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Just rented a 2008 Fender American Jazz

yamaha

yamaha

Apr 7, 2006
1,264
14
57
Montreal
#1
What a nice bass. I usualy don't really enjoy playing Fenders. Question of ergonomics and feel to it. I prefer the feel of modern, and usualy the tone of humbuckers and active systems.

So for a few weeks, my guitarist (Who's the only one in the band that notices my equipment changes, and the nice quality of my tone, ie Berantino etc....) Asked why I never bring a ''Classic'' bass with a more vintage tone. I said I'd look into it, again.

First tried MIM's. Was better than I expected, but not quite right. Then, tried some Squiers, and of course, even a bit lower in feel of quality, yet still pretty decent, and at around 300.00$, I thought this could be it. Unfortunately, that store only had a charcoal grey one, and was to 1988 glam rock color for me.

Went to another Fender dealer close by, and as I walked in, I remembered that he also rents most of the instruments he has in stock. So tried Squiers and MIM's, fretted and fretless, and was pretty set on talking one home for a month to try it out. He applies 100% of the rental towards the purchase if you decide to buy it after a month, so win-win.

Just before I tell him witch one to pack up, I try a more expensive 2008 American Jazz. Oh wow. Thats the one I brought back home. Played a few hours with it yesterday, and I really like my tone, and I'm getting more and more used to the feel. This might be a keeper. Costing me 120.00$ to rent it a month, fully applicable towards the purchase price if I decide to keep it. Not a bad deal.
 
#4
I started out officially on a MIM P-bass and bought my first MIA Jazz in 00. And, has since discovered everything from EPI, ESP, Gibby, RIC and it all led right back to Fender Jazz/P. Damn you Leo, you knew it didn't you. So to Leo I pay homage and soon I will add a G&L--- complete I'll be, at least sonic-ikly until the GAS rises too consume:hiding:
 
#6
I sold a bunch of pedals I swore I would never sell to fund my new 08 lefty Jazz. This bass is so nice to play and its so well put together.

You can't go wrong by buying one of these. Instead of rental fees, just finance it!!

jazzbass018.gif
 
#7
I don't need to finance, I've got $ left in my ''gear'' bank account that no one knows about. I just wanted to be sure I would like, even love it, before I commited. Today was my second 3 hour jam since yesterday's visit at the store, and I'm falling in love baby.

Besides, this store use 100% of your rental fees towards the purchase of the instrument if it is bought within the first rental month. Then, after 31 days, they do a percentage, but within 30 days, I'll be sure. Actually, I'm pretty sure now.

It is a fine instrument. As another TBer mentionned, I went away from Fenders an ''classic'' basses for many years, opting for Active and humbucking basses. I really thought my next purchase would be a Warwick. It's looking like I was wrong.
 
#8
First week playing it update. I still like the tone, but I'm getting more used to it, so the newness of a totally different and sweet tone is gone. As for ergonomics, it's a tricky one. I play with a rather aggressive and unpolished fingering. And I always play with my thumb resting on the top side of the neck pickup. This is not the most comfortable pickup to rest my thumb on, so if I do purchase it, a thumb rest will be installed. And, with this jazz bass, I must put a lot of attention to proper technique (good thing), as it is less forgiving than my other basses (Yamaha BBN and Ibanez SR).

Tonewise, still beautiful to hear.

The maple neck (my first one for bass, but I love the maple neck on my strat), feels very different than my other necks. Again, after the newness goes away, it becomes more of a ''do i like this feeling'' . Not sure.

It is flawlessly built.

I still have 3 weeks rented on it, so no sweat. I have a lot of jams and practices to do before I decide anything.
 
#9
yamaha said:
I always play with my thumb resting on the top side of the neck pickup. This is not the most comfortable pickup to rest my thumb on, so if I do purchase it, a thumb rest will be installed.
Click to expand...

I recently(7 months) started playing a Jazz and found the same problem.

My solution was to temporarily remove the plastic cover and slightly (and I do mean slightly) round over that edge with a very fine (600+) grit hobby emery board. This takes the sharp edge off without being visibly noticeable unless you look REAL close.

5min. job tops.
 
#10
Hope I'm not taking this off topic--

Is it normal for a dealer to rent an instrument? I've never heard of a shop doing renting basses ( I am a total noob), but I'd be very interested in finding a shop that would rent me an MIA p-bass to try to get the feel for..

A
 
#11
Why not just buy it and most stores (brick n' mortar and on-line) give you 30 days for a full refund and 45 on exchange. GC and Sam Ash do the same on new and used gear. I do this all time because it take me about two weeks before i really know if I want to keep it.
 
#13
It was common for music stores where I grew up (Salem, MA and surrounding area) to rent musical instruments, especially band and orchestra instruments. They all applied the rental fee (or prorated portion) to the purchase of the instrument that you rented. All rental instruments were brand new to the renter. They were sold as used if the renter did not purchase the item. I rented a flute for one month to see if I liked (or could learn to play) it.
 
#15
Update on starting my 3rd week with the bass.

Really on the fence about if I keep it or return it after my month is up. Tone, no problem. I like the tone of the jazz bass, but, although I'm getting used to its shape and ergonomics, I am still not quite comfortable with it.

Yesterday, I had a loud rock rehearsal with the band I gig with the most. Also tried my new Shuttle 6.0 at the same time. For tone, sometimes the Jazz was better, sometimes the Ibanez with barts was better, but I must admit that the jazz was a better tone for most purposes than the Ibanez was. The Ibanez felt much better playing it to me than the Jazz. At the end of the rehearsal, we decided to do a few Iron Maidens for pure pleasure. At that point, I had the jazz in hand. I was worried about my not being crazy about the feel of the jazz, and having to do those galloping 16th, but to my surprise, it was pretty decent. Plus, I could hear the bass variations (Bassists who play maiden know what I mean) better with the Jazz than I ever could, and the variations and fill ins were pretty easy to do. The Jazz bass won a lot of points during those 3 songs.
 
#16
Lucky You guys , you're renting Fenders !!! I envy you people !! My only Fender dealer here in my country (Jordan) doesn't even have fenders ! do u believe it ?? I'm dying for a P-Bass .... and the Fender Catalogues(I have all of them since 2000) in that place sadly don't give you that feeling that you have when playing on that actual bass :) .... Although I tried a Squier if that's even close to an MIA Deluxe Precision

Just to make things right I don't ride a camel , i have a 2.0 turbo engine in my hatchback :bassist:
 

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