Jazz bass opinions

[BadWithNames]

A used Modulus VJ. I love the neck on my Modulus Quantum4, and I think I’d like a Jazz neck by Modulus as well.

I’ve never owned a Jazz Bass, though. I’ve tried American Standards that felt sticky almost, and my friend’s American Elite 5 felt like a 2x4 the first time I played it. It feels nice now, after I’ve played it a few times, but I probably wouldn’t have bought one if I saw it in a store.

 

[darwin-bass]

Used G&L with empress body or Warmoth parts with a bosy that is less than 4.5 lbs.

 

[57pbass]

AVRI, obviously used, likely the '64 version. Great bang for the buck IMO, if one is into "as conventional as it gets" Fender Jazz Bass.

If not...there's about a zillion other options out there.

I played two AVRI basses in Brooklyn.. Main Drag Music. One was an early 90’s and the other was mid 90’s. Two amazing J Basses.
Also check used market for some of the modern G&L J basses

 

[bkbass2000]

Lakland Skyline 44-60. Seriously.

 

[Mark_70]

Lakland Skyline DJ series. I think you’d have money left over..

Regards
Mark

 

[Mantis Tobaggan]

For that range I would probably try to get an American Pro. Notice how you have almost as many opinions as you do responses? You may want to find the one for you!

 

[saabfender]

You could do something like what I just did. Buy a 20-something-year-old Mexican Jazz for $300, buy a similar-aged fretless neck off Reverb for $200, new Noiseless pickups and good caps for $160, Fender hard case for $150 and a Gotoh bridge for $40. So for $850 you could put something like this together:

Got the neck home a week ago for a guitar I bought and put together about two years ago for a Rush tribute band. When I was learning the material I realized I wasn't that into their music. One of my boys had been playing it then I got the idea to make a fretless for the jazz combo I've been playing with.

Let me say this - tung oil works for conditioning the fingerboard so you can use rounds on it. Played on it for a couple hours last night without a mark. Smells a little funny but whatever. It turned out great. Nice solid sound on the bottom three and a touch of mwah on the G. Very pleased. Can't wait to play it with the fellas.

 

[maggbass]

used Mike Lull

 

[Bassist30]

For 1300 I would get a used Fender USA, maybe a slightly used Pro series which are made well. Might even afford a Sadowsky Pre pedal. That would sound amazing.

 

[mikewalker]

I'd happily pay $1300 for a medium-scale Jazz bass with EMG (double reverse-P!) pickups...

 

[TheMartianBassist]

I would look for a used American Elite Jazz.

N4 noiseless pups and the preamp sounds great, the compound-radius neck feels great, and the fit and finish of the Elites could be some of the best work from Fender yet.

This.

 

[RedJag]

I give you 1300 dollars and tell you to buy a jazz bass. What do you buy and why? Is it the pickups, string spacing, etc.
(In other words im thinking about buying one).

I try to find a used CIJ model and use the spare funds to upgrade the pickups and metal parts.

 

[Bass V]

if you simply want to nail the J sound then just dig in the couch for some change and track down a Cort Curbow Retro for all the perky J bass bubble you can stand, then dial up the tone for some solid beef that'll make a vintage Fender look twice, or go for the bass boost and end it all right there. plus, think half the girth and weight of any J bass...

 

[alack]

A few weeks back I bought a Squier VM Jazz. I tried several MIM and MIA models at the time. The Squier played and sounded better than most if not all of the others. The few that felt or sounded better were just not $1000 better. $300 out the door and I've played it on every gig since. Haven't even changed the strings. I'll never buy an expensive bass again. Hell, I may never buy a bass again.

 

[Punkbeard]

This reply is completely biased but I'm going to say it anyway...

Go look for a used Fender jazz from the 2012 builds up until when the professional and elite were released, basically the last line of the standard USA production.

I'm just going off mine here but the build quality is astounding and better than some of the ones I've played prior to 2012, they come fitted as standard with 60s CS pups which sound amazing atleast to my ears. I've played and owned a fair few basses now and this one by far has been the easiest to play and sounds the best in comparison, and they're fairly light also.

I got mine used but mint here in the UK for £650 but I got lucky as I don't think the guy knew what he had or that the new pro and artist series were in the pipeline so I snapped his hand off and ran lol.

Just my opinion.

 

[smtp4me]

I would get 2 new MIM, one with Rosewood board and the other with Maple

^^^ This. The MIA Fenders are fine instruments. I personally am a "most bang for your buck" kind of person, and the MIM Fenders are just fine for me. With $1300 you could get two of them, or get one and still have half your money left for something else.

 

[TonyP-]

Build a Warmoth eacty the way you want and you can for under that.

 

[Maxfenderbass]

Used Geddy Lee USA

 

[jasonmatthews]

Easy. Fender Roscoe Beck V, often regarded as the best production bass fender ever produced. Should be able to find one at right about $1300.

 

[FirewalZ]

Like others are saying...if you can, spend some time trying them out...keeping in mind not to judge by the horrible setup it will have.
Older used USA or MIJ can be a great deal, upgrading pickups and bridges can make a big difference.
For example, I have two jazz bass's an 86 MIJ and a old 77, they sound, feel and play night and day different from each other.