I've been wanting to try one out, but the local Sam Ash only has the Blacktop Precision...
This is my issue as well. I really want to play one of these, but I can't find anyone that actually has them in stock.
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New Fender "Black Top" basses
- Thread starter drewfunk
- Start date
This is my issue as well. I really want to play one of these, but I can't find anyone that actually has them in stock.
i was thinking of getting the pbass one and was wondering how the bass would sound if i took out the middle humbucker, and just left the bridge one? i was thinking that this might be a bit trebly though. anyone with experience on this? are the pickups normal sized for a humbucker?
i was thinking that the white one with a custom made tort guard (covering one of the humbucker routes) i think it would look nice but im worried about what it will sound like.
i was thinking that the white one with a custom made tort guard (covering one of the humbucker routes) i think it would look nice but im worried about what it will sound like.
I bought a Blacktop Jazz about a month ago and haven't played any of my other basses since. For me it was the best of both worlds: the jazz neck and body I prefer and the P pups that work best for the classic rock I'm currently doing. The setup was good, but needs some tweeking, as usual. I had wanted to put together a "Lee Sklar" bass for some time now, but for the money it comes close enough to keep me satisfied (for a while at least). I've used it for practice and at 2 gigs so far and the band loves it too. Much more presence than even my old '76 P and a nice selection of tones. The pups are definitely HOT as someone else mentioned and it sometimes sounds a little sterile, but mostly noticed when using my Harke 410...perhaps its the aluminum cones? Typically I use a 115 (or x2) with a Genz Benz GBE 500h head and am quite happy with the sound. Like everything else, YMMV but I was pleasantly suprised with this latest offering from Fender. Now the big question is...will I still feel the same after my Lakland 55-01 with Nordy DC's arrives???
Wish I could find a music store that has either a p or a j in stock. I ask and the dude at my local music store and he didn't believe me that they even made such basses. I really need to move to a little more cultured city!
This is my first post guys, so hello to you all!
I bought myself one of the the jazz models in October, and I am loving it! Admittedly, it is only my second bass after a cheap encore, so I've not got the experience to comment on tonal differences to the regular jazz bass etc. However, I played a variety of basses in shop, and this was the one that appealed to me the most (in my price range obviously!). I've always liked the P-bass sound, but prefer the j-neck and styling.
I bought myself one of the the jazz models in October, and I am loving it! Admittedly, it is only my second bass after a cheap encore, so I've not got the experience to comment on tonal differences to the regular jazz bass etc. However, I played a variety of basses in shop, and this was the one that appealed to me the most (in my price range obviously!). I've always liked the P-bass sound, but prefer the j-neck and styling.
Shut up and take my money!!I have to say I'm a bit disappointed. I really like the look of the Blacktop guitars, but the basses are kind of bland.
What they should have made is something like this:
I'd buy that one.
I have a blacktop P. The humbuckers are amazing for passive. Crank the neck pup nearly zeroon the bridge and crank the tone and supriiise its a perfect rock tone and punk. Do the opposite and use the bridge pup and get a lot lower punchier bass sound. Reaaaaalllllly amazing. I am glad I didnt get a J blacktop. Best idea fender had to put that much humbucking into a p 
As of right now, Sam Ash is carrying these basses, Guitar Centers should be getting their shipment soon.
I've been looking for the perfect fender to get for about a year now since I realized that my '89 MIJ jazz special (p+j) was heading towards retirement due to wear.
I love the sound of a precision and a jazz combined but always thought that the single coil jazz could never really hold its own with the power of the precision pickup overshadowing it all the time. overall pj combos have always been the best of both worlds for me.
I saw these on the fender website last night and read up on this thread about them soon after. I was definitely curious, maybe this would be the fender to knock my socks off. I always dug the 'classic sting ray' sound but couldn't spend that much money into getting one.
I bought the Precision (double humbucker) version and pretty much love it. the only thing it can't really do is that mellow, boring sound that some jazzes get. This bass has exactly what I want from a bass for playing rock. Imagine nailing 'wrath child's' bass tone and then immediately jumping into a nickelback-esque bass tone with the twist of a knob.
If you're looking for the roundness and bottom end of a classic stingray and don't care for learning slap at all then this is a reasonable alternative. Moving a register won't mean that you loose all of your low end. Each note hits pretty consistently without certain ones resonating way louder. Finger playing is where the money is at on this bass. Picking comes second with slap/pop in third place for obvious reasons.
Positives:
killer sound, 3 piece neck, rosewood fretboard, high end/classy finish on the neck. beautiful paint job, familiar fender feel.
Negatives:
while there aren't any buzzing frets the sides of the frets can be sharp (just need to sanded), action sucks a little bit, possible grounding problem (the buzz that happens when you let go of your bass completely), and while the bridge is a beast, i feel like the tuners are made a little cheaper than American standards (for obvious reasons but I'm just stating what i don't like about it)
It sounds sick and you should at least give it a try by plugging it into an svt to pleasure your ears.
I've been looking for the perfect fender to get for about a year now since I realized that my '89 MIJ jazz special (p+j) was heading towards retirement due to wear.
