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NBD: Fender Modern Player Satin Jazz

Gorn

Gorn

Inactive
Dec 15, 2011
17,698
62,684
Queens, NY
#1
I got a cheapo Yamaha PJ recently that I liked but didn't love so I took it back to exchange and ended up with this. Very cool bass. Tons of tonal variations, and all of them good and useful. I considered the modern player dimension but I didn't like all but 2 of the 5 settings. The 4 way pickup selector on this, plus 2 volume controls and tone control equate to lots of versatility. It's used and in great shape aside from the pickguard which is scratched to hell but I don't mind. I love the finish on the body but kinda hate the super glossy neck. I may try sanding it down. And it has the musicman style truss adjustment which really ought to be on all basses as far as I'm concerned.
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#3
I have one of these in black & maple. LOVE the bass. :D

WD Music makes replacement guards that fit, too. :) I'm looking at getting a gold annodized for mine. ^_^ Oh, and I threw on a set of DR Neons in rainbow. :P

I took steel wool to the back of the neck. Now it's super fast. :D I may sand the finish off at some point, though.

The truss adjustment is a breeze, too. I can tweak it in between songs by having the adjustment tool just sitting in my pocket. :)
 
#5
awilkie84 said:
I have one of these in black & maple. LOVE the bass. :D

WD Music makes replacement guards that fit, too. :) I'm looking at getting a gold annodized for mine. ^_^ Oh, and I threw on a set of DR Neons in rainbow. :P

I took steel wool to the back of the neck. Now it's super fast. :D I may sand the finish off at some point, though.

The truss adjustment is a breeze, too. I can tweak it in between songs by having the adjustment tool just sitting in my pocket. :)
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Good call on wd music. I'm not sure what else would go well with the matte burst. Maybe tort...we'll see. I'm gonna assume there's routing under the pg and it can't go naked, which sucks.

DiabolusInMusic said:
You might as well just start a sticky "323 buys basses." Haha. Nice score, I am surprised you didn't like that RBX but I am not surprised you got a Fender.
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I'm not a hoarder...honest. One comes in and one goes out.

I really did like the rbx. I was planning on exchanging for a fancier rbx the store had, but this one caught my eye.
 
#6
3234718 said:
Good call on wd music. I'm not sure what else would go well with the matte burst. Maybe tort...we'll see. I'm gonna assume there's routing under the pg and it can't go naked, which sucks.
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Yeah, it's routed like a typical MIM and even the new MIAs. Can't go naked. :( I tried with mine.

One thing to have a tech check is if your single coil mode is out of phase. Mine was & we fixed that fast.

Also, the position knob is counter-intuitive. Rolled all the way off, is position 4 (single coil). All the way on, is position 1 (humbuckers). :S That confused me for a bit, lol.
 
#7
awilkie84 said:
Yeah, it's routed like a typical MIM and even the new MIAs. Can't go naked. :( I tried with mine.

One thing to have a tech check is if your single coil mode is out of phase. Mine was & we fixed that fast.

Also, the position knob is counter-intuitive. Rolled all the way off, is position 4 (single coil). All the way on, is position 1 (humbuckers). :S That confused me for a bit, lol.
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Yah, the position switch had me perplexed at first but after noodling, I got it down pretty well. Luckily, position 4 (single coil) seems to work perfectly. My personal favorite jazz bass tone is a solo'd bridge pup with the tone rolled down and this one nails that Jaco burp. The solo'd bridge humbucker with the tone down is interesting. Like a Jaco burp but more intense.

This setup really is something. The intensity of humbuckers when I want them, and traditional jazz bass goodness.

I'm not sure how useful the 2 middle positions are gonna be, but they sound good. I like position 2 a lot-front humbucker + single coil bridge.

Truly an outstanding bass. I'm surprised there isn't an American version.
 
