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Need help picking a jazz bass. Budget inside!

ohiomatt33

ohiomatt33

Guest
Apr 6, 2015
5
0
35
Ohio
#1
Guitar player here looking to get a bass so that I can pick up some more gigs. With my guitars, I've already made the decision to stop buying anything less than "THE" guitars from now on. Not just buying something because it is a good deal.

That being said, I only have a crappy pawn shop J-bass that someone gave me years back. Works well enough to chart through songs on, and to track my demos at home with, before taking them to a writing session. Now that I'll be gigging out on bass, I want something of a decent quality. I will be playing modern country (think Jason Aldean.)

My current amp set up is an Orange Terror Bass 500 into an Ampeg 4x10.

I'm definitely looking for a Jazz bass, and I'm 90% sure I want a Fender or Squier.

I'm fairly certain I want a 5 string. The bass player in my main gigging band just switched to a 5 a few months back and there is a noticeable improvement in our sound. He says he just has more fun with it as well. A lot of the tunes in the set list will probably call for that low B string.

I'm currently looking at:
1. Squier Vintage Modified Jazz 5 string (looks like new around $300 shipped)
2. Fender Modern Player Jazz 5 string (used $480 shipped)
3. Fender Deluxe active Jazz 5 string (I can get a new one for $700 shipped)

Any thoughts on these? I am very open to buying used, there just does not seem to be a big selection of 5 strings on the used market in what I'm looking for.

My budget is between $300-$600ish. I'd prefer to spend in the lower range of that obviously, but I also don't want to be upgrading 6 months from now.

Should I consider not getting a 5 string? Just seems like it'd be nice to have, and not have to tune down to D for some of the heavier songs in the sets.

Thanks guys!
 
#4
DiabolusInMusic said:
Modern country will almost require the B string, get the 5er! Honestly, the Squier VM5 was probably one of the best Fender B strings I have tried.
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I think I am leaning towards the Squier 5. Mostly based on price, the fact that the fender active costs twice as much, and I'm not sure how much of an improvement it would be over the squier. Not really looking for active pups either.
 
#6
I don't think you want a Fender active in that price range, you will just end up swapping out the preamp with something else. Buy a passive bass, you can always pop in a pre if you need it. As a huge Fender fan, there are no 5er's that I would buy from Fender that cost less than $2000. I have just never been impressed by them to say the least.
 
#7
scourgeofgod said:
I second this, so much. I have a feeling in a couple of years I'll be kicking myself for not getting one while the getting was good.
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I'm suspecting they'll still be around in a couple of years, and they claim the plan is not to jack up the prices once they're successful. We'll see. ;)
 
#8
ohiomatt33 said:
I think I am leaning towards the Squier 5. Mostly based on price, the fact that the fender active costs twice as much, and I'm not sure how much of an improvement it would be over the squier. Not really looking for active pups either.
Click to expand...
The Sire will kick the Squier's butt, not even close. Honestly.
 

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