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MOR_Lio

Sep 9, 2004
49
1
#1
Hi guys,

I plan on buying an Fender American Jazz Bass pretty soon, but sometimes I wonder if a Deluxe wouldn't b worth to pay a bit more.

Could you tell me the exact differences between the regular Jazz Basses and the deluxes, and especially if you think it is worth paying more than 100 extra bucks to have a deluxe.

Thanks a lot.
 
#4
I have an older deluxe, and it is SWEET! I don't know what the newest electronics sound like, but I have the Suhr preamp, and DiMarzios. I changed out the old pickups, but I might switch back, and fiddle around with the dimarzios.
 
#5
Depends on what kind of tone you are looking for and what kind of music you play. If you want old-school type tone a passive bass will suit you nicely. More modern stuff? You might want to go active. Play both and see what you think.
 
#6
bryan bailey said:
I think the body is shaped differently too.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure the shape is different, but I know it's a little smaller than the regular ones.

I have a newer American Deluxe Jazz (from 2000, I think), and it's worth it for me - I find the preamp to be very useful. I learned on an active bass and then I got the Jazz; I don't know if I'd ever get used to a passive bass.

But it depends on if you think you'll need the preamp - as r379 said, play both basses and decide which one you'll need.
 
#7
r379 said:
Depends on what kind of tone you are looking for and what kind of music you play. If you want old-school type tone a passive bass will suit you nicely. More modern stuff? You might want to go active. Play both and see what you think.
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your help!

Are you sure about that? Because I have heard that actually the Deluxe sound is more meant to reproduce the old-school tone?
 
#8
I would say that a search for vintage tone would be better served with a passive bass because, after all, vintage basses were passive. Having said that, I will say that I prefer passive basses. Which "vintage were you looking for? Sixties vintage will involve alder/rosewood and '70s-'80s would be more likely ash/maple or ash/rosewood.
 
#9
Well, I am not looking specifically for a vintage tone. Actually, I would be satisfied with a tome similar to those of Led Zeppelin but I dont know if you consider that vintage.

But what I play is more modern stuff with such influences as Rage against the machine.
 
#13
The Deluxe neck joins the body at the 22 fret, the standred at the 21st fret. The deluxe has a graphite reinforced neck ( I beleive two graphite rods running paralel thru the neck) I don't beleive the standred does. My deluxe, about 5 years old, has the noiseless pickups (they are quiter) and a 3 band pre designed by John Pensa (Pense-suhr). The other difference is a Abalone logo on the headstock to match the neck dots. The body does have a slightly different shape, maybe slightly reduced almost like a Daryl Jones. NOW THE SHAMELESS PLUG, I have one (Deluxe-Maple sunburst Alder body) on consignment at Low Down Sound in Detroit www.lowdownsound.com It's a good bass and with some good flats it could get that 60's vibe, I beleive there asking 799!
 
#15
I've got an '02 MIA Deluxe. I've had it for about 4 months now and am only now appreciating the variety of tones you're able to get out of it. I've got no complaints, but am curious how mine stacks up against the newer ones with the new pickups and 18v pre.
 
#16
MOR_Lio said:
Thanks a lot for your help!

Are you sure about that? Because I have heard that actually the Deluxe sound is more meant to reproduce the old-school tone?
Click to expand...

You are right...the new Deluxes made in 2004 have SCN pickups and an 18volt preamp. With the preamp flat (no boost or cut) it has a great vintage jazz tone. Totally worth it over the regular jazz. I have the 5 string version and I can't say enough about tone, looks or playability. Good luck.
-Bazz-
 

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