I have GAS...again! But.....

[Spectre Gunner]

I owned a 2016 Fender Elite Jazz for several years before I traded it in. It was an excellent sounding JB and the active preamp had a broad range of tones. It's difficult to describe sound but I'll try. I was very articulate and piano like especially with the TI Jazz Flat strings I put on it. Rounds were good too but I kept the flats on there for most of the time I had it.

Seems a little overpriced to me for an 8-9 year old Fender JB. The price on the 2016 Elite in your link is about the same as what I paid for mine new in 2016.

 

[FullumMusic]

My question is: HOW MUCH BETTER IS AN AMERICAN ELITE OVER THE REST OF MY STABLE?

This is a subjective question looking for an objective answer.

You could compare each bass's specs, component-to-component. But that doesn't mean you're going to like the way the American Elite plays and sounds over any other bass. Tone is arbitrary & contextual. Feel & playability are different for every player. We all have different preferences and body geometry and body mechanics.

It's not like a race car where better components lead to better lap times. Different components on a bass just sound and feel different. There's no objectively better sound or feel for everyone.

Will the American Elite have more expensive components? Probably.
Will those components be better made? Probably.
Will the craftsmanship of the build be better? Hopefully.
Will it sound better? Not necessarily. Better than what? Better how? Better for whose ears? Better for what mix?
Will it play better? You have to have both basses set up properly and play them side by side to know which plays better in your hands.

If you wanna know if a Fender American Elite bass is worth your money, you need to play it and hear it.

 

[marsquake]

Thanks, all. This give me a lot to pontificate on. I'm actually heading to Sweetwater next week for the first time. They're only 2-hrs drive from me. Maybe I'll get to try some MIA Fender's there. I am guessing the Ultra line has replaced the Elite.

As for who asked me why my Squire sounds terrible...it just does. I'm not sure why. I just don't like the sound/tone coming from it. I'm not sure why. I bought it off a friend for cheap a few years ago. It has Seymour Duncan (aftermarket?) pickups in it. I ended up stringing it BEAD and had it set up as such. It just sounds thin/clangy/wimpy? Nowhere near as good sounding as my MIM or Player Plus.

The Player Plus P/J is growing on me. It sounds warm and phat and is beautiful for recording. I put flats on it. The MIM jazz just has a distince growl that I love above all the others. Not quite as growly as my Spector, but it's there. It sounds great in my band. I just saw a new band I love recently and the bassist had a gorgeous black Elite P/J and so I started looking into them and started drooling. I love all back jazz basses with those rectangle/square fret markers on a maple neck. No reason really to get one other than I love the way it looks. So, I imagined it sounds great because it sounded great live and on their album. I am just in love with this tone.



I'll probably just keep and work with what I have....unless my Sweetwater trip changes my mind. Thanks again all!