Nothing wrong with Fender. Nothing wrong with Ibanez, either. If you're happy with your current bass(es), why switch?
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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.
So it's about time I got a Fender... but which one?
- Thread starter Astre
- Start date
Please embellishFor the serious minded.
One thing I love about my G&L basses?
Whenever someone says "Why didn't you buy a Fender?" I simply plug in and show them why.
Just picked this up. It checked off a lot of boxes for me.
Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass - Black
Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass - Black
...and i'm thinking that @96tbird nailed it: you just want that logo in your "stable."there are so many great, non-fender versions of Ps, Js, and PJs that you couldn't possibly try them all to make an actual informed decision...even though they're better versions than fender offerings (e.g., G&L). IME, buying the fender brand means you do have to play a bunch of them to filter out the pretenders from the good ones and the great ones --- and fender doesn't discount the duds (or the ones you think are duds!).
i agree with those who are advising that you consider a PJ with a J neck, and as always: play as many as you can before you spend the money it costs to own that logo! good luck on your "fender quest!"
It is my contention that the best Mexican-made Fender basses have the "Charvel" logo on the headstock.
Their San Dimas Pro Mod bass is a classic reverse-P + J configuration and the neck has a slimmer, narrower contour.
The only downside is that Fender preamps -- even in the $2000+ "American Ultra" models -- tend to be hit-or-miss with some people. Ibanez has about 30+ years of preamp design on Fender.
Tried a few of those recently, great playability and sound versatility.
I'd also recommend Aerodyne Jazz basses, also with a PJ configuration. Mine's been my main basse for the last 4 years, ever since I got her.
It's all about the neck. A jazz or a PJ with a jazz width neck. Don't compromise and get something else. You want a real Fender, get a Fender. Accept no substitute!
Burbridge is a monster bass player.
The Fender Precision is probably the most-recorded and most-used electric bass in history.
I probably have a different take on Jazz v Precision compared to the OP. I think Jazz basses are more 'scooped' than Precisions. Jazz basses have a big fat pillowy low low end, and a delightful, grindy tinkle at the other end. Precisions are more focused at the low mids, which is the sonic territory that bass guitar owns outright in the mix. Precisions, usually, have a "barky" tone. That said, the tone of my AVRI 63 P is HUGE and wallops even the fatness of my Jazz, which means generalizations are unreliable.
You will probably want a neck with the 1.5" nut, usually found on Jazz basses but they also appear on Precisions.
The Fender Precision is probably the most-recorded and most-used electric bass in history.
I probably have a different take on Jazz v Precision compared to the OP. I think Jazz basses are more 'scooped' than Precisions. Jazz basses have a big fat pillowy low low end, and a delightful, grindy tinkle at the other end. Precisions are more focused at the low mids, which is the sonic territory that bass guitar owns outright in the mix. Precisions, usually, have a "barky" tone. That said, the tone of my AVRI 63 P is HUGE and wallops even the fatness of my Jazz, which means generalizations are unreliable.
You will probably want a neck with the 1.5" nut, usually found on Jazz basses but they also appear on Precisions.
Get a Japanese PJ, best of all worlds. If you want it extra nice, lose the J pickup and replace with a Dimarzio area J, which is noiseless.
If you are recommending this fender, can you tell me what car it is for? I may be interested.Here's the only fender I can recommend.
Honestly I'd get the one with the neck shape YOU like. I like a C type such as a mid 60s style P. Even my favorite J has a P neck. To me that's the most important spec. Buy with your fretting hand.
Exactly… or better yet… Precisely
26877585[/URL], member: 201831"]For the serious minded.
One thing I love about my G&L basses?
Whenever someone says "Why didn't you buy a Fender?" I simply plug in and show them why.
Last edited:
I simply believe when people talk about buying a Fender Precision or Jazz bass for that vintage tone, the G&L LB-100 and JB basses are the way to go.
Fender American Geddy Lee Jazz Bass. If you can find one. Love mine, not sure why but it is considerably better than every jazz I have owned or played.
I've got a couple Ibbys too so I know where you're coming from. One is currently my avatar.
I'm sorry to say this, but if I were looking for a new Jazz or PJ Bass today it would not be the Fender brand. Perhaps a Squier CV. IN MY OPINION the newer MIM Fenders don't have the same quality as those made 12 years ago or so and feel that for the same or less money as the MIA models there are better values. If a Fender brand instrument is your jam, I would strongly suggest looking for an older, used one.
I just deleted a diatribe of my experience with Fender/Squier basses, but it, again, suggests looking for an older one.
One of the things I noticed on the latter day MIM Fenders was that the edges of the fingerboard had hard sharp angles. My MIM Jazz 5 as well as my Squier has rounded fingerboard edges which for me is essential for comfort and playability. If I had to buy a new Fender Player, I would ONLY buy one with a rosewood or pau ferro fingerboard as the edges can be easily rounded off. The maple necks cannot easily be rolled because the fingerboards are lacquered which can be damaged with the "crush" method and will take you down to bare wood if you sand or file.
If I were looking for a PJ outside of the world of Fender, my first look would be the Yamaha BB734 or (in my case a 5er) BB735a. For a J or PJ I'd also be looking at G&L basses or maybe Sire.
All of the above is just my opinion. YMMV
I'm sorry to say this, but if I were looking for a new Jazz or PJ Bass today it would not be the Fender brand. Perhaps a Squier CV. IN MY OPINION the newer MIM Fenders don't have the same quality as those made 12 years ago or so and feel that for the same or less money as the MIA models there are better values. If a Fender brand instrument is your jam, I would strongly suggest looking for an older, used one.
I just deleted a diatribe of my experience with Fender/Squier basses, but it, again, suggests looking for an older one.
One of the things I noticed on the latter day MIM Fenders was that the edges of the fingerboard had hard sharp angles. My MIM Jazz 5 as well as my Squier has rounded fingerboard edges which for me is essential for comfort and playability. If I had to buy a new Fender Player, I would ONLY buy one with a rosewood or pau ferro fingerboard as the edges can be easily rounded off. The maple necks cannot easily be rolled because the fingerboards are lacquered which can be damaged with the "crush" method and will take you down to bare wood if you sand or file.
If I were looking for a PJ outside of the world of Fender, my first look would be the Yamaha BB734 or (in my case a 5er) BB735a. For a J or PJ I'd also be looking at G&L basses or maybe Sire.
All of the above is just my opinion. YMMV
My advice is a PJ configuration VVT. I had had mine since 2004 and has been my main player. Over the 30 some year prior I've played more than a few PBs and JBs. IMO, a PJ or a PBj is not a dead on duplicate of either a PB or a JB when pickups are solo'd.
That said, it's an outstanding combination in it's own right. It's also close enough to get suitably close enough to a PB an or JB for most applications.
Make sure if you can before buying, play all three types. Good hunting.
