Anyone know about or own the Fender Jazz FSR Natural Ash from Musician's friend? Is this specially made for MF? Looks pretty sweet, and the ash body has to be an upgrade from the Standard. Just curious.
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Fender Jazz FSR feedback?
- Thread starter Orpheus55
- Start date
I was thinking about it, then I got a MIA with an Ash Body and Maple Fretboard for christmas. I know that doesn't help you any. If it's like my MIM Fretless, then it's totally worth it.
I didn't like mine.
It was fairly heavy, and the wood grain on each piece really did not match up in the front very well, making for a mish-mash kind of look.
The setup was poor, with random high spots in the frets, not even entire high frets. There isn't a reputable luthier in my area that does fretwork, so I was SOL.
I reallllly wanted to like this bass, but it just didn't do it for me.
It was fairly heavy, and the wood grain on each piece really did not match up in the front very well, making for a mish-mash kind of look.
The setup was poor, with random high spots in the frets, not even entire high frets. There isn't a reputable luthier in my area that does fretwork, so I was SOL.
I reallllly wanted to like this bass, but it just didn't do it for me.
I had an FSR P Bass and I really liked it. The grain matched pretty well and the neck and set up were very good and not too heavy. I've seen others that weren't as nice and heavier. They sell the same bass at Guitar Center, I would suggest playing before buying.
I ended up selling it. As much a I like P basses I really need a J neck.
I ended up selling it. As much a I like P basses I really need a J neck.
Thinking of buying one of these...I Currently own a 2002 MIM Fender Jazz Bass Deluxe...its right handed...I'm left handed. I was gonna buy and FSR and get the nut switched. However the ones on the website come only with white pickguards. Anyone know where to find a left handed tort or black pickguard?
I had the Precision version ... was decent, had a great neck ... there are quite a few used floating around actually ... I thnk they are coming now with a tort guard, the one I had was white ... I would not buy another one, there are too many good buys in used basses for 450 buck range ... but I would spend about 300 for a used one ... the body on these is no where near the quality of ash of a MIA nat ash finish ... I have an 01 MIA Nat ash Jazz and it is 3-4 times what the FSR was for only half again as much money(used)
I recently bought one .
I personally love it. I bought mine at Guitar Centers (they are the same company as Musicians Friend). I believe this model is a special run for that chain. The only other place i found this model was at Music 123.
The grain on mine seems to match pretty good. My Ash jazz doesn't have a white pickguard like shown on Musician Friends site, mine has a tortoise pickguard which I like better.
I was never really crazy about MIM jazz basses but I tried this one and loved. The first thing that attracted me to it was the natural ash and then it just felt good to play. The setup was good right off the shelf.
The pickups could have better tone, and I plan on changing them out.
It even appears that the neck and bridge pickups are not both the same size as is typical on a mexican jazz. The control cavities are now shielded on these and I dont even get hum when one pickup is turned down.
The neck is very playable and the fret work on mine is good.
I have played basses with bad fret work and i dont find that problem on this jazz.
I plan on changing the bridge some day but to tell the truth i have not had problems with the stock one.
The tuning heads do just fine.
For me this bass is great. I dont like bells and whistles.
in order to get this bass, I sold my Carvin which had all the options with the walnut body wings, active electronics and piezo bridge.
I personally love it. I bought mine at Guitar Centers (they are the same company as Musicians Friend). I believe this model is a special run for that chain. The only other place i found this model was at Music 123.
The grain on mine seems to match pretty good. My Ash jazz doesn't have a white pickguard like shown on Musician Friends site, mine has a tortoise pickguard which I like better.
I was never really crazy about MIM jazz basses but I tried this one and loved. The first thing that attracted me to it was the natural ash and then it just felt good to play. The setup was good right off the shelf.
The pickups could have better tone, and I plan on changing them out.
It even appears that the neck and bridge pickups are not both the same size as is typical on a mexican jazz. The control cavities are now shielded on these and I dont even get hum when one pickup is turned down.
The neck is very playable and the fret work on mine is good.
I have played basses with bad fret work and i dont find that problem on this jazz.
I plan on changing the bridge some day but to tell the truth i have not had problems with the stock one.
The tuning heads do just fine.
For me this bass is great. I dont like bells and whistles.
in order to get this bass, I sold my Carvin which had all the options with the walnut body wings, active electronics and piezo bridge.
