15 basses - Sound test and comparison (mostly Jazz Bass)

[Miki Santamaria]

Hi guys!

I've posted this topic in a Spanish forum (bajistas.org), which I think it can be interesting for you as well.

We did a bass meeting in Barcelona a few months ago and I recorded 15 of the basses, 3 sound tracks with each one (a walking bass line with the neck pickup, jaco style with de bridge pickup and slap with both pickups).

The basses are recorded straight to my M-Audio Fast Track audio interface. No EQ, compression or amp simulators.

Here are the audios:

https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sets/comparativa-bass-day-bcn-2013


- Fender Jazz Bass 1962:
Alder body, brazilian rosewood fretboard, maple neck. All original, it had a problem when using both pickups, that's why the slap sounds weird. Aprox value: 8000€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1962-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1962-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1962-slap-neck

- Fender Jazz Bass 1965:
Alder body, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, original pickups. Refinished. Aprox value: 4500€ (used).
With old strings, but a very nice neck.
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1965-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1965-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1965-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass 1977:
One of my basses. Ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard. Original pickups. Aprox value: 2200€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1977-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1977-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1977-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass 1976:
Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Original pickups. Aprox value: 2200€ (used)
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1976-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1976-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1976-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass 1972:
Ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard. Fender custom shop pickups. Aprox value: 2200€ (used)
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1972-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1972-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-1972-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass Custom Shop 64 Limited Edition:
Alder body, maple neck, brazilian rosewood fretboard. Custom shop pickups (original)
Limited edition Candy Apple Red. This bass is amazing!!! Aprox. value: 2200€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-64-neck
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-64
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-64-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass Custom Shop Relic 60:
Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, custom shop pickups (original). Aprox value: 2000€ (used)
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-60-neck
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-60
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-custom-shop-60-slap

- Sadowsky metro UV70:
One of my basses. Ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard, sadowsky pickups and preamp. Value: 2975 USD (new)
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sadowsky-uv70-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sadowsky-uv70-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sadowsky-uv70-slap

- Fodera Monarch:
Ash body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. Fodera JJ pickups, Mike Pope preamp. Aprox. value: 5000€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fodera-monarch-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fodera-monarch-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fodera-monarch-slap

- SX 57 modified:
This is a cheap jazz bass replica with upgrades like Fender Noiseless pickups. Maple neck and fretboard. Not sure about the body's wood. Aprox value: 300€ (new with upgrades).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sx-57-jazz-bass-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sx-57-jazz-bass-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/sx-57-jazz-bass-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass Road Worn:
Mexican Fender. Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard. All original. Value 1100€ (new).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-road-worn-mim-neck
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-road-worn-mim-bridge
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-road-worn-mim-slap

- Fender Jazz Bass Marcus Miller:
Japanese Fender. Ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard. All original. Value: 1100€ (new).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-marcus-miller-mij-2
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-marcus-miller-mij-1
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/fender-jb-marcus-miller-mij

- Yamaha BB1600:
One of my basses. Made in Japan. All original from the 80's. Alder body, maple neck, rosewood fretboard, PJ Yamaha pickups. Value: 500€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/yamaha-bb1600-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/yamaha-bb1600-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/yamaha-bb1600-slap

- MusicMan StingRay 1989:
Ash body, maple neck, maple fretboard. 2 band EQ. All original. Value: 1200€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/musicman-stingray-1989-1
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/musicman-stingray-1989
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/musicman-stingray-1989-slap

- Pedulla MVP 1992:
Maple body, maple neck (neckthru), Ebony fretboard. P/J Bartolini pickups and preamp. Value: 1200€ (used).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pedulla-mvp-1992-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pedulla-mvp-1992-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pedulla-mvp-1992-slap

- Pensa Custom Jazz Bass:
Ash body, maple neck, birdseye maple fretboard, Pensa pickups and preamp. Value: 3500$ (new).
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pensa-custom-neck-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pensa-custom-bridge-pickup
https://soundcloud.com/mikisantamaria/pensa-custom-slap

In my opinion all jazz basses sound really similar (Fodera and SX included). Maybe the Pensa is the only one that sounds a little different, I don't really like it, but I recorded it in active mode, in passive sounded with a little more mids but it was noisy anyways... not a great sound IMO.

You can easily hear the difference between the 70s and 60s models.

The huge difference is the feel.
In this aspect I think the SX is the worst by far, it feels cheap (because it IS cheap).
The Fodera has a super fast neck and makes any technique easier than the rest of the basses in this test.
The feeling when you play the 62 is just magical, you can feel the vibrations better than any other bass in this test, the custom shop 64 and 60 are amazing too.
I love my 77, for me it's the best 70's Fender I've ever played, the slap tone is perfect, just like Marcus Miller...
But for me the best in this test is the Sadowsky. This bass has it all!!! Clear sound, super easy to play, it has a perfect adjustment, real vintage tone... It's just PERFECT. Maybe too brighty in the recordings, but I could roll off the Vintage Tone Control a little bit to sound even better.
Ah, and about the Yamaha... that's the best vintage bass for the money that you can buy today. I've paid only 600$ for this great bass, sounds awesome. BTW, I really like P/J basses.

