Fender American deluxe jazz vs...... Everything else

[loonman555]

I was looking for a jazz bass as well a few months ago, so I went to my local music store and tried out the American Deluxe. It's a great instrument, but it didn't wow me, especially for the price.

That's when a friend told me about Carvin's Jazz Bass model. It's almost exactly the same as a Fender American Deluxe but, depending on how you want it built, about $700 cheaper. Still made in the US and both active/passive electronics. The neck and weight is very similar between them too. I would definitely check it out if you are looking for an active/passive Jazz.

 

[mdogs]

For me for recording, I am not a big fan of active. Except, as in the case of the stingray, where the sound if the bass depends on the electronics. In the case of Js and Ps, their natural tone is passive, absolutely no need for them to be active and it just takes away from their tone.

 

[Jughead6]

Try a Sandberg TM4 or TT4. Something different from the usual Fenders, not much more expensive, and excellent quality.

 

[Richbass101]

For what its worth, I owm 2 Fender American Standard Jazz basses and TO ME they sound and play awesome but Im not into active electronics like the deluxe version but it all comes down to what YOU like, everyone likes different things. The American Standards are awesome though

 

[obimark]

I was looking for a jazz bass as well a few months ago, so I went to my local music store and tried out the American Deluxe. It's a great instrument, but it didn't wow me, especially for the price.

That's when a friend told me about Carvin's Jazz Bass model. It's almost exactly the same as a Fender American Deluxe but, depending on how you want it built, about $700 cheaper. Still made in the US and both active/passive electronics. The neck and weight is very similar between them too. I would definitely check it out if you are looking for an active/passive Jazz.

This is what I did, and I am thrilled with my custom Carvin JB4! The thing is sweet, got the active/passive option (though I really only use active if I am going to slap a bunch). Got the finishes, the neck, the fret markers and even the pick guard I wanted. And still came out $740 less than the Fender deluxe. (Not that there is anything wrong with that bass either). I consider the tone to be a very classic Jazz bass growl, and it is capable of doing a respectable P-bass thump if I want as well.

 

[A-Step-Towards]

$1200-$1400 for a DLX Jazz? Are you in the USA because thats high. I am selling one under $1000.

 

[AmpegB15]

I purchased a Fender deluxe brand new and returned it the next day. The build quality is awesome BUT the electronics are horrible. It's so noisie it's unuseable. I also me tried a P bass deluxe. It was just as noisie. I'm in a working band that plays every weekend and my main bass is a 2008 Fender American P bass that I love. I also have a 2010 Mia Fender P bass as well. I just ordered a G&L MJ-4. It's an active jazz type bass.

I had the same experience. The electronics are very noisy. Even in passive mode the N3 pickups have a buzz. Everything else about the bass is great, but its pretty much unusable without replacing the preamp and maybe even the N3 pickups.

 

[FirewalZ]

I actually prefer passive Fender's.

 

[Frank77]

FWIW, I have a L-2500 (the 5-string version of the L-2000 the OP is considering) and I cannot speak highly enough of this bass. It offers a very wide array of usable tones, and build quality is great (at least, it was when I got mine 15 years ago). I know some guys dislike them because of all the mini-toggles and knobs, but personally I think the electronics on this thing are the cat's meow.

However, as someone mentioned earlier the output is indeed quite hot (even in passive mode) - be aware of this if you plan on using effects, as some overdrive pedals don't mix too well with them (at least IME).

 

[pbass6811]

I purchased a Fender deluxe brand new and returned it the next day. The build quality is awesome BUT the electronics are horrible. It's so noisie it's unuseable. I also me tried a P bass deluxe. It was just as noisie. I'm in a working band that plays every weekend and my main bass is a 2008 Fender American P bass that I love. I also have a 2010 Mia Fender P bass as well. I just ordered a G&L MJ-4. It's an active jazz type bass.

Having what you have i will say you just need a natural Jazz and you have covered a a good palette of options. But, having had the American Deluxe i have to say maybe not your best option. Having had a EBMM Ray and Sterling i can tell you in terms of "Active" sound these 2 are way better option and since you have a Ray i don't see the point for an active Fender. As some said the AmDlx has nice fit, build etc. And the neck is one of the nicest i've had but the electronics didn't seem special for me. Call it PUPS, Preamp whatever but no magic on it. And neither in Passive sounded as a "keeper" one. It sounded hollow and lifeless. Could be that one i had tough. I suggest you to get a nice passive Jazz instead. But if you have that Ray, i dont see any necessary for an active option. Now, other story is if you are going to talk about Sadowsky, Sandberg and boutique brands, but you seem to be in the $1000 range.

I had the same experience. The electronics are very noisy. Even in passive mode the N3 pickups have a buzz. Everything else about the bass is great, but its pretty much unusable without replacing the preamp and maybe even the N3 pickups.

+1 to all of these. I had an ADJB for about a year, and the only redeeming quality was the fit and finish. The bass was gorgeous, but sounded extrordinarily mediocre. I wanted to use it passively, but there was nothing to work with. I'm sure I could've worked on it, new pickups or a new preamp, but I'm not a Fender fan, and I didn't think I should hafta put that much effort into making a $1,700 bass sound halfway decent. I've heard others praise the AmDlx basses, but my experience seems to mirror these other guys'. Good luck, my man!

 

[basslifter]

The lower prices you're seeing for G&L are the tribute models that are made overseas. The electronics are all US made so that is a big plus. I have a tribute, but have played the US model. The US models sounded very similar, if not the same. The differences were in fit and finish, weight and just overall feel.US was really good, but twice as good? My trib L2500 was the best thing going at that price point when I bought it new. Edged out the MIM deluxe and beat the pants off my old bass at the time. Cuts through the mix like crazy.

 

[Malak the Mad]

You can definitely buy whatever Fender Jazz bass that really catches your eye and then put in an Audere JZ3 preamp...one of the best preamps available and so easy to install that I did it myself having never even attempted to do anything other than simply change strings. No soldering required!
I combined the JZ3 with Fender Super 55s (split coil pickups in a Jazz housing...dead quiet) and my Jazz bass now sounds better than the Candy Tangerine American Deluxe Jazz that I had on layaway.

The JZ3 has a 3-way toggle switch, too...middle position is passive.

This reminds me of another add-on circuit board/wiring harness…an Elek-Trix Series/Parallel Wiring Harness made by Santellan Sounds. It may be "passive only", but it has two ways to shape your overall sound. One is a push-pull pot that switches from PARALLEL to SERIES wiring. The other is a dip-pin chip that allows you to vary the capacitance of the tone-pot. (e.g.: IIRC, many basses have a tone-pot cap at/around a .047u value. This circuit allows you to switch to anywhere from .010u to .1u) It's also solder-less for quick(er) installation and pickup changes.

I put one on a P/J parts-bass and it's awesome. Switching over to SERIES really adds some "beefiness" and a bit of volume to the overall sound. Not bad for $85! (For the record; I have no association with the company, outside being a very satisfied customer.)

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[jd56hawk]

Might be just the thing for my other Jazz bass.

 

[Mrevol]

$1200-$1400 for a DLX Jazz? Are you in the USA because thats high. I am selling one under $1000.

Yeah USA. Everywhere I look (eBay and Craigslist) there $1200-$1400. I am talking about the newer ones with the block inlays tho.

 

[Mrevol]

Ok so is there a difference from the 80's L2000's and the newer ones?

I know some of the older Fenders are preferred to the the newer ones. Is it the same for G&L or go for newer?