Fender Bass help me!!!

[serein2j]

Hey guys, I'm trying get my first Fender right now(or Musicman Sterling) .........
(well.. I have Marcus Miller Jazz but it belongs to Church and I really like it but it's not as versatile as I'd expect from a active bass)

My considerations are....

Jaguar, Geddy Lee, MIA Deluxe Jazz (or with Ash body)

or

Musicman Sterling

Well... I have a passive bass that I like already (Yamaha RBX4 A2) I'm mostly looking for Active basses but can't rule out the GEDDY!

I really like the Fender jazz tone and also the Musicman's punchy tone....

I guess I could go for G&L or Lakland but I don't think I don't like the style of the basses and distinct tone isn't there.

Yea it could be a bit tricky but I will really appreciate any recommendations out of those choices above or anything else!!

Thanks for y'all's help!!!

 

[qunndo]

I have a fender passive jazz mia but moved away from a stingray because it wasn't as versatile as i'd like.

Sorry i dont have any further information on what your looking at, just thought i'd drop my opinion on my limited experience with both brands.

 

[Obese Chess]

If you like the Jazz tone and the musicman tone, why not try to get a bass with a J/MM pickup configuration? It's pretty common.

 

[Geezerman]

or a bongo, you can get really sweet jazz tones out of it with some knob touching

 

[Svend-DK]

If you are going for the Jazz/Sterling tone, then i wouldn't recommend the jaguar.
Personally i would go for the MIA Deluxe Jazz, but it also depends on what kind of music you play...

In the end it's a matter of taste after all...

 

[Vincent P]

I own both the MIA Deluxe, and the Geddy Lee. Both have their own distinctive tones but, the MIA Deluxe is by far my favorite. This is the first bass in a long time that made me fall in love the first note I hit on it.

 

[bassplayershane]

I sold a Sterling early in the year and got a MIA Standard Jazz and if you are after versatility, go with the Sterling. I got the Jazz cos it had the tone I was looking for and I love the passive tone. You tried a Lakland 4-94 or 44-02? They are cool! very versatile!

In the end, its all up to YOU and your ears!!

 

[serein2j]

Hmm... thanks guys!!
Now I think it's down to Jaguar, Sterling, MIA Jazz Deluxe.....
@_@

I've tried Lakland and sounds great and all but....@_@ i don't like their design...@_@;;;;

 

[Double Agent]

I can help you by eliminating the Jaguar. Seriously, there are nice for the money but they don't belong in the conversation with the other basses you are considering. I have owned the Jag & the Am Dlx Jazz, and have also played many Sterlings. The electronics on the Jag are way below the standards of the other 2 IME.

Some might suggest Sterling HS, but I did not find this bass to have a Jazz-like tone at all. Still, it might worth a shot for you. My personal preference between the Sterling and the Am Dlx Jazz is for the Jazz. They play amazingly well and are very flexible between classic and modern Jazz bass tones. The Sterling is great too, so it will all come down to which one you prefer. Gotta play 'em both.

 

[erith]

get the tony franklin fretted bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[serein2j]

I can help you by eliminating the Jaguar. Seriously, there are nice for the money but they don't belong in the conversation with the other basses you are considering. I have owned the Jag & the Am Dlx Jazz, and have also played many Sterlings. The electronics on the Jag are way below the standards of the other 2 IME.

Some might suggest Sterling HS, but I did not find this bass to have a Jazz-like tone at all. Still, it might worth a shot for you. My personal preference between the Sterling and the Am Dlx Jazz is for the Jazz. They play amazingly well and are very flexible between classic and modern Jazz bass tones. The Sterling is great too, so it will all come down to which one you prefer. Gotta play 'em both.

Thanks for your great advice!! Yea, I guess I should consider between Sterling and MIA Deluxe. But but but i can't let go of the cool block inlays!!! lol And only downside is that deluxe doesn't have olympic white T_T

get the tony franklin fretted bass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yea it's great bass I think I will go try this one also.

 

[9mmMike]

I built my own from MIM bits, ash body, maple/rosewood neck, an Audere, Gotoh 201 and Nordy NJ4SE's. It has a wonderful tone IMHO. I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. If you have the time, it is pretty easy and quite rewarding.

 

[ashtray]

I own 2 MIA Jazz Deluxes (one w/ QMT & block inlays!), AND a Jaguar bass. The Jag bass is cool, no doubt - but it's not nearly as comfortable to play, or have such a variety of tones as the Jazz Deluxe.

The active circuit on the Jag is just bass and treble boost - no cut, and no mids. With the Jazz, you can cut the highs down for a warm tone, increase the mids for great note definition, or boost the bass for low end presence, or cut the mids for slap tone, and then there's the 2 pickups to choose from that will give you stuff to play with. I especially like the blend feature for the pickups - a small offset from center gets you a nice tone in either direction without losing the nuances of the pickup you're fading away from.

