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Four string passive jazz bass recommendations?

#47
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Charlzm said:
I wonder how that compares to mine? I have a black MIJ from 2000, back when that was the only available model.
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The CIJ has black versus white blocks, a thinner neck, a BAII bridge, and the pickups are a bit more trebly. In Geddy terms the CIJ would go best with the My Favorite Headache or Vapor Trails sound which has a very metallic OD in conjunction with a SansAmp RBI.

The US has a slightly warmer sound more reminiscent of Moving Pictures or Signals. The finish of the US neck is also quite different.
 
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#50
DigitalMan said:
View attachment 801076

The CIJ has black versus white blocks, a thinner neck, a BAII bridge, and the pickups are a bit more trebly. In Geddy terms the CIJ would go best with the My Favorite Headache or Vapor Trails sound which has a very metallic OD in conjunction with a SansAmp RBI.

The US has a slightly warmer sound more reminiscent of Moving Pictures or Signals. The finish of the US neck is also quite different.
Click to expand...
I think it's funny that it's supposedly based off his personal bass... which changes from one model to the next.

Trivia - the bass I have is actually signed by Geddy to me. I won it in a Sam Ash/Atlantic Records contest promoting the release of "My Favorite Headache". Of my four basses, it is my least favorite/played. I'd sell it if I thought I could get away with it, but certain people would murder me if I did.
 
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#51
Charlzm said:
I think it's funny that it's supposedly based off his personal bass... which changes from one model to the next.

Trivia - the bass I have is actually signed by Geddy to me. I won it in a Sam Ash/Atlantic Records contest promoting the release of "My Favorite Headache". Of my four basses, it is my least favorite/played. I'd sell it if I thought I could get away with it, but certain people would murder me if I did.
Click to expand...
I think one of the reasons it changed is that Geddy finally got his original neck replaced by the folks at the custom shop, and in fact did go with a thicker neck profile. So that explains part of it. I also believe that his CIJ used off the shelf Fender pickups and the US version uses Geddy specific pickups. I have a set of Tom Brantley customs wounds using Geddy spec as well, and the US pickups are pretty close in overall character. Id say the US pickups are a hair warmer than the Brantleys. Of course The BAII isn't available anymore so that makes sense as well.
 
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#52
Yamaha BB2024X (4 string) or 2025X (5 string). killer J pickup in the bridge and a clear sounding P pickup in the neck. Top of the shelf craftsmanship, playability and wood quality. Plus it has all the qualities you listed.

A more affordable version will be BB1024X or 1025X.

The "X" behind these models can be omitted if you do not like chrome color plates on your bass.
 
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#56
It took 'til the third page of this thread for someone to rep for G&L, and they only did half the job!
Explore the JB-2 as a possibility: P body, J neck, J pickups and electronics. Tribute versions are getting harder to find, as they are no-longer offered on the G&L website, thanks to the emergence of the MJ-4 (an active version). You can still find new Tribute versions out there, at a very reasonable price ($400-$500, depending on where). It might be possible to have Warmoth build you a neck with a fretboard extention, and voila; you have everything on the OP's wish list for around a grand, if not under (depends on other custom neck options, like binding and blocks, etc.). If the 24-fret option can be reduced to 21 frets, then a USA JB-2 could be a lifetime instrument. I have a pair of them, and swear by 'em.
 

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