• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Sir, we need you to leave. -NBD

#41
4stringfarley said:
View attachment 3857663 View attachment 3857664 Getting ready for everything to finish opening up around here, I went out and finally found a new group of people to play with. I've been going over songs to work on and realized my normal go to is just too heavy for extended periods standing. I packed up a disliked bass and headed down to the nearest big box retail store to see what was in stock. First thought was the MiM Mustang short scale. Nothing about that bass did it for me, not the sound or the feel. I was playing a gorgeous dark green and tort player series P Bass and kept glancing at at Jazz on the wall. I had gone through all the fenders on the wall at that time, decided to give it a go and was shocked at how much better it felt and played. Not to mention $350 less in price. Had them throw in a set of strings, got a check for the remainder of my trade in value, and came home with this gal.

70's vibe Jazz.
Click to expand...
I have the quasi-indentical Squier Jazz VM 5. I like it a lot and I think the pickups are doing a really nice standard jazz sound. Will change the tuners and the nut in the future.
 
#42
I'm glad to hear that you thought it played nicely right in the store. The G.C. nearest me apparently never sets up their basses. Just at first touch the action feels like it's a mile off the fretboard. I actually mentioned this to the "bass department guy' that if they'd set up the action on their inventory that they could sell a whole lot more basses. he said " we don't have the time and our (1) tech/set up guy is too busy"....Illogical to me....But?
 
#44
4stringfarley said:
Getting ready for everything to finish opening up around here, I went out and finally found a new group of people to play with. I've been going over songs to work on and realized my normal go to is just too heavy for extended periods standing. I packed up a disliked bass and headed down to the nearest big box retail store to see what was in stock. First thought was the MiM Mustang short scale. Nothing about that bass did it for me, not the sound or the feel. I was playing a gorgeous dark green and tort player series P Bass and kept glancing at at Jazz on the wall. I had gone through all the fenders on the wall at that time, decided to give it a go and was shocked at how much better it felt and played. Not to mention $350 less in price. Had them throw in a set of strings, got a check for the remainder of my trade in value, and came home with this gal.

70's vibe Jazz.
Click to expand...

I've got almost the exact same bass - Squire modified jazz bass with silver volume / tone knobs
I bought it in 2015... I tried several basses under $1,000 NZ like Warwick, LTD.... but this one just felt right and it plays like a dream. cost only $550 NZ brand new and they chucked in a set of strings for free - plus it fits in the same hard case I had for my Ibanez!
it's just a great playing and sounding bass in my opinion

nick.png
 
#46
4stringfarley said:
It's two lbs. lighter. The biggest difference is in the balance, the weight is much better spread out making it more bearable.
Click to expand...

Similar move to a lighter alternative here. My old Jazz is 10.5 lbs. Sweet player that I'll love forever, but it just got to be too much to hang on the shoulder for a full evening. When I gigged it, I realized that I didn't want to move around... at all.

The two newer finds weigh 8.2 and 8.6 lbs. WOW, what a difference. Hope your new ride is the same. Looks like you picked up a honey :thumbsup:

My old Jazz has a set of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups - big and warm with some of that Marcus Miller mid-scoop when both pickups are wide open, but also nice and wooly with the neck pickup solo'ed (often played it like that to better sit in the mix). I've adored these pickups for years and also tried their Area J's in this bass a year of two ago, but those didn't thrill me in a passive layout.

If you want to sample DiMarzio pickups, the Model J's might be the smart choice - expect similar warmth and output as the Ultra J's, but probably a little more clarity in the mids.

That being said, if I were to go shopping today for another J pickup to sample, I'd honestly have the Fralins on my short list. I really don't know why I haven't gotten around to trying any of those yet. They never seem to disappoint.
 
#47
groove pump said:
Similar move to a lighter alternative here. My old Jazz is 10.5 lbs. Sweet player that I'll love forever, but it just got to be too much to hang on the shoulder for a full evening. When I gigged it, I realized that I didn't want to move around... at all.