#8
3234718 said:
Yah, the position switch had me perplexed at first but after noodling, I got it down pretty well. Luckily, position 4 (single coil) seems to work perfectly. My personal favorite jazz bass tone is a solo'd bridge pup with the tone rolled down and this one nails that Jaco burp. The solo'd bridge humbucker with the tone down is interesting. Like a Jaco burp but more intense.

This setup really is something. The intensity of humbuckers when I want them, and traditional jazz bass goodness.

I'm not sure how useful the 2 middle positions are gonna be, but they sound good. I like position 2 a lot-front humbucker + single coil bridge.

Truly an outstanding bass. I'm surprised there isn't an American version.
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I run mine in dual J, or H/J (if I want a P-esque sound) with the bridge vol rolled off just a bit and the tone about 60%.

It really is an amazing bass. I don't know if the Rosewood board models are, but the maple board is a 1 piece 1/4-sawn neck, with subtle flaming.
 
#10
A-Step-Towards said:
Are you sure there isnt plastic film still on the guard? it almost looks it.
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Yeah, that's what I though at first. It seems a boisterous pick playing teenager may have been the previous owner.


Is muddy the right word to describe the humbucker sound? Not in a bad way at all, but that's how they sound to me. And I'm very happy the solo'd single coils aren't weak or underwhelming. That's always been an issue with most jazz basses I've played.
 
#11
3234718 said:
Yeah, that's what I though at first. It seems a boisterous pick playing teenager may have been the previous owner.


Is muddy the right word to describe the humbucker sound? Not in a bad way at all, but that's how they sound to me. And I'm very happy the solo'd single coils aren't weak or underwhelming. That's always been an issue with most jazz basses I've played.
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Hmm. I wouldn't describe my buckers as muddy. Ballsy is the word I'd use. They've got an amazing, clear, punchy, growl to them. Of course, I have a maple board, so that might play into it?
 
#12
awilkie84 said:
Hmm. I wouldn't describe my buckers as muddy. Ballsy is the word I'd use. They've got an amazing, clear, punchy, growl to them. Of course, I have a maple board, so that might play into it?
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That's a better word. I guess they're not muddy because they're still well defined. As far as I can tell, this thing can be a dual humbucking beast, a PJ, a JP, or a basic jazz bass, with lots of variation in between.

This must be one of the most versatile basses out there.
 
#14
3234718 said:
That's a better word. I guess they're not muddy because they're still well defined. As far as I can tell, this thing can be a dual humbucking beast, a PJ, a JP, or a basic jazz bass, with lots of variation in between.

This must be one of the most versatile basses out there.
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Agreed. :D I'm very impressed with it.

SanDiegoHarry said:
When Fender started doing this, THAT was the moment I knew I was done with Fender. I've had many, but this one change - which likely saves them 25 cents per body, irritated me so much that I sword them off. Sad.
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Meh. I actually like having PGs on my basses, so it doesn't bother me at all. :)
 
#15
Regarding the neck, i used a scotch brite pad... like 3 quick swipes and got a fast, smooth neck. Works wonders!

Awilkie84 - good to hear you got it solved!
 
#17
3234718 said:
Yeah, that's what I though at first. It seems a boisterous pick playing teenager may have been the previous owner.


Is muddy the right word to describe the humbucker sound? Not in a bad way at all, but that's how they sound to me. And I'm very happy the solo'd single coils aren't weak or underwhelming. That's always been an issue with most jazz basses I've played.
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Some automotive swirl remover would shine up the pg a bit. Did you leave the flats on it? I think the neck looks great with the gloss! Great looking bass there....
 
#18
bobalu said:
Some automotive swirl remover would shine up the pg a bit. Did you leave the flats on it? I think the neck looks great with the gloss! Great looking bass there....
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Flats? It came with daddario nickel rounds. I switched to daddario flex steels, which are great btw. They're very easy on the fingers for steels and not overly zingy.
 
#20
Nice grab dude! I've wanted one since the first time I saw it, though I've never had the chance to actually play one. I have a mp tele bass and the build quality is solid, so I would assume this one is too. Is it made in china or mexico? That burst is sweet...
 

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