I love the sound of a precision and a jazz combined but always thought that the single coil jazz could never really hold its own with the power of the precision pickup overshadowing it all the time. overall pj combos have always been the best of both worlds for me.
I saw these on the fender website last night and read up on this thread about them soon after. I was definitely curious, maybe this would be the fender to knock my socks off. I always dug the 'classic sting ray' sound but couldn't spend that much money into getting one.
I bought the Precision (double humbucker) version and pretty much love it. the only thing it can't really do is that mellow, boring sound that some jazzes get. This bass has exactly what I want from a bass for playing rock. Imagine nailing 'wrath child's' bass tone and then immediately jumping into a nickelback-esque bass tone with the twist of a knob.
If you're looking for the roundness and bottom end of a classic stingray and don't care for learning slap at all then this is a reasonable alternative. Moving a register won't mean that you loose all of your low end. Each note hits pretty consistently without certain ones resonating way louder. Finger playing is where the money is at on this bass. Picking comes second with slap/pop in third place for obvious reasons.
Positives:
killer sound, 3 piece neck, rosewood fretboard, high end/classy finish on the neck. beautiful paint job, familiar fender feel.
Negatives:
while there aren't any buzzing frets the sides of the frets can be sharp (just need to sanded), action sucks a little bit, possible grounding problem (the buzz that happens when you let go of your bass completely), and while the bridge is a beast, i feel like the tuners are made a little cheaper than American standards (for obvious reasons but I'm just stating what i don't like about it)
It sounds sick and you should at least give it a try by plugging it into an svt to pleasure your ears.
Anybody have any idea why this configuration? I mean, wouldn't it have made more sense, or at least been less of a stray from the flagship models, for them to put the big blocks in the Jazz and the P pickups in the P-Bass? Not knocking them, they look great and probably sound great too, just seems odd to me that they felt the need to switch them...
I that was the whole point...to stray a bit from the norm. Personally I applaud them for thinking a tiny bit out of the box. This is not a company that does that very often, or has much luck at it in general. Anything that has varied much from the standard P or J usually gets discontinued. My suggestion would be to grab one of these while they're out because if the past hold true then these won't be around long.
Got bored and went to Elderly Music after work and tried both of these blacktops out along with the Fender Modern Jaguar and a MIJ Jaguar, almost two hours later I left out with the Blacktop Jazz, you can get some pretty thumpunchy (new word there) tones of a wide variety out of this dual P pickup combination and the look of the dual P's is great and unique, it's a quality well made bass.
As for the Blacktop Precision, I must have lucked out cause the pickups were very noisy solo or any less than halfway on either pickup knob with the other on full, I'll give it with both pickups on full it had a nice full bottom sound but that was about it.
As for the Modern Jaguar, I'll have to say the quality is outstanding, probably the best made in China bass I've ever laid my hands on - if you think that the latest made in China Squiers are nice quality your jaw will drop with Modern Jaguar, very lightweight but feels great and solid, from the wonderful playing and quality neck to the great tones out of the pickups I know I'll have to grab one of these in the near future, would be nice if they threw on a pickguard other than plain white but it seems that it will grow on you till you replace it, for $400 bucks this low cost Fender is more than worth it.
I also got to try out a MIJ Fender Jaguar, had to put that sucker down quick to save my wallet, great bass great quality with lots of functionality, if they ever make an emeralg green Jaguar I'm in trouble LOL.
As for the Blacktop Precision, I must have lucked out cause the pickups were very noisy solo or any less than halfway on either pickup knob with the other on full, I'll give it with both pickups on full it had a nice full bottom sound but that was about it.
As for the Modern Jaguar, I'll have to say the quality is outstanding, probably the best made in China bass I've ever laid my hands on - if you think that the latest made in China Squiers are nice quality your jaw will drop with Modern Jaguar, very lightweight but feels great and solid, from the wonderful playing and quality neck to the great tones out of the pickups I know I'll have to grab one of these in the near future, would be nice if they threw on a pickguard other than plain white but it seems that it will grow on you till you replace it, for $400 bucks this low cost Fender is more than worth it.
I also got to try out a MIJ Fender Jaguar, had to put that sucker down quick to save my wallet, great bass great quality with lots of functionality, if they ever make an emeralg green Jaguar I'm in trouble LOL.
I think if Fender offered a maple neck on the Blacktop's, they would sell a ton. They put one on the MP Jag, why not the rest of the line? I have a Blacktop Jazz coming. I have never been more pumped up about the arrival of a bass!
I have owned a ton of mid priced basses, it will be cool to have something a litte different and still pass the brand whore test of my bandmates.
I have owned a ton of mid priced basses, it will be cool to have something a litte different and still pass the brand whore test of my bandmates.
I would love to have a maple fretboard on mine, just for looks. I have the black Blacktop P bass, and love it but it would look better I think. I traded out the control knobs for chome knurled ones, looks a lot better. Also put flat wound strings on mine to replace stock ones, I LOVE the flat wounds.
They should just lay out the parts & let you build your own.
Jazz body, Sting/51 pup, maple P fretless neck, badass, 51 electronics.
Jazz body, Sting/51 pup, maple P fretless neck, badass, 51 electronics.
