Fender Jazz Hollowbody or Gibson Midtown std. ?

[f64]

Want to know which way you'd go here. Both of these are now at about the same price landed on your doorstep. Either will set you back just over $1200.
Both are similar with hollowed out cavities on either side of a solid center block. Both are 34" and both have body and neck binding. Neither is available with a maple board.
The Fender needs to be shipped from Japan and the Gibson is available locally from several sources. The Fender Jazz HO has been available as a standard product listing from Japan for about a year now. The Gibson Midtown came available late last year and the 6 string has already been discontinued, so the bass will probably follow soon.
I'm not so much concerned with the differences in tone since they have dramatically different pups.
If you had $1200 hanging around which way would you go?

Fender Hollowbody Jazz Vintage Mahogany

Gibson Midtown Cherry

 

[arthur759]

I'd definitely go for the Gibson, I think they're pickups match the hollowbody much better.

And that finish is pretty sexy.

 

[mr.mow]

The fender just sounds like a fender when I tried it. It was cool and a novelty but quite expensive I thought.

 

[gjbassist]

For some reason that F hole looks weird on a Jazz bass! I'm gonna have to say go with the Gibson.

 

[CnB77]

Honestly, neither. 335 style hollowbodies don't work with me, and $1200 for a gimmicky jazz doesn't do it either.

 

[Baird6869]

Honestly, neither. 335 style hollowbodies don't work with me, and $1200 for a gimmicky jazz doesn't do it either.

+1

The Midtown isn't a real hollow body and the one I ordered (and 2 others I played) had terrible QC.

I am a Gibson guy, but the Midtown didn't seem like a $1200 bass to me.

 

[pinz]

If you can get hold of one, try a Warwick Pro series Star Bass,not your average Warwick, or (semi) hollowbody either.
I prefer the Gibson from the 2 choices.

 

[Barkless Dog]

The Fender is freaky but the midtown is getting great reviews from owners. Do a search on them.

 

[mikecd1]

The Gibson might make more sense as a hollowbody, the Fender looks like a regular Jazz with an F hole which looks strange to me. I've heard a lot of good things about the Lakland hollowbody too btw. My personal preference is the semi-hollow Hofner Club.

 

[Mr. Ray]

Those two choices are totally different.
If you want a hollowbody at that price point I would check out the Warwick Star MIK.

 

[Mrfstop]

I would put the money into a Lakland HB and not buy either.
Just an opinion

A nice minty used Skyline HB sells on here for around a $1,000.00 often enough.
And I hear the Skyline HB's are VERY close in quality to their USA Big brother.
They have either Chisonic pups or barts and sound fantastic!

 

[Barkless Dog]

I would wager the Gibson would either hold its value or increase in value as they are typically doing these new basses in batches of 200 -400, but is not a real reason the get the Gibby. The sound would be the reason I would get one.

 

[atomicdog]

The Midtowns have great woody tones and those are EB line Pups, rights? Versatile. I doubt the JB can growl or bend down low like the Gibson.

 

[Hevy T]

I have always been a Jazz guy. Now I am not crazy about the F holes location but if it sheds some lbs from the body I am in favor

 

[Doner Designs]

Are the fenders for sale? Have not seen them in stores or online. Does it have body contours?

 

[Turtle71]

Despite the fact that I take a love of Fenders to a ridiculous level , there is something just too cool about that Gibson.

 

[Marc61]

I tried the Gibson by chance the other day and thought it was awesome. Extremely well made, frets nicely dressed. Lots of tonal range. Great bottom tones that were not too thin.

Never have seen the Fender. funny that it's leading the poll

 

[bigsnaketex]

I'll take the Gibby anyday. The "hollow" Jazz Bass sounds just like a Regular Jazz to me. And besides, I'm a Precision boy.....anything with the classic Gibson lines that will go low like my EB is a welcome breath of fresh air!! Now if I could just make it sound like Andy Frasier's Gibson -'ll be in business!!!

 

[gottliver]

Neither are hollow. The fender is chambered and the gidson is semi hollow. Hollow bodies have tailpieces and nothing in 'em. The resulting sound in these 2 models are more a factor of weight reduction rather than acostic resonance. That being said, I voted for the gibson and would prob buy one if i found a great deal on one. For those interested in the fender, check out Invalid Link Removed u can prob build one to ure spec for 1/2 or 2/3 the price.

 

[pablop]

I would go gibby if those were the only options.
For the money i would go for the laklank HB, or the Guild starfire just reissued if i could hand pick it.