The two newer finds weigh 8.2 and 8.6 lbs. WOW, what a difference. Hope your new ride is the same. Looks like you picked up a honey :thumbsup:

My old Jazz has a set of DiMarzio Ultra Jazz pickups - big and warm with some of that Marcus Miller mid-scoop when both pickups are wide open, but also nice and wooly with the neck pickup solo'ed (often played it like that to better sit in the mix). I've adored these pickups for years and also tried their Area J's in this bass a year of two ago, but those didn't thrill me in a passive layout.

If you want to sample DiMarzio pickups, the Model J's might be the smart choice - expect similar warmth and output as the Ultra J's, but probably a little more clarity in the mids.

That being said, if I were to go shopping today for another J pickup to sample, I'd honestly have the Fralins on my short list. I really don't know why I haven't gotten around to trying any of those yet. They never seem to disappoint.
Click to expand...

The DiMarzios were my second choice. I wound up finding a set of used overwound Fralins for $20 more and figured it was well worth it. The stock pickups arent bad. Just a little too thin towards the high end, even for a jazz.
 
#48
4stringfarley said:
View attachment 3857663 View attachment 3857664 Getting ready for everything to finish opening up around here, I went out and finally found a new group of people to play with. I've been going over songs to work on and realized my normal go to is just too heavy for extended periods standing. I packed up a disliked bass and headed down to the nearest big box retail store to see what was in stock. First thought was the MiM Mustang short scale. Nothing about that bass did it for me, not the sound or the feel. I was playing a gorgeous dark green and tort player series P Bass and kept glancing at at Jazz on the wall. I had gone through all the fenders on the wall at that time, decided to give it a go and was shocked at how much better it felt and played. Not to mention $350 less in price. Had them throw in a set of strings, got a check for the remainder of my trade in value, and came home with this gal.

70's vibe Jazz.
Click to expand...
Squier has really upped their game in recent years, use what works for you!
 
#49
Bob McAlister said:
I'm glad to hear that you thought it played nicely right in the store. The G.C. nearest me apparently never sets up their basses. Just at first touch the action feels like it's a mile off the fretboard. I actually mentioned this to the "bass department guy' that if they'd set up the action on their inventory that they could sell a whole lot more basses. he said " we don't have the time and our (1) tech/set up guy is too busy"....Illogical to me....But?
Click to expand...
The set up at the shop wasn't that great. Ive just learned over the years how took it over and see that its fixable. A bass with a high action ill look at the neck and bridge, make sure its still adjustable. Everything I buy gets higher tension flat wounds set to D or drop C tuning so a properly set up bass is going to be thrown out of spec real quick.
 
#52
Bob McAlister said:
I'm glad to hear that you thought it played nicely right in the store. The G.C. nearest me apparently never sets up their basses. Just at first touch the action feels like it's a mile off the fretboard. I actually mentioned this to the "bass department guy' that if they'd set up the action on their inventory that they could sell a whole lot more basses. he said " we don't have the time and our (1) tech/set up guy is too busy"....Illogical to me....But?
Click to expand...
That's done so that they can then sell you a "Professional Setup".
 
  • Like
Reactions: 6tzguy
#59
The Squiers (as are a lot of them, particularly all the Classic Vibes) are phenomenal value. Oh to have had these back when I started playing 30+ years ago. I'm glad to hear that it was light enough for you. One I played at the local GC seemed heavy, even compared to my Fender Classic Series 70s Jazz Bass (Mex) which is pretty heavy. Pickups also seemed pretty noisy, but you are definitely going to enjoy this one, even stock. Cheers!
 
#60
4stringfarley said:
View attachment 3857663 View attachment 3857664 Getting ready for everything to finish opening up around here, I went out and finally found a new group of people to play with. I've been going over songs to work on and realized my normal go to is just too heavy for extended periods standing. I packed up a disliked bass and headed down to the nearest big box retail store to see what was in stock. First thought was the MiM Mustang short scale. Nothing about that bass did it for me, not the sound or the feel. I was playing a gorgeous dark green and tort player series P Bass and kept glancing at at Jazz on the wall. I had gone through all the fenders on the wall at that time, decided to give it a go and was shocked at how much better it felt and played. Not to mention $350 less in price. Had them throw in a set of strings, got a check for the remainder of my trade in value, and came home with this gal.

70's vibe Jazz.
Click to expand...

Nice. Use and enjoy in good health.

As Miles Davis said, "There are no wrong notes."

S
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back