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Fender Victor Bailey 4 string Jazz your thoughts

I

iskbee

Aug 1, 2005
56
0
Toronto, Ontario
#1
Hi fellow TBs I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this one. I played it at my local guitar store and fell in love. Light weight , killer tones , fast neck awesome fit and finish. I play a bit of everything jazz , reggae, gospel, blues etc... I am hoping this will be my last bass and GAS would end (lol). It would costs about $1700 US (new) and I may have to give up my Lakland JO4..I know they are not exactly the same. Your thoughts would be appreciated good , bad or ugly.

Cheers:bassist:
 
#2
IMO and IME it is the best currently available Fender Jazz you can buy -- including the Custom Shop stuff. I have owned two and only when I stepped up to a Fodera Monarch (3 times the price) did I feel I was getting a better playing and sounding bass. They are the creme de la creme...go for it!
 
#4
I had the fretless model, and it was one of the nicest Fenders I ever owned. And one of the nicest fretless basses I've owned! The neck on that bass is awesome, super fast. I had zero issues with that bass.

The only thing to watch out for is more cosmetic. The top Koa can vary greatly. From highly figured to rather plain like my bass was. I see you are planing to buy it from a store, so that should not be a issue since you see it before you buy it.

But 2 thumbs up for those basses!
 
#5
Go for it.
I own a Fender American Deluxe Quilted Maple, which is practically the same as the Bailey (different body wood) but same electronics (SCN pickups, etc.) They are, in my opinion, the best 2 Fenders available.
I would have bought both if I could afford it, just preferred the look of the QMT better. The bailey model is a fantastic instrument.
 
#6
iskbee said:
Thanks for the the reply any issues with the tuning pegs I heard they can become loose and the screws often fall out. Cheers.:bassist:
Click to expand...

The adjustment screws can get loose, but I just made it part of my routine to tighten them every time I changed strings. No biggie and nothing that doesn't happen on any Fender using the same Tuners....
 
#8
Just Thumpin' said:
...IMO and IME it is the best currently available Fender Jazz you can buy -- including the Custom Shop stuff. I have owned two and only when I stepped up to a Fodera Monarch (3 times the price) did I feel I was getting a better playing and sounding bass. They are the creme de la creme...go for it!
Click to expand...


Absolutely it is, I also believe it as the best jazz bass in Fender line including CS. I had it for a year and I really regret that I sold it...
 
#14
iskbee said:
Hi fellow TBs I am thinking about pulling the trigger on this one. I played it at my local guitar store and fell in love. Light weight , killer tones , fast neck awesome fit and finish. I play a bit of everything jazz , reggae, gospel, blues etc... I am hoping this will be my last bass and GAS would end (lol). It would costs about $1700 US (new) and I may have to give up my Lakland JO4..I know they are not exactly the same. Your thoughts would be appreciated good , bad or ugly.

Cheers:bassist:
Click to expand...

The Fender Victor Bailey is the Best sound you ever have with a Koa top and Mahogany body core. Very warm rich in sound. Go ahead buy the 4 strings...!
To guy who said he paid 3 times for his Fodera , feels sorry 4him.
The FO too expensive !!!!!
The Fender Victor Bailey signature...will be a nice Piece of Instrument to own...:smug:
 
#15
ClassicJazz said:
I had the fretless model, and it was one of the nicest Fenders I ever owned. And one of the nicest fretless basses I've owned! The neck on that bass is awesome, super fast. I had zero issues with that bass.

The only thing to watch out for is more cosmetic. The top Koa can vary greatly. From highly figured to rather plain like my bass was. I see you are planing to buy it from a store, so that should not be a issue since you see it before you buy it.

But 2 thumbs up for those basses!
Click to expand...


Agree w/ you.!
:D
 
#16
BASSPLAYERS4HIM said:
The Fender Victor Bailey is the Best sound you ever have with a Koa top and Mahogany body core. Very warm rich in sound. Go ahead buy the 4 strings...!
To guy who said he paid 3 times for his Fodera , feels sorry 4him.
The FO too expensive !!!!!
The Fender Victor Bailey signature...will be a nice Piece of Instrument to own...:smug:
Click to expand...

Here is a vid of Victor playing his Fodera
IMG_0177.MOV - YouTube
 
#18
Well, I said that then (back in 2008) and I stand by it still as I have logged hundreds and hundreds of hours on both. I have since sold the Victor Bailey JBass but still have the Fodera. Of course I also became a partner here at the Company so perhaps I am biased, but I honestly do not think so. I still own my 1964 JBass and still play it.

My original comment was actually meant as a very significant compliment to what Fender achieved in the Victor Bailey JBass. My point was that to me, and IMHO, the Fodera Monarch that I own with the same woods is a better instrument but I needed to pay roughly three times the price for it. That's pretty high praise for the Bailey...

BTW, have you ever directly compared a Fodera Monarch with a Mahogany body, Koa top and Indian Rosewood FB directly to a Victor Bailey Jazz Bass? I take no issue with your opinion that our instruments are too expensive...that is a highly personal and subjective assessment and one that you are most certainly entitled to. However, I am wondering whether or not it is an opinion based on having played both instruments regularly under "battle conditions."

Regards,

Jason

BASSPLAYERS4HIM said:
The Fender Victor Bailey is the Best sound you ever have with a Koa top and Mahogany body core. Very warm rich in sound. Go ahead buy the 4 strings...!
To guy who said he paid 3 times for his Fodera , feels sorry 4him.
The FO too expensive !!!!!
The Fender Victor Bailey signature...will be a nice Piece of Instrument to own...:smug:
Click to expand...
 

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