Jag only allows pickup to be turned on or off.

Can't say enough about the Jazz.
(fwiw, I owned a regular passive jazz for a while and didn't like it - the passive pickups, inability to blend pickups, and the "larger" body just didn't do it for me)

 

[serein2j]

I built my own from MIM bits, ash body, maple/rosewood neck, an Audere, Gotoh 201 and Nordy NJ4SE's. It has a wonderful tone IMHO. I could not be more pleased with how it turned out. If you have the time, it is pretty easy and quite rewarding.

I'd love to build one myself but I think I just don't have enough skill and leisure to do so. But great idea though!

I own 2 MIA Jazz Deluxes (one w/ QMT & block inlays!), AND a Jaguar bass. The Jag bass is cool, no doubt - but it's not nearly as comfortable to play, or have such a variety of tones as the Jazz Deluxe.

The active circuit on the Jag is just bass and treble boost - no cut, and no mids. With the Jazz, you can cut the highs down for a warm tone, increase the mids for great note definition, or boost the bass for low end presence, or cut the mids for slap tone, and then there's the 2 pickups to choose from that will give you stuff to play with. I especially like the blend feature for the pickups - a small offset from center gets you a nice tone in either direction without losing the nuances of the pickup you're fading away from.

Jag only allows pickup to be turned on or off.

Can't say enough about the Jazz.
(fwiw, I owned a regular passive jazz for a while and didn't like it - the passive pickups, inability to blend pickups, and the "larger" body just didn't do it for me)

That's exactly what I want MIA Jazz Deluxe with block inlays!!!! But sadly seems very hard to find one with inlays. I think I'm pretty much set on MIA Jazz Deluxe and since I can get 12 month no interest financing from the Guitar Center. (don't have bullets to shoot 1500+ at once) But definitely will take one if there's one with inlays..lol

Well... I guess now the dilemma is to pick between Ash/Alder body and Rosewood/Maple fret.
Probably Ash/Maple.... but any inputs on that guys?

 

[Double Agent]

That's exactly what I want MIA Jazz Deluxe with block inlays!!!! But sadly seems very hard to find one with inlays.

You really seem to like block inlays. Have you thought about getting the MIM Classic 70s Jazz and putting an aftermarket preamp in it, like an Audere JZ3 or J-Retro. I've only played one of these basses, but I liked it quite a bit better than the Jaguar I used to own. That way, you get your active Jazz with block inlays. Sure, the neck isn't quite as nice as the MIA Deluxe, but its still plenty playable. The one I played had a burst finish and was very nice-looking. Its just a thought, and if you can live without blocks, the American Dlx is the best way to go IMO.

Also, I prefer alder to ash for Jazz Basses. If you do a lot of slapping, ash is probably the way to go. But, for everything else I like the sound of alder better. Ash/maple sure looks nice though.

 

[ashtray]

Remember, the Deluxe has a 22 fret neck, and a slightly smaller body - so it's not quite the same as the 70's model would be with an added active circuit.

I'll vote for ash/maple. The pearloid dots on the deluxe are nice to look at.

 

[jsingles]

ive got the deluxe in 5 string... HIGH quality instrument.. the construction quality of the deluxe line is excellent.

 

[M5Yates]

Why would you pay over $1500 for a new Deluxe Jazz when you can get a used for less than half that?
There is a red one on [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] and I'd sell you mine for 0.
I love new basses, but you really shouldn't go into debt to get one.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

Hey guys, I'm trying get my first Fender right now(or Musicman Sterling) .........
(well.. I have Marcus Miller Jazz but it belongs to Church and I really like it but it's not as versatile as I'd expect from a active bass)

My considerations are....

Jaguar, Geddy Lee, MIA Deluxe Jazz (or with Ash body)

or

Musicman Sterling

Well... I have a passive bass that I like already (Yamaha RBX4 A2) I'm mostly looking for Active basses but can't rule out the GEDDY!

I really like the Fender jazz tone and also the Musicman's punchy tone....

I guess I could go for G&L or Lakland but I don't think I don't like the style of the basses and distinct tone isn't there.

Yea it could be a bit tricky but I will really appreciate any recommendations out of those choices above or anything else!!

Thanks for y'all's help!!!

You appear to have a big budget. Good for you.

I'd get a USA Lakland if I had the choice. Very flexable, plays and sounds great.

Otherwise, I just get a USA J-bass. Save some bux and get it USED!!!

 

[serein2j]

Remember, the Deluxe has a 22 fret neck, and a slightly smaller body - so it's not quite the same as the 70's model would be with an added active circuit.

I'll vote for ash/maple. The pearloid dots on the deluxe are nice to look at.

Yeay ash/maple!!
smaller body and closer frets which i like...!!

I have fairly small hands.......well... no actually big palms and short fingers...

I've been playing piano for years and years and short fingers lol i have short finger gene