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Growliest Fender Jazz for under $900

#21
Bassbubble11 said:
I'm confused. You are asking about $900 basses but
you can't afford a BDDI.

Buy a $500 bass, a BDDI AND pups. Have it all for under $900.

If you want fender on the headstock get a MIM Jazz.
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Living in the European countryside definitely limits your options...

A MIM (or even Squire if you don't need Fender on the headstock) Jazz and BDDI seems like the best place to start; you'll most likely be able to get the sound you're looking for with those two and a fresh set of round wound strings, but if the stock pickups aren't the sound you're looking for you can still swap them out for a set of aftermarket upgrades and come in under $900.

Again, none of those videos have a clean bass tone, so if that's the sound you're looking for you'll need something to add some grit/drive, and the BDDI is an inexpensive and very versatile piece of gear.
 
#22
IMO 60s pickup spacing in a Jazz gives a growlier sound than 70s spacing.

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Strings are important too, you'll want some with prominent low midrange. Labella steel rounds are the growliest strings I know of, with Fender flats coming in 2nd with a different flavor of growl.
 
#23
Duckwater said:
IMO 60s pickup spacing in a Jazz gives a growlier sound than 70s spacing.

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Strings are important too, you'll want some with prominent low midrange. Labella steel rounds are the growliest strings I know of, with Fender flats coming in 2nd with a different flavor of growl.
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Agreed about the 60's spacing and steel rounds for slap, but if you watched his tone reference video you'd know he definitely doesn't want flatwounds ;)
 
#24
sideFX said:
Ok, I should clarify that I'm willing to spend my money on a good bass, one that will stay with me for years.

I can't afford to spend any more on anything else, and I don't wanna buy a MIM standard. I'm not considering the American standard either, way too expensive here ($1800).

All 3 of the basses that I'm considering are MIM (classic 60s , 70s, Geddy - all cost between $1100-1250) I just don't want to buy the standard one (which is also too expensive fwiw @ $865).

edit: BDDI costs $380 and the cheapest pups start from $160


Unfortunately prices in the US don't equal prices for the exact same gear in other countries...
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Oh, I see. Just out of curiosity, why not an MIM Standard?
they are great basses. My main gigging Jazz is an MIM that
I have had for almost 20 years. Yes I replaced the pups and
have a BDDI. LOL.

The only other bass that I would suggest is a Squier CV.
They are every bit as good as MIM Fenders IMO.
 
#27
Duckwater said:
Well he definitely doesn't want anything close to a traditional flatwound sound, but you can get very bright and aggressive tones out of Chrome/Sadowsky/Fender flats.
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I'll take your word for it...steel rounds seem like the logical way to go though...

The Squire Vintage Modified and Classic Vibe basses seem to get a lot of love around here as well, so if having Fender on the headstock doesn't matter to you it might be in your best interest to pick up one of those instead, then you'll still have the scratch for the BDDI and aftermarket pickups if need be :bassist:
 
#31
Of your three choices, I would go with the 70s. It should have the pickups in the 70s position which means that the bridge pickup is slightly further towards the bridge. That will give is a tiny bit more mid-high bite. (The Geddy has them in the 70s position too I think but you said you don't like the color.)

So, to actually answer your question without beating you over the head with things you didn't ask............. go 70s.
 
#34
I'd have to say that the setup, technique and some overdrive have more to do with the tone in those videos than the bass its self.
Fender Jazz basses have a particular tone, so you'd want to start there. I think really just about any would do. A lot of the "growl" there is actually a result of low action, very little relief in the neck, and the pickups being pretty close to the strings. I also noticed that the players are digging in pretty forcefully on the bridge pickup. Some nickle round wound strings should finish the instrument part of it.
I'll bet good money that there is a dirt pedal being used in all of those videos. A Sansamp BDDI sounds about right or VT Bass. Personally I use a Pork Loin for dirt, but I don't think you'll get those kind of present highs out of that pedal.

For my tastes I wouldn't call that tone growl as much as I would bark or grit. When I hear the word growl I think more of those hi-low/lo-mid freqs that add real character to the low end of a bass. The audible, recording friendly, lows that come at you like a panther about to tear your face off.
 
#35
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#36
Honestly, It's just a jazz bass sound. I think you'll be happy with whatever Fender Jazz you grab. The Geddy is probably a good route, but I've owned one and you run into a bit of a problem with the output level. It tends to be lower than average. All in all though, it's a great bass.
 
#37
Duckwater said:
IMO 60s pickup spacing in a Jazz gives a growlier sound than 70s spacing.

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Strings are important too, you'll want some with prominent low midrange. Labella steel rounds are the growliest strings I know of, with Fender flats coming in 2nd with a different flavor of growl.
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I find that the spacing is such a slight difference, I can't imagine it's THAT audible to notice. Also, I'd definitely go for rounds. Hell, just get some Fender Nickels and you'll be golden!
 
#39
I'd go used and look for a long time. Honestly if you can somehow save $700-800, you will have a lot of options on the used market.

The best tone I got that was close to the linked vids was a Fender Highway1 Jazz for $700 used. It sounded so good that my friend bought it and uses it on every release he produces now.
 
#40
AngelCrusher said:
I'd go used and look for a long time. Honestly if you can somehow save $700-800, you will have a lot of options on the used market.

The best tone I got that was close to the linked vids was a Fender Highway1 Jazz for $700 used. It sounded so good that my friend bought it and uses it on every release he produces now.
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I'd agree with this if it's at all an option. You'll get a MIA Jazz for $700-$750 if you look hard enough. I've had great success buying used basses from craiglist, ebay, and here on TB. The money you save is WELL worth the hassle of searching and finding one.
 

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