My jazz bass dilemma, help!

I sold a couple of basses a while back. An 88 Kubicki and a Marcus Miller V. I have great basses (Sadowsky, Rob Allen, NS Design) but I wish I hadn't sold them. At the time I needed to pay for the other basses but my credit card debt is still the same so I should have kept them.

 

Well any bass that u have had and liked u have sentimental feelings for. I have had basses that I didnt really like and wouldnt have had a second thought about trading, but if the bass you are going to trade for feels right and sounds right to YOU, then it is a good idea. Unless u can save up the cash and have both...when I post this i wanna see if I have my avatar, JUST UPGRADED!!! w00t!

 

this is my #1 bass.

so i guess you know my answer. passive only for me.

 

sorry, i thought i resized it.

 

I agree with Steve.....It is a tough subject. I have made some regretable deals in the last few years and lost some really great basses because I thought that I might find something a bit better. If the bass you are interested in truly sounds and feels better than the choice is easy. However if you have the slightest feeling that your current bass might sound better you would be better off getting it setup to see if you can make it play the way you want.

By the way I definitely have to come out to the Bassment sometime soon!

 

I say make yourself happy. You are trading a Fender for a Fender so you should have an idea if it's what you want. Might be a tougher decision if you were trading for something you were totally unfamiliar with.

 

Very true. I just had my Sadowsky set up by someone who really knows what they are doing. A set of Will Lee steels on it and a great set up and the bass is even better, if that's possible.

Adrian, you're welcome anytime. I can also make a trip to you.

Cheers.

 

Basically you've had a concern about your faithful Deluxe for 2/3 of the time you've owned it. If the MIA Jazz feels good, time to move on.

 

I don't mean to be ignorant (I really can't help it sometimes), but is it possible to edit the post now? No offence, but that picture makes reading this thread pretty tedious since I have to scroll horizontally back and forth to read everyone's postings.

I've bought far more instruments and musical gadgets than I've sold, but I've never regretted selling any of the stuff I've been able to part with. This includes a few instruments that I've had big musical moments with. My personal rule of thumb is that unless I know I'm going to play it somewhat regularly or really enjoy having it with me I night as well use it to get something that I WILL enjoy. I've recently rented a dumpster to get rid of all the useless crap my wife and I have accumulated over the last dozen or so years, so perhaps you've caught me in a purging phase. However, you don't necessarily want to be tied to stuff that doesn't further your enjoyment of the limited amount of time we all have.

Live well and love what you've got.

 

I have sold and traded several basses - some really good and some dogs. I have never regretted it. Out of sight out of mind. I am finally satisifed with my two basses (an upright and a Precision) and don't have any GAS. I would say, if the bass you have doesn't feel right get something that feels right. There are tons of basses out there. You probably will eventually trade the one you trade this one for...It is not like it is an original 62 Jazz that we are talking about. God for it.

 

My main bass is also an American Jazz Deluxe, and I see exactly what you are saying. It sounds phenomenal, but it is a very active-sounding bass, and the 22-fret/smaller body makes it feel like it is of longer scale, becasue the first position feel farther away than on a typical Jazz.

I would say go ahead and do the trade. You would be getting something as good and it will feel more comfortable and similar to the P-Bass.

 

Is Money a problem? Could you keep both?

if not the set up idea sounds good, make sure that is not the problem. Cause it would suck if you gave up a good bass for that reason. But if after, you still feel more comfortable on the store model, go for it!

 

man no point getting attached, if it isnt doing it for you then get something that will.


Dave

 

Fretless Bob, I just have to say I disagree. Maybe I'm just a sentamental guy twards certain things, but something thats done you right for 3 years doesn't need to just get sold off.

I see it like this. You can do one of two things while still keeping it:

1. Replace the preamp (a weak point on Fender actives IIRC) with something with an Active/Passive switch so you can have the passive option that you tend to prefer, but you can also have that modern active sound there if you want it.

2. Buy a different bass, perhaps the 2004 in the local shop. Simple as that. Just something passive, as you wish it to be.

But you WILL kick yourseld over parting with it. So why do it in the first place?

 

do what i'm doing with a bass of mine that i have similar feelings about. get an active/passive switch, an s-1 switch, and a passive tone control. it really doesnt cost that much, not nearly as much as a new bass, and that way, you'll basically have an active jazz, a passive jazz, and when pickups are in series, a sound very similar to a P bass, all in one...between concentric pots and push pull pots as switches, you may not even need to drill any holes.