• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

NBD - American Professional Jazz (2018)

MtManiac

MtManiac

Mar 6, 2007
9,089
6,993
Nova Scotia
#1
So I started a thread recently posting my takes on some of the Jazz basses I tried in stores, and had specified that I was looking specifically for a rosewood board. Ultimately, I ordered a brand new Player II in the limited edition Three Tone Sunburst Sparkle finish, but was taking a long time for transfer from one national store branch to my local one.

Just Monday, I was browsing their used gear offerings, and came across this. With taxes, it was a couple hundred more than the Player II, and has a maple board, but I’ve always been a sucker for natural ash and also I love maple boards.

Anyway, just received it today - played it for about three or four minutes, and really like the stock VMod pickups - unlike the VMod Precision pickups, I find the Jazz set has a nice wide range, with plenty of punch and some nice growl on the low end. It was set up perfectly, and still in tune! The strings have a lot of life left in them too. Great shape, just some light swirl marks on the pickguard, zero scratches or dings.

Anyway, check it out:

IMG_6867.jpeg
IMG_6866.jpeg
IMG_6865.jpeg
 

Attachments

  • IMG_6866.jpeg
    IMG_6866.jpeg
    1.7 MB · Views: 13
  • IMG_6861.png
    IMG_6861.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 14
  • IMG_6857.png
    IMG_6857.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 15
  • IMG_6858.png
    IMG_6858.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 16
  • IMG_6859.png
    IMG_6859.png
    1.7 MB · Views: 17
  • IMG_6860.png
    IMG_6860.png
    1.4 MB · Views: 19
Last edited:
  • Like
  • Love
  • Wow
Reactions: Hot Rats, MrVanimal, Parzival and 42 others
#5
MtManiac said:
So I started a thread recently posting my takes on some of the Jazz basses I tried in stores, and had specified that I was looking specifically for a rosewood board. Ultimately, I ordered a brand new Player II in the limited edition Three Tone Sunburst Sparkle finish, but was taking a long time for transfer from one national store branch to my local one.

Just Monday, I was browsing their used gear offerings, and came across this. With taxes, it was a couple hundred more than the Player II, and has a maple board, but I’ve always been a sucker for natural ash and also I love maple boards.

Anyway, just received it today - played it for about three or four minutes, and really like the stock VMod pickups - unlike the VMod Precision pickups, I find the Jazz set has a nice wide range, with plenty of punch and some nice growl on the low end. It was set up perfectly, and still in tune! The strings have a lot of life left in them too. Great shape, just some light swirl marks on the pickguard, zero scratches or dings.

Anyway, check it out:

View attachment 7233632View attachment 7233633View attachment 7233641
Click to expand...
Very nice.
 
#9
MtManiac said:
So I started a thread recently posting my takes on some of the Jazz basses I tried in stores, and had specified that I was looking specifically for a rosewood board. Ultimately, I ordered a brand new Player II in the limited edition Three Tone Sunburst Sparkle finish, but was taking a long time for transfer from one national store branch to my local one.

Just Monday, I was browsing their used gear offerings, and came across this. With taxes, it was a couple hundred more than the Player II, and has a maple board, but I’ve always been a sucker for natural ash and also I love maple boards.

Anyway, just received it today - played it for about three or four minutes, and really like the stock VMod pickups - unlike the VMod Precision pickups, I find the Jazz set has a nice wide range, with plenty of punch and some nice growl on the low end. It was set up perfectly, and still in tune! The strings have a lot of life left in them too. Great shape, just some light swirl marks on the pickguard, zero scratches or dings.

Anyway, check it out:

View attachment 7233632View attachment 7233633View attachment 7233641
Click to expand...
Really nice, and perhaps well-bought. I'm a fan of natural/black pickguard- much more so than brown tortoiseshell. Everything looks integrated and right- black pickguard, pickups, knobs. Natural, chrome and black. Make mine 5 string. Really a lovely cut of wood/figuring for the body.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bill Whitehurst and MtManiac
#12
Congrats! I’m also a sucker for a natural ash body, always wanted one, still do. I have a player 2 jazz and it’s a great bass I like it as much as my American Standard but that said you made a good decision.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MtManiac
#14
MtManiac said:
Yep, exactly - had you been checking it out, or was it by chance previously yours? It’s in great shape if so!
Click to expand...

I recognized the store in the background. It is dangerous to have a store like that so close by!

I wasn't checking that one out. I tend to pay attention to the 5-strings more, so the Stingray 5's high up on the "expensive" wall and I noticed they got some new Tobias basses too.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MtManiac
#18
I swapped whatever strings were on this (I assume the stock Fenders) with a new set of DR light Nickel Lo-Riders, and had a pro set up done. Since then, due to work travel demands and the band being unable to rehearse, it’s been in its case for about three weeks, unplayed.

Last night I got to play it, with the band, IEMs, going through an SGT-DI.

The neck feels amazing. Kind of on the slim side, front to back. Still getting re-used to the Jazz width from using P basses for so long.

I don’t normally use light gauge strings, so they were my biggest challenge, but I have used Nickel Lo-Riders on several other basses so chose these based on that, and light were available at the time - I was also interested in exploring the tone differences between light and medium gauge strings.

I also usually can’t stand brand new round wound strings. The nickel tends to help a lot with that.

Tone-wise, I know they get a lot of hate, but the VMod pickups are really great once you have the right strings on them. Around the first 4 frets on the D and G strings I was getting a serious Geddy vibe when I dug in, which was really giving me a thrill. The E and A strings were nice and warm, lots of nice harmonics coming through. In the upper register, 9th fret and above to the 19th, notes were nice and fat, solid. I had tone wide open and the bridge pickup dialed off completely to avoid a mid-scoop.

I really never saw myself getting into a Jazz bass - I’ve owned a few over the years and they just never seemed to stick around. I can see now that I’ve been selling them short, and doing the same thing with light gauge strings. Sometimes all you need is a little patience and commitment.

I still love my P basses, but a Jazz definitely has its own thing going on that should not be dismissed too soon.

Not finding much discussion about the VMod Jazz pickups. I’d love to hear any comments you have about them, whether they’re praise or condemnation.

I had a similar experience with an American Pro II and the VMod II P pickups - hated them at first, changed the strings, and bam I had everything I was looking for - and now my guitar player forbids me to change the pickup out, he loves that bass’s sound so much.
 
  • Like
Reactions: RColie

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back