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Looking at new "Jazz" basses - I am not impressed...
- Thread starter AlexanderB
- Start date
The good news is that you have some nice playing basses compared to what you've tried. Why do you want another jazz if the one you have plays well ?
Have you considered that maybe you just don't like Jazz basses or dual single coil configurations in genaral? Despite the claims on the wide versatility of the jazz bass design, there are simply things it cannot do, no matter what. Just like a passive split coil will have a hard time sounding like a 'jazz', the single coil pickup has it's limitations, just like every other pickup. You have to be realistic in your expectations and if you have a pre-concieved notion of what tone you 'want', you are going to continually be disappointed unless you approach your search for tone with a healthy level of knowledge about how pickups function and what characteristics are inherant in any given design or combination thereof.
Forget the Jazz and get a Music Man Stingray Slo Special HS or HH. 1.5" at the nut like a jazz, more frets, and all the sound and tones you can handle. Why do you need another Jazz when you like what you have?
Or spend the money on lessons.
Or spend the money on lessons.
Thanks for all comments and replies.
As some people seem to miss stated facts:
- Yes, I have a good Jazz already. But it is an EMG-loaded, small body five string. It sounds good but not much like a passive four stringer. Both tone from wood/neck etc and the electronics is different and it is a different and somewhat harder instrument to play, technically for me as mainly a four string player.
- Yes, my Precision is very good but I see many songs in our band calling for the more refined tone of a Jazz.
I used to have a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz bass which I think was a decent bass for its price and certainly well built. The neck dimensions suited me well and the general tone was good. I also liked the pickups quite a lot - much better than the "bark" of the Geddy Lee and Yamaha RBX4 A2.
However, the CV Jazz had at least as much dead spot issues as any "real" Fender Jazz I have tried. Third fret A string C was weaker than normal and with shorter sustain, fifteenth fret C + corresponding tones on D and G were dead, too.
It took that CV bass about 6-8 seconds to drop 20 dB in output on the third fret C. (I do not have the exact numbers in front of me.) My Precision and current Jazz sustain twice as long with much better tone, too. Same brand (new) strings, same signal path etc.
(I do not need 16 seconds of sustain but I figured I need to set up some criteria if I want to compare things. The sustain "curve" seemed rather linear so that bass loses any given level twice as fast as my other Fenders. Actually my Danelectro Longhorn which is often said to have a "thumpy" tone had better sustain than that Squier. Same strings, by the way.)
On the CV, whole notes in C would die out and disappear very quickly when I gigged that bass (think "Jump", slow blues etc.)
I will not rush this search. If something nice comes along I will give it a try. G&L, Lakland, vintage MIJ Fender/Squier are on my list...
As some people seem to miss stated facts:
- Yes, I have a good Jazz already. But it is an EMG-loaded, small body five string. It sounds good but not much like a passive four stringer. Both tone from wood/neck etc and the electronics is different and it is a different and somewhat harder instrument to play, technically for me as mainly a four string player.
- Yes, my Precision is very good but I see many songs in our band calling for the more refined tone of a Jazz.
I used to have a Squier Classic Vibe Jazz bass which I think was a decent bass for its price and certainly well built. The neck dimensions suited me well and the general tone was good. I also liked the pickups quite a lot - much better than the "bark" of the Geddy Lee and Yamaha RBX4 A2.
However, the CV Jazz had at least as much dead spot issues as any "real" Fender Jazz I have tried. Third fret A string C was weaker than normal and with shorter sustain, fifteenth fret C + corresponding tones on D and G were dead, too.
It took that CV bass about 6-8 seconds to drop 20 dB in output on the third fret C. (I do not have the exact numbers in front of me.) My Precision and current Jazz sustain twice as long with much better tone, too. Same brand (new) strings, same signal path etc.
(I do not need 16 seconds of sustain but I figured I need to set up some criteria if I want to compare things. The sustain "curve" seemed rather linear so that bass loses any given level twice as fast as my other Fenders. Actually my Danelectro Longhorn which is often said to have a "thumpy" tone had better sustain than that Squier. Same strings, by the way.)
On the CV, whole notes in C would die out and disappear very quickly when I gigged that bass (think "Jump", slow blues etc.)
I will not rush this search. If something nice comes along I will give it a try. G&L, Lakland, vintage MIJ Fender/Squier are on my list...
Since you are quite sensitive to deadspots, what about a Modulus VJ passive? I think they are around your budget used. Graphite neck, very articulate and with the right pickups, growly. Just another .02 to throw into the mix.
**Edit**- Here are a couple vid links
Just something else to chew on....
**Edit**- Here are a couple vid links
Just something else to chew on....
I will add Modulus to my list. They are very rare in Sweden as far as I know. We see mainly conventional stuff + some more exotic multi string "high tech" instruments (like the John Myung Yamaha) in the second hand market.
But I am open to new takes on bass building. The aforementioned Yamaha RBX4 A2 caught my interest and Modulus certainly have interesting stuff.
However, I CAN live with a dead spot or two if I like the rest of the spots on the bass...
But I am open to new takes on bass building. The aforementioned Yamaha RBX4 A2 caught my interest and Modulus certainly have interesting stuff.
However, I CAN live with a dead spot or two if I like the rest of the spots on the bass...
As a guy that has mowed through Jazzes like corn on the cob, I understand your concern. You just need to keep turning over rocks until you find "The One."
For me, this solved all of my problems. Lakland Skyline DJ5 (35 inch scale) with Fralins. It is nothing short of amazing to my ears. They got a bit expensive when they quit making them but are now back on the market.
OTOH, I'd be all over that Super J above like hair on a gorilla.
For me, this solved all of my problems. Lakland Skyline DJ5 (35 inch scale) with Fralins. It is nothing short of amazing to my ears. They got a bit expensive when they quit making them but are now back on the market.
OTOH, I'd be all over that Super J above like hair on a gorilla.
To OP: I have just acquired an 83 Squier JV Jazz Bass and am totally blown away.. Thought it was just JV hype like a lot of folks till I fell into one. The rolled edges on this skinny neck make it hard to put down. I had a 77 Jazz and this JV bass is better IMO. She really sings! Maybe try for a Japan made SQ I hear they are great too.
I've seen setup mentioned here several times. and I'll say it one more. a good set-up could be what they need.
Quick but pertinent anecdote. First time I ever played Fender or Musicman Instruments were poorly set up ones at a Guitar Center and it led me to believe for a long time they are both over-hyped and over-priced pieces of crap. When I finally played well set up ones at some local mom and pop shops they sang and I realized what everyone was talking about.
Quick but pertinent anecdote. First time I ever played Fender or Musicman Instruments were poorly set up ones at a Guitar Center and it led me to believe for a long time they are both over-hyped and over-priced pieces of crap. When I finally played well set up ones at some local mom and pop shops they sang and I realized what everyone was talking about.
DwaynieAD said:
No, been there, done that. Please read the thread before hitting "submit".
hardtwister - another one that has seen the light. Congratulations!
No, been there, done that. Please read the thread before hitting "submit".
hardtwister - another one that has seen the light. Congratulations!
I played a bunch of passive, 2 pickup jazz basses and bought my Geddy Lee. Not sure of the year, but it is as nice a passive jazz as I have played. I have kept it as a main player between experiments. I think my experiments shave ended and I'll be playing Roscoe Century 5's from now on. Not sure if I'll keep the Geddy or not.
If you really cannot find anything, might I suggest you try a fleabass? I think they are great. They have a really lively tone, which you can improve further by replacing the pickups. Give them a try, they have worked for many people I know that could not decide what to buy and tried a fleabass and immediately loved it. Could work for you!
