Just make sure it is in the room facing you when you play your new bass. Make sure it has to look and know what is happening.
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Fender Modern Player Short Scale Jazz Bass - PJ
- Thread starter Hank Scorpio
- Start date
Just make sure it is in the room facing you when you play your new bass. Make sure it has to look and know what is happening.
The blurb on Thomann basically confirms that bass has the expected 1.5" nut, 9.5" radius, C-shape neck, and just the 18 frets. Not a problem for me but I know some will be put off.
At less than £300 delivered, I'm very tempted by this instrument.
At less than £300 delivered, I'm very tempted by this instrument.
Okay, may be a bit off side on this one, but can someone explain to me, other than the different decal on the headstock, how that is $300 better than a SS Jag? I am having a hard time seeing it.....
Hi-mass bridge and alder body (as opposed to the Squier's agathis). J-bass body probably balances a lot better than the neck-heavy Jag, too.
It's a similar question to asking 'why pay for an American Standard? I can't see the difference between that and a Classic Vibe'.
I love VM basses, gig with them frequently, and have assembled one of my favourite instruments from their parts - but I've also owned a Modern Player, and it was a step up in quality in a lot of areas, such as bridge, tuners, pickups.
It's a bit hard to make a reasonable comparison when nobody has even played one of these new models, but I would be very surprised if the only difference was the bridge... at least in my experience of owning & gigging with both product lines.
I love VM basses, gig with them frequently, and have assembled one of my favourite instruments from their parts - but I've also owned a Modern Player, and it was a step up in quality in a lot of areas, such as bridge, tuners, pickups.
It's a bit hard to make a reasonable comparison when nobody has even played one of these new models, but I would be very surprised if the only difference was the bridge... at least in my experience of owning & gigging with both product lines.
I know, to suggest that the only difference was the bridge would be to imply that the decal is worth $200 bucks more, or people would be willing to pay $200 bucks for the decal. Not like they are made on the same assembly line by the same people, or that (judging by the pictures) the pickups and tuners look identical....oh wait a minute....
But having said that, and being the proud owner of an SS Jag, i REALLY want to try one of these!
But having said that, and being the proud owner of an SS Jag, i REALLY want to try one of these!
The tuners are definitely different, you can clearly see that comparing photos of the two models. The Modern Player models have a longer 'stem', and the cloverleaf section is smaller & differently shaped. In my experience, they hold tuning better than the VMs, but they seem to extend just enough to annoy me - much better chance of knocking them!
I will concede that the pickup cases do look similar... surprisingly.
It's a Fender, not a Squier. The electronics will be of higher quality. And, given my experiences with Modern Player basses, the wood & attention to detail will be higher. If you don't like it, feel free to get the VM SS Jag.
Oh I already did get the SS Jag. And as I said above, I REALLY want to try this one out....but I have concerns that this may turn out to be a Squender. I see no difference between attention to detail on Modern Player or VM/CV models. And , I know you can't tell much from pictures or the vague description in the ad, doesn't seem like much difference in hardware (except the bridge) or electronics. $300 is a lot of money just for a decal on the headstock.
Again, the tuners are definitely different, and visibly so if you compare photos of the two models. The electronics are better in the MP range, and that's from experience. Jacks & pots are both better.
I've also had a lot better dressed frets on MPs I've played, compared to VMs, but I know that is something that's open to a lot of different factors, and I'd expect to file a bit on a £300 bass.
The Modern Player range definitely isn't comparable to MIAs, say, but the ones I've played have been much more along the lines of CV/MIM quality, than VM. Standard YMMV, but I've tried the Jazz, Tele & Jag and every one impressed me.
I've also had a lot better dressed frets on MPs I've played, compared to VMs, but I know that is something that's open to a lot of different factors, and I'd expect to file a bit on a £300 bass.
The Modern Player range definitely isn't comparable to MIAs, say, but the ones I've played have been much more along the lines of CV/MIM quality, than VM. Standard YMMV, but I've tried the Jazz, Tele & Jag and every one impressed me.
The other finish isn't natural, it's 'White Blonde'.
CAR & black pickguard is a great mix, I'm really torn between which of the two to pick up. Probably the white, just as I have a CAR bass already.
Oops, you're right, Hank. Perhaps if it was natural, I might like it. I admit that I am partial to the CAR and black as I happened to just buy this short scale Jag and I LOVE it!
That said, there is a strong possibility that I may like the MP Short Scale P-J Jazz even MORE!
That said, there is a strong possibility that I may like the MP Short Scale P-J Jazz even MORE!
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I reached out to my local Fender dealer on this. They contacted the Fender rep & he informed us that this is a limited run for Europe/UK only. 
I reached out to my local Fender dealer on this. They contacted the Fender rep & he informed us that this is a limited run for Europe/UK only.
Oh reeeeeeeeeealy.
Don't think I can't see what you're up to….trying to throw us off the scent by convincing us that they'll never come our way. You may as well just admit it. You want to keep them all for yourself, don'tcha?! Well, it ain't gonna work! You task us, and we shall have them!!
Seriously though, that'd really and truly suck if they weren't made available here in the States. Maybe someone at Fender took a trip to some old European cities, saw how narrow the streets were and decided what Europa needed was some bass guitars to match the tiny, little cars that
I reached out to my local Fender dealer on this. They contacted the Fender rep & he informed us that this is a limited run for Europe/UK only.
Huh, strange. I'd be surprised if it stayed that way, these fit a very obvious niche, but if nothing else it gives me more incentive to pick one up..
This is how Fender customer relations responded to me:
"This instrument has not been officially announced at this time, more details are expected to follow in the next few months."
"This instrument has not been officially announced at this time, more details are expected to follow in the next few months."
