaced the American Standard pups with Bartolini 57J1's and It gave the B string a ton of midrange growl, but I slap alot and the Barts lost that deep low B sound so I put back the AS pups. I had to raise the low B so it wouldn't fret buzz, but that doesn't bother me. When I got the bass from Musician's Friend it took a couple of adjustments, the neck needed more bow and the strings needed to be raised, plus I raised the pup height to my preference. For you it might just take some getting used to or some adjustments.;)
 
#4
I've played a number of the 08 P and J 5's. I'm just not a fan
of the Fender b strings. We tried a 130. D'addario on a few of
the basses. It sounded better. All the basses I've tried had a
pretty good to very good b string tension. Try a different
b string and play with the pickup height.
 
#5
yeah I mean the string seems taut.. it just sound tonally out of place.. I wouldn't want to play a tonic note down on the b because it sounds much more dead and flat compared to the punch coming from the rest of the instrument.

I did raise the pickups up but it didn't really help anything. I can't modify it too much, unfortunately, cause I need to send it back if I don't like it..

It seems like the alignment of the string within the pickup poles is pretty poor.. should I try to which which groove the string lays in on the saddles to line them up better?
 
#7
I had a similar experience with my MIA P5. Out of the box, the stock fender b-string flat out sucked. Muddy, blurry, just bad.

Flash forward to today, and add in a wonderful set of D'Addario Halfrounds, and I now have a killer 5string Pbass sound with an awesome Low B. Seriously, and with no GAS-fuelled exaggerations for a new toy, the B-string's pitch clarity and sheer fatness are as good as any bass I've owned (see profile). Hands down the best fingerstyle bass I've ever had hands on. Not a slapper though.

I can't imagine the J version not being on the same level, ESPECIALLY with some nice DR's and/or Sadowsky steels/nickels.

I totally plan on owning the maple-neck five someday.
 
#10
ok, I guess I'll try a new set of strings.. although I LOVE these strings from the E string up..

the pickups were both actually angled up at the b string side, but honestly raising the pickups both pickups straight up has made a good bit of difference.

I guess I can expect the tone to be a significantly bit darker with such a huge gauge difference between the E and B strings anyway.

After sitting there listening to the tone on a single note over and over again it really starts to blur your judgement hahaha. It is hard to tell after a while if I am chasing a real problem or just nitpicking something because I just dropped so much cash on it..
 
#11
BTW I should mention that I really feel - b-string aside - that this bass has obsoleted my 75 RI jazz. I am like ready to sell my first bass which I have had for 11 years, after only one day of owning the american standard jazz.. that passive growly punch is the sound that I have been trying to get for years out of the '75 RI... trying every string on the market, preamps, pickups.. etc..

Well, it's all just here out of the box on the new Fenders..
 
#12
You might want to try some new pickups. I've found that Bartolinis and Nordstrands do great things to E and B strings. Another TBer put Nordies in his Fender Deluxe V that had the inline headstock (no string tree on the B string) and said it completely transformed his B string, made it actually punchy and full.

I'm also going to agree about strings. Make sure you get a good string with a hex core, such as Sadowsky, Dean Markley Blue Steels, DR Lo-Riders, etc...
 
#13
tranceFusion said:
BTW I should mention that I really feel - b-string aside - that this bass has obsoleted my 75 RI jazz. I am like ready to sell my first bass which I have had for 11 years, after only one day of owning the american standard jazz.. that passive growly punch is the sound that I have been trying to get for years out of the '75 RI... trying every string on the market, preamps, pickups.. etc..

Well, it's all just here out of the box on the new Fenders..
Click to expand...

TranceFusion, I'm curious what resolution you came to on this. Are you still feeling dissatisfied with the B string, or did you figure out how to get a tone you like? I just started playing an 08 Jazz V, and I'd like to learn from your experience.
 
#14
I've said this before, but I'll say it again, are you sure the B is intonated perfectly? I've found that this can make a MASSIVE difference to the sound of the whole string - if it's even a little bit out, each note can sound hollow, or "wobbly" or just wrong. Check it out, you might find it makes a big differtence
 
#15
Hullaballoo said:
I've said this before, but I'll say it again, are you sure the B is intonated perfectly? I've found that this can make a MASSIVE difference to the sound of the whole string - if it's even a little bit out, each note can sound hollow, or "wobbly" or just wrong. Check it out, you might find it makes a big differtence
Click to expand...

Thanks for the tip. I'll check this tonight and report back.
 
#16
lighthouse said:
TransFusion, I'm curious what resolution you came to on this. Are you still feeling dissatisfied with the B string, or did you figure out how to get a tone you like? I just started playing an 08 Jazz V, and I'd like to learn from your experience.
Click to expand...

I went to a few brick and mortar shops and played their Jazz Vs and had somewhat similar experiences. I decided to return the new Jazz V, and purchased a used 4 string '08 Jazz from a TBer and a used Lakland Joe Osborn 5 string from ebay (w/ live.com cashback deal).

I am not sold on Fender 5 strings. The B-string might be better than their older models, but it still doesn't match a Lakland B-string. Also, while I like the Fender necks on the 4 strings, they are a bit too beefy and round for my taste on the 5 string version.

I like the tone of my '08 Fender better than the JO5, for now at least, but unfortunately the band I am in right now necessitates me owning 5ers..

I have decided, in my mind, that Fender wins the 4 string battle and Lakland wins the 5.. :bassist:
 
#18
I adjusted the intonation on the bass last night. I used a petersen strobostomp, and I had a surprisingly hard time getting a stable reading on the low B. Fretted notes on the B string locked in pretty well, though.

Unfortunately, I didn't record anything first, so I can't do a real A/B comparison of the sound. I didn't notice a big difference in the B-string tone, but the intonation is much better. :)

I'll try goofing with different strings and let you guys know what I find.
 
#19
lighthouse said:
I'll try goofing with different strings and let you guys know what I find.
Click to expand...

Just tying up loose ends. I've only tried one other string type so far (D'Addario XL .135s). I didn't notice any big change in the tone of the b-string, but I'm getting better at playing it in a way that sounds good. The rest of the bass sounds superb to me. I'll post again if I get any new insights...
 

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