J-bass on a $600 budget

[mdmarkle]

Let's say you're in the market for a used four string j-style bass with two single coil pickups. Your budget is $600 (plus reasonable shipping). And you do not want anything with Squier on the headstock. What are you looking for? What would you jump on if you saw it in your price range?

MIM Fender Jazz?
PRS?
Sire?
G&L?

Fender MIM. Not a big Fender guy, but I recently got a MIM JMJ Mustang, and I am happy with it. I did get a real bone nut and a crown and level. But once I set it up, it’s a pretty good bass. I would recommend a bone nut, Obsidian wiring harness as add-ons. But overall a Player J is a decent bass in that price range. Plek or crown and level fret-job won’t hurt either. After that, you got a keeper.

 

[bottomzone]

Sire hands down! I've had my 1st Gen Sire V7 5 (my avatar) since 2016 and it's pretty much my go-to bass. The quality, playability, and features you get for the money can't be beaten in my opinion!

 

[groovepump]

Put black tape over the Squier logo.

Funny that you suggest that! We opened for a big-name band this past weekend, and the bassist uses a Sadowsky. After we played, and as he was walking up to the stage, he told me my "little Squier" was kicking @$$. he wasn't just blowing smoke up my rump, cuz he was asking if it had standard pickups, etc. he was amazed at the sound. My bass: Squier 5 string Affinity, stock everything but the strings, that I replaced with LaBella Flats. Cost me all of $339 a few months ago. My main gigging bass now, black tape not required.

 

[scottfeldstein]

Funny that you suggest that! We opened for a big-name band this past weekend, and the bassist uses a Sadowsky. After we played, and as he was walking up to the stage, he told me my "little Squier" was kicking @$$. he wasn't just blowing smoke up my rump, cuz he was asking if it had standard pickups, etc. he was amazed at the sound. My bass: Squier 5 string Affinity, stock everything but the strings, that I replaced with LaBella Flats. Cost me all of $339 a few months ago. My main gigging bass now, black tape not required.

I bought that exact bass for a guitarist/producer friend of mine who said he needed a 5-string for the studio but didn't want to spend a lot of money. I bought it on his behalf and told him that if he didn't like it I'd just flip it locally. When it arrived I did a setup on it and gave it to him. That was... almost two years ago. He just recently told me that he loves it still.

 

[thisonegoestoeleven]

Kestrel's dope, but it requires upgrades to not dissappear in a mix. Which sucks, because it's a great bass in every other way except that.

I'd probably go with the Tribute. It's great out the box. At least, if you get one without issues. Tributes are notorious for quality control issues. I'm speaking from experience.

Bought a Tribute SB2 listed as having serious gouges on the bridge. Was actually just sticky gunk that rubbed right off revealing perfection. Own 3 Tribs...never an issue. Lucky?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Bought a Tribute SB2 listed as having serious gouges on the bridge. Was actually just sticky gunk that rubbed right off revealing perfection. Own 3 Tribs...never an issue. Lucky?

Lucky.

I'm 2 for 3 having un fixable ones. Neck issues in one, and a crack down the heel on the other.

 

[Les Lee]

I have a mid 80s MIM 5 string jazz that I love.
I played a Sire 5 string jazz (dont remember the version now) and I really loved it.
It felt good to hold & play. The active EQ was NICE!
I still have and play my MIM.
I still dream of the day when I can afford a sire.

 

[McKind]

I have a Fender (MIA), a Squier and a Sire V3 JB. the Fender is unreachable, but the V3 was a very pleasant surprise. I don't know the V5 (which is only passive, I think), but the V3 offers such a variety of tones that you'll certainly find the one you like. it is also as heavy as a Fender.
The Squier... if you're lucky, you get a great one, if not... but the pups must be upgraded.

 

[alack]

If this doesn’t win Squier some consideration nothing will.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[RichterScale]

budget is $600

I'm in as long as it sounds like a jazz bass. I don't care that much about noise - bonus if there isn't any - but I want it to Jazz bass. Including, but not limited to, Geddy's Tom Sawyer.

If it were me and I absolutely had to have a bass that looked like and was shaped like a Fender Jazz bass and my budget was $600:
I'd order a Squire Affinity series Jazz bass (black)- $270
the high mass bridge- $80
and the vintage '74 Jazz pickups- $130
That's $480.
For another $50 you can get the vintage noiseless pups.
The Same bass with a Fender decal starts at $850.
The Geddy signature bass is $2200.
The Squire is a no brainer. And with the money left over, you can toss in a few more $ and spring for the Geddy sans amp pedal and you should be able to imitate just about any classic Geddy sound.
Of course, you can do that with many other basses and I wouldn't limit myself to a Fender product. But, if I felt I had to have one, there's no way I'm paying more than $500 bucks for one, I don't care what model or features it has. It's still just a Fender. So, Squire all day (it's the same bass, for all practical intents/purposes)

 

[bigtone23]

