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Searching for jazz-bass

Your choise

  • Total voters
    197
  • Poll closed .
H

Hover_bass

Aug 6, 2008
13
0
Saint-Petersburg, Russia
#1
Few weeks ago i started searching a good jazz-bass for day-to-day running at the price of $1000 - $1500.
Taken a look at several Fenders (62,std,75,am. dlx) i decided, that those won't suit because of their active electronics. Also i discovered a new brand Lakland, which Skyline series took high grades on many forums. But in this case i confused of that the bodies are made of ash and manufactured in Korea.
I don't have ability to listen the isntruments live (i live in Russia) and have to buy blindly.
I want to get a godd jazz-bass with recognizable sound without any plastic tones of plastic or "activeness".
What would you recommend in my case?
Thanks in advance.
 
#2
I voted for the Lakland DJ because I think it's an outstanding J bass. Since you won't get a chance to listen to these basses live, you might want to check out the extensive sound clip collection on Lakland's website ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]). You can hear the DJ and the JO with different string and pickup combinations - very helpful!
 
#4
I didn't know that all Fenders were active... I thought it was just the deluxe series.
Anyways I'll recommend Sandberg California and they are right in your price range 1200 - 1400 and they've got active/passive switches on all their models and you've got a lot of choice in type of pickups and price/quality are amazing.
Some people regard them as heavy but I havent had any issues with the weight, okay its heavier then my American Deluxe Fender but its not made of stone.

EDIT: Found a russian (online) store that sells them; Invalid Link Removed I'd give you a more exact link but my russian is a well uhm ... non-existant.
 
#7
I like to build my own jazz basses ...

Bass5-0023.jpg
 
#10
Definitely the Lakland DJ (or JO if you like the sound better, you can hear their basses at their website). I had the chance to thoroughly test both MIA '08 Fenders and a Lakland Skyline DJ and the Lakland just was better in every aspect (but also a bit more expensive).
 
#15
mdiddium said:
I voted for the Lakland DJ because I think it's an outstanding J bass. Since you won't get a chance to listen to these basses live, you might want to check out the extensive sound clip collection on Lakland's website ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]). You can hear the DJ and the JO with different string and pickup combinations - very helpful!
Click to expand...

+1 I love my DJ. If I had to buy a bass sight-unseen, I'd be much more comfortable purachasing a Lakland than a Fender. Not that the new Fenders aren't great basses, I'm sure they are, but I think that the final quality control inspections for Lakland may be a bit more thorough that Fender since they make and sell far fewer instruments. With the relatively lower volume of Laklands being made, I think the odds of letting a bad one get through are much lower.
 
#16
tranceFusion said:
i am always curious why Fender wins the polls vs Lakland, yet reading the posts you would think Lakland is the favorite..
Click to expand...

Maybe because people voting for Fender are tired of always having to justify themselves. I'm kind fond of my Sadowsky and Nash but i will never look down on a Fender. It is the standard, no matter how your taste is. If you disagree with me, fine! But look up the word "standard" first. ;)

I voted for the 2008 Am Std. But i like the Skylines too.
 
#19
i know skylines are manufactured in korea. but they use the same machines with the same parameters programed in them as the us models and they end up back at the chicago factory for final setup and inspection. so essentially it is not a korean product. i have played american laklands also and cannot justify the extra money.i love fenders also but even the new 2008 standard jazz i dont think is the same quality as a skyline. i have played about 8 or 9 2008 standard jazz basses 3 of them i absolutely loved 2 of them had problems with the electronics( low or no output from one of the pickups) and the other 3 were setup horribly.i have never played a skyline that had any problems whatsoever.
 
#20
I voted american standard jazz.

The laklands might end of sounding more "active" to you even though they are passive. They are a little brighter sounding with heavier finishes. I've also been disappointed in how much the skylines vary in weight. This is another thing to consider if you are buying without playing first. My first skyline JO was a heavy beast and I thought it was just the way they were, but I've played a bunch of them since then and they have been all over the place regarding weight. They are still great basses, but those are things to consider. My USA Laklands were nice and light.

I finally played an '08 american standard jazz yesterday and I LOVE the feel of the neck and the bass.
 

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