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Advice on Fender Jazz decision

Which Jazz Bass?

  • American Pro II

    Votes: 20 48.8%

  • American Pro I

    Votes: 1 2.4%

  • Highway One

    Votes: 5 12.2%

  • American Performer

    Votes: 4 9.8%

  • Other

    Votes: 11 26.8%
  • Total voters
    41
S

sharkbarf

Jan 26, 2020
17
12
#1
Hi all, hoping I can get some wisdom to help me decide on which Fender Jazz bass I should get. I'm currently considering these models: American Performer (new or used), American Professional II (new), American Professional I (used), and a Highway One. My budget's a little flexible... preferably not over $2000. I've done research on TalkBass for those models, and some others, and really appreciate the invaluable analysis folks have posted here.

What I'm looking for: a solid, well-finished bass that will last me many years. I play mostly with a pick with punk/post-punk/alt/indie style music (like Unwound, IDLES, Pixies, Lungfish, Modest Mouse, etc.). I'd be replacing my Fender Player Jazz - partly for aesthetics (the white is too white for me - going for sunburst now - and not a huge fan of the Pau Ferro), partly to upgrade the fit and finish (frets are kinda sharp, a few dead spots on the fretboard), and partly for better hardware (although I don't have specific complaints about that...). I feel pretty happy with overall sound of my Player, especially after shielding it, and feel confident I want another Jazz. I'm open to doing some mods (shielding, pick-up change, bridge change, rewiring grease-bucket if I don't like it, etc.), but of course if I'm gonna be spending the big bucks, it'd be nice to not have to.

Pros and Cons:
Pro II - Nice one in stock on Sweetwater with pics; good weight and look; not sure I want the slim neck, ambivalent about string-through. I did play one a few years ago and was really impressed by the finish, especially rolled fingerboard edge.
Performer - Better price than Pro II, has most everything I want.
Highway One - Nice one on Reverb right now from 2008, looks like good condition; I really like the satin nitro body finish; lowest price ($980). Kind of leaning towards this one.
Used Performer - Few on Reverb that look good and a pretty good price ($1100).
Used Pro I - Few on Reverb that look good and better price than new Pro II.

Since none of these are available within easy driving distance of me, I guess I'd have to pic from the online selection. Sweetwater is appealing because of that since that have pics of the one I'd buy and seem more neutral/honest than a seller on Reverb/E-Bay, but I'm not sure the Pro II is the right model for me.

Questions: Do you all think I'm thinking about this the right way, making the right considerations? Do any of the models I listed stand out above the rest to you? Or are there other models/sources I should consider? Which do you think would give me the best odds of getting a solid, long-lasting, great sounding bass?

Thank you for any input and sanity checks!
 
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#2
Personal decisions about what is best for you... that's tough.

Here is my best advice: It's about the individual bass, expensive, cheap, American, Mexican... regardless of the variable, it's about the actual bass. A bass can be off the hook or terrible, and it has nothing to do with price or country of origin. You can not tell from a photo.

You can narrow which neck profile you like, rosewood or maple, that helps narrow things down, but until you have the bass in your hands, it does not mean all that much.

The deal breaker is always; a bass that does not resonate. Dead spots or wolf tones are a deal breaker. You do not want a bass that does not ring true. You can not fix that. A twisted neck is another.

So here is the best advice I can give you; buy from a vendor that will allow you to return the bass if it's not great. No restocking fees, no hard time, and take the bass back... on to the next.
 
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#3
Yes, I think your considerations are perfect, honestly.

I just got a BRAND NEW Performer Jazz in penny for $940 - for me it's the one I'd want anyway out of all of them. 8.6 lbs. and beautiful color.

Hasn't come yet, though, but I have a LOT of experience with American Special basses and guitars (see below). I personally don't love the Pro series because I'm not big on the "modern" appointments, I like a more simple, vintage- ish design, and the Pro price has gotten out of control. They were $1249 new not long ago. $700 increase? hell no. Even the Performer is now $1500. An American Special was $900 new. $600 more? Again, hell no!!!

Don't forget American Special! Came out in between Highway 1 and Performer. I have a Precision and a Strat and both are really amazing. "Best bass I've ever owned" is what you will often see written about these models and I agree. The one I've kept over many other USA Precisions I've owned. They come up on Reverb all the time for good prices. A lot of lightweight examples out there.

Another amazing Jazz is the older rosewood Roadworn. There's a nice fiesta red one on Reverb right now for cheap!

Fender Road Worn '60s Jazz Bass Red Fiesta 2015 | Reverb

Just note that the newer ones are the undesirable "pau ferro" fretboards.

Lastly, I've seen some REALLY good deals on American Original 60s Jazz basses, under $1500 a lot of the time. Classic, vintage Jazz that looks stunning. However, I am not a big fan of nitro and glossy necks. Just not as practical in use IMO but these are beautiful basses.
 
