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Fender 2018 MIM Player Series

#621
Stopped by a Sam Ash to kill time before the recording studio was ready for us to come in. Played one of the Buttercream Jazz Bass in stock and fell in love. A bit of research I stumble upon the Tidepool Jaguar and that left me feeling all giddy!

So I dug up some research and found this thread looking for some answers as I’m conflicted between the Jazz and Jaguars. I really dig the Jaguar in terms of body style but is there any significant difference between the Jazz? Wish the music stores around town have the Jaguars in stock but they seem to not be stocked till November :meh:
 
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#622
Madhouse27 said:
I just got a new maple Player P neck today from Stratosphere (big score, lefty maple of either style is hard to come by). Put it on my Player body and threw some old Labella flats on there and I can’t believe how comfortable it feels. When I looked at it, I thought it might be a little too flat front to back, but man it just plays great! I guess my Player Jazz donor can have its neck back now.
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Great score!:) How much cause yeah, lefty maple boarded P necks are hard to come by.
 
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#623
sonojono said:
Stopped by a Sam Ash to kill time before the recording studio was ready for us to come in. Played one of the Buttercream Jazz Bass in stock and fell in love. A bit of research I stumble upon the Tidepool Jaguar and that left me feeling all giddy!

So I dug up some research and found this thread looking for some answers as I’m conflicted between the Jazz and Jaguars. I really dig the Jaguar in terms of body style but is there any significant difference between the Jazz? Wish the music stores around town have the Jaguars in stock but they seem to not be stocked till November :meh:
Click to expand...
Yes, the Jaguar is a PJ, so its tones will be closer to a Precision than a Jazz. If you like Jazz basses but want the Jaguar body shape, you should look for older Japanese Fender Jaguars which have jazz pickups.
 
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#625
I have the fretless player Jazz in white, my first MIM since I didn't want to make a huge investment in the Jaco tribute or am prof and found that I was terrible (actually not bad) , I have to say it sounded great. Went to have prof setup since E string did not sound right esp open, was told the fingerboard needed some filing, and the tuning was behind the marks now on the marks. Now plays and sounds great within the level of my competence. Comes with fender flat strings instead of the usual rounds. I have not played the am prof, but have played the joco tribute and although different lacquer and fretboard, I am really happy with this and can get neat sounds out of it.
 
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#626
Lennys said:
I have the fretless player Jazz in white, my first MIM since I didn't want to make a huge investment in the Jaco tribute or am prof and found that I was terrible (actually not bad) , I have to say it sounded great. Went to have prof setup since E string did not sound right esp open, was told the fingerboard needed some filing, and the tuning was behind the marks now on the marks. Now plays and sounds great within the level of my competence. Comes with fender flat strings instead of the usual rounds. I have not played the am prof, but have played the joco tribute and although different lacquer and fretboard, I am really happy with this and can get neat sounds out of it.
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Thanks for your reply. Are the electronics of the Player series more noisy than the usa made ones?
 
#628
Lennys said:
I really do not know how to answer that. I think the Alnico 5 pickups of the player sound fine for me esp after setup. Whether it is worth it to change this for some its hard to answer. they certainly do not seem noisy to me though.
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I agree. I think the Alnico 5 pups on the Player Series sound as good, or better than they did on the Am. Std.'s. I'd include the present Alnico's sounding as good, or better than the CS60's pups that were on the Am. Std.'s also.
 
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#629
Has anyone installed Hipshot Ultralites on their Player? If so, did you use USA or Lic, and how did they fit in the existing headstock hole (obviously will require a new screw hole drilled)?

I'm considering getting some, just for comfort - my Precision is just over 8lbs so a lot of that weight feels like it's at the headstock. Tempted to get an Xtender fitted at the same time, but not sure if I'll use it much!
 
#632
maevinj said:
Anybody recommend where to get a Tort pickguard for the Player Series Jazz Bass?
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From Fender, or stores like Sam Ash, Guitar Center etc. I just used a Fender Black Moto PG from an Am. Std. / Am. Pro. Jazz. It fits great.
The Am. Std. / Am. Pro. Jazz PG has the notch cut for the truss rod adjustment at the heel, that isn't used for a Player Series Jazz, but who cares about that. The fit, and the look is Right On.

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#634
west al said:
From Fender, or stores like Sam Ash, Guitar Center etc. I just used a Fender Tort PG from an Am. Std. / Am. Pro. Jazz. It fits great.
The Am. Std. / Am. Pro. Jazz PG has the notch cut for the truss rod adjustment at the heel, that isn't used for a Player Series Jazz, but who cares about that. The fit, and the look is Right On.

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Thanks. I was actually trying to avoid the ones with the cut out for the truss rod but good to know that is an option if I can't find something else.
 
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#636
ColdEye said:
for of the owners of the P bass, how are you guys liking it? Thinking of getting this or the vintera, but it seems for a simple Pbass with TI flats the player series is a really good option.
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I like mine a lot, it's great. It sounds like a Precision! Probably the biggest compliment I can give it

It's well built, neck feels great with a fast playing satin finish, it's a relatively shallow profile (not a baseball bat by any means). Mine weighs just over 8lbs and that's with a heavier adonised gold pickguard & a bridge cover on. I play hardcore punk, strung it with GHS Pressurewounds and it just absolutely punches through the mix - but at home, I roll the tone off and play along with Sir Duke and Cissy Strut and it's right at home there, too.

No complaints. If you can, try them both because the Vintera has a different neck profile I believe, and maybe a wider nut, and in theory should sound more vintage. But it's a P - string it with flats and you'll get that sound, so I'd certainly try a Player out too.

FWIW, I played 2 Ps, 2 Jags and a Jazz in various music shops and I'd have happily taken any of them home. Very solid series, even though they won't set the world alight or anything
 
#637
ColdEye said:
for of the owners of the P bass, how are you guys liking it? Thinking of getting this or the vintera, but it seems for a simple Pbass with TI flats the player series is a really good option.
Click to expand...

I'm really loving my Player P. I can't put the thing down! The neck feels really good. It fills the hand more than a J neck, but by no means would I call it chunky or a baseball bat.

Mine is still strung with the rounds it came with. I find it the tone to be fairly bright and aggressive (for a P) when the tone is rolled all the way up, but nice and thumpy with the tone rolled most of, or all of the way down.

The brightness probably has to do with the pickup, but also the 500k pots inside. I think that's actually part of why this bass suits me so much: it sounds downright mean when I really dig in.
 

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