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Joe Dart II - Question and community challenge

J

JeremyStingray

Sep 24, 2009
42
43
Somewhere in California
#1
Hi all!

I've been interested in the EBMM Joe Dart II. Every thread I read contains negative responses that are not overly helpful to my decision making process.

Me:
  • I am interested in adding a Jazz Bass style bass to my collection.
  • My favorite Basses are Ernie Ball Music Man's, due to MM's high quality craftsmanship, playability, and feel.
  • I enjoy Joe Dart's style of playing, however I am not a fan of Vulfpeck. For no particular reason, Vulfpeck and Joe Dart's groups have not made it into my playlists.
  • I would like a JB that will be generally reliable to use if ever recording for myself and others for various styles that call for a JB.
  • I LOVE the Joe Dart II's tone, based off of what I have heard online.
Question:
  • For those who own the Joe Dart II, and are planning to keep it, what do you like about it? Does it meet my recording criteria?
Challenge to the community:
  • I challenge the community to leave zero negative comments, replies, etc :)

Thanks ahead of time!
 
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#2
You want to add a Jazz Bass style bass to your collection so you’re looking at a JD II by EBMM? o_O

Is it the JD connection or the EBMM connection that gets you?

You could save some $$ by getting a real Fender Jazz. Just sayin’ :whistle:

Be aware that the pups although jazz bass looking are both split coil and are not single coil pups according to the Lobster review. So, this isn’t going to have the Jazz Bass sound you’re accustomed to and maybe expecting. Just two volume controls. No tone control.

Here’s what @LowEndLobster thinks of it.
 
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#3
I owned the original Joe Dart and I really liked it. It was built so nicely and played fast like butter. I am also not a fan of him or his band, kind of of a cheesy vibe, but I loved the bass.

If you like it, get it. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Plenty of videos on YT to help you make your decision. I would be this is a community / demographic where not a lot of people will have, care about, or praise that bass - especially because a lot of people here tend to shun more expensive basses.

However, now that I own a real Fender jazz bass, I would recommend that over the JD II for sure. No tone control would be a huge problem with the brightness of a JB, and I even use flats.
 
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#4
B-Mac said:
You want to add a Jazz Bass style bass to your collection so you’re looking at a JD II by EBMM? o_O

Is it the JD connection or the EBMM connection that gets you?

You could save some $$ by getting a real Fender Jazz. Just sayin’ :whistle:
Click to expand...

I prefer the tone of the Joe Dart II over the Fender Jazz Basses I have played and do not mind the lack of tone control.

In store / in person, I have played a Player and and an American Professional II. I also prefer the way EBMM basses feel in comparison to the Fender basses I've played. However, I cannot test a Joe Dart II in person. I would like like to save $ as well :) Although, I am open to selling my unused instruments to put into a new bass I will really enjoy playing.

I may also just not be used to playing a Fender Jazz Bass. I do have a Fender Mustang JMJ and love the way it feels and especially the way it sounds! Although I prefer my EBMM's craftsmanship and feel overall.

In relation to tone control, I am not an expert recording engineer, producer, mixer. How integral is the tone coming into the board vs post processing?

Thanks for the reply!
 
#5
B-Mac said:
You want to add a Jazz Bass style bass to your collection so you’re looking at a JD II by EBMM? o_O

Is it the JD connection or the EBMM connection that gets you?

You could save some $$ by getting a real Fender Jazz. Just sayin’ :whistle:

Be aware that the pups although jazz bass looking are both split coil and are not single coil pups according to the Lobster review. So, this isn’t going to have the Jazz Bass sound you’re accustomed to and maybe expecting. Just two volume controls. No tone control.

Here’s what @LowEndLobster thinks of it.
Click to expand...


That is exactly the connect for me here. I am aware the tone is not the typical JB tone. Although, the tone just calls to me. I am curious as to if the tone will not generally work? Is it so individual as to not fitting in with it's JB cousins?

Lobster's review is excellent as well as one other online that goes into detail. Both seem to love playing the bass, although ultimately do not recommend based off of price and pickup output.

I don't mind playing through a pre to resolve the output and price is still a question for me as there are so many other options out there that I do not have direct access to try before I buy :)
 
#6
Mike Vee said:
I owned the original Joe Dart and I really liked it. It was built so nicely and played fast like butter. I am also not a fan of him or his band, kind of of a cheesy vibe, but I loved the bass.

If you like it, get it. Who cares what anyone else thinks? Plenty of videos on YT to help you make your decision. I would be this is a community / demographic where not a lot of people will have, care about, or praise that bass - especially because a lot of people here tend to shun more expensive basses.

However, now that I own a real Fender jazz bass, I would recommend that over the JD II for sure. No tone control would be a huge problem with the brightness of a JB, and I even use flats.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this. I am definitely open to a Fender JB, and am curious about G&L's too. Do you mind sharing the type of JB you have and enjoy? Thanks for the relevant response around tone :)
 
#7
JeremyStingray said:
Thank you for this. I am definitely open to a Fender JB, and am curious about G&L's too. Do you mind sharing the type of JB you have and enjoy? Thanks for the relevant response around tone :)
Click to expand...
I just have a simple but effective, no-frills, without any modern parts like Americana Pro / Pro II series, "American Special Jazz Bass" - about $1000 and to me is just perfect.

jbass.jpg


I also own and absolutely love a Stingray, BTW. But the Fender Jazz tone is just one of a kind. I find it pretty different than my Stingray. I have TI flats on both and it's just heavenly. If I was buying new, I'd be looking at the American Performer or American Vintage II. The older American Originals are no slouch either!

However, for me the JD 1 had a unique tone that was just awesome. A passive Sterling, yea so nice. I miss mine! I replaced it with a very nice Stingray, but I still miss it.