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#4
Dbassmon said:
It's about the individual bass
Click to expand...
↑↑↑↑↑ Truer words are rarely spoken ↑↑↑↑↑

If the bass is an assembly line bass each unit is going to have its own characteristics. Sometimes you get parts that absolutely jive and parts that fight each other sonically. It's hit or miss. But since you cannot go try and compare and have to have it shipped to you, as noted, you need to get one with a return policy.

Since you mentioned the Highway One, if it's anything like its Stratocaster sibling it could be a fine bass. OTOH there is one thing that concerns me: The neck shape. The specs say it is a "MODERN "C Shape". If it is the same as the illustration below there has never been a neck shape that I've hated more. I tried both bass and electric with this neck and in both cases within 2 minutes my left hand was cramping. Obviously some people love it, otherwise Fender would not have produced it. What's different with the "modern" C is that the bass side has more meat, in my case pushing my thumb out to an uncomfortable position.

upload_2022-12-5_12-50-23.png



Fender Highway One Jazz Bass Features:
  • Color: 3-color Sunburst
  • Body: Alder
  • Neck: Maple, Modern "C" Shape (Satin Polyurethane Finish)
  • Machine heads: Standard
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood, (9.5" Radius/241 mm)
  • No. of frets: 20 Medium Jumbo Frets
  • Pickups: 2 Standard Vintage Alnico Magnet Jazz Bass Single Coil Pickups (Mid & Bridge)
  • Controls: Volume 1 (Neck Pickup), Volume 2 (Bridge Pickup), Master Greasebucket Tone Circuit
  • Bridge: Badass II
  • Hardware: Chrome
  • Strings: Super Bass 8250M NPS, p/n 073-8250-006,
  • Deluxe Gig Bag
  • Pickguard: 3-Ply Parchment
  • Scale length: 34"
  • Width at nut: 1.500"
 
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#5
Yeah, it is all about the particular unit. I wouldn’t trade my Player Jazz for a more expensive unit. I searched long and hard. I played less impressive basses that cost multiples of my Player Jazz. I found a true gem. @sharkbarf, I hope your search is successful.

Funny how back in the day that Pau Ferro was viewed as a premium fretboard wood…

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#6
Thanks for the input all! Dbassmon - very true about personal decisions... I appreciate your advice on individual basses. Mike Vee - that's awesome you got a new performer, I've seen a lot of people stoked on those. Good to know about the Am. Special too!
Vindibona1 - very interesting point about the neck profile. Where'd you find that graphic? I wish Fender made that more obvious. I just looked up my Player, and it says it has a modern-c, but it feels symmetrical (without the bass-side bump). Maybe there's different modern-c profiles in different models/eras?
Since a lot of you are suggesting a place with returns: have any of you dealt with returns to Sweetwater? I read their policy, and it seems like they'd take returns, minus the shipping cost (which is pretty expensive for a bass)?
Thanks all!
 
#7
My Player Jazz feels symmetrical also. It has a Stratocaster feel in my hand.

I purchased my Player Jazz from Sweetwater. You can pick your bass from pictures but it is a roll of the dice for the intangibles that mean the difference of “meh” and “YES!”
 
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#8
@Akiyama - that's encouraging to hear about your purchase from Sweetwater. I guess since you said that yours was better than a lot of ones you played, you must have gotten lucky getting it without playing it first?
 
#9
Yeah, total luck. It was/is a beauty. Total luck it was was as resonant as it is unplugged and QC was 99.5%.

I played so many basses. Nothing moved me to spend my money. I took a chance at it worked out so well.

I can top that story. During Covid I ordered a left-handed Jazzmaster for my daughter from Fender. Months of waiting then finally it arrived. I swear this was done custom shop for her. Simply amazing guitar!
 
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#12
Spidey2112 said:
Highway One... I have an '06 I bought new, and it's still in regular rotation. The necks pretty thin (which is a plus, for me!), but super stable. Nitro finish on the body is wearing nicely, too (midnight wine).
!
Click to expand...

I like the Highway One concept. Right now I've got a Highway One Strat and might be one of the best Strats I've ever played. But it appears that in 2018 Fender changed the neck shape to the MODERN C neck on both bass and Strat (which I hate with a passion). I think they did the same with the original "Professional" series, but they stuck more to the Deluxe shape with the Ultra.

I guess the bottom line(s) is/are important: Be aware of the year of the model you're proposing to buy. Be able to play and return something you don't like. Sweetwater is very easy to deal with. Often they post the individual units of a given model so you can choose the actual instrument in their inventory.
 
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#14
sharkbarf said:
Highway One - Nice one on Reverb right now from 2008, looks like good condition; I really like the satin nitro body finish; lowest price ($980). Kind of leaning towards this one.
Click to expand...

Are we talking $980 USD?

I got my 2008 Highway One Jazz brand new back in 2009 for $1049 CAD, which works out to be $770 USD based on the current exchange rate.

Just keep in mind the Highway One series was designed as "entry model American Fender" below the American Standard.

That being said, my Jazz has been a real workhorse all these years. It's a keeper for life for me.
 
