N lefty BD, different from what I expected

[Sailnjunky]

After weeks of researching and overthinking it, I had narrowed my decision down to either a Squier Classic Vibe 70s Jazz Bass or the LTD B205. Two very different instruments. Decisions decisions. Was going to try to make up my mind and order one online, but then discovered a shop called Southpaw Guitars. Holy moly. A shop with pretty much every LH instrument in stock and on the wall to try. They didn't have the LTD, but they did have the Squier CV 70s jazz bass. I checked it and the CV 60s p bass out. Wow, both instruments were really nice. I could see why they get such good reviews, and they both felt like really good quality instruments. Nothing cheap about either one. I liked how the jazz bass played, though I couldn't really hear the bite of the 70s bridge pickup that I expected. I assume a lot of that is playing technique, which I have none at this point. Played the 70s bass some more just to make sure it was what I wanted. The salesman came by to see if I had any questions, and I explained that I really liked it and just couldn't see how it would be considered lower than a Fender. He explained that between the CV Squiers and Fender Player series, it comes down to the individual instruments. Fender has better parts, the CV Squiers have better quality control. He offered to let me play a Fender Player jazz bass just to check it out and see if I could tell a $300 difference, so I said why not. I held on to the Squier, as I fully intended to buy it after piddling around with one of the Fender's. They had the red, orange, and white Player jazz basses, so I tried the red one with the rosewood fretboard. The first thing I noticed was the neck. Very smooth. I immediately put it on the stand and replayed the Squier. Still liked it, still was gonna buy it...but the neck finish on the Fender had grabbed my attention. I plugged the red Fender in and played it a little. Sounded fine but aside from the smoother neck, it didn't seem much different from the Squier. The salesman also brought over a white one with the maple fretboard and said that some people prefer maple vs rosewood. Ok, figured I wouldn't be able to tell a difference against the rosewood, but what the heck, I'm here so might as well. Oh damn. This is going to sound corny as hell, but where the Squier and the red Fender made sound, the white one seemed to sing. It sustained longer and had a more "alive" (?) tone. There was an immediate and very noticeable difference between it and the other two. I don't think I would have ever had second guessed the Squier had I just tried the red Fender and stopped there, but once I played the white one, oh man. I spent the next hour playing each one, back and forth. Looking them both over closely, listening to the tones of each one, but mostly trying to be as critical as possible against the white Fender so that I didn't let myself think it was better simply because it was more expensive. The salesman saw me going back and forth and said that he would get the Squier based on saving money and not giving up quality but he also said that some instruments just latch on to you. Tough decision. I could get the Squier, be happy with it and save money...but would always wonder about finding a bass some day like the white Fender I'd played, or I could kiss an additional $300 goodbye based on the smoother neck and something I could hear but not describe. I overthink these kinds of decisions and rationalize the most practical choice, but I know other people go with the one that just feels right without thinking twice about it. The Fender had that feeling, so for once I set my analysis paralysis aside and put the Squier back on the wall. It was such a cool bass, but I knew that at some point I'd go chasing after another bass that grabbed me the way this particular white bass did. I don't think it has anything to do with the maple vs rosewood, but there was something to it that the others didn't have. And it is as beautiful as it sounds!

 

[rufus.K]

You made the right call, especially because our LH choices are what they are.

I have a white jazz also,that i started on.
...still my favourite.

 

[howardf]

Congrats. I've got a 3-tone burst MIM Jazz that I bought earlier this year, and love dearly. I wish I had easy access to one of the lefty friendly stores, so you're pretty lucky. Sweetwater's the closest place to me, and their left-handed inventory is pretty anemic, but it would be nice to be able to try out a huge range vs ordering blind and hoping for the best.