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Replacing my '71 Fender Jazz

#23
Ace666 said:
After 40+ years and a lot of not so hot luthiers attentions I need and deserve a new Fender bass to supplement my '71 Jazz. I thought I had it nailed with the Fender Select Jazz bass but sadly it is discontinued.

So, put yourself in my position, it has to be a Fender Jazz bass and money is no object. Which one do I buy?

Many thanks for your input.

Ace666
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If the G&L JB is anything like the LB-100—which I own and love— then it's an incredible tone machine with an incredible build quality. I'd take one out for a spin if I were you.

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#29
imho - The current MIA Standards are awfully nice instruments...Great build quality, Custom Shop pickups, killer case.

Without a doubt the Custom Shop basses would be pretty sweet:bassist: - those pics above are stunning.

I humbly suggest it may be worth checking out a few US standards in person and see if one of them 'grabs' you. Being that prices *again assuming* tend to be much higher in non US locations, those CS pieces would be quite an outlay. You could end up finding a gem of a US Standard and saving a few thousand for a rainy day.
 
#30
There are some great builders out there who can produce a bass that meets your specifications. If you can find one that was ordered by someone else it might be a good deal less expensive. Better yet if you can get on with a production model you might spend even less. I'm not a Jazz bass guy by any means but it seems like there are plenty of solid options available.
 
#32
Yeah, why not go for a 1960 or 1961 stack pot Jazz then it will be a contrast to your '71.

I must say I'm a total fan of early Fenders. It's the feel more than anything else.

Or, how about Bravewood?
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Regards
Davo
 
#37
What's so wrong with this bass that only solution you can think of is buy a new one?

I'd take it to The Bass Gallery or Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience and get an opinion. IMO a fixed up old friend has to be your best bet.
 
#38
There are some boutique builders that offer what I call "perfected" Fenders. By that I mean that they've mostly avoided the bugs: dead spots, unbalanced pup output, PITA truss rod adjusters, and such.

I'm fond of Sadowsky's Will Lee model. Have a Metro and an NYC.
 
#39
Ewo said:
There are some boutique builders that offer what I call "perfected" Fenders. By that I mean that they've mostly avoided the bugs: dead spots, unbalanced pup output, PITA truss rod adjusters, and such.

I'm fond of Sadowsky's Will Lee model. Have a Metro and an NYC.
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Or you can get an ACTUAL Fender.. masterbuilt custom shop Fender are as defect free as any top end bass from anyone.. two and one half a dozen of the other on price, except you get the name.

For active pre-amp however, I agree, get the Sadowsky electronics.. I've since added the Sadowsky pre-amp to my active Jazz Bass.... but for a passive setup (sounds like what the OP will want), you can't beat a Masterbuilt Fender CS with CS pickups that are identical to the originals (they can custom wind pickups to match what ever era Jazz bass you like).
 
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#40
Yes, after all these years you deserve a new bass. Maybe even more than one. :-) There are many choices outside the Fender brand like the new Dan Lakin, Carvin custom, Sadowsky, etc. However, if you prefer sticking with Fender I can say I have a relatively new (~3 years) Fender American Std P-bass and the quality and sound are great. Good luck.
 

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