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Fender Jazz American standard vs American Deluxe
- Thread starter bassermaniac
- Start date
They are both excellent instruments. Here are the major, non-cosmetic differences.
American Std.
-passive
-20 frets
-full-size Jazz body
-true single-coils
-Fender open gear tuners
American Dlx.
-active w/ 18v pre and 3-band EQ
-22 frets
-downsized, lighter Jazz body
-noise-cancelling pickups
-Hipshot Ultralite tuners
IMO, if you want true Jazz bass tone, get the American Std. If you want something very similar, if not identical, to true Jazz bass tone, but with more modern features and greater tonal flexability, get the American Deluxe. I got my Deluxe last week, but struggled mightily with the decision between that and an American Std. The light weight and greater flexability pushed me to the Deluxe, but I would probably have been happy either way.
American Std.
-passive
-20 frets
-full-size Jazz body
-true single-coils
-Fender open gear tuners
American Dlx.
-active w/ 18v pre and 3-band EQ
-22 frets
-downsized, lighter Jazz body
-noise-cancelling pickups
-Hipshot Ultralite tuners
IMO, if you want true Jazz bass tone, get the American Std. If you want something very similar, if not identical, to true Jazz bass tone, but with more modern features and greater tonal flexability, get the American Deluxe. I got my Deluxe last week, but struggled mightily with the decision between that and an American Std. The light weight and greater flexability pushed me to the Deluxe, but I would probably have been happy either way.
MIA standard has dots in the neck, MIA DLX has abalones dots. Dlx bass has a smaller (downsized body) and a neck with two extra frets. The DLX bass is active and the standard bass is passive. The Dlx bass can be had in alder or ash while the standard bass will most likely be alder. The DLX bass comes with ultralite tuners.
I've owned both. I ended up trading in my American Jazz Standard for an American Deluxe 4-string fretted and an American Deluxe 4-string fretless.
I like everything about the Deluxe better. They are lighter, smaller, better balanced, better hardware, better finish, noiseless, way wider variety of tones with the 3-band eq, the 18v preamp has a lot of output, comes with strap locks and strap. Sounds and plays like butter. Great for the music I play. I think they are a great bang for the buck far as American Jazz go. I actually like it better than my Fender Custom Shop LTD '70 Jazz (although it's very nice too!).
I like everything about the Deluxe better. They are lighter, smaller, better balanced, better hardware, better finish, noiseless, way wider variety of tones with the 3-band eq, the 18v preamp has a lot of output, comes with strap locks and strap. Sounds and plays like butter. Great for the music I play. I think they are a great bang for the buck far as American Jazz go. I actually like it better than my Fender Custom Shop LTD '70 Jazz (although it's very nice too!).
I owned a American Deluxe Jazz 5-string for about 8 years and I never liked the bass at all. It never felt *right*, the build quality just was not what I was expecting for a $1000 bass at that time. Felt like it was made out of cardboard, it was very difficult to keep a good setup on it becuase the bass was effected greatly by temp. changes.
I was at my happiest when I sold it
I was at my happiest when I sold it
all thoughts are interesting.The thing i can obviously see is the fact that deluxe doesn't come to a black colour which i want.ok maybe's silly
The Deluxe comes in black with a gold pickguard (plastic pickguard material, not anodized). Link below....
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Replacement pickguards are readily available and inexpensive. I wouldn't let that sway you. But, its your call.
I'll reiterate what most posters have said:
They're both great guitars. Deluxe has a more modern sound due to the active elecs and 3 band eq, is ~50lbs lighter than the std., has hipshot ultra light tuners (not a huge deal to me), has abalone dot inlays, and the white pickguard on mine is more off-white vintagey than the bright white pickguards that come on the std.
My Std. is much noisier than my Deluxe also, could be needing a cleaning though. The edges on the pickups are smoothed more on the Deluxe (finger friendly
).
As far as setup, both of my basses have never had a problem with fret buzz.
I have noticed that the E string on my Deluxe is a tad muffled compared to the other three strings- but it's enough for me to live with as I love every other thing about the guitar.
They're both great guitars. Deluxe has a more modern sound due to the active elecs and 3 band eq, is ~50lbs lighter than the std., has hipshot ultra light tuners (not a huge deal to me), has abalone dot inlays, and the white pickguard on mine is more off-white vintagey than the bright white pickguards that come on the std.
My Std. is much noisier than my Deluxe also, could be needing a cleaning though. The edges on the pickups are smoothed more on the Deluxe (finger friendly
).As far as setup, both of my basses have never had a problem with fret buzz.
I have noticed that the E string on my Deluxe is a tad muffled compared to the other three strings- but it's enough for me to live with as I love every other thing about the guitar.
For what I've been told, the Deluxe line is discontinued for 08,and as for now the only Active bass you can get currently is the 24 fret Fender
i just picked up a '99 Am Dlx V in a trade, ( very good deal ) love the feel & playability,, hate the tone..
i see some mods in it's immediate future
probably a set of SCN's, an Audere, a set of Hipshot Ultralites, & a Tort guard
it's my first Fender, ( would never buy one outright ) not really too happy dropping all that cash to make it suitable for my style,,, as it sits, i've got a modded Squire that absolutely smokes it, & we can't have that can we ???
lol
oh well
i see some mods in it's immediate future
probably a set of SCN's, an Audere, a set of Hipshot Ultralites, & a Tort guard
it's my first Fender, ( would never buy one outright ) not really too happy dropping all that cash to make it suitable for my style,,, as it sits, i've got a modded Squire that absolutely smokes it, & we can't have that can we ???
loloh well
Uh, I just want to check on something here, largely because not everyone who's answered this thread is talking about the same non-deluxe Fender.
Are you asking about the American series, which is discontinued for 2008, or the American Standard series, which replaces it? There are some big differences between the two.
I don't own a Fender, but from what I see, the American Standard looks like a step up from the old American Series, though. A good buy if your want the Fender sound without the added sizzle or zing of an active axe.
Are you asking about the American series, which is discontinued for 2008, or the American Standard series, which replaces it? There are some big differences between the two.
I don't own a Fender, but from what I see, the American Standard looks like a step up from the old American Series, though. A good buy if your want the Fender sound without the added sizzle or zing of an active axe.
i didn't know that..
if the new (standard) is better no problem i guess.i'll buy the new
imo the Deluxe is wayyyyyy superior. I'm surprised at the Deluxe hate here in this thread.
Better body wood, great electronics IMO and very comfortable J bass body.
I would think they have a little better build quality. I've owned 4 of them and all of them were up there with any other bass in the same price range. Not so with other Fenders I've played.
Better body wood, great electronics IMO and very comfortable J bass body.
I would think they have a little better build quality. I've owned 4 of them and all of them were up there with any other bass in the same price range. Not so with other Fenders I've played.
