I think 90% of the questions on this forum could be answered “buy what feels and sounds good to you”
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Jazz bass opinions
- Thread starter lancimouspitt
- Start date
I'd buy parts to build my own.
Warmoth 5 string J neck and P body routed for 2 J pickups, Seymour Duncan Apollo 5 string pickups, Gotoh/Fender vintage style hardware.
I own a couple Warmoth 4 string versions of same and they are my favorite basses I have yet played.
(Dimarzio Area Js in one, Fender Super 55s in other)
Warmoth 5 string J neck and P body routed for 2 J pickups, Seymour Duncan Apollo 5 string pickups, Gotoh/Fender vintage style hardware.
I own a couple Warmoth 4 string versions of same and they are my favorite basses I have yet played.
(Dimarzio Area Js in one, Fender Super 55s in other)
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The myth of the MIM Geddy Lee Jazz (or any latter year MIM Fender) needs to die. They are fantastic basses at that price point. Having said that, there was a pristine and affordable 2006 CIJ Geddy Lee on evilbay that I was watching the last few days. This morning it was gone. Sorta kicking myself right now.
I bought a Marcus Miller bass he designed with Sire, made in Indonesia and sold by direct marketing. It is 18 volts active, and I would say it is very comparable to the $2,000 current Elite Jazz Bass.
Looks like I would go with the MIM "60's Jazz Bass" because only the MIM ones have the neck profile I want which is a slim C-shape with 7.25" radius. That comes with the same shape, pick-ups, and neck profile as the 1963 Jazz Bass.
Just checked with Fender and I could have my current bass replicated at the custom shop for somewhere between $3500 and $4000. Could have my '65 made for $3200-$3500. All pricing is ball-park only. Custom-Made pricing at the custom shop starts at $3200. You can get something close through the Fender "Mod" option at $1899 but you can't get the 7.25" radius.
Just checked with Fender and I could have my current bass replicated at the custom shop for somewhere between $3500 and $4000. Could have my '65 made for $3200-$3500. All pricing is ball-park only. Custom-Made pricing at the custom shop starts at $3200. You can get something close through the Fender "Mod" option at $1899 but you can't get the 7.25" radius.
The MIM Geddy Lee has the right neck on it. It has the thinner neck like Geddy Lee's was. The Made in the US version (according to Fender's web site) has the "One-piece maple neck with custom thicker profile", as opposed to the MIM one with the "One-piece maple neck with thinner “C” profile". Radius on both bass's neck is 9.5" Odds are the original neck was 7.25" radius because Fender didn't start moving to the 9.5" radius until 1980. You could get the neck made, but price would go up above $3200 for a bass with that specific neck and it wouldn't be MIM.
Dude sit in a music store for a while with a Fender Jazz Elite, which has a C-to-D neck. It gradually changes shape as you move towards the neck, and also the cutaway of the body at the neck joint gives full access to the highest frets without any effort. That innovation to me (the graduated neck shape) was game changing. When I went back to an older style consistent-radius bass shape it just wasn't as quick as the C-D.
I'm not saying buy an Elite, but sit and play for an hour and just feel how Fender's C-D neck is to you. If you're doing a custom, definitely consider it.
I looked at Fenders specs for that and it is going from a 9.5" radius at the Nut with a C shape to a 12" radius at the neck joint with a flat D shape. Looks like a good innovation, but have never played it.
I've played on a 7.25" radius myself since 1966 (52-years) so that's pretty ingrained for me. The OP hasn't had that neck feel ingrained in his very being though, so it's definitely worth popping into a store and checking it out. And it also gives me a good reason to start pulling basses off the wall and trying them out at music stores again.
I like my Deluxe Jazz Fender Bass 2007. $900.00 Quiet , lightweight , a little smaller body , beautiful slim neck , active controls , through the body bridge. I have two Mexican Jazz Fenders that I love too. Paid $400.00 for the FSR model in my avatar , and $260.00 for my Black one. I leave that one at rehearsal. Try several of them out , your preferred strings and amp make a difference as well.
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and i take your $1300, i'm gone for several days, and when i return i give you my fretless J. you never notice the beer on my breath or the lipstick on my face and neck.
but in case you don't give me $1300: good luck on your search!
