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Adding a Bass to my collection

What jazz bass?

  • Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jazz

    Votes: 25 19.2%

  • Fender MIM Jazz Bass

    Votes: 48 36.9%

  • Fender Jaguar

    Votes: 57 43.8%
  • Total voters
    130
  • Poll closed .
P

PanDeVida85

Nov 10, 2008
56
1
Miami, FL
www.myspace.com
#1
Hey everyone I'm stuck with a dilemma. I want to add a new bass to my collection but I'm stuck on 3 choices and seek advice from everyone on here.

I want to add a jazz bass to my collection. I currently have a Spector NS2002B, an OLP MM3 Modified, and a Squier P-Bass-turned-fretless that i have lying around somewhere. I've been playing alot more funk, mo-town, and R&B than I used to and I really like the tone I hear from Fender Jazz basses.

I'm stuck on 3 choices:
Squier Vintage Modified Jazz
Fender MIM Jazz
Fender Jaguar

The jag is a distant 3rd but something I'm willing to save up money for..

I was thinking of the Squier since I could probably buy it and replace the neck (I HATE THE BLACK BLOCKS PAINTED ON THE NECK!!!) and replace the bridge and possibly add a preamp to it. I thought it would be an nice project bass since it sounds really really nice (i've played one before)

Do you guys think its worth it? I mean its $280 relatively speaking. Compared to a $500 MIM? Leaves me with $220 to throw in there and if i skip on the neck and drop in a J-Retro preamp and a badass II bridge, I think I'd have one killer bass. What do you guys think?
 
#2
For my money, it'd be the Jag all the way. All those basses need is a bit of shielding and they're absolute MONSTERS.

Although the VM J wouldn't be a bad choice either. The Jag is just my preference. Active/passive, series/parallel, killer color choices, excellent playability...worth the price IMO :cool:
 
#3
superfunk47 said:
For my money, it'd be the Jag all the way. All those basses need is a bit of shielding and they're absolute MONSTERS.

Although the VM J wouldn't be a bad choice either. The Jag is just my preference. Active/passive, series/parallel, killer color choices, excellent playability...worth the price IMO :cool:
Click to expand...
I miss my Jag and the build quality is waaaaaaaaaaay beyond that of the VM Squire (as great as those are for the buck). By the time that you perform all of the mods to the VM that you mentioned, you'd be in the market for a used Jag (mine sold not long ago for $550). The Jag is also VERY jazz like but with its own unique voice. It really is a monster as superfunk explained. ;)
 
#4
+1 Jag

I bought mine on a money drunken whim and thought i would regret it but i got a bad ass bridge for it and never missed the money, i also have the VM which i'm selling now because it just doesn't touch the jag.

Find a shop with a jag and ask to play it and as soon as you feel the neck in your hand you'll know your buying it ;).
 
#5
I would go with the MIM jazz. One of the most versatile basses out there and best bangs for the buck. If you find a good one, it can be one of the best basses youll ever own. My 1993 mim jazz has the best fretjob out of any bass ive ever owned. They are a little different now than they were in 93 though.
 
#7
Jaguar, no question about it. The CIJ build quality alone makes it worth the money. The "Sybil-like" multiple personality disorder it's built with is all gravy. It's Pino's first choice when playing with the Who, a sound endorsement at least.
 
#8
peterpalmieri said:
Can I ask why you aren't considering owning one really nice bass?

I don't mean to insult your collection or the 3 basses in your pole but generally speaking having one really nice bass can go a long way.
Click to expand...

I dont do live events, shows, gigs, or any of that jazz. Its been a few years since I've been on stage. Most of the basses I've had were either a) for learning purposes or b) birthday presents that thoughtful relatives wanted to get me. My money has to go to other things than a $1000+ bass. I really dont want to get into my financial situations or struggles which keep me from acquiring a non-squier vintage jazz and a MM bongo 4 which are my dream basses. They are planned for the future but right now I'm more focused on technique and theory on my bass (and paying rent :D) and these basses suit me fine for the time being. The Spector I bought for $182 from GC on a labor day sale they had brand new. I LOVE that bass and it plays like a champ! I also love my OLP! I swap pick ups and altho it doesnt sound like a musicman, i think it sounds great for what I invested into it. I bought it for $150 during a Christmas sale at GC + $120 for the EMG-MMTW. I love it! The squier is a whatever bass. Just something i used to learn on when i first bought it as most ppl do. I later began to experiment with it and made it a fretless. Sounds interesting but not nice (i hate the quality of the pickups).

Finally, some of us cant afford to lay down huge sums of money just like that for an instrument. Personally, if the instrument isnt making ME money of any kind, it wont be paying for itself anytime soon hence my hesitation for making a huge investment in it.
 
#9
kazuhank said:
I miss my Jag and the build quality is waaaaaaaaaaay beyond that of the VM Squire (as great as those are for the buck). By the time that you perform all of the mods to the VM that you mentioned, you'd be in the market for a used Jag (mine sold not long ago for $550). The Jag is also VERY jazz like but with its own unique voice. It really is a monster as superfunk explained. ;)
Click to expand...

Ha! I didnt even consider looking for em used. I dont know if I'd even want em used but if its worth the price, heck why not?

Thanks for your ideas fellas. :)
 
#10
If it was my money, Jaguar all the way.

I played all three of the basses you consider.

The Jaguar, I almost bought that one.
Worth it's price.

Considering what you plan to mod on the Squier Jazz, the Jaguar would be a good bass for you.

The Jaguar has a lot of tonal variety.
It can be an alternative for a jazz bass. It does a jazz sound very well.
IMO it does not so well if you are going for a P-bass sound.
This might be a subjective opinion because I know more about P-basses than J-basses.

The Squier VM jazz is a good bass overall. Also good bang for the buck.

But if you want a more decent quality bass then the Jaguar is tha way to go.



Unless you really really, really want a jazz bass, get a jazz.


edit: plus the Jaguar looks so cool IMO :)
 
#11
Honestly, I though the MIM Jazzes or the Squier VM Jazzes played great... but then I tried a Jag. No comparison, the Jag was much more comfortable and playable. It's a bit of an odd spread you have there, but if you could save up the money for the Jag it would be worth it.
 

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