So I tried Fender Elite jazz basses today...

[Lammchop93]

So you set up EVERYTHING you ever try before buying it?? I do not believe that most, if any, guitar retailers would allow Joe-Blow from off the street to start setting up instruments and tinkering with their inventory prior to a purchase. After playing bass for 25 years, I believe I am pretty good at judging the character and quality of a bass (according to my own personal preferences) to determine whether I would even want to bother setting up the bass. To me, a truly good quality bass (again, according to my own personal preferences) will exude its quality even prior to a good set-up. The set-up then just becomes the 'icing on the cake.'

I am NOT a Fender basher. I just purchased a 1998 MIM Deluxe Jazz because it has the Suhr pickups and preamp. Those were great jazz basses! I am also trying to get my hands on a Roscoe Beck V! Those are gems!

For Sale - Fender American Roscoe Beck Jazz V 5 J Bass, USA, CAR, Case, Clean, Rare!

no affiliation

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I bought the jazz 4 elite. I've had it for 4 months and I must say, it can be played on active or passive. On passive mode sounds like crap but I do believe that on active mode it sounds awesome.
With that being said, I'm not a hundred percent satisfied with it. When dialed in correctly this bass has has a killer tone and can not be beat. I use it on active 100percent of the time just wish the passive mode sounded better in case the batteries go out. I am very criticle with tone. I play 2 times a week and have not play in a place with good acoustics witch may be the problem. I think I will try an eq ft pedal for when the batteries go out.

Unlike other active/passive basses, the Elite will not play in passive mode when the batteries go dead so be careful.
Last thing you want is the batteries going out on a gig without a back up instrument.

 

[Mike Vee]

Honestly, the only Fenders with any vibe are the American Vintage series. The rest feel so sterile - I just don't think I'd ever want a non-nitro bass unless it was an Ernie Ball or maybe the 74 AVRI Jazz.

 

[glocke1]

YouTube demo's of the Elite? Crappy camera/phone mics and awful youtube compression. Everything sounds crap. Don't tell me, you wathced it on an iphone!

Unless you have used multiple Elite basses, you cannot just make statements like this based on YouTube videos. Just try one or two, with the amps you are used to using. Then make a comment that says they sound awful.

I think you misinterpreted my post.

 

[Lynwood32]

Unlike other active/passive basses, the Elite will not play in passive mode when the batteries go dead so be careful.
Last thing you want is the batteries going out on a gig without a back up instrument.

I don't have a back up bass any more. I used to have a AM P bass as back up but sold it. I'm getting close to retiring my music bc of back and knee problems so I sold most of my music equip. When I bought this bass, i was actually looking for a light Ibanez but I seen this thin hanging on the wall and decided to try it. I sbsolutely could not put it down so I bought it. It's a little heavy but the active sound sold me this bass. I asked the salesman if it played on passive mode when the batteries go dead and he said yes. I'm going to pull the batteries out now and try it. I hope you are wrong but thanks for the heads up on this.

 

[Lynwood32]

I don't have a back up bass any more. I used to have a AM P bass as back up but sold it. I'm getting close to retiring my music bc of back and knee problems so I sold most of my music equip. When I bought this bass, i was actually looking for a light Ibanez but I seen this thin hanging on the wall and decided to try it. I sbsolutely could not put it down so I bought it. It's a little heavy but the active sound sold me this bass. I asked the salesman if it played on passive mode when the batteries go dead and he said yes. I'm going to pull the batteries out now and try it. I hope you are wrong but thanks for the heads up on this.

I just took the batteries out and it does play on passive mode without the batteries.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

Hey

I just took the batteries out and it does play on passive mode without the batteries.

Hey, I'm glad you tried. I was in contact with Fender about this when I noticed (as others in this thread) that in active mode the preamp would clip at high output levels. Being an 18 Volt preamp, something didn't smell right so I checked the batts. I had only had the bass (purchased brand new) for a couple of weeks. Sure enough, the batteries we4re weak. So I figured, either Fender received a bad batch of batteries they did not QC properly OR the bass sat in storage for a long time OR the bass was played by someone prior to shipping it to me. I doubted the latter since the bass was unmarked so it was either a bad batch or long storage time. Well the bass is a 2016 so the batteries if new and healthy should have kept their charge unless...there is a leak in the preamp....so I wrote to Fender to inquire and pasted their answer below;

Michael Roberts (Fender)

Jun 29, 09:22 MST

The bass will not play without batteries. The signal is always going through the circuit so it needs to be active to pass audio.

