Onboard Preamp for Fender Jazz

Audere - if u want transparent

Aguilar - very flexible

Sadowsky - VTC is where it shines

Bartolini - old reliable

 

I can vouch for the Audere. My custom bass builder states that he thinks this is the most useable pre for bass.

 

I use the Aguilar in all of my basses. It's got lower frequencies than most other preamps (Bass @ 40 Hz, Mid @ 400Hz-1.2kHz, Treble @ 10kHz IIRC), so I find it to work best with the bass.

However, if you're looking for ease of installation, Audere and East are they way to go.

 

Audere's drop in without modification. Every other preamp will require routing, mostly for the battery location, but perhaps the preamp module itself depending on the cavity of your Jazz bass.

Audere's are called transparent because the frequency bands are larger which means that they effect a larger amount of your sound and this tends to lend a more neutral feel to the preamp. I think though despite what the above poster has said, the low frequency on the 3 band audere plates are 50hz with a 1/2 frequency of 150hz or more (Wide Q). The Sadowsky and Aguilar offer more boost at lower frequencies and less in the upper bass frequencies (more narrow Q).

I'd personally just buy an audere if you want to try a 3 band EQ. It's easy to go back if you don't like it and the cost is lower than any other option considering it comes with a plate and knobs. The Z mode switch is pretty neat as well.