I'm a tried and true Jazz Bass guy, and mentioned it earlier in this thread, but still hold strong to an 80s era Peavey Foundation. They are a really nice spin on the J thing, sort of like how the original design G&L SB2 (with the single coils) is. The word has been out on these for the last 7 years or so, therefore they are not the laughable bargain they used to be. One could find these everywhere for $200 or less for years, now they sit closer to $350-500, often with original hard case. US made, great hardware, the best pickups (Super Ferrites) and CTS/Switchcraft electronics. The single coil Super Ferrites are sort of like a slightly tamed MFD, they can be aggressive, or dialed back to a more vintage J thing. No matter how much I like my J basses, I like the Foundys just as much, if not more. The US Peavey guys used to not like us promoting these, as it was our little secret, but the secret is out, so whatever... Get one if you can. This 83-89 era easily compares to an American Standard Fender, the early 90s ones are more like a MIM or nicer Squier.
This is my main one, from 1984, with it's twin 84 and a pearl white 87 parts drawer mutt with a Patriot neck.

It's also possible to get a cool Squier VM/CV to punch above it's weight class. I got this CV 70s J5 almost a year and a half ago. Got a screaming deal on the bass from Sam Ash, they said it was used, but it was new, sealed in the box for $300. Really worked on it to get the nut cut just right, the neck angle perfect and set it up properly. It took about 3 months to settle in to the dry climate here, once that happened, it was really great it easily played as well as my US Dlx Fender 5s. No issues with the stock pickups, either. It was sooo good that it deserved some more tweaks...

I then installed a B-Stock EMG J5 set ($100) with a BTS I had in the parts drawer (which cost about $60 years and years ago). Also got it a black crinkle control plate ($15) that matched the pickup tops as well as proper, set-screw J Bass knobs as found on the US models ($12 a set). Took two sets of knobs to have that extra small knob, so I have two large size spares. I also drilled and moved the EMG supplied jack to the side with a football plate ($5). So, it was $200 more in parts. Well worth it! Not all the modern Squiers are as consistently good as the ones built 10-13 years ago, but this one turned out great, guess I got lucky!
I have also played a few of the same model, but in a 4 string. Very cool basses!

 

[Martelino]

Any of the better Matsumoku or Fujigen Gakki copies from the mid end 70s will be good. Aria Pro II, Tokai, Fernandes, Vorg... Better woods, better built, better fretwork, better price than any Fender. Well, you'll have to change the pups and electronics.

 

[molecule]

I have a Spector Coda jazz bass which I bought second hand and I am very pleased with it. There is a good picture here.
Spector CodaBass 4 Pro - Sunburst Gloss

 

[InnerBass]

Here's one for $600 on TB - no affiliation
For Sale/Trade - 2012 Fender MIM Jazz w/ Upgrades

 

[scottfeldstein]

Wise and kind TBers, thank you. I have re-read almost every post in the thread. I shopped and shopped. And on Wednesday of next week I will take delivery of a new Sire V5 4-string in natural finish, courtesy of Thomann. When I started this quest I didn't imagine for a moment I would buy new. And I have never thought to order something from Thomann. But they had the bass in stock and the price was right, so...

But thanks again, everyone. I learned a few things along the way and I took a look at several fine instruments that I'm sure I would have been quite happy with. Wish me luck on my choice.

To recap my position for posterity, I wanted a four string passive jazz bass because I realize after playing modern five stringers exclusively for a decade, that I need a bass I can grab when I want to return to my rock roots. This is gonna be it.

Thanks again, friends!

 

[winston]

I had a '90 Fender MIJ Squier and a '96 MIJ Fernandes. The Fernandes was basswood and chipped/dented easily, but sounded fuller and more vintage than the Squier, which barked. My '15 Lakland Skyline (Indonesia) is more solid, toneful and mojo-laden than either of those, but was more than $600 used.

I wouldn't buy a MIM Jazz without trying, too much variation in the ones I've played, especially 5 strings. Until about 2004 MIM Jazzes had 2 neck pickups, which makes swapping a little trickier.

 

[Malak the Mad]

I see you've already made your purchase, but for future readers...

BUILD
A
MUTT

I have thought about it. But I doubt I would save any money and if it sucked it would be my fault.

...'tis a gamble for sure, but the technical experience and knowledge gained is priceless, doubly-so if you end up building a real winner.

 

[scottfeldstein]

NBD, folks. Behold: the Sire Marcus Miller V5 four string bass guitar with a natural finish. New for $398 plus $68 shipping from Thomann. I haven't bought a new bass in....ten years.

 

[monkeyfinger]

I am so looking forward to your feedback on this. Gorgeous!!

 

[monkeyonbass]

NBD, folks. Behold: the Sire Marcus Miller V5 four string bass guitar with a natural finish. New for $398 plus $68 shipping from Thomann. I haven't bought a new bass in....ten years.

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Good job!! Looks great! What does it sound like? Is it heavy?