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Fender Modern Player Jazz Bass - why is it unique?

#24
bentbass said:
Hello!

I have been playing a fender modern player jazz bass for 12-13 years, pretty much the entire time I’ve played bass.

I’ve become incredibly accustomed to this specific bass, and I’m wondering if anyone knows what makes the feel of this bass particularly unique. I found some 10 year old forums talking highly of its low action and thin neck.

I play finger style, rooting my thumb on the neck pickup, and play fast punk music with a lot of movement in my bass lines. I think that having the large pickups to secure my thumb on, plus a small neck and low action has genuinely influenced my playing style since it’s the only bass I play. When I play other basses I fumble my parts and don’t feel as smooth.

I honestly love my modern player, but it wondering if there really is anything that unique about its feel compared to a normal jazz bass? I know it’s not the most high quality bass, but I think the crazy humbucker pickups work so well for getting the heavy sound with lots of attack I like while still playing finger style. People tell me it sounds like I’m playing with a pick. People also make comments all the time like how many pickups are in that thing??? What’s with the monster pickups??? And other intrigued remarks, that it’s kind of becoming my thing and I’m rocking with it.

If anyone has more info on this bass, or recommendations for other things to check out I’d love to hear it! I also know that since the bass is cheaper, some of its hardware/parts are lower quality (already had to replace the tuning pegs and the new ones are still popping out???) so if anyone has recs on things to mod/upgrade I’m all ears.

Thanks!

This is exactly my bass:
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Rio grande power buckers
 
#25
A friend of mine has one of those Chinese jazz bass and it sounds incredible to me. Very punchy, aggressive but mellow enough for smooth jazz. For me, this is a rock machine at least as good as a Geddy Lee jazz bass.

And although it’s made in China, quality is as good as an American Pro II. A very good and long lasting bass for 1/4 the price of a U.S. made equivalent.
 
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#26
Well, it's not a typical Jazz bass.
I'm guessing this is unique, too.
th-271.jpeg
 
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#27
Docduval said:
Could it be you’re just used to this bass, and if you had gotten a different one you would feel the same about that one?
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I agree with this statement. Those 12-13 years made the instrument become your own and the familiarity with that specific instrument has become an extension of your own body. It's like a baseball mitt. There are others that are better or worse on paper... but I don't feel comfortable playing catch with someone else's glove.

I wanted to say this in reply to another post in this thread. I have three jazz basses and used to have four. Two and once three of them are USA, and one of them is one of those classic 60s lacquer made in Mexico. The one from Mexico is the best of the lot.
 
#29
Ghastly said:
Mine's a 2012. I've felt the same way about it, and I own 8 basses, ...the rest are MIA. Aside from the weight, my modern player jazz holds up against the rest, but with a few unique points of interest. I refinished mine and added various upgrades, though body, neck and pickups are the same. For me, the magic is in the stock humbucker pickups. They sound fantastic. Yes, this modern player is crafted in China. Workmanship (frets, for instance) are great. If I had a signature bass of my own, this one would be it.View attachment 6977790
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That is awesome!
 
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#30
LSM07 said:
I had a Modern Player Jazz that I recently sold and, yes, the neck feels incredibly good compared to most Jazz necks. I almost took the neck off to keep but decided against it to recoup more of the money for the sale.

To be specific, it seemed to be that the magic was in the neck's finish as opposed to strictly its geometry, almost a slight satin gloss compared to a straight gloss. It did feel a little thinner than other J necks but that's probably just a tactile illusion from how well it played.
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I’m glad it’s not just me that feels like there’s something special about the neck. It’s just so smooth to move around. The finish is very interesting! I don’t think I’ve ever seen another bass with anything like it.
 
#31
Ghastly said:
Mine's a 2012. I've felt the same way about it, and I own 8 basses, ...the rest are MIA. Aside from the weight, my modern player jazz holds up against the rest, but with a few unique points of interest. I refinished mine and added various upgrades, though body, neck and pickups are the same. For me, the magic is in the stock humbucker pickups. They sound fantastic. Yes, this modern player is crafted in China. Workmanship (frets, for instance) are great. If I had a signature bass of my own, this one would be it.View attachment 6977790
View attachment 6977791
View attachment 6977792
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Wow, this thing is gorgeous! Looks like a dream to me. Were you having issues with the stock tuners and saddle?

Also, how’d you get the finish so nice on the headstock? I’ve been thinking about refinishing mine because I’m not huge on the sunburst. Was even considering just staining the wood and rocking that look.

And yeah they are pretty heavy, whenever I pick up another bass I feel shocked that they’re so light. Not sure why it is but it’s a small price to pay in my opinion.
 
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#32
Real Soon said:
Nice looking instrument! And based on that description, gotta be a nice sounding one too. Quality is, to a shocking degree, subjective. Well-crafted is one thing, but a well-crafted custom noiseless single-coil pickup isn't necessarily any better than a cheap old Danelectro lipstick pickup, as far as quality. That Dano pickup could be invincible, and might impart a sound you CANNOT get with the other. If it works and it works for you, it's got the quality you need!

That said, the craftsmanship of hardware can differ more concretely. Might be you wanna look into a popular choice for tuner & bridge options, Hipshot, or some other highly regarded makers. I put hipshot hardware on my MIM Mustang PJ, and it hasn't let me down once. But an unusual bass with a slim neck, low action, and fat tone sounds to me like a fantastic instrument at its core. Dare to be different!
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Thank you, appreciate the thoughtful response!
 
#34
I've played the Classic Vibe Jazz bass (a white one) and the Modern Player, both China Grand Reward, and imo they have a feel to them that is different from anything else I've ever played. If you like that feel, that's the bass for you! But I think it's notable (and cool) they make basses with a character unique to that factory. Also, I think it comes down to materials because the "vintage" finish they put on the neck is kind of orange, which again, you can either like or not, but it is different. I would assume the rest of their materials could be unusual too. I don't think they feel at all like an American Fender, but they felt really good. Just different. And some of the construction seemed better. I did not like the pickups on the Classic Vibe Jazz, but that's no biggie.
 
#35
Does anyone know if you need some special tool to adjust the easy acces trussrod wheel on the Modern Player ?
I bought mine recently and it didn't come with any tools. If it would be like on Sadowskys or some other brands it's easy to use anything but on the MP the holes in the wheel are so shallow that it looks to be used with a 2 pin tool.
Anyone?
 
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#37
mickebas said:
Does anyone know if you need some special tool to adjust the easy acces trussrod wheel on the Modern Player ?
I bought mine recently and it didn't come with any tools. If it would be like on Sadowskys or some other brands it's easy to use anything but on the MP the holes in the wheel are so shallow that it looks to be used with a 2 pin tool.
Anyone?
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You can use the same tool from Ernie Ball Music Man bass.

Or you can fit a Hex Allen wrench and give it a try.
 
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#39
This is my Baby and my WorkHorse
I’ve done so many church events, weddings,studio gigs with this bass
mines made in china, all first gen’s are so yours must be 2nd gen (4Knobs)
So far I’ve set this bass up twice and changed stings 4 times in the 14 years I’ve owned this bass
I’ve bought p basses , music man and ever other brand but I always come back to this
It’s perfect
Every time a audio engineer hears me for adjustments they always make the stank face
 

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