Wanting to add a Fender Jazz Bass to the mix and was trying to decide between standard jazz bass MIM or Squier model. Any suggestions since I don’t want to spend a lot of money
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Inexpensive Jazz Bass
- Thread starter Don Sanders
- Start date
They're both great, but with Squier you have more options at lower price point. With Fender you get the Fender badge and a rock solid bass. With Squier you can have the Classic Vibe (all good reviews), the Vintage Modified (all good reviews), the Deluxe Active (no idea but it looks cool), or some others. I'd go with a Squier probably.
with diligence and a bit of luck you don't have to settle for lesser models but get maybe the best JB Fender ever made, the Power Jazz Bass Special, like I did locally for a measly $300 in sweet condition. it's possible!
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
With Fender/Squier, in general, the more you spend, the less chance it will bark like a dog. But lots of love for both.
the killer I mentioned were made in Japan, far superior to most US models. here's the one I'd hoped for before stumbling upon mine, I'll bet it's still available... For Sale - 1989 Fender Power Jazz Bass Special For Sale
Whichever model you want, and buy it used.
Highly recommend Squier CV60J , VM70J or VM77J.
Those Squier bass are “A Fender bass with different name on headstock”.
Those Squier bass are “A Fender bass with different name on headstock”.
I like PJs myself but the OP is looking for a jazz bass, which this isn't, despite the name.
I understand really liking a kind of bass but I think it's objectively untrue that this active PJ with the J rolled off sounds like a jazz bass.
Don't buy on looks - go to shop were there are many basses to choose from and find one you like. Squiers vary a lot piece to piece. Fenders do too, but we are taught to believe the difference is not so big.
Myself in your situation, I'd look for some 70s or 80s japanese copy, if there's any available to try before buy.
Myself in your situation, I'd look for some 70s or 80s japanese copy, if there's any available to try before buy.
I guess I can understand your concern but this particular bass isn't your typical PJ and I wish it was as I'm not a huge J fan and plan on modding mine to be far more P in regards to that PU. I'm not overly enamored with the sound as is so there's no bias on my part and would prefer it to be a Power Precision, yet it is what it is and to my ears it's all J no matter what settings are dialed in. now, if you own or have spent time with one of them then I can appreciate your take on these rarities, but I'll stand by my hands on experience and unless mine is somehow unique from the rest of the Power pack then I'll leave it to the op to make his choice on at least investigating further the merits of this J on steroids freak. he can always contact the seller I linked and inquire to get another owner's feel, but I'm confident that anyone in the market for a fine JB can't go wrong with the Power Jazz.
I've owned several. You're entitled to your opinion. I'm highly skeptical that many others besides you would agree.
interesting, I've never known anybody to have owned several of any one particular instrument, but if all of yours haven't sounded like a JB then what would you describe them as?
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The new Player series of MIM Fender is just awesome, the pickups sound almost as good as the lower end American! 
They sounded great. They sounded like active PJs. I've also owned several jazz basses. I've never experienced a pj, active or passive, that sounded like a jazz bass, especially when soloing the p pick up. The bass is in question is wonderful. I love the sound. But it's nothing like a jazz bass.
You want a Fender or Squier Jazz bass, buy a Fender or Squier Jazz bass. No need for a pseudo Jazz. I’m not going to tell you to buy a Fender PJ or a Mustang or Jaguar because I think they’re better than regular Jazz basses. I could suggest a dozen other basses if I wanted to, but..
I pretty much learned to play on a Squier CV Jazz...heard they were the best Squier you could buy. Always heard they were a step above the VM Jazz basses, but that’s not necessarily so.
Not too long ago, six years later and who knows how many basses down the road, I decided to buy another Jazz bass so I started checking out as many as possible. Then, after trying two dozen or more, both Fender and Squier, I found this one. First one in the bunch that made me reach into my pocket for my money.
Was there anything wrong with the other Jazz basses? No, but they simply didn’t stand out from the crowd. This one did.
makes me wonder if a previous owner reworked the guts, even my active Js and PJs don't match this one it's so extreme. it definitely will be getting a makeover to provide a broader palate and get deep into P-land and all points in between.
sure, 2 or 3 is rather common, but several would constitute at least a handful and I've rarely encountered anyone having exactly the same thing into those numbers in hand at the same point in time, especially guitars and basses except for extreme collectors or sellers, and I don't personally know too many players who've even gone thru that many identical guitars in decades of top pro level playing. but then I'm rather isolated in a diminishing musical market compared to larger metropolises where no doubt it could be truer.