Regards-

Michael Roberts
Sr Representative, Consumer Relations /U.S. Direct Sales

Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: 480-845-5134
Fax: 480-367-526

Again, thanks for conveying this info!! Great news!!

 

[Lynwood32]

Hey

Hey, I'm glad you tried. I was in contact with Fender about this when I noticed (as others in this thread) that in active mode the preamp would clip at high output levels. Being an 18 Volt preamp, something didn't smell right so I checked the batts. I had only had the bass (purchased brand new) for a couple of weeks. Sure enough, the batteries we4re weak. So I figured, either Fender received a bad batch of batteries they did not QC properly OR the bass sat in storage for a long time OR the bass was played by someone prior to shipping it to me. I doubted the latter since the bass was unmarked so it was either a bad batch or long storage time. Well the bass is a 2016 so the batteries if new and healthy should have kept their charge unless...there is a leak in the preamp....so I wrote to Fender to inquire and pasted their answer below;

View attachment 2836229
Michael Roberts (Fender)

Jun 29, 09:22 MST

The bass will not play without batteries. The signal is always going through the circuit so it needs to be active to pass audio.

Regards-

Michael Roberts
Sr Representative, Consumer Relations /U.S. Direct Sales

Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: 480-845-5134
Fax: 480-367-526

View attachment 2836230

Again, thanks for conveying this info!! Great news!!

Hey

Hey, I'm glad you tried. I was in contact with Fender about this when I noticed (as others in this thread) that in active mode the preamp would clip at high output levels. Being an 18 Volt preamp, something didn't smell right so I checked the batts. I had only had the bass (purchased brand new) for a couple of weeks. Sure enough, the batteries we4re weak. So I figured, either Fender received a bad batch of batteries they did not QC properly OR the bass sat in storage for a long time OR the bass was played by someone prior to shipping it to me. I doubted the latter since the bass was unmarked so it was either a bad batch or long storage time. Well the bass is a 2016 so the batteries if new and healthy should have kept their charge unless...there is a leak in the preamp....so I wrote to Fender to inquire and pasted their answer below;

View attachment 2836229
Michael Roberts (Fender)

Jun 29, 09:22 MST

The bass will not play without batteries. The signal is always going through the circuit so it needs to be active to pass audio.

Regards-

Michael Roberts
Sr Representative, Consumer Relations /U.S. Direct Sales

Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
17600 N. Perimeter Drive, Suite 100
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Telephone: 480-845-5134
Fax: 480-367-526

View attachment 2836230

Again, thanks for conveying this info!! Great news!!

I'm not trying to argue but I own the bass and I took the batteries out and set them on my coffee table, plugged the bass into my practice amp and played away without batteries in it. The fender rep needs to learn more about his product or maybe he should go to work for another company. Him putting out that false info could cost him some sales. Any if you are thinking about buying one, before you buy it pull the batteries out at the store and try it before you buy it, it will work. Anyway fender should reward me on getting this info out. It will probably save some sales. It is very playable without batteries on passive mode.

 

[Chucky Stiletti]

I'm not trying to argue but I own the bass and I took the batteries out and set them on my coffee table, plugged the bass into my practice amp and played away without batteries in it. The fender rep needs to learn more about his product or maybe he should go to work for another company. Him putting out that false info could cost him some sales. Any if you are thinking about buying one, before you buy it pull the batteries out at the store and try it before you buy it, it will work. Anyway fender should reward me on getting this info out. It will probably save some sales. It is very playable without batteries on passive mode.

I own a 2016 which I love. Like I said, thanks for the info. It never occurred to me to try it without the batteries after the response from Fender. My bad. The only other thing I can think off is a different rev of the preamp, but it does not matter. You tried it and it works, that's enough for me. Thanks again.

