Convince me to buy something cheaper...

[SparkyLB]

I must deny your request. I will NOT, I repeat--not entice you to buy something cheaper. Here's my long story short. I was DEAD set on on a P Bass. Researched, googled, (but didn't play one) ogled over pics. .. anyways. I found EXACTLY what I wanted at a Guitar Center. It was an Olympic White P Bass, with a rosewood fretboard. Exactly what I sought.

Well, I'd been a guitarist for 35+ years. As far as "my mental image" of what I wanted. I found it. I just had to drive over and buy it. I had the cash, and set forth to do so. Got to Guitar Center, and there was my my friggin' beautiful PBass in white with black fretboard.

Unexpected event. Next to it hung a black Fender American Jazz Bass with a maple fretboard. I admitted to the sales rep that I didn't know much, just that I had played guitar all these years. He humbly suggested, "I can play both for you, you can listen and make up your own mind." Put that in the annals of all-time great advice. I sat, he played, and as much as I LOVED that white PBass, I left with the black Jazz bass.

If I have any regret, it's that they didn't have one in Sonic Gray. That's what drew me to your OP. IMO, FWIW, a Fender Jazz bass in Sonic Gray is "my" most coveted instrument. But I'll keep the black one with the maple neck. Fender sometimes gets a bad rep by the haters, but pull up some YouTube videos, and see what the bassists of yore played/ are playing.

Fender rocks, and that's coming from one COMPLETELY inexperienced know-nothin kinda guy.

 

[FC Bass]

Get a used Alembic (they're out there for less than $1500).

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

If you like the Toby but the electronics are lousy...why not replace the electronics?

 

[chris_b]

I've been in the market for a new bass for years and years now. And I have some money saved up to spend on one (my current bass is a Toby Deluxe IV, I like it a lot but the electronics are lousy

Would you like your current bass better (enough to keep it) if you replaced the pickups and electrics? That might be your most cost effective option.

Try to play a Lakland Skyline. IMO they are great instruments for the money.

If you have found a Fender that you think is perfect then buy it. If $1500 is too much then keep an eye on the classifieds and one will probably come up for less.

 

[retslock]

But then I played the Fender Jazz Professional series bass they had there and it just felt perfect. ....the neck is definitely the favorite out of any I played (it's really slim). And nothing I played afterwards felt even comparable....

Don’t make the mistake of passing up the bass that feels perfect because you think a better one will come along. I made that mistake once and soon realised it was a big mistake. How long have you been looking and how many basses felt as good as that Jazz? If it felt perfect then grab it. You won’t regret it and you could have that bass for a life time.

 

[retslock]

Fender Classic series jazz bass, great bass and great value. The classic line is really great. It's under a grand and really performs. You get in at a good value and if later you want to sell towards the us pro, you'll be able to come out of it at good value too, though they're keepers.

But will it feel perfect? We all know that they don’t all feel perfect. Get the one that does. You’ll look back and realise your 1500 was well spent.

 

[sigterm]

But will it feel perfect? We all know that they don’t all feel perfect. Get the one that does. You’ll look back and realise your 1500 was well spent.

Don't make the mistake of spending more than budgeted to get "perfect" out of an instrument. They're not perfect, they generally age well, and there is always just one more bass. Start chasing tone and perfect, and find yourself broke.

 

[Mr.Ace]

Buy used

 

[Medicine Man]

If you feel a connection, don't hesitate. Love at first sight doesn't happen every day. Or if it it does, it's just GAS. A grey fender jazz is a timeless and genre crossing instrument that could be your lifer.

 

[Old Blastard]

It's all good advice. Personally, if an instrument feels great and I bond with it, getting something that played good but not as great doesn't make it.

If you love it, if it calls you, if you feel all googy and giddy when you play it, buy it.

Sometimes it's OK to go emo and instruments speak to you in different ways.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Fender Jazz is a great bass, if you can afford it. I think they are a little overpriced, but it’s your money. It’s an accepted standard for virtually any gig but metal, so you can’t go wrong there. If you like a slim neck, did you try any of the Ibanez SR series? Best bang for your buck IMO, and plenty available with J or P tones.

 

[smtp4me]

If it hasn't already been suggested - look for a used bass of the same type (Fender Pro Jazz). You'll probably find one under $1000.

 

[jd56hawk]

Hello fellow bass players! I've been in the market for a new bass for years and years now. And I have some money saved up to spend on one (my current bass is a Toby Deluxe IV, I like it a lot but the electronics are lousy and I'm ready for something else). I've been going to guitar shops around and my goal has been to find something versatile, unique, and preferably under a grand. I ended up around Indiana and got into Sweetwater and played a bunch of things in their shop and a lot was good. But then I played the Fender Jazz Professional series bass they had there and it just felt perfect. It's the most common bass style in the world but damn I like the Sonic Gray color and the neck is definitely the favorite out of any I played (it's really slim). And nothing I played afterwards felt even comparable....but it's right around $1500. Which I could probably do I've been saving a long time, but it's a lot of money.

