Fender Jazz Bass Owners Please Read

[DANHILL1088]

I wanted a P bass 31 years ago and ended up buying a more affordable Peavey T40, and played it for 20 years (still have it). Went through owning an Ibanez SR506 - 6 string, a Warwick Rock 5, Schecter Stiletto Studio 5 (awesome bass). Then when I could afford it, remembered I wanted a P, but thought I just didnt want to have what everyone else seemed to have. Spent hours and days looking, didnt want a J cause I didnt play "jazz". Then I finally tried one, and went back and forth, more days. Im telling you, its THE ONE. I did go through buying about 4 and returning them before I got the one that did it (thanks to return policies). I wanted more than 20 fret, and settled for the American active J 22 fret, then I went crazy and put Seymour Duncan Basslines pickups in it. (almost too much power).
The amp can do all the work, but its nice for the EQ on the guitar. I just bought a Squier Affinity 5 for 1/6th the price, and Im doing mods on it now..thats the way to go, because except for power boost (2 nine volt batteries and the pickups), I can hardly tell the difference (let the amp do the work). Good luck!

 

[Stumbo]

It's one of the most used basses on the planet in all kinds of styles. I'm sure it'd hold its own in whatever you do.

+1

As far as tone, I always ran my JBass wide open and let the amp do the work.

 

[spaz21387]

your always going to have the p bass vs j bass war on here. I own both and both have a place. the j bass sounds cleaner but doesnt cut through the mix like a p bass does. The j bass neck is slimmer and feels better to me. The tbird bugged me the neck on the one i had was the same size all the way through the neck. I think the tbird sounded great but I couldnt get used to the neck shape so I sold it. I would say you go to a music store set a price range and play everything in your price range. Although I think your problem is in your amp too because the tbird is a pretty nice bass.

 

[denchiq]

to the OP:
as you may see, the better part of speculation goes around a J and a P bass. It, indeed, has grounds. Therefore I for myself have long ago chosen a PJ for myself. In my case, the 'J' sound is mostly the bridge pup, and a 'P' is also at hand. You can also get a nice mix of the two and it will be rich full enough to emulate a JJ sound.

Nowadays, there's many ways to get a great instrument. Fender is good, but it does need to be chosen out of a herd - just proved that again last night where a bunch of F P5s in a music store feeled and sounded all different. I'm both hands for used - I got 2 of my current USA Laklands for the price of 1 new USA Fender - and anyone here will say it's a hell of a deal.

On another note, there is more Fender sound than you may see on the surface. The abovementioned Lakland, the more affordable but awesome Mike Lull, Nino Valenti and so on. Or, you may take a used Fender or a different brand, and switch pups to Nordstrand, Lindy Fralin, BassLines Antiquity, DiMarzio, Lakland-Hanson, whatever, and make it helluva Fender sound but with some unique features

 

[Polfuste]

completely agree: the best of two worlds: P/J

If you want a Fender, they're making a really good one: Reggie Hamilton series, MIM. A nice Jazz loaded P/J

 

[bh2]

If your J isn't cutting it you could consider a onboard preamp. I fitted a J-Retro in mine and it's a monster!

 

[chrisbass0013]

The tbird bugged me the neck on the one i had was the same size all the way through the neck.

I agree which is one of the big reasons im upgrading