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Cheap, but good Jazz Bass ?

#161
I don't think you will be disappointed with a Squier jazz with a good set up and good flatwound strings. I say this because I had a setup and LaBella flats on my 2005 Squier Affinity and it sounded really good. After I had noiseless pickups installed it sounds even better. But this is a great time to be shopping for a bass, especially in a lower price range.

As previously mentioned, good used MIM would also be a great choice. You could get that set up and with new strings well within your budget.

I have heard Yamaha makes excellent basses for the money, but I have never played one. If I were shopping for a less expensive bass I would try one.

I have a Ameican G&L L-2000 that I love. I have read that Tributes are of a really good quality for the money.

You said you weren't looking for an active bass, but I have read that the Sire V series (V3 or V7 ?) are really a better quality instrument than others in the same price range. I would find one to demo if I were shopping now.

Good luck! I believe any of the ones I or others mentioned would be good choices.
 
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#162
I had owned an SX Jazz copy that I loaded with DiMarzios & later switched to Quarterpounders & got a black pickguard. It was a wicked bass, the tone was NASTY, but my hands weren't that comfortable with it. It was a well made, solid bass, but it wasn't the right feel for me. There have been Jazz & P bases that I wasn't comfortable with, so it wasn't a matter of the bass not being good; it was just the wrong one for me. The person I sold it to loves it!
sjb75ltdna1.jpg
SXJB3sm.jpg
 
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#167
jnewmark said:
Here's the deal. I already own a '98 MIA Fender Jazz, and a RW Jazz. Both have nickel rounds on them, and I use them both on live gigs, to the point where I don't want to change any mojo about them. The last couple of years, I've been doing more studio work, and have been asked to bring a bass that has Flats, for I do mostly Blues/Soul stuff when I'm there. So, I thought I would try to find a cheap, but good, playable, passive, Jazz , 4 string, Rosewood neck, for the studio stuff, and put some LaBella's on it.

I've been checking around, and it seems like a VM Squier might be a good choice, but I wanted to throw it out there to the Talk Bass community and find out what other choices might be better. I'm not opposed to buying used, as long as everything checks out on the bass, and I'm not necessarily stuck on a Fender, but I would rather find a Fender as I am used to playing them. Budget is right around $ 300 - $400. Before you suggest it, a P bass is not an option - been there , done that.

So, what else is out there ? What model/year Squires should I look for ? What other, cheap but good Jazz basses are you guys using ? Any inherent problems, issues, etc. with certain models ? All comments welcome !
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Just recently discontinued within a week or two ago.
Dean Juggernaut (Dean Paramount was also discontinued)
img_0765-jpg.3356590


  • Alder Top
  • Alder Body
  • 34" Scale Length
  • Bolt-On Neck
  • 'C' Neck Profile
  • Rosewood Fingerboard or Maple Fingerboard
  • Pearl Dot Inlays
  • 22 Frets
  • Vintage Knobs
  • Black/Chrome Hardware
  • Die Cast Bridge
  • DMT Series Pickups
  • Gloss Finish
Amazon lists this at 9.92 pounds. I'll have to weigh mine tonight
51" x 18" x 6"
$274 brand new
 
#171
Last edited:
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#173
jnewmark said:
Here's the deal. I already own a '98 MIA Fender Jazz, and a RW Jazz. Both have nickel rounds on them, and I use them both on live gigs, to the point where I don't want to change any mojo about them. The last couple of years, I've been doing more studio work, and have been asked to bring a bass that has Flats, for I do mostly Blues/Soul stuff when I'm there. So, I thought I would try to find a cheap, but good, playable, passive, Jazz , 4 string, Rosewood neck, for the studio stuff, and put some LaBella's on it.

I've been checking around, and it seems like a VM Squier might be a good choice, but I wanted to throw it out there to the Talk Bass community and find out what other choices might be better. I'm not opposed to buying used, as long as everything checks out on the bass, and I'm not necessarily stuck on a Fender, but I would rather find a Fender as I am used to playing them. Budget is right around $ 300 - $400. Before you suggest it, a P bass is not an option - been there , done that.

So, what else is out there ? What model/year Squires should I look for ? What other, cheap but good Jazz basses are you guys using ? Any inherent problems, issues, etc. with certain models ? All comments welcome !
Click to expand...
New series of Squier CV jazz basses ... the daphbe blue one with tortoise pickguard is very nice looking ...
 
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#178
DonaldR said:
Totally WRONG
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Sorry, I know they're are a ton of VM fans, but hey I can only go by my experience with owning this Squier VM fretless.

I've upgraded it with Aguilar 4J-HCs and CTS pots to make it sound decent and to get rid of all the noise, but I still hear that plastic fretboard tone - if I expect it to be playable, I have to adjust it everytime I pick it up. The necks are only passable and are like playing on a longbow without adjustment.

I bought 2 the other one was really bad and sent it back due to a buzzy fretboard that I couldn't adjust. Of course if you like super high action, then its fine.

But only paid $230 for it new, and just needed it for one fretless recording... otherwise it would be on its way out.
5A043524-190E-408C-8292-D51D66DD9061.jpeg
 
#179
Sorry for you for picking a sub-par instrument. I have my Squier VM Jazz 5 for 2 years and, even with a lot of temperature/humidity changes within a year, I only touched the trussrod 2-3 times and only for a quarter/half turn. The sound is as good as any MIM Jazz basses I tried and what I expected out of a good passive Jazz bass.
IMG_2612 - Copy.JPG
 
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