Has anyone played this bass and know others with a similar feel and sound but maybe a bit less expensive? I went in there expecting I'd want a Lakland Skyline coming out but the Jazz just felt right. Anyway, you people always have great opinions and I learn a lot on here so I figured I can share my struggle and get some good feedback. Thanks!

Here you go. Haven't touched my G&L L2000 since I bought this…looks great, sounds better!
That's not rosewood, by the way…it's Blackwood Tek. These guys didn't miss a trick.
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$999...wouldn't trade it for one of the big three if my life depended on it.

 

[garp]

I admire your discipline in saving and your diligence in researching. As others have suggested, now you just need a bit more patience while you wait for a pre-owned Sonic Gray Jazz to pop up here or elsewhere. I also can't argue with the notion of going back to Sweetwater and attempting to strike a better price on what's now arguably a demo unit.

 

[40Hz]

Just be aware that there are Fenders and there are Fenders. Despite being mass produced there are going to be some that will sound and play significantly better than others. So if you’re in the market for a new bass, and you find one that ticks all the boxes for you, think twice before passing it by.

My GF is a guitarist. She loves loves Strats. The single most popular guitar in the world. When she’s shopping for a new one (she has eight last time I looked) she’ll try out as many as she can. But when she finds the right one she knows it in a minute or two.

You'd think a Strat is a Strat. But each of hers has its own unique tone and response despite sounding like a Strat. And Fender basses are no different. Some just speak to you. And those are the ones you want to buy.

 

[retslock]

Don't make the mistake of spending more than budgeted to get "perfect" out of an instrument. They're not perfect, they generally age well, and there is always just one more bass. Start chasing tone and perfect, and find yourself broke.

The OP already found “perfect” at a price he said he could manage. $1500 is not an outrageous price to pay if the bass feels as good as he said. Your comment is contradictory; “there is always just one more bass” “Start chasing tone and perfect, and find yourself broke”. There is no chase, he already found it.

 

[Nunovsky]

Hello fellow bass players! I've been in the market for a new bass for years and years now. And I have some money saved up to spend on one (my current bass is a Toby Deluxe IV, I like it a lot but the electronics are lousy and I'm ready for something else). I've been going to guitar shops around and my goal has been to find something versatile, unique, and preferably under a grand. I ended up around Indiana and got into Sweetwater and played a bunch of things in their shop and a lot was good. But then I played the Fender Jazz Professional series bass they had there and it just felt perfect. It's the most common bass style in the world but damn I like the Sonic Gray color and the neck is definitely the favorite out of any I played (it's really slim). And nothing I played afterwards felt even comparable....but it's right around $1500. Which I could probably do I've been saving a long time, but it's a lot of money.

Has anyone played this bass and know others with a similar feel and sound but maybe a bit less expensive? I went in there expecting I'd want a Lakland Skyline coming out but the Jazz just felt right. Anyway, you people always have great opinions and I learn a lot on here so I figured I can share my struggle and get some good feedback. Thanks!

Honestly, if you liked the bass and can afford it, then buy it. It's better to have a great bass that you love the sound, the look and how it feels, than to buy a cheaper one and then start thinking that it isn't the right bass and that what you really wanted was that "special one" that got away.

 

[sigterm]

The OP already found “perfect” at a price he said he could manage. $1500 is not an outrageous price to pay if the bass feels as good as he said. Your comment is contradictory; “there is always just one more bass” “Start chasing tone and perfect, and find yourself broke”. There is no chase, he already found it.

I'm sure it's hard to do the math but "preferably under a grand" =/= 1500

Today's perfect bass is tomorrow closet bass. It's naive to think otherwise.

 

[esoxhntr]

I like the Sonic Gray color and the neck is definitely the favorite out of any I played (it's really slim). And nothing I played afterwards felt even comparable

I look at it this way - Better to spend $1500 one time than $500 three times.

You'll end up wishing you bought this bass and sooner or later go looking for another Jazz just like it.

I think these quotes pretty much sum it up. If it really speaks to you - which is not as common as you might think - buy it. $500 extra is not that big a deal for the "right" instrument that will bring you years of use and a lot of enjoyment. Probably way better bang for your buck than what most folks spend on their prom...

 

[retslock]

I'm sure it's hard to do the math but "preferably under a grand" =/= 1500

Today's perfect bass is tomorrow closet bass. It's naive to think otherwise.

Strange,...I still have a Precision I bought in 1973. It’s not in the closet and it records very well. I don’t intend to sell it...ever.
“Preferably” is not an absolute term.