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NBD Redux: 2016 Fender American Professional Jazz

bdplaid

bdplaid

Supporting Member
Aug 31, 2007
9,454
18,592
florida
#1
Maybe I should call this thread "New Bass Week..."

It started with the week before, I got a new American Standard Jazz, which I disliked so I returned and bought an American Professional Jazz Bass. Without further ado...

IMG_20170313_171739.jpg

Fender decided that this bass should have one of those icky mint green pickguards on it. I had other ideas:

IMG_20170313_171656.jpg

The short story on the this AP Jazz is that it is better than the AS in every way.

I was one of the guys who thought Fender was trying to gouge those of us who just wanted a plain-Jane yet American made Jazz. I was wrong. The pickups are outstanding, they growl for days but, because they use both Alnico 2 and Alnico 5, are still deep and bitey at the same time. The neck is great - not awesome, as it still has the dead spot around the 7th fret on the G, but it plays ferociously, and I like the narrow/tall frets better than i thought I would.

I've been looking for a proper Jazz for about 5 years, and overall, I think the Am Pro is worth every extra penny.
 
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#2
Hey what's up.

As a an up and coming "proper" bass player who just started looking for better gear, I also just recently joined the AmPro club. The new colors, case, nut, and tuners were more than enough to convince me it wasn't a price gouge.

I was only nervous about the new frets, as I ordered after only playing a few Am Stds. These basses are great. I also have a dead spot on the 7th fret on the G string. It became very apparent after a setup and my action came down pretty low.
 
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#4
bdplaid said:
I would think the posiflex rods would do away with the dead spot, as is so on Warmoth necks, but no dice.

Fender did not change the neck profile for the AmPro Jazz, and i think they should have beefed it a little. It might have done something about that dead spot.
Click to expand...

Also I knew nothing about that dead spot being a common one, merely that dead spots on fenders do exist. When you said 7th fret G string a bulb went on in my head. I'm heading home now and will confirm that is the dead spot but I'm pretty sure.

I guess we should be happy it's a known issue? With some compromises in setup and a bit of neck relief I'm sure it can be minimized.
 
#5
MetalJamBands said:
Also I knew nothing about that dead spot being a common one, merely that dead spots on fenders do exist. When you said 7th fret G string a bulb went on in my head. I'm heading home now and will confirm that is the dead spot but I'm pretty sure.

I guess we should be happy it's a known issue? With some compromises in setup and a bit of neck relief I'm sure it can be minimized.
Click to expand...
It's not just well-known, it's a hallmark! Fender necks have had that dead spot around the 7th-9th fret since forever. There are things that can be done such as adding weight at the headstock, Leo Fender once famously put a c-clamp on the headstock and the dead spot disappeared. But most of us just deal with it, depending on how bad it is. Look it up and read some about it. It' a story unto itself.
 
#9
yes but this is different. The AS had not only the usual dead spot, but the A on the E string would not ring. I even changed strings to the same effect. The AP has much sustain everywhere except that one note.
 
#10
I must be the luckiest guy in the world. I have three American Standards, build years '13, '14, '15, and not a single dead spot. I even went in the other room and checked them all out to see if I had just been oblivious to it. Nope. Even and clear all the way down the G string.
 
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#12
Do-Over Congrats! :D

bdplaid said:
Fender decided that this bass should have one of those icky mint green pickguards on it. I had other ideas:
Click to expand...

Just a suggestion, but I could easily see you sprucing up the "Looks" department further with a set of black pearloid vinyl "inlay" decals to make it look like a killer '70s Jazz. :cool:
 

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