Squier VM '70s Jazz vs G&L Tribute JB

[blmeier7]

I’ve owned the G&L JB Tribute with the ash body, and I currently have a Squier VM 77 jazz. Both are excellent basses and very comparable. I’d say the G&L has a slight edge over the Squier, but not by much.

Here’s a quick comparison of differences if it helps:

VM has a true jazz nut width, JB has the far better bridge IMO, fretwork on the VM is slightly better than the JB, the JB has a downsized P bass-ish body compares to the true jazz shape of the VM. Tuners are about the same. The weight of the VM and JB I had were very similar, not much difference at all.

I’d honestly go with whichever bass you like the looks of and can get a good deal on.

 

[Sephiroth 420]

I noticed there is a "JB2" for quite a bit less. What's the difference (other than the lack of blocks and a pickguard) between the JB and JB2?

 

[jd56hawk]

G&L JB vs JB-2

 

[john_g]

Musician's Friend has the new blue ones on pre-order for 399, 449 for the sunburst and natural models.

Oh I think maybe you mean the JB2? I went to MF and the Jazz Bass Tribute is on pre-order and blue one is $499 and burst is $549 unless Im mistaken? No biggie, just inuring.

 

[AcridSaint]

Oh I think maybe you mean the JB2? I went to MF and the Jazz Bass Tribute is on pre-order and blue one is $499 and burst is $549 unless Im mistaken? No biggie, just inuring.

Yup, my mistake. I forgot that there was a new jazz model out now.

 

[AcridSaint]

@jgroh however, the 15% off going right now will apply getting it awfully close to 400