Getting a Four String Fender Jazz: Which One?

[darwin-bass]

... subjective statement although I also like Warmoth ... however you forgot bringing the assembled bass to a technician for final nut and frets dressing ... this may or may not be necessary although this is what Warmoth recommends to do IIRC

Yes, subjective. Yes, I left out the after-assembly fret work since I've never done it on the the dozen or so Warmoth basses I've owned. Though I have considered doing a bit of work on the fret ends myself.

 

[cv115505]

Any of those are fine. If you can swing $1400, I would at least look into the American Professional. I am a big fan of this series. I think they may be a bit overpriced (but not by much) but I think they are very well made and offer a lot of substantial upgrades. The only reason I don’t like any of 60s spec Fenders (ie the Flea) is that you have to remove the neck for truss adjustments. It’s not a huge deal, but I personally don’t like it.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Any of those are fine. If you can swing $1400, I would at least look into the American Professional. I am a big fan of this series. I think they may be a bit overpriced (but not by much) but I think they are very well made and offer a lot of substantial upgrades. The only reason I don’t like any of 60s spec Fenders (ie the Flea) is that you have to remove the neck for truss adjustments. It’s not a huge deal, but I personally don’t like it.

Removing the neck for adjustment is a PITA.

 

[faulknersj]

Played a USA Geddy last week. I also hate that in 2019...the pick guard still has to be removed to adjust the truss.

It’s just one man’s opinion...but I didn’t find anything about it to be special. Just a decent Fender Jazz bass really. It played and sounded decent..but I wasn’t ‘wowed.’

I know the specs..and please don’t flame me...I didn’t find the pickups voicing to be identifiably unique, or the BadAss bridge copy to possess any magical tone producing qualities, or the neck to feel more special than say, an Am Pro Jazz, or other Fender Jazz. Actually...I like the Adam Clayton Jazz Necks more.

My advice...save up a little longer and get the American Elite Jazz.

I have returned a Custom Shop bass and an Am Pro recently because I like my Elite Fenders more.

Just my 2 cents if you are looking for ‘THE’ Jazz Dr.!

 

[alack]

Removing the neck for adjustment is a PITA.

Oh, and both my Squiers have easy headstock truss-rod access. I think they throw that in for free.

 

[Planespotter]

I put an American standard pickguard with the truss rod notch on my USA geddy and the truss rod is perfectly accessible.

 

[madbass6]

My local Fender dealer gave me some great prices for four string Jazzes provided no trades are involved. He offered $800 for a MIM Geddy Lee Jazz, $1,100 for 1961 Jazz Flea Sig, and $1,400 for a US Geddy Lee. I have experience with the MIM Geddy and 1961 Flea. I have never seen or played a USA Geddy Lee, and I would like more feedback. I think I may have asked him about a Fender Original Seventies Jazz, but I suspect it will be more than I want to pay.

Before anyone says it, this is pretty much GAS in action. I have wanted a nice Fender Jazz four for a while just to have one. That said, I enjoy not having a B string around sometimes.

go with wish ever one feels best to you!

 

[jjbb123]

I played the USA Geddy in a store a few weeks ago. Love the look. I could tell it would feel good...but of course a poopy set-up on the store model left me wondering what it COULD feel like. But...the pickups seemed a bit harsh with both on and tone up. Good growl on bridge pickup, tone down. But wasn’t loving everything open. My mij 75 reissue killed the store model for sure.

 

[fhm555]

Here’s another parts bass that plays better than most every Jazz i’ve ever owned.
It’s an ash MIM FSR body, an MIM Deluxe jazz neck with a Pau Fero fretboard and a brass nut, Dimarzio Ultra J humbuckers, Fender Pure vintage bridge, nickel control plate, nickel oversize strap buttons, Ernie Ball black knobs, and a bakelite pickguard and stainless screws.
I had to do some repairs to the pickup screw holes and shifted the control plate a litte for a better fit with the guard.
I love playing this bass and since i had most of the parts aquired in trade, i’ve got around $400 in cash outlay in this one. The trick is finding an FSR body, the rest is just buy it. If you went to the usual outlets for a neck and bought the rest of it new you should be able to bring it in for $600~$700 depending on what the body cost.
I like it a lot.

 

[craigie]

Here’s another parts bass that plays better than most every Jazz i’ve ever owned.
It’s an ash MIM FSR body, an MIM Deluxe jazz neck with a Pau Fero fretboard and a brass nut, Dimarzio Ultra J humbuckers, Fender Pure vintage bridge, nickel control plate, nickle oversize strap buttons, Ernie Ball black knobs, and a bakelite pickguard and stainless screws.
I had to do some repairs to the pickup screw holes and shifted the control plate a litte for a better fit with the guard.
I love playing this bass and since i had most of the parts aquired in trade, i’ve got around $400 in cash outlay in this one. The trick is finding an FSR body, the rest is just buy it. If you went to the usual outlets for a neck and bought the rest of it new you should be able to bring it in for $600~$700 depending on what the body cost.
I like it a lot.

View attachment 3301230

I like that a lot! Each component I agree with wholeheartedly, except I wish those were screw barrell saddles.

What makes the neck deluxe?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Sadowsky Metro Express.......

I'd go with the Geddy Lee US, although frankly I LOVE the Geddy Lee MIJ's and I see them for 6-800 used a lot!

I would take a Sadowsky as the only Non-Fender Jazz that would interest me, but one with blocks and binding in my price range would be quite rare and I would need cash in hand.

 

[Rabidhamster]

I voted 70's RI USA whichever model. I like mine a lot, unfortunately lol. I like ash bodies but don't need to see it there, being ash. Lots of options in the 70's basses with solid finish and ash bodies now

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Removing the neck for adjustment is a PITA.

Removing the neck for adjustment is generally not necessary. I say this as someone who has owned a couple of heel-adjust, slotted TR nut Fenders of this era - see this post (this thread in general has a good discussion on the topic) for an example.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I forgot to mention that I chose these basses because I want either a Seventies style Jazz or the original stack knob style Jazz.

IMO, you buy the sound first. Everything else is secondary.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Removing the neck for adjustment is generally not necessary. I say this as someone who has owned a couple of heel-adjust, slotted TR nut Fenders of this era - see this post (this thread in general has a good discussion on the topic) for an example.

Thanks!

 

[Fun Size Nick]

Thanks!

No prob!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Yes, subjective. Yes, I left out the after-assembly fret work since I've never done it on the the dozen or so Warmoth basses I've owned. Though I have considered doing a bit of work on the fret ends myself.

Good to hear this as I actually would like to ask Warmoth to fabricate a P bass body with a soapbar humbucking pickup rout in the bridge position .. I was not very keen, however, on buying a neck from them as well due to the extra and unquantifiable costs for a tech. to work on the neck itself once installed on the body .. I thought about buying a Fender neck as I had a positive experience in the past installing an Am. Std. jazz bass neck onto an Am. Pro. P bass body ... however USA made Fender necks are a little in the expensive, even taking into account the presence of the graphite rods inside, and do not offer any customisation options, so I may also consider buying a Warmoth neck and see how it goes

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Any of those are fine. If you can swing $1400, I would at least look into the American Professional. I am a big fan of this series. I think they may be a bit overpriced (but not by much) but I think they are very well made and offer a lot of substantial upgrades. The only reason I don’t like any of 60s spec Fenders (ie the Flea) is that you have to remove the neck for truss adjustments. It’s not a huge deal, but I personally don’t like it.

The necks are less stable also than those of the Am. Std. or Pro. series (direct experience), but the build, feel, tone and finish are truly vintage and nice to my taste, unmistakably better than those of my 2012 Am. Std. jazz bass ... for adjusting the truss rod, if you accept to slightly damage the guard, there’s no need to remove the neck ... quantifying damaging ... mh ... I lost less than 1mm of guard thickness over a length of 4mm in front of the truss rod area ... it can be sanded however to a smooth shape ... removing the guard will avoid any local damage but it is a time consuming job if you are not provided with an electrical screwdriver, as in my case and for various reasons ..

 

[somebrains]

Take a vacation in a metropolitan area with lots of live music. Pricing is better.

 

[Brad Johnson]

Squier Contemporary HH Jazz.