Fender Modern Player Series--First Impression Mini-Review

[mixtapelove]

I'm interested in these too.

I'm a Fender enthusiast but I'm also always looking for value.... I'm one of those guys caught in between the MIM and MIA price point. I have a couple of MIJs, which I like, but it is hard to find plain old Japanese Ps or Js these days it seems. I'm interested in the Hwy 1s but somewhat reticent about the finish.

These look pretty cool... they have the old style labeling on the headstocks too which is a major plus for me.

 

[Teknoman]

Don,t sweat where things are made anymore.Just look at so called"American made" cars.I remember when the tsunami hit Japan ,GM was sweating a brick because they could,t get black paint!

 

[Temcat]

I'm curious as to whether the pickups have 4 wires or only 2. With 4 wires, you could have extra versatility with coil tap.

 

[Garret Graves]

It's sort of like Fender can't figure out how to get rid of their historic sound, so they just slipped it some steroids and called its mother a whore.

Hahaha! I love it

 

[AddSomeRiddim]

Mine and I love it and would certainly recommend!

 

[dtyndall]

Has anyone played both the Modern Player Jazz and the Schecter Custom P bass? They both seem to fit a similar niche, so I'm curious which one is preferred.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I got to play a Modern Player Jaguar today, and I was really impressed! It is a whole lot of bass for $339. I would say it is as least as nice a bass as Yamaha BB414 or 424. The maple fingerboard and frets are immaculate, and the blocks really add a touch of class to this bass. I thought it was very comfortable, and the factory setup was good, but I'm sure I could get perhaps a touch lower.

The sound was great. Although I am a big fan of reverse P-pups, this traditional P/J really came closer to a Jazz sort of sound with both pickups on than it the norm. I believe the P-pup is a touch closer to the neck, and that might explain the difference.

I would really nice another four, and this bass sounds as good as any. I am going to give the Modern Player Jaguar some serious consideration.

 

[BluesBear]

I have both the Modern Player Jaguar Bass and the Modern Player Tele Bass.

Both are superb instruments. Unbelievable value.
I got them from Guitar Center (on-line) a week apart.
With both of them, I took them out of the box, tuned them and took them to a gig.
They both played great and sounded great right out of the box. No set-up needed.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I played another Modern Player Jaguar today and I impressed with their consistency. At $399, I don't think is a better deal for a four string bass going. I am certainly getting one between now and July.

 

[muffin_man]

They need to put this out in a five, it would be a budget redux of the Roscoe Beck Sig.

I couldn't agree more

I think that I'll buy one asap. Great look, nice sound and nice price

 

[Stinsok]

It's kinda confusing. The Modern Player Jazz has the same pickup setup as the Blacktop Precision. Modern Players made in China, Blacktops in Mexico.

 

[Fine Cut]

I played one of these a couple days ago at a local music shop i do a lot of business with. It was a trans-black model, and it was absolutely superb. I was there to check out a VM Jazz V, found myself distinctly put off by it (surprisingly, as i loved the 4 string i owned previously), and wound up grabbing the MP Jazz off the wall.

If the neck on the one i tried was an indication of average quality, these things are amazing. The frets were perfect, the shape was very pleasing, even the finish was surprisingly comfortable. The sound was just as the OP describes it.

I will have one

 

[Poopoutyouridea]

It's kinda confusing. The Modern Player Jazz has the same pickup setup as the Blacktop Precision. Modern Players made in China, Blacktops in Mexico.

No, the Blacktop P is 2 passive MM humbuckers, the MP Jazz is 2 twin Jazz pickups.

 

[bassinzombie]

This is deffs on my GAS list. I'm looking a new bass around December and these Modern Players look good!

 

[rockscott]

I purchased a mp jaguar a year and a half ago, great deal for the money and a versatile bass. I had been looking for a jazz bass for some time, as i have come full circle after 30 plus years of playing. I played a mp jazz @ gc two weeks ago, couldn't walk out without this bass (white). $450. plus tax. Hands down, the most comfortable bass i have ever played! HOME RUN fender!!! Great fit and finish, booming tone and power, the neck is a dream with low low action and very little buzz. The balance is perfect, the white is SOOOOO elegant! Love this bass, love this bass, love this bass! Fender fans will be amazed with this guitar!

 

[unclejane]

I purchased a mp jaguar a year and a half ago, great deal for the money and a versatile bass. I had been looking for a jazz bass for some time, as i have come full circle after 30 plus years of playing. I played a mp jazz @ gc two weeks ago, couldn't walk out without this bass (white). $450. plus tax. Hands down, the most comfortable bass i have ever played! HOME RUN fender!!! Great fit and finish, booming tone and power, the neck is a dream with low low action and very little buzz. The balance is perfect, the white is SOOOOO elegant! Love this bass, love this bass, love this bass! Fender fans will be amazed with this guitar!

Here's a pic of mine. It's been superseded by my Bromberg 5, unfortunately, so it suddenly doesn't get any playing time anymore. But this is the finest jazz bass, or in fact probably the finest instrument period, that FMIC has ever made.

You can get a custom shop with better build quality, but nothing FMIC has ever produced comes close to the MP Jazz in terms of tone. And when the frets are removed it really comes alive. But even the fretted gives a hard machine gun tone that you can't get out of any other jazz bass.
Maybe if you got the CS to build a copy of this with these pickups and an unlined fingerboard....

All for $500 (+ defret labor in my case)....

LS

 

[rockscott]

The mp jaguar i had for a year and a half was a nice build, the p/j pickup combo is cool but i found the neck to be chunky. The mp jazz has a classic fender jazz neck and is a step up from the jaguar in overall build quality!