I hope you like it!!!!

See ya!

PS: sorry about my english!

 

[faulknersj]

The links wont open for me. 'cant find the server'

 

[gumtown]

None of these links work for me either,
they seem to be as seen above, with ..... in the middle,
so not a proper complete web address.

 

[Down_Low]

Yep not working, but looking forward to hearing them when it does.

 

[Miki Santamaria]

Now it's fixed, sorry guys and thanks!!!!!

 

[jbiscuti]

I really enjoyed that, thanks!

I listened to the neck pickup clips only as that's all I use on a Jazz anyway (mostly a P guy). I have to say, I think the '62 Jazz sounded the best.

 

[dantheman2]

Great playing.

For me:

I liked the 62 neck the best, but the 62 slap was very tinny,

Best slap 77, then 76. The Sadowsky slap was very good tone too.

The SX sounded like you had a harder time playing, but the SX slap tone wasn't bad.

The MusicMan, didn't like anything from that. Jazz Basses rule!

If you are trying to thin out the herd, get rid of the Yamaha, SX, and MM. The customs all sound kind of similar to me, and good. The MM might be better for some different sound for different music.

D

 

[Dragan]

Fodera destroys them all!!! Sadowsky and Pedulla also are very solid and musical,'77 Fender jazz sounds great too (I love Ash!)
Music Man is out.

 

[xroads]

Very cool, thanks for the test.
I guess all of these basses had different string brands/type, right?

 

[j.kernodle]

nice post! agreed on the tone of the yamaha BB1600. those are such great underrated basses.

 

[jfh2424]

Very cool, thanks for the test.
I guess all of these basses had different string brands/type, right?

I don't know, but I suspect so.

In these tests, I always come to same conclusion. It's amazing how basses of the same model sound basically the same, no matter the price tag, country of origin, etc. All those jazz basses sound like, well, jazz basses. They are pretty much interchangeable.

We get all wrapped up in this stuff, but really, we are wasting our money if tone is what we are after.

John

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

Hi Miki, it´s great to know you are on talkbass. I certainly give a listen once I get home.

Saludos

 

[Baird6869]

I love how you can truly hear the difference in tone between Fodera, '60's Jazz, 70's Jazz, modern Jazz (Edit.. Meant Sadowsky), etc.

I am a Fodera and Fender guy, but the SX is very impressive for a $200 bass when A/Bed with the $6000-10000 Fodera and the '70's Jazzes. Also, the Stingray sounds exactly like a stingray should (love it or hate it) and the Yamaha was impressive (suprise) as was the Pedulla (no suprise).

I think the Fodera does sound the best, but for the $$$, it damned well should!

Thanks for posting this!

 

[dantheman2]

Can you describe what strings (brand, gauge, age) you have on these basses? What strings on the 62 and 77?

 

[Miki Santamaria]

I can't say the strings of all basses. I can say that I use Elixir medium light (45-100) on all my basses (sadowsky, 77 jazzbass and yamaha).

The strigs on the 65 and 72 were old, thats why they sound brightless. This basses should sound much better than this.
The strings on the fodera were old too, not as much as the 65 and 72, but yeah, i could tell.
By the way, I'm pretty sure the fodera and the 65 jazzbass had D'addario strings 40-100 or 40-95.

 

[Eublet]

They do all sound remarkably similar. Pickup placement and type is the most important thing in determining the sound I think, as long as the bass itself is relatively stable and playable. After that, it's really a matter of aesthetics, fit and finish, and some intangibles that make you chose one bass over another. Good stuff! Thanks for sharing!

 

[simenandreas]

Great, thanks for making this! It would be cool to have a listen for more basses in the feature! Maybe a spector, warwick and a dingwall!

 

[narud]

whoever owns the 62, tell them to reverse the leads on one of the pickups.theyre currently wired out of phase.

 

[Miki Santamaria]

whoever owns the 62, tell them to reverse the leads on one of the pickups.theyre currently wired out of phase.

Yeah, he fixed that and he sold the bass after that haha... too bad we couldn't record the bass when it was fixed...

 

[Emanuel Apascaritei]

The CS 64 sounded the best, IMO. The Fodera sounds great but as said before, it better do for what it costs. The Sadowsky was, if not mistaken, with the preamp engaged end some treble and bass boost, so not a fair comparison, again IMO.

I don´t know if it´s me but some slap tracks were compressed?

The SX was a pleseant surprise, and the Road Warn also.

The 77 and the 76 slap tone is killer. The 72 sounded compressed with a bad adjusted attack, again IMO.

The Yamaha didn´t do nothing for me, though I love Yamaha basses.

Thanks for posting this Miki, it´s great