NBD Fender Player II Modified Active Jazz

[Wicked G]

Actually it's more like New Bass 2nd Week since I received it on July 25. This is not my first Modified Active Bass as I also have a Harvest Green P Bass and an Electric Blue Jazz Bass. I'm really a big fan of this line of basses and it began earlier in the year when I tried out a Player Plus Active P Bass in Silver Smoke, after that I had to check out the newer Player II Modifieds. First I'll post some pictures of the already mentioned basses:

So the newest one is the Jazz Bass in Dusk. It is about 90% black until you shine some light on it and then you can see some purple shining through. It has a pretty cool Geddy Lee vibe going on with the White Pearloid Pickguard and I really like the EQ on it. When you switch from Passive to Active it still pretty much sounds the same with similar volume. It's when you begin to boost and cut that the Active EQ really begins to impress. I've already taken it out on it's first gig this past weekend through an Orange Terror Bass and two Orange OBC112's and I really liked how that rig interacted with this bass. Anyway, pics of the new bass:

 

[CletusMarley]

Nice score!! Sweet bass!

 

[LyricalGrowls]

Awesome bass! I have been looking for months to try and find a real-life picture of the dusk color and not just marketing photos, so thanks for posting this. Love the way it looks.

 

[Wicked G]

Awesome bass! I have been looking for months to try and find a real-life picture of the dusk color and not just marketing photos, so thanks for posting this. Love the way it looks.

You're welcome. As you can see it is pretty much black, but when light hits it you can see purple and some pink sparkles. There's a video of this bass from Empire Music that really does a good job of showing you the color shift.

 

[StevenC56]

Just received my Player II Modified Jazz Bass in Dusk today as well. It's really black most of the time. I'm a little disappointed the purple only shows at just the right angle with lots of light, but it is what it is. I already have a MIJ Geddy Lee, so I was hoping it wouldn't look quite so similar. At least the finger board is a nice slab of rosewood so that makes the 2 not look like twins anyway. Pretty heavy at over 10 lbs, but that's not a deal breaker since I only plunk around at home anyway. First MIM Bass for me. Pretty good fit and finish, although there's a few marks in the finish that don't want to polish out which probably wouldn't show with the other colors. Other than that, the build is pretty impressive at less than half of what the Ultra II's price is.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

Nice!
Love these.
If anyone is interested, I'm gonna be selling a new-in-box Player II Modified Jazz (dusk) next week.
Hey OP, if you want me to delete this little plug, no problem.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Nice bass! Dig the purple stealth highlights. Did it come with the HSC pictured? Seems like all basses used to come with them standard, now it’s a premium “feature” in high end basses.

 

[Wicked G]

Just received my Player II Modified Jazz Bass in Dusk today as well. It's really black most of the time. I'm a little disappointed the purple only shows at just the right angle with lots of light, but it is what it is. I already have a MIJ Geddy Lee, so I was hoping it wouldn't look quite so similar. At least the finger board is a nice slab of rosewood so that makes the 2 not look like twins anyway. Pretty heavy at over 10 lbs, but that's not a deal breaker since I only plunk around at home anyway. First MIM Bass for me. Pretty good fit and finish, although there's a few marks in the finish that don't want to polish out which probably wouldn't show with the other colors. Other than that, the build is pretty impressive at less than half of what the Ultra II's price is.

After purchasing my Electric Blue Modified Active Jazz I tried the Ultra Jazz in Texas Tea and the Ultra P in Ultra Burst. Beautiful looking basses and quality construction. I tried them out with the intention of probably getting the Jazz, but the tone left me underwhelmed. They sounded good, but they did not seem as versatile as the Modified Actives.

I was able to get more top end and presence from the Modified while the Ultra came across as smoother and lacking presence. I prefer to have the top end and presence with the ability to roll it back as compared to not having it and there is nothing you can do about it. So I ended up purchasing the Modified Active P in Harvest Green and then ordering the Jazz in Dusk. I'm very happy with my decision.

 

[StevenC56]

Nice bass! Dig the purple stealth highlights. Did it come with the HSC pictured? Seems like all basses used to come with them standard, now it’s a premium “feature” in high end basses.

HSC?

 

[Wicked G]

Nice bass! Dig the purple stealth highlights. Did it come with the HSC pictured? Seems like all basses used to come with them standard, now it’s a premium “feature” in high end basses.

Sorry I had not seen this earlier. No it came with a Fender Gig Bag. I just used an EBMM Stingray Special HSC for the picture. The gig bag is ok, no big deal, but at least it comes with one.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

Nice grab.

I had one of these a few months ago and loved everything about it. The only issue with the one I had, was I couldn’t get the action below 7/16 on the E or G string at the 17th fret. Been hesitant to try again, but thinking about it since. How’s the action on yours?

If looking good, I might pull the trigger and try once again. I had the blue, which is really better looking than it come across as in any pics (typical with most Fender finishes, they always look better in person), but both the green and dusk look cool too.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

HSC = Hard Shell Case

 

[Wicked G]

Nice grab.

I had one of these a few months ago and loved everything about it. The only issue with the one I had, was I couldn’t get the action below 7/16 on the E or G string at the 17th fret. Been hesitant to try again, but thinking about it since. How’s the action on yours?

If looking good, I might pull the trigger and try once again. I had the blue, which is really better looking than it come across as in any pics (typical with most Fender finishes, they always look better in person), but both the green and dusk look cool too.

