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Fender Jazz V vs. Traben Chaos Core V

H

hentor

Jan 2, 2008
210
7
Toronto, Canada
www.myspace.com
#1
Well folks, it's finally happened....I'm having to go 5 string for a gig and any passive basses that I've played sound awful in the lower register. I am therefore looking at purchasing an active 5 string....

Given my current budget and lack of willingness to invest in an expensive bass as I am on Wilser Ramirez' waiting list for a custom build, I have narrowed my search down to the following instruments: The Fender Jazz Deluxe V, The Fender Jazz 24 V or the Traben Chaos Core V.

I'm leaning towards the Traben as it has two things that appeal to me: a maple fretboard (all of my favourite basses and guitars have maple fretboards) and the Aguilar OP3 preamp. However as there is NO dealer near me, I would be buying it site unseen online.

The Fenders are fairly common, however I know from experimenting with several that I would have to eventually replace the pickups (in the deluxe) and preamp (in both because they are too noisy) and that the build quality varies greatly for both models.

Keep in mind that I am a "Fender Guy" and love my Jazz and P-Basses. I have had bad luck with noisy preamps and don't find the narrower string spacing (such as Ibanez) comfortable.

Any opinions on how the Traben sounds and plays vs. the Fenders would be greatly appreciated. I've read the reviews here and on Harmony Central and just want more info before I pull the trigger.
 
#2
I don't have an opinion of the Traben, but I greatly prefer the Jazz 24 V over the MIM Deluxe Jazz V. The string spacing is very tight on the MIM and the preamp and pickups always sound anemic to me. I would definitely go for the Jazz 24 V if I were in your position.

While I haven't played that Traben in particular, I have yet to play any Traben that I liked in both sound and feel. No way I would buy one without playing it first. Doesn't mean its not nice though, as I said earlier, I have no experience with that particular bass.
 
#4
SurrenderMonkey said:
The Traben is 35'' scale as well. Have you tried...
Ibanez SR505
Yamaha BB415 (passive).
Ibanez BTB 405
Click to expand...

Tried em all, found the string spacing in the Ibby's a little too narrow for my tastes and the necks were too thin (see original post). The Yamaha's b-string was anemic sounding and the string to string balance was off.

The three basses are the ones that have made my short list for having the options I prefer in an instrument. I'm just a little leery of pulling the trigger on an unknown quantity or buying a bass and immediately having to swap out the electronics to make it usable for me.
 
#6
I currently own a Traben Chaos Core 5, Black Wash with the maple neck. I have also spent some time with Fender Jazz basses before.
What is it exactly that you love about the Jazz that you are looking to get from the Traben? I don't have too much time gigging the Traben bass, but to me, I don't think you'll really get that Jazz Bass growl that you get with a Jazz bass. I feel that it has more of a full sound to it, and I'm sure that you can make it more agressive using the pickup selector on the bridge pickup, adding some mids on the Aguilar preamp, and adjusting technique. Again, I really do not have too much time gigging with the bass, but it is a very weel built bass, and an exceptional value for the money.
And, I'm with you on the maple necks, especially on darker basses with the matching headstock, very nice!
lrg_chaos_core_bv.jpg

This is the model I own, but mine is a 5 string.
 

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