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Jazz GAS, please advise

chickenJames

chickenJames

Guest
May 2, 2013
147
53
Wiltshire UK
#1
hello gang

I'm GASsing bad for a Jazz, please spray some wisdom on me...

I play busy fingerstyle funk, badly. Main bass is a EBMM 4 H, and I'm looking for a great bass to play on the more old fashioned parts of our set.

So - I tried a load of them out today
Pre owned MIM 70s (block inlays etc). Poor condition but cheap at £450 and played nicely
new MIM std. Played slick as anything, sound was ordinary, £600
new MIA, black, maple. Played heavy, hard work, sounded great £1200
new MIA white, RW, tort pickguard. played great, sounded great £1200

So I nearly went for the MIA white, and then I'm thinking, what about used, what about other models?
£1200 is a lot for me and I'd like to save if I can.

First conclusion: there's a LOT of variation and I can't buy without trying - comments please? should I simply reckon on having to get a setup on anything I buy without trying, or is this not enough to even out the differences, and I should insist on try before buy?
I really really liked colours on the white/tort, but there don't seem to be a lot of these around used...
Must be passive - discuss
Must be MIA - discuss. I want to own a collectible classic - am I missing out?

Other older models that seem to be around
- MIA vintage 70s, go for around £1000-1200 used - any good? I don't want the original pickup and bridge guards, won't they just get right in the way?
- MIA special - any good? what is a Greasebucket tone circuit?
- what is a Highway One?
- maple or RW - discuss?

What's the deal with the pickups? AIUI the MIA std moved to Custom Shop pups in 2012 - what does this mean for

Anyone in UK fancy selling me a used MIA with white/tort?

Loads of questions, any answers to any of them would be greatly appreciated.

thanks! (be gentle with me)
 
#2
For me a bass must:
- play great (if that's not the case, don't buy it, no matter what)
Then, the rest:
- sound (you must at least like it, at best love it)
- looks (well, that's a matter of taste)
>> so, if you can't spend more then 600 pounds, the "new MIM std. Played slick as anything, sound was ordinary, £600" is the deal for you.
Or, just keep on trying until you find the one with great playability, sound and looks for not too much money.
(and there are a lot of those out there used)
IMO, YMMV.

EDIT: typo
 
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#6
You have to try the bass before buying it because each bass is a little different. You could try ten different Fender Jazzes with the exact same specs and they will all be different. When you find one that speaks to you in a way none of the others have then you have found your bass (well, one of them at least :D).
 
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#12
I had a MIM P for about a year, good for recording and sounded great on its own, played well too but I struggled to get a live sound that I loved. Very likely it was me, but i just couldn't get it to cut through in the mix. The EBMM does this, in spades, and now I'd like a smooth old fashioned thing that's just as great that can use well. I want a proper classic hence the desire for US Fender. From what I saw today, _some_ or them really do have that extra something.
 
#14
chickenJames said:
or these
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what would you do?
Click to expand...

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If I could tell what year this was, and if it was 2012 or newer I'd say we had a winner.

But....

Every bass you've pictured here makes me warm in my special place. If you can't buy them all play as many of them as you can and take the one that plays the best. Don't worry about sound. You need to try it on your amp. So make sure the store (or whatever) has a return policy that works in your favor. And even if the sound sucks, if it plays like crazy get some new pickups and try different strings. Adjust your EQ. A good player wins every time for me. I don't even plug in bass's I try out anymore. I look for the feel.
 
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#16
I'm nervous about swapping things like the pickups - isn't that going to spoil the value? I'm not intending to sell - ever - but I want to take proper care. I know that changing the pickups isn't a really big deal, but I'd rather keep it all original.
What's the score with 2012? Is that when they started having the custom shop pups?
 
#20
chickenJames said:
I'm nervous about swapping things like the pickups - isn't that going to spoil the value? I'm not intending to sell - ever - but I want to take proper care. I know that changing the pickups isn't a really big deal, but I'd rather keep it all original.
What's the score with 2012? Is that when they started having the custom shop pups?
Click to expand...

2012 on they have the CS60 pickups. Mine has them and they ROCK!! Don't worry about devaluing the bass by changing pickups. Keep the originals and if you ever need to just put them back in. It will not hurt the bass to do this.
 

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