If you were starting college to study jazz....

[Bruiser Stone]

Get him whatever he wants that is within budget. Or let him take what he already has and feels comfortable playing.

 

[N4860]

If it matters to them, why can't you just ask them what the preferred choice is?

 

[bass12]

Knowing the name of the school might aid this conversation...

 

[OptimalOptimus]

..... what would you show up with as your workhorse bass? Fender Jazz? (Not me, by the way.)

Oddly enough, Jazz Studies departments tend to be ridiculously traditional (for people who study music that knocked down walls a broke all kinds of barriers). In my view, you can't (literally can't) show up with the "wrong" bass.

So, if you were going to help a kid going into a traditional jazz school (he'll be doubling on electric and double bass) find an "acceptable" bass guitar, what would you look for?

And, please, save your lectures. I know the school. It is what it is. It's a great school. But it's stuck in the past.

Budget is maybe $700-$800? Used is fine in great shape.

Rock also did break barrier and now it is full of cliché and full of traditional people ... P and J dominate with sometimes a Stringray or a Rick ...

Anyway I was playing a Yamaha BBNII5 when I was studying music at my college. I wanted to buy a Spector Legend 6 but no lefty so meh otherwise I would be all over it.

We were 6 in the music program like 16 years ago on doublebass ( classical style with the bow ) and electric bass or doublebass for jazz as a second. I had a Yamaha BBNII5, the only girl of the goup had a Ibanez SR, one dude had a Fender PJ, one a Stingray 5 and the other an Ibanez SR 6 strings.

It feels like USA really do love tradition

 

[Remoman]

Ok, long negative rant has been again edited down, and sorry, it ain't much prettier. If it's the type of school as you describe, and not all schools are this way but they do exist, then it does matter. There is likely a list, likely un-published, of acceptable make, model, years, and options for the instruments the students should be on, and it is set by the faculty that expects to be appeased for your grade.

This issue occurs in the horn world, and I can't imagine it gets much better with other instruments. And then violin or cello at one of these schools; Oy! If you can't find any info at all, then I'd go with a used MIA Fender Jazz, in as clean original shape as I could. And certainly, only a 4 string.

 

[shwashwa]

find the kind of electric his teacher will be using and copy it. if the teacher has no electric, then there's your answer

 

[DuluthDank]

I'd vote Fender Jazz. It's nice to have the default that there's no reason to explain or justify. It's like showing up to a wedding in a black tux. It lets people focus on something else, such as you, your playing, etc. For that price you should be able to pick up a MIJ Fender used.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Ok, long negative rant has been edited down, and sorry, it ain't much prettier. If it's the type of school as you describe, and not all schools are this way but they do exist, then it does matter. There is very certainly a list, likely un-published, of acceptable make, model, years, and options for the instruments the students should be on, and it is set by the faculty that expects to be appeased for your grade. Do what you can to find out this information, because showing up with anything else will be starting out on the very wrong foot. And know that these types of institutions are not concerned with your student's carer or financial success, it's all about indoctrination into their way of the world.

This is no joke. This issue is very big in the horn world, and I can't imagine it gets better with any other instrument. Heaven help your student if they are on violin or cello at one of these schools. Oy! If you can't find any other info at all, then I'd go with a used MIA Fender Jazz, in as clean original shape as I could. And certainly, only a 4 string.

Yeah, I was told that my kid that was just starting trumpet needed a Bach 180S37 Stradivarius Bb trumpet. Ummm, no. A Getzen 700 will probably handle anything he needs as he's playing "Hot Cross Buns". I'd get him one later if he stuck with it, but not as a beginner instrument.

 

[HELLonWHEELS]

Guys, what about acceptable amps? Does it need to be an Ampeg?

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I think any bass that is not outrageous should do. So no Bootsy Star bass, BC Rich Warlock, Steinberger stick bass, pointy hockey stick headstock basses!

If there is that much of a stigma on the bass and it will be problematic, I would go with a Fender (or Fender-like) Jazz or PJ. If the goal on electric is to cover more than jazz to be able to do more contemporary styles (even contemporary jazz), I would even consider a 5-string.

 

[Dean N]

I'm a jazz bass and Ibanez guy. For what sounds like a more conservative jazz college program, I'd choose an American or Japanese Fender jazz with a noticeable but not outrageous color (not black or burst). I can't imagine anyone, faculty or otherwise, having any problem with that. Or a PJ in that configuration. Or any Sadowsky, if budget allows.

A college music program is a crazy amount of stress. Why add extra stress with a choice of instrument?

 

[MrLenny1]

Fender Precision. Every doubler I know who has studied
Jazz has a DB and P-bass.

 

[Chickenwheels]

If your getting into a scene and want to fit in, you get "that" instrument.
If you don't care, you do whatever you want, or get what you can afford at the time (like Macca).
IME, showing up anywhere with a good Fender bass is a great start. It's worked for me world-over.
Playing music is #1.

 

[two fingers]

Dude, I am a music prof at a university, if you can play, it doesn't matter.

At your school perhaps..... but thanks.

 

[fourstr00]

The upright is the most important. Get that one right.

For a bass guitar, I'd get a Fender. If you don't like the Jazz Bass, I suppose that narrows it down a bit.

And I suppose a G&L would be perfectly ok.

This. I showed up at college with a Carvin LB76 and no upright. I did not play as much as I should of because I didn't have a doghouse.

 

[blue4]

Ibanez SR fretless 5 string is what I would show up with. But I freely admit that I don't know squat about college level jazz programs. That's just what I would prefer to play if I was talented enough to consider going to college for jazz.

 

[Bruiser Stone]

I've got the whiff of triangulation

 

[DJ Bebop]

I wish it "didn't matter". But it does.

What are the other cats playing?

 

[DJ Bebop]

Either a BC Rich, a 5-string Thunderbird or a Dingwall NG-2

Yes, something pointy!
...and black!

 

[DJ Bebop]

I would just ask the faculty which is acceptable.