Why not 21 frets or 23? Is there a tone difference with only the 20 frets? Over the years they offered more than 20 but then they went back to 20. Is it just to keep with the tradition of the Jazz bass?
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Fender Jazz only with 20 frets; why?
- Thread starter Green Lantern
- Start date
Because Leo thought that should be plenty.
Because there's no money above the 5th fret...
And, as it happens, because he was right. Generally.
That's bull.
Go look at Musicman and G&L. The Fender brand has nothing to do with what Leo thought was right.
Because by sticking with 20 frets Fender saves money on materials and extra labour costs. As fender fans are slaves to the brand and will buy their overpriced instruments regardless whether they have 20 or 24 frets, why would they bother incurring additional costs.
When you do something for a long time, does the way you do things change? Or maybe that's bull.
Have some hostility and derision towards people who like Fenders, do ya?
I've actually owned 5 fenders jazz basses in my time. 2 US, 2 Mex and 1 MIJ. I was always suckered in by the brand and all the history that goes with it but was ultimately underwhelmed by these instruments (the Japanese was probably the best one, the mex 5 string was garbage). I eventually gave up on trying to find the perfect Fender. Now I play a Sandberg California VS and a Mayones Jabba 4. Basically a European P bass and a J bass. The build quality, sound and play-ability are streets ahead IMO, with frets galore!.
Typical antiquated Fender design, nothing more. They have 20 frets because that's how it was a thousand years ago. 
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Typical antiquated Fender design, nothing more. They have 20 frets because that's how it was a thouand years ago.
And the price of a US fender these days...Crazy.
Fender has come out with Jazz basses with more frets in the past. With people like Wooten, Jimmy Johnson, John Pattatucci and many others who solo up the neck, if there is no disadvantage with only making 20 frets, it is seems odd that a company who updated pickups, bridge, neck design, and tuners did not add more frets for jazz players.
The new Elites have 21 frets, so why not the standard?
The new Elites have 21 frets, so why not the standard?
More frets gets you more notes. Sure. But a 20 fret Fender feels a certain way. Where each fret is in relation to the whole bass. Lots of people clearly like that.
Leo added the 21st fret to the StingRay because players wanted to reach that high E. Why not high F, high G, high A, B, C, etc.? Where do you stop?
Everyone has this own opinion on where to stop, but for me 21 would work better having the high E. I might be getting their Elite Jazz in the future for a different sound and the extra fret
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
Why do cars have 4 wheels? Why does a coffee mug have one handle? Why do forks have four (or three) tines)? Because they were first popularized in that version, and kept selling. When razors started being made with multiple blades, people stopped buying single blade razors, even though four blades won't give you a better shave.
When Fender made 24 fret basses, they didn't sell as well. Why are people blaming them for selling what sells? You want to solo above there, buy a different bass.
When Fender made 24 fret basses, they didn't sell as well. Why are people blaming them for selling what sells? You want to solo above there, buy a different bass.
You know, there's other brands out there with more frets.
The majority of players don't go up there and Fender knows this. It's okay to leave some of the market out there for other companies. If you have a product that's working and selling well why on earth would you change it?
The majority of players don't go up there and Fender knows this. It's okay to leave some of the market out there for other companies. If you have a product that's working and selling well why on earth would you change it?