I play with a pick so I like my action low. I have had to adjust the truss rod to every single Fender I own, but I have not had any issue getting it to where I like it.

I don't have a great way to measure my action so I use a Rockcity pick. If I can get it in between the bottom of the emblem and the bottom of the pick at the 12th fret, I am happy. All my Active Fenders are right where I like them to be.

 

[StevenC56]

I'm acclimating my Bass and adjusting the neck. Seems they had the strings loosened about a turn and the truss rod was very loose from the factory. Maybe for shipping and storage? A ton of relief after initial tune. Anyway, I've turned the truss rod about 3/4 turn a little at a time and I'm getting pretty close.

 

[Symphony2040]

After purchasing my Electric Blue Modified Active Jazz I tried the Ultra Jazz in Texas Tea and the Ultra P in Ultra Burst. Beautiful looking basses and quality construction. I tried them out with the intention of probably getting the Jazz, but the tone left me underwhelmed. They sounded good, but they did not seem as versatile as the Modified Actives.

I was able to get more top end and presence from the Modified while the Ultra came across as smoother and lacking presence. I prefer to have the top end and presence with the ability to roll it back as compared to not having it and there is nothing you can do about it. So I ended up purchasing the Modified Active P in Harvest Green and then ordering the Jazz in Dusk. I'm very happy with my decision.

I was in the market a few weeks ago and did a similar comparison, with the initial intention of purchasing one of the Ultra/Ultra II Jazz basses. I share your exact thoughts here as well, though I did find that the Ultra II that I played was pretty much on par sound-wise with the Modified. Only problem is that, it is literally twice as much and the colors for that line just didn't do anything for me.

It's an amazing bass, but I'm having an unhealthy obsession with another instrument, so not sure how long I will keep it. Something I should mention regarding the Electric Blue color, it is a very cool and dynamic color that sometimes looks very blue, and at other times it looks more indigo/purple. Does anyone else that owns this color see this, or are my eyes playing tricks on me lol? Probably one of the more interesting Fender colors that I've seen in a while.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

I was in the market a few weeks ago and did a similar comparison, with the initial intention of purchasing one of the Ultra/Ultra II Jazz basses. I share your exact thoughts here as well, though I did find that the Ultra II that I played was pretty much on par sound-wise with the Modified. Only problem is that, it is literally twice as much and the colors for that line just didn't do anything for me.

It's an amazing bass, but I'm having an unhealthy obsession with another instrument, so not sure how long I will keep it. Something I should mention regarding the Electric Blue color, it is a very cool and dynamic color that sometimes looks very blue, and at other times it looks more indigo/purple. Does anyone else that owns this color see this, or are my eyes playing tricks on me lol? Probably one of the more interesting Fender colors that I've seen in a while.

View attachment 7293723

Your eyes are not playing tricks on you. It seems like it should just be a flat blue but it does change character based on lighting.

 

[Wicked G]

I'm acclimating my Bass and adjusting the neck. Seems they had the strings loosened about a turn and the truss rod was very loose from the factory. Maybe for shipping and storage? A ton of relief after initial tune. Anyway, I've turned the truss rod about 3/4 turn a little at a time and I'm getting pretty close.

Yeah I have had to turn the truss rod anywhere from 1/4 to 3/4 to get them where I want them. I have two other MIM Fender Player Plus Top Limited Edition Jazz basses that needed an adjustment as well, but they have been fine ever since and that was probably 3 or more years ago.

I was in the market a few weeks ago and did a similar comparison, with the initial intention of purchasing one of the Ultra/Ultra II Jazz basses. I share your exact thoughts here as well, though I did find that the Ultra II that I played was pretty much on par sound-wise with the Modified. Only problem is that, it is literally twice as much and the colors for that line just didn't do anything for me.

It's an amazing bass, but I'm having an unhealthy obsession with another instrument, so not sure how long I will keep it. Something I should mention regarding the Electric Blue color, it is a very cool and dynamic color that sometimes looks very blue, and at other times it looks more indigo/purple. Does anyone else that owns this color see this, or are my eyes playing tricks on me lol? Probably one of the more interesting Fender colors that I've seen in a while.

View attachment 7293723

I have not seen mine change to purple, but it definitely changes different shades of blue with lighting. One moment it is a very beautiful dark shade of blue and the next it's sort of a light baby blue which kind of bugs me. I don't like baby blue, but it does sound really good and the pictures I've seen of myself playing it look good. It stands out really well on stage. That blue pickguard you have on there looks nice.

 

[Redridge]

I put a 2025 modified P preamp in my 2008 American Deluxe P... love the versatility of the preamp, especially the true active bypass. Not much volume diff between the 2 modes and the use of the tone control in both modes. The Mid/Tone stack is all I need to tweak the tones in between songs... love playing this P live.

 

[Sauron_]

I have the same bass and I love it.
I replaced he pickguard with an aged perlaroid, more brownish and also the horrible high mass bridge in which you cannot get the action low enough (for my taste) I put the Fender vintage bass bridge and now it's became my #1 bass.

 

[Lo_Basserson]

I have the same bass and I love it.
I replaced he pickguard with an aged perlaroid, more brownish and also the horrible high mass bridge in which you cannot get the action low enough (for my taste) I put the Fender vintage bass bridge and now it's became my #1 bass.

I was debating between a shim and replacing the bridge.

Glad to hear that the bridge worked. I'm assuming t was a straight drop-in, right?