I happen to find myself at Guitar Center yesterday, and wouldn't you know it, one of those followed me home.
It is pretty light, 3-piece body (very well matched, you would think it is a one piece from the front) a little neck dive, but minimal. Fret edges are smooth (unlike MANY new MIAs I have tested), but had one high fret - no big deal.
These were introduced in 2004 or 05 with a white pickguard, but they changed to a nice tortoise in 2006, which looks a lot better.
The sound is typical MIM: not bad, but not great either, mainly because of the pickups. A set of anything, from Dimarzio to Fralin will surely make this bass come alive. The body is very resonant, so the basics are there. Still, is very playable as-is.
As mentioned, and as with any Fender product, the quality varies greatly. They had two more at GC, one had awful grain, the other was really heavy, etc.
GC is getting away with the price on these, though, because only their chain and MF has them (and Music 123?). $489 is way too much for an MIM jazz, but at least they look VERY nice, and are one step short of being great basses.
BTW, take this from a former MIM basher (I have had some horrible MIMs). I guess that with Fender you always have to hand-pick the good ones.
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It is pretty light, 3-piece body (very well matched, you would think it is a one piece from the front) a little neck dive, but minimal. Fret edges are smooth (unlike MANY new MIAs I have tested), but had one high fret - no big deal.
These were introduced in 2004 or 05 with a white pickguard, but they changed to a nice tortoise in 2006, which looks a lot better.
The sound is typical MIM: not bad, but not great either, mainly because of the pickups. A set of anything, from Dimarzio to Fralin will surely make this bass come alive. The body is very resonant, so the basics are there. Still, is very playable as-is.
As mentioned, and as with any Fender product, the quality varies greatly. They had two more at GC, one had awful grain, the other was really heavy, etc.
GC is getting away with the price on these, though, because only their chain and MF has them (and Music 123?). $489 is way too much for an MIM jazz, but at least they look VERY nice, and are one step short of being great basses.
BTW, take this from a former MIM basher (I have had some horrible MIMs). I guess that with Fender you always have to hand-pick the good ones.
.
Im getting close to buying a left handed fsr, I really want a tort guard on it but I understand you can't buy a lefty with a tort guard on it (thats wat guy at gc told me). Anyone know a site or place where I can buy a lefty jazz tort guard?
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There are two kinds of tortoise shell pickguards here that seem like they would fit on the FSR jazz bass - scroll down a little over halfway. You can get them left-handed but unfortunately they're pretty expensive (over $60).
Are you sure this is right? Im planning on getting an FSR J and was really hoping to get the tortoise pickguard....that's a bummer.
Post-Scrip Edit: Have the "FSR" models been discontinued for 2007? I realize they are still being sold, but they sure are not listed on Fender's website.
I got mine from GC with a tort guard, and they had two of them. The one I have is a 2006 production. I don't think they are still making them, but this 2006 batch just got to stock at GC a few months ago, and being lefty, I'm sure there are still many in stock at GC around the country.
The one at Musicians Friend is the 2004 production with the white pickguard, and that I think that has run dry.
Don't ever believe what a Guitar Center salesperson tells you. Call other GC around your area, or State, and ask if they have stock, although these are the type of basses that you need to try before you buy, though.
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FSR (Factory special run) means they make a certain amout of guitars, it doesn't matter the year it's the amout. These natural bodies were probably used because fender had an over abundance of the "darker grained" ash, btw lighter grained and wood ash is used on MIA bodies. These bodies contain three or more pieces and are heavier than their MIA counterparts.
I wouldn't generalize much. Mine has light-colored wood, not white, but not dark, much the same as MIAs, or even EB/Musicman. My picture was taken with low light, making it look darker.
And both this 2006, and the prior 2004 edition, which I also had, are pretty light for a full-size Jazz. The 2006 is 8 lb. 13 oz; the 2004 was even lighter.
I have a 2000 MIA jazz that's much lighter than those basses, it's also the last year Fender sold natural bodies on Standard (series) MIA basses.
It's hard to tell by these pics but the FSR bodies are darker with a darker straighter grain.
I bought it a couple weeks ago. I spoke to Fender with my serial number. The only difference is the ash body. It is a couple lbs. heavier, I guess from the ash body. I love mine. Looks REAL good. Mine is a 2 piece body. The joint looks very good, you have to look for it. I do not see it reviewed here. I should do one for it.
