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Jazz bass opinions please

Which Jazz?

  • Total voters
    129
Maxpowweer

Maxpowweer

Guest
Apr 4, 2011
27
0
United Kingdom, Leeds
#1
I've been thinking about getting a new bass, specifically a Jazz bass. I''m on somthing of a budget, so I have around £250ish.
I wondered what you guys thought of the higher end Squier Jazzes like the Vintage modified 70's or the Vinage modified '77?
But then I wondered if I should just save up a bit more and get a Fender Standard Jazz, which would also be my first actual Fender.
So basically, does anyone know if the standard Fender Jazz is that much better to warrant the extra money? Or are you really just paying for a Squire Jazz with a Fender sticker?

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Thanks for your opinions :)

:bassist:
 
#2
You might not be able to try them before playing living where you are, in that instance, I'd say go for one of the VM basses, at least if you're currently bassless. If you can, and have, played all of these basses, and you're still asking us, it seems like you don't really know what you want, and especially if you already have a bass that suits you perfectly fine, then I would recommend against buying one in general.
 
#3
It won't be a Squier with a Fender sticker, or the opposite. The fit and finish of the Fender will be a cut above. Fender uses better components, too. The headstock on the Squier will be thinner. The tuners on the Squier will be cumbersome.

But, my Squier VM Precision sounds soooooooo good. Close your eyes to make your decision.
 
#4
It won't be a Squier with a Fender sticker, or the opposite. The fit and finish of the Fender will be a cut above. Fender uses better components, too. The headstock on the Squier will be thinner. The tuners on the Squier will be cumbersome. Sometimes I wonder if the Squiers will warp years sooner.

But, my Squier VM Precision sounds soooooooo good compared to my MIA Precision. Not necessarily better than the real deal, but very nice. Close your eyes to make your decision.
 
#6
I do currently have a couple of cheap no make basses, but my main bass is a Epi T-Bird, but the first bass I had, and still do, is an £80 no make jazz thing, pile of crap really but the sentimental value is through the roof though, and I liked the feel and sound, so I figured a squier must be sooo much better, and a Fender should be better still!
The music shop in Leeds doesn't have all of these basses for me to demo, just the Standard Jazz which was very nice. But since I didn't have the chance to play the Squires, which are nearly half the price.
 
#7
Squier's are a good bass. I had the Vintage modified IV active model and I loved it, as did my other bass buddies. But.... I did trade it off in favor of a Geddy Lee sig Jazz later on. If you really are on a tight budget, then the Squier is the way to go. If, however you're just in a hurry, I'd recommend taking a deep breath and going with a Fender. IMO.
 
#8
I have a 2010 MIM Standard Jazz that I am perfectly happy with, tone, feel, playability wise. Mine has the maple fingerboard.Black body.
They do come with some of the same hardware as a MIA I believe, and they are produced with CTS pots.
I think mine is a very fine instrument.
This coming from a guy who used to play a T40 many years ago.
Just my 2 pennies worth.
Jeff
 
#11
The VM basses I've tried (and the one I own) are as good as the MIMs I've tried. In any case, though it might feel nice to have a Fender, I don't think the MIMs are worth the price difference. In my opinion, get a VM or CV or an MIA.

But don't listen to a bunch of people on the internet. Go to the music store and play as many as you can and see which is your favorite. :)
 
#14
NightTripper said:
But don't listen to a bunch of people on the internet. Go to the music store and play as many as you can and see which is your favorite. :)
Click to expand...

Mate, this is a good point haha! I have been to a place in town and they only have the standard Jazz. I've been playing 3 years, but I haven't played enough different basses to know the difference. If only they had the VM basses to demo :hmm:
 
#15
I own the Squier VM 70s Jazz and it's good for the price, but it was my first bass and I didn't know what to get for my first bass. The sound you can get from the Squier is good, the satin neck and pickups are really nice but the fit and finish type things were sort of shabby on mine. The screw holes for the pickguard were drilled in crooked and the pickup mount screws seemed to not hold the pickup up to the height I wanted. I would highly recommend trying it before you buy it if at all possible (even though you said the stores near you don't have squiers) and get it set up well to get it how you want it.
 
#17
I own both the 77' Vintage Modified and a 15-year-old MIM Jazz. I loved my MIM while I had it, but at the moment it's in the shop getting it's truss rod replaced. The sound and playability of my Fender was superb! I have almost no complaints, despite the truss rod (I paid 30 bucks for the thing that had been stored in a garage for an unknown length of time...so there were bound to be issues). With that out of my possession for awhile, I decided to look for one with identical (or superior) quality. I eventually found the 77', which was spot on, well set-up, and cheaper (compared to a new MIM). The 77' has more of a tighter, punchier sound compared to the original 70's Vintage Modified, which sounds a bit more open, so the build quality seems a bit more consistent with the 77', in my opinion. I'd recommend a VM 77' any day. It'll be just as good, if not better, than a Mexican Standard. But, if you can, try each one out for yourself. :smug:
 
#18
I'll probably get hate mail for this but, I would submit that the Squiers may be every bit as good as the MIM's, especially if you are going to do mods. Not as good as the USA Standards for sure, but MIM vs Squier might be a toss up. The pickups might even be better in the Squier.

There is something to be said for having a "real" Fender though. I'd like to have an FSR but it would be $700 for me because I'd immediately swap the pickups.
 
#19
Any Particular reason you are not also considering the classic vibe 60's jazz? The best thing you can do is find a store and play as many jazz basses as you can be it Fender or Squier models. Then pick the one that feels better in your hands and sound the best. (I'm not talking about set up, that can be easily adjusted). I have really liked almost all of the classic vibe squiers I've played, only a few of the Vintage modified and about half or so of the MIM's.
 
#20
NightTripper said:
The VM basses I've tried (and the one I own) are as good as the MIMs I've tried. In any case, though it might feel nice to have a Fender, I don't think the MIMs are worth the price difference. In my opinion, get a VM or CV or an MIA.
Click to expand...

+1 I'd take a VM or CV over a MIM any day, imo the build quality on the MIM is no better, you're just paying more for the fender name.
 

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