Have you checked out the EBMM Caprice? It's cheaper, and is what the JD II is based off of - same shape but has tone control.

header-332.jpg


instrument-63.png
 
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#8
JeremyStingray said:
Hi all!

I've been interested in the EBMM Joe Dart II. Every thread I read contains negative responses that are not overly helpful to my decision making process.

Me:
  • I am interested in adding a Jazz Bass style bass to my collection.
  • My favorite Basses are Ernie Ball Music Man's, due to MM's high quality craftsmanship, playability, and feel.
  • I enjoy Joe Dart's style of playing, however I am not a fan of Vulfpeck. For no particular reason, Vulfpeck and Joe Dart's groups have not made it into my playlists.
  • I would like a JB that will be generally reliable to use if ever recording for myself and others for various styles that call for a JB.
  • I LOVE the Joe Dart II's tone, based off of what I have heard online.
Question:
  • For those who own the Joe Dart II, and are planning to keep it, what do you like about it? Does it meet my recording criteria?
Challenge to the community:
  • I challenge the community to leave zero negative comments, replies, etc :)

Thanks ahead of time!
Click to expand...
I’ve joked that my 2nd best jazz bass is a Ray34HH with the pickups in single coil mode.

Why not get a stingray HH as it has them in true single coil mode instead of split coil on the joe dart II?
 
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#9
JeremyStingray said:
Hi all!

I've been interested in the EBMM Joe Dart II. Every thread I read contains negative responses that are not overly helpful to my decision making process.

Me:
  • I am interested in adding a Jazz Bass style bass to my collection.
  • My favorite Basses are Ernie Ball Music Man's, due to MM's high quality craftsmanship, playability, and feel.
  • I enjoy Joe Dart's style of playing, however I am not a fan of Vulfpeck. For no particular reason, Vulfpeck and Joe Dart's groups have not made it into my playlists.
  • I would like a JB that will be generally reliable to use if ever recording for myself and others for various styles that call for a JB.
  • I LOVE the Joe Dart II's tone, based off of what I have heard online.
Question:
  • For those who own the Joe Dart II, and are planning to keep it, what do you like about it? Does it meet my recording criteria?
Challenge to the community:
  • I challenge the community to leave zero negative comments, replies, etc :)

Thanks ahead of time!
Click to expand...
If you like it then get it. I'm with you - it sounds great! It's not a JB tone, but there are other JB pickps out there that won't give you that vintage J vibe like:

upload_2023-4-6_13-54-55.png


upload_2023-4-6_13-55-19.png


upload_2023-4-6_13-55-39.png


upload_2023-4-6_13-55-53.png


If you like the way it feels and plays then it'll work for you. I can't really imagine it wouldn't work in most bass situations tone-wise.
 
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#10
Mike Vee said:
I just have a simple but effective, no-frills, without any modern parts like Americana Pro / Pro II series, "American Special Jazz Bass" - about $1000 and to me is just perfect.

View attachment 5023269

I also own and absolutely love a Stingray, BTW. But the Fender Jazz tone is just one of a kind. I find it pretty different than my Stingray. I have TI flats on both and it's just heavenly. If I was buying new, I'd be looking at the American Performer or American Vintage II. The older American Originals are no slouch either!

However, for me the JD 1 had a unique tone that was just awesome. A passive Sterling, yea so nice. I miss mine! I replaced it with a very nice Stingray, but I still miss it.

Have you checked out the EBMM Caprice? It's cheaper, and is what the JD II is based off of - same shape but has tone control.

header-332.jpg


instrument-63.png
Click to expand...

The Caprice looks extremely nice. However, I have never liked the PJ Tones. I would however be interested in Cutlass Bass at some point. The two tones I am missing is a pure P and Pure J.

Any reason why you did not mention that American Professional II as an interest? Pertaining to the Vintage II's, I do really enjoy the 66 tones.

Your JB is beautiful!
 
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#15
JeremyStingray said:
I also prefer the way EBMM basses feel in comparison to the Fender basses I've played.
Click to expand...

As do I, they feel much better. BUT, that doesn't mean they do a certain job better. My Jazz and Precision basses feel very primitive compared to my Stingray, but that's part of the charm I think. Something like the Joe Dart or Cutlass seems to bring a lot to the table as far as being the best of both worlds, though. I am still pissed I never got a cutlass when they were $1500 retail with all colors available. Now they barely come up and when they do people want $2200-2500.
 
#17
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#18
fourstringbliss said:
If you like it then get it. I'm with you - it sounds great! It's not a JB tone, but there are other JB pickps out there that won't give you that vintage J vibe like:

View attachment 5023341

View attachment 5023342

View attachment 5023343

View attachment 5023344

If you like the way it feels and plays then it'll work for you. I can't really imagine it wouldn't work in most bass situations tone-wise.
Click to expand...

I'd be skeptical though about aftermarket pickups fitting in the Joe Dart basses without modification. Might want to check with EBMM about the pick up dimensions first. I know I've seen people put aftermarket P pickups in the Cutlass bass and it required additional routing to fit. I wouldn't just assume that the pickups in the Joe Dart II are standard jazz dimensions.
 
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#20
B-Mac said:
You want to add a Jazz Bass style bass to your collection so you’re looking at a JD II by EBMM? o_O

Is it the JD connection or the EBMM connection that gets you?

You could save some $$ by getting a real Fender Jazz. Just sayin’ :whistle:

Be aware that the pups although jazz bass looking are both split coil and are not single coil pups according to the Lobster review. So, this isn’t going to have the Jazz Bass sound you’re accustomed to and maybe expecting. Just two volume controls. No tone control.

Here’s what @LowEndLobster thinks of it.
Click to expand...

The tone is always off, by the way. Not on.
 

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