 

[Paulabass]

I like Fender basses. I'm not ashamed of that. I always own at least one (of many basses)
I like the Elite, and I think it's B string is FINALLY up to par with MM.

 

[Vic]

FWIW, we reviewed one of the 5 string models a while back and I ended up keeping the bass, and have played it a LOT... happily.

I've owned tons of J and J-like basses over the years from the low to high end (including the full gamut of Fenders from vintage to today... most recently some of the AmDlx models), and at least IMHO, the Elite is the best active/passive J they've come out with yet, definitely like it better than the AmDlx models.

My only real niggle is minor... I'd like the passive tone to be available in active mode as well, which I shared back with Fender. The bass's tone seemed right on to me, the noise level not the very best, but still very good, the string-string balance including the B string was solid and consistent, the neck profile very nice, fret work, etc.

Instrument selection is so totally personal and subjective it's hard to really "debate" things like this, but it happens all the time on these web forums... soapbox syndrome is what I call it. People want to challenge those who have negative comments, but outside of challenging specific facts, you have to let people dislike stuff you like... and vice versa. Again, it's personal/subjective.

 

[Lynwood32]

I own a 2016 which I love. Like I said, thanks for the info. It never occurred to me to try it without the batteries after the response from Fender. My bad. The only other thing I can think off is a different rev of the preamp, but it does not matter. You tried it and it works, that's enough for me. Thanks again.

I find that you never get the true sound of any bass unless you are playing it in good acoustic situations. My band mostly play in bars with horrible acoustics. Cement floors, tin walls, no carpeting and sound bouncing around hard surfaces. Even with that, my elite sounds better than normal I think bc on active mode you have 3 band eq. We do occasionally play in places with good acoustics but rarely

 

[Emanuel Palmeri]

Hello fellow bottom enders! I went on the GC website yesterday and they are have a 15% off deal on their American Elite Jazz range.... that translates to $300 off the $2K price tag... my new champagne maple fretbd now cost me $1699.99 vs. $1999.99....

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

Somebody believed they are quite overpriced ...

 

[FacStudio]

Personally I think Fender are producing some of their best basses in a long time.
I have a Precision Professional which is faultless and very well finished.

The Elite is a fantastic bass too. Is it worth the money. Well here in the U.K. the price was £1600 in Aug 16 (when I got mine). In Dec 17 it’s £1970. All due to price hikes and currency fluctuation with £/$.

At £1600 it was a killer buy. At nearly £2000. I would think twice.... But it’s an extremely well made instruments.

 

[MMiller28]

Honestly, the only Fenders with any vibe are the American Vintage series. The rest feel so sterile.

That's a unique opinion.

 

[Sumaru]

Hello fellow bottom enders! I went on the GC website yesterday and they are have a 15% off deal on their American Elite Jazz range.... that translates to $300 off the $2K price tag... my new champagne maple fretbd now cost me $1699.99 vs. $1999.99....

Dammit...would be nice if that was retroactive!

 

[bdplaid]

Somebody believed they are quite overpriced ...

You might be referring to me. I think in the end, if the guy buying the bass likes it and feels satisfied, who the hell am I to rain on his parade? There are basses I like that I imagine many of you would die laughing at. So if the new USA Fenders do it for you, awesome!

If you like it, spank it!

 

[Gianni "Orlandez" Orlati]

You might be referring to me. I think in the end, if the guy buying the bass likes it and feels satisfied, who the hell am I to rain on his parade? There are basses I like that I imagine many of you would die laughing at. So if the new USA Fenders do it for you, awesome!

If you like it, spank it!

It’s also a matter of navigating between promotions, B-sticks etc... these are mass produced instruments you can always find some bargains if you wait enough time...

 

[Emanuel Palmeri]

Dammit...would be nice if that was retroactive!

How long ago did you buy yours? A GC sales rep informed me that they have a 45 day price match policy (includes if they change their prices). I had originally purchased mine on 11/28/17 ( @ $1999.99). They credited my Gear Card $329 (15% + tax) ....