3 Comparable Jazzes

[Fletz]

Yesterday at my local guitar shop I played both the new American Jazz Special and the 60s Road Worn Jazz. Both very nice basses for $1,000 +/-. I actually liked the Road Worn alot more than I wanted to. I really had a prejudice against it, but seriously enjoyed it. Well done.

So, it raises a few questions:
When you are looking at Fender Jazzes at that price point, which way do you prefer? It comes down to simple which do you like better I imagine or if you have a bias to American or not. Where it becomes a real challenge, to me any way, is other than the string thru bridge, is it worth another $250 for the American Standard?

Discuss ...

 

[bubinga5]

the only thing that should matter to you is what you liked more..regardless of the price difference..IMO, through body stringing doesnt make alot of difference.. go with your gut feeling..marketing is a powerful thing..dont let advertising sway your mind.. if you liked the RW, thats what you like..

 

[lindseyp]

Sound. When they visually match in appeal and are within a close price range, the sound determines which one comes home.

 

[SJan3]

Yesterday at my local guitar shop I played both the new American Jazz Special and the 60s Road Worn Jazz. Both very nice basses for $1,000 +/-. I actually liked the Road Worn alot more than I wanted to. I really had a prejudice against it, but seriously enjoyed it. Well done.

So, it raises a few questions:
When you are looking at Fender Jazzes at that price point, which way do you prefer? It comes down to simple which do you like better I imagine or if you have a bias to American or not. Where it becomes a real challenge, to me any way, is other than the string thru bridge, is it worth another $250 for the American Standard?

Discuss ...

FWIW, I own both American Standard Jazz and Precision Basses and I've found that I prefer top loading. I never string them thru the body anymore and hear ZERO tone difference.
However, I do think that it changes the overall string tension ever so slightly with thru the body having more tension than top load. That is up to the player and I'm sure string gauge would more than nullify any difference.
Also, I've not found the graphite rods to add any additional stability to the necks. They still require the typical twice a year adjustment; maybe more.
I'd get what feels and sounds good to you for your style of playing.

 

[tobin999]

get the one that you prefer.

 

[Fletz]

I meant to put this line in my original thread starter: "I know, get the one you like best." I'm actually not sure I'm going with any of them. Just was noodling. I am close on pulling the string on the American Deluxe Jazz ...

 

[tjh]

two quite different animals, the RW and the American Standard ... really nothing is shared other than both J's ... different: tuners completely, neck radius, neck finish, frets, body cut, pups, bridge, etc ...

.. then throw in the American Special ... it again offers differences from both with Greasebucket circuitry, a single slot bridge, yet another type of tuners ... and then, this one shares a couple specs with EACH of the two mentioned above ...

bottom line, the only one close to the $1000 price point you spoke of new, would be the American Standard, with the quality of components and a $125 hard case included .. both the other two are $6-700 basses, and that is pretty much the price point where you see they actually sell at used, despite what you see them listed for ... the string thru is not a factor for me, and I wouldn't spend $1K on any, but the only one in that category for myself would be the current American Standard ... JMHO

 

[tdizzle]

My criteria for a Jazz Bass is, get the one with no cnc hole or huge neck pickup route. Some of the Roadworns are not routed as such, but some are. Perhaps that doesn't matter to you.

 

[BassBob1]

i haven't played the new american special but have played the roadworn, used to have a highway 1 and own an american standard. For me it is defiantly about sound but also how it feels which is sometime a little hard to gauge because basses i seem to come across in stores are rarely set up to my liking. IMO my american standard is the best jazz bass i have ever owned and played (except for an all original 65 i played). I also don't string my american standard thru the body so the bridge was not a selling point for me.

 

[5string5fingers]

Feel would be number 1. You can always change tone with dif electronics and EQ. But if a bass doesn't feel good then there's no point in buying it.

 

[tjh]

My criteria for a Jazz Bass is, get the one with no cnc hole or huge neck pickup route. Some of the Roadworns are not routed as such, but some are. Perhaps that doesn't matter to you.

I cannot verify, perhaps owners of Road Worns can chime in, but I have been 'told' that the burst RW's have a CNC hole, and the red ones do not ... if possible confirmation of this would be great ... thank you

also, if no routing/CNC is a concern, and/or if the OP had an interest in adding a fourth Jazz to your list ... consider the Hwy One Jazz .. the Hwy Series, both 1 and One have not had any 'subway work' under the P/G ...