NOBBD!! (New "Open Box" Bass Day)

So i've had the GAS bug a while now and I took the leap on an "open box" bass from Musician's Friend. I don't know if I've ever been more nervous about a purchase in my life; I've bought many used basses in the past but I always had descriptions, pictures etc. before I sealed the deal. This was different.... purely on a whim. Yikes.

Bass shows up today, boxed like garbage. First thing i'm thinking is "it's going back"... a big hole in the top, many dings in the box, not double boxed, stuff like that.

So i open it.... all in one piece? Check. All parts secured (no rattles)? Check. Straight neck? Check. Truss Rod works both ways? Check. So far so good. I found the flaw, purely cosmetic and i actually wiped it off... LOL!!

So here's my new addition.. A Modern Player Jazz Satin V in Satin White!!! Needed a setup but i got that handled as I already own one of these, I knew what to look for as far as the setup went. Sounds great too, just like my other one (whew) but here's the kicker..... It's gotta be about a lb lighter than my other one! I couldn't be happier. Just needs new strings and a quick Scotch-Brite treatment on the back of the neck and I'm in business. I think the nut slots need to be filed slightly, but other than that i got a smoking deal. $362 shipped after tax. Too bad they are discontinued.... And now pics!!

 

A couple hours into it and I'm thinking the same thing. The thing that i'm really stoked on is the lighter weight. I've always owned boat anchors, never had an issue with it, but it's amazing what a difference a pound will make! (NOTE: I'm assuming a pound less, i have no scale but it's definitely lighter).

 

Well, the stock strings on the lighter one are a slightly smaller gauge than what i normally use. But, that being said, ***To My Ears*** the lighter one sounds a little "snappier", but that may have to do with the lighter strings as well. I know this sounds weird, but the neck almost seems slightly thinner front-to-back on the white one than my sunburst. One thing i was concerned about was the new one going to sound like the one i currently own. Thankfully, yes it does. Super fat in humbucking mode, nice and airy in single coil mode. Totally silent in all 4 pickup positions.

 

Maybe, maybe not... the 4 stringer is still up on the Fender site, but they have removed a few of the Modern Player models, including the 5 string version of the Jazz Satin. I called into Fender Customer Service this afternoon to ask the gauge of the stock strings, kind of as a joke.... I wanted to see if I was actually going to get any info. It took the guy on the other end a few minutes to find it, I told him it was no longer on the site.. duh...

He eventually found the info however...

 

Thanks! Actually it's a 4 position pickup selector and then V-V-T. Here's what the selector does

Pos. 1 - both pups humbucking mode
Pos. 2 - neck outer coil, bridge humbucker.
Pos. 3 - bridge outer coil, neck humbucker
Pos. 4 - single coil mode, outer coils of both pups (like a basic j-bass)

All pickup positions are dead quiet (unlike a basic j-bass). Very similar in concept to the revered Roscoe Beck Fender 5.