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#15
Dbassmon said:
There Modern C shape may not work for everyone as vindibona1 points out.

Personally, I love that neck shape which goes back to; how hard it is to account for what will work for you....

Whatever your decide sharkbarf, please post pics of the bass you end up buying. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I knew there had to be somebody that liked the Fender Modern C neck. Why else would they produce it? Honestly, it literally made my hand cramp within a just few seconds of playing. I don't really see the point of it. But that's just me. I don't need or like a lot of thumb engagement and that "goiter" just added pressure where it wasn't needed or wanted.

Not to digress too far, but along similar lines...
My friend was looking for his first electric guitar. He's a low intermediate player so I told him I'd scope out some instruments. He really liked the Les Paul. I saw the specs on the new Epiphone Les Paul "Modern" and on paper thought "that's the ticket". So I went to check it out and the neck on this sucker was very un-Les Paul like and had more like a super thin/flat Ibanez Wizard II neck, but more radical, at least in my hands. I guess a shredder might like that one... but a shredder on a Les Paul????

I guess there's something for everyone.
 
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#17
sharkbarf said:
Hi all, hoping I can get some wisdom to help me decide on which Fender Jazz bass I should get. I'm currently considering these models: American Performer (new or used), American Professional II (new), American Professional I (used), and a Highway One. My budget's a little flexible... preferably not over $2000. I've done research on TalkBass for those models, and some others, and really appreciate the invaluable analysis folks have posted here.

What I'm looking for: a solid, well-finished bass that will last me many years. I play mostly with a pick with punk/post-punk/alt/indie style music (like Unwound, IDLES, Pixies, Lungfish, Modest Mouse, etc.). I'd be replacing my Fender Player Jazz - partly for aesthetics (the white is too white for me - going for sunburst now - and not a huge fan of the Pau Ferro), partly to upgrade the fit and finish (frets are kinda sharp, a few dead spots on the fretboard), and partly for better hardware (although I don't have specific complaints about that...). I feel pretty happy with overall sound of my Player, especially after shielding it, and feel confident I want another Jazz. I'm open to doing some mods (shielding, pick-up change, bridge change, rewiring grease-bucket if I don't like it, etc.), but of course if I'm gonna be spending the big bucks, it'd be nice to not have to.

Pros and Cons:
Pro II - Nice one in stock on Sweetwater with pics; good weight and look; not sure I want the slim neck, ambivalent about string-through. I did play one a few years ago and was really impressed by the finish, especially rolled fingerboard edge.
Performer - Better price than Pro II, has most everything I want.
Highway One - Nice one on Reverb right now from 2008, looks like good condition; I really like the satin nitro body finish; lowest price ($980). Kind of leaning towards this one.
Used Performer - Few on Reverb that look good and a pretty good price ($1100).
Used Pro I - Few on Reverb that look good and better price than new Pro II.

Since none of these are available within easy driving distance of me, I guess I'd have to pic from the online selection. Sweetwater is appealing because of that since that have pics of the one I'd buy and seem more neutral/honest than a seller on Reverb/E-Bay, but I'm not sure the Pro II is the right model for me.

Questions: Do you all think I'm thinking about this the right way, making the right considerations? Do any of the models I listed stand out above the rest to you? Or are there other models/sources I should consider? Which do you think would give me the best odds of getting a solid, long-lasting, great sounding bass?

Thank you for any input and sanity checks!
Click to expand...
You don't need to spend big on a bass these days.

Any bass over $500 these days will sound great and last a long, long, long time.

Any component that somehow fails can be easily replaced.

Dead spots and fret sprout can be easily fixed with a setup. Fret sprout is a result of humidity changes anyway, not a quality issue.

And the differences between all of those models is infinitesimal.

So, I'd just pick the one with the neck and color you like.
 
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#18
I'm a P guy, but I do have one prized Jazz bass that is actually my number one over my Am Pro 2 P and it's my American Performer Jazz bass. It's Seafoam Green satin finished body with a maple neck and fretboard. I consider it to feel and sound the best of all the current US models.
 
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#19
vindibona1 said:
↑↑↑↑↑ Truer words are rarely spoken ↑↑↑↑↑

Since you mentioned the Highway One, if it's anything like its Stratocaster sibling it could be a fine bass. OTOH there is one thing that concerns me: The neck shape. The specs say it is a "MODERN "C Shape". If it is the same as the illustration below there has never been a neck shape that I've hated more. I tried both bass and electric with this neck and in both cases within 2 minutes my left hand was cramping.

View attachment 4894392
Click to expand...

Took me A LONG TIME to realise this is what I'd always hated about Fenders. The Ultras have a "D" shaped necks and I find the difference allows me to play all day.
 
#20
Modern C is for schooled/classical/technical players who don't show their thumb from behind fretboard, spead their fingers to 4 frets evenly and hold the bass with an angle so wrists are straight. Otherwise It's ergonomically harder to play Modern C.
 
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