Help Me Choose Between Two Options

[MtManiac]

Maybe I should’ve said something like “cuts through the mix more easily.” I love Jazz basses, but unlike a Precision — and I’ve read Mustangs were somewhat similar and JMJ in an interview even said they cut though the mix even more than Precisions — it’s not always a plug and play thing.

I also agree with you that more pickups doesn’t necessarily mean more versatile.

Sure you can get a lot more sounds out of a Ken Smith with its two pickups and preamp. But you can’t do everything with a Ken Smith.

The Precision only has one pickup and one tone knob. It won’t always be the best option for the song, but it’ll never a wrong option, IMO.

So in a way, the Precision is more versatile than the Ken Smith.

However, I also believe the Jazz won’t always be the best option for a song but also never the wrong one (depending on pickup selection and strings, more so than the Precision).

So, IMO, a Jazz is more versatile than a Precision or Mustang.

I don’t disagree. Many of these things are entirely subjective, and at the end of the day it’s your hands and ears an instrument must work for, and your money paying for it, so subjective is 100% where your decision making needs to be. IMHO.

And yeah, a Ken Smith will always sound like a Ken Smith, and nothing else will sound like a Ken Smith. Fantastic instruments, but not right for - I’m gonna say it - most situations.

 

[Aric Bjorn]

It’s true that I’d probably want to add some sort of saturation for a more vintage tone…

For the difference in price between the two, you could also get a Punchline and still have money left

Thread 'JHS Punchline'

May 14, 2024

JHS Punchline Bass Station Pedal - Sweetwater Exclusive

Seems pretty cool; video sounds great

• chiphaleonbass
• Replies: 702
• Forum: Effects [BG]

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[dougjwray]

I swear that I'm not trying to be a troll here, but...
You have ruled out Precisions-- ok, a clear first step.
You love Jazz Basses-- ok.
Why not decide to get a Jazz Bass? Try a lot in person, and pick the one which has the most resonant unplugged sound and a straight and comfortable (for you) neck. Period.
Everything else can be fixed: A wide strap helps with weight and neckdive. Frets can be leveled. Fret ends can be filed. Electronics can be changed. Hardware can be changed. Strings make a big difference.
No need to spend so much money. The one you like the best might be a Squier. Have an open mind. If you truly bond with it, the resell value should be moot. Warranties are nice for amps, but how much can really go wrong with a bass that can't be repaired for very little money? (Especially on a Fender or Fenderesque instrument.)
Then (most importantly), just get out and play it as much as possible. We usually have to learn to play a given bass-- it doesn't "come to you" 100%, no matter how much money you spend on it. You have it "go to it" a reasonable amount.
Make music.
That's my advice.
Good luck, and enjoy whatever you end up getting!

 

[TonyP-]

I might be overthinking it

I mean no disrespect, but are you a project manager by day?

I put less thought into buying a car then this.

Impressive…
In all seriousness, who cares about that stuff, which one do you enjoy playing more. There is the answer.

 

[InhumanResource]

I might be overthinking it, but I’ve narrowed it down to two basses. I’m not planning to record with this bass—just using it for solo practice, rehearsals with the cover band and live shows. Here are the options, in order of importance for me. Which would you pick?

	Option A	Option B
Comfort	More comfortable than Option B (string spacing, nut width, scale length), but more head dive.	Not as comfortable as Option A. Still some head dive, but not as bad.
Trying Before Buying	No, but I've tried similar basses—for e.g., if Option A is a Fender Custom Shop '66 Jazz, I was able to play a few Fender AVII 1966 Jazzes.	Yes.
Price	54% the price of Option B.	185% the price of Option A.
Weight	8 lbs, give or take a few	Over 9 lbs, but below 10 lbs
Tone	Doesn't sound nearly as good as Option B and is not as versatile, but cuts through a mix better than Option B.	Sounds slightly better than Option A, is more versatile, but doesn't cut through the mix as well as Option A. I can also get a somewhat similar tone to Option A—think of a Jazz neck pickup soloed to imitate a Precision.
Warranty	Lifetime, but must be shipped 5,000 km to store and 5,000 km back	Lifetime within a 20-minute drive
Return Policy	No	15% restocking fee
Resale	Probably harder to sell, resale price lower than Option B	Easier to sell, resale price higher than Option A
Included Case	Great gig bag	Rather cheap hard shell

Can you add row that says “ I like this one better “?

You know which one it is

 

[InhumanResource]

Neck dive nope on both. Why suffer?

Because straps are a thing?

 

[Just Wrong]

Can you add row that says “ I like this one better “?

You know which one it is

Which one do you think it is?

I mean, if the bass is in my hands in a year from now, it’s 3-3:

Option A: comfort, weight and price

Option B: tone, warranty and resale value

Resale value isn’t that important, but then again comfort and weight could’ve been one category. So 2-2.

Right now, it’s 3-5 for Option B since I can try it before and the return policy. Although 15% of $5,650 is not exactly a win. Better than nothing, but..

 

[CallMeAl]

Of the options, I’d go more comfortable. Tone is tweak-able.

But I also like all the folks saying wait for the perfect bass.

 

[InhumanResource]

Which one do you think it is?

I mean, if the bass is in my hands in a year from now, it’s 3-3:

Option A: comfort, weight and price

Option B: tone, warranty and resale value

Resale value isn’t that important, but then again comfort and weight could’ve been one category. So 2-2.

Right now, it’s 3-5 for Option B since I can try it before and the return policy. Although 15% of $5,650 is not exactly a win. Better than nothing, but..

I can’t tell you that! Personally, my purchase history eschews warranty and resale stuff. I just get the one I like and/or solves a problem (need it for a gig basically).

 

[Just Wrong]

Of the options, I’d go more comfortable. Tone is tweak-able.

But I also like all the folks saying wait for the perfect bass.

Actually, now that I think about it, Option A is the perfect bass, the only real caveats being that I can’t try it in person, I won’t be able to return it if I don’t like it and the warranty.

But if you think about it, the warranty is only “bad” if you look at it in relation to the Fender CS, which is 85% more expensive.

As far as I know, most basses that you can try in store before buying, including all non CS Fenders, come with a one year warranty.

Most repairs aren’t all that costly, and those that are, like a warped neck, tend to happen years down the line.

So if I can put the extra $2,5k that I would save in getting option A towards low-costs repair. And if the bass needs a new neck in 5 or 10 years, it’ll probably be cheaper to ship it across the country than to buy a new neck from Fender.