Getting a Four String Fender Jazz: Which One?

[fhm555]

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

What makes the neck deluxe?

Sorry for the bad photo, but they are threaded barrel saddles. I also replaced the slotted height adjustment screws with allen heads. It’s just so much easier to do height adjustment with a socket head.
The neck came off an MIM Deluxe Jazz. Back when Standard MIM basses were getting rosewood boards, the Deluxe basses were getting pau ferro. The Deluxe basses i’ve seen from back then had a better degree of finishing on the fret ends than the std. basses did. It was still not as well done as my US made Highway 1 J basses but it was noticeably better than the other MIM’s of that time. The brass nut was installed by the previous owner of the bass and it works so i’ve had no reason to change it. Other than a better fret end dress, pau ferro board, and a deluxe decal, there is not a lot of difference in this neck and the Std MIM J neck, same profile, same truss rod access at the headstock and same machine heads.

 

[craigie]

Sorry for the bad photo, but they are threaded barrel saddles. I also replaced the slotted height adjustment screws with allen heads. It’s just so much easier to do height adjustment with a socket head.
The neck came off an MIM Deluxe Jazz. Back when Standard MIM basses were getting rosewood boards, the Deluxe basses were getting pau ferro. The Deluxe basses i’ve seen from back then had a better degree of finishing on the fret ends than the std. basses did. It was still not as well done as my US made Highway 1 J basses but it was noticeably better than the other MIM’s of that time. The brass nut was installed by the previous owner of the bass and it works so i’ve had no reason to change it. Other than a better fret end dress, pau ferro board, and a deluxe decal, there is not a lot of difference in this neck and the Std MIM J neck, same profile, same truss rod access at the headstock and same machine heads.

Ok, well there’s still something I disagree with at least! I like the slot head screws better than Allan keys because any tiny slot head will do and I don’t have to muck about searching for the right Allan key....

 

[Dr. Cheese]

It looks like the American Geddy Lee is the winner, and that sounds good to me. As is so often the case, when I talk about a bass, my GAS calms down. I do have to nice Jazz Basses already, they are just fives instead of fours. I will see if I am ready to commit to buying a bass I would really like, but don’t need.

 

[bucephylus]

JOOC, why not buy used? There are a literal TON of used Jazzes out there. By now, you know what to look for. Pretty sure you could find it at 2/3 the price.

That said, when one finds a great Jazz on the rack, might as well snap it up if the price is right.

 

[fhm555]

Ok, well there’s still something I disagree with at least! I like the slot head screws better than Allan keys because any tiny slot head will do and I don’t have to muck about searching for the right Allan key....

Actually, the primary reason i ditched the slotted screws was short of a miniture electronics screwdriver that was way too small for the slot and wallowed out the slot, i couldn’t find an off the shelf tool that would fit. The smallest Craftsman common screwdriver fit the slot just fine but it was just wide enough it chewed up the edges of the edges of the hole when the screw got close to the saddle which aggravated my OCD to the point i ground down the width of the driver so it wouldn’t chew the edges of the hole. I also love the fact i can leave the wrench in the screw i’m adjusting as i adjust and check, and there’s no chance the wrench can slip out of the slot and go clattering across the finish.
As for finding the correct wrench, i keep a set of both metric and standard Bondhus ball end drivers in my bass maintenence kit so it’s never a problem to grab the correct driver for my standard or metric basses. The first bass i owned with socket head saddle adjusting screws came with the correct size wrench as well as one for the neck tilt and knob screws. They are still in a small bag in the case with that bass along with a small phillips screwdriver i added to access the preamp battery.

 

[craigie]

Actually, the primary reason i ditched the slotted screws was short of a miniture electronics screwdriver that was way too small for the slot and wallowed out the slot, i couldn’t find an off the shelf tool that would fit. The smallest Craftsman common screwdriver fit the slot just fine but it was just wide enough it chewed up the edges of the edges of the hole when the screw got close to the saddle which aggravated my OCD to the point i ground down the width of the driver so it wouldn’t chew the edges of the hole. I also love the fact i can leave the wrench in the screw i’m adjusting as i adjust and check, and there’s no chance the wrench can slip out of the slot and go clattering across the finish.
As for finding the correct wrench, i keep a set of both metric and standard Bondhus ball end drivers in my bass maintenence kit so it’s never a problem to grab the correct driver for my standard or metric basses. The first bass i owned with socket head saddle adjusting screws came with the correct size wrench as well as one for the neck tilt and knob screws. They are still in a small bag in case with that bass along with a small phillips screwdriver i added to access the preamp battery.

I do my setups totally by feel and never measure anything. Would make things quicker as it takes some playing after doing an adjustment.

 

[fhm555]

I do my setups totally by feel and never measure anything. Would make things quicker as it takes some playing after doing an adjustment.

Same for the most part. All the more reason to love the socket head screws. I can leave the wrench in the screw and find it without looking when i pluck a string and go back to the height adjustment. No need to find, pick up, and watch the screw as i fit the common screwdriver. Just makes the job easier and faster.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

JOOC, why not buy used? There are a literal TON of used Jazzes out there. By now, you know what to look for. Pretty sure you could find it at 2/3 the price.

That said, when one finds a great Jazz on the rack, might as well snap it up if the price is right.

If I can find what I want used when I hav ethe money, it is a no brainer.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Fender American Original '70s Jazz Bass - Black

Fender USA Geddy Lee Jazz Bass - Black

I just realized that except for the thumb rest, the black white Geddy and Original look just alike.

 

[ajkula66]

I just realized that except for the thumb rest, the black white Geddy and Original look just alike.

While they do look alike, the neck profile is going to be different on them, as are the pickups and bridges, along with ash vs. alder bodies. To me personally, the neck would decide the winner.

Then again, if I were looking for a Fender Jazz Bass in that price range I'd just get a '62 AVRI (used, of course) and call it a day.

Happy shopping.

 

[petrus61]

I think Fender should have you as an endorsing artist and send you all four as part of the deal.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I think Fender should have you as an endorsing artist and send you all four as part of the deal.

That is an utterly brilliant suggestion.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Here one can compare videos.

 

[LadyLoveStingRay5]

If you are anything like me, you are going to miss that B string.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

If you are anything like me, you are going to miss that B string.

That’s why none of my fives are going anywhere. To be honest, as much I think the USA Geddy would be great, a MIM Geddy would make more sense at $800 than the USA at $1,400.

 

[Snakeman1066]

That’s why none of my fives are going anywhere. To be honest, as much I think the USA Geddy would be great, a MIM Geddy would make more sense at $800 than the USA at $1,400.

cool then you can get the sunburst! and I like the neck better on the MIM is thinner front to back

 

[Dr. Cheese]

cool then you can get the sunburst! and I like the neck better on the MIM is thinner front to back

That sunburst is awesome!

 

[blackandwhite]

View attachment 3299853 I know it isn’t on your list,but i am loving this variation of the J bass i just got recently.
I’ve owned Fender Js from 66,76,13,and a really good frankenjazz, but this bass just feels and sounds fantastic. (I like the smaller body size especially). My 76 was similar to a Geddy,only with white pearl blocks instead of black ones. It had the micro tilt neck,and had issues....
I voted for the Flea.....

Woody, does that say TRIBUTE SERIES there in the fine fine print? What's the neck on the Tribute JB-2? And I must ask, how are the Tribute pickups? I actually had one of these at one point but it didn't last long - I think I took it back for a return as I already had enough basses:-\

Edit: apparently it's a USA, I read this later in the thread.

 

[blackandwhite]

My personal preference would be Geddy Lee, but I tend towards skinny necks.

Yes I suppose the USA GL has a skinny neck, it's 1.5" at the nut like most J basses. But it's a little thicker than the CIJ, MIJ, and MIM GLs I have played. I think the new USA neck profile works much better for me, as I could never really get along with the ultra-thin CIJ and MIJ.

 

[blackandwhite]

I chose the USA Geddy Lee over the MIM, however I would go for the CIJ over both for value

I preferred my '07 MIJ over my '06 CIJ; you may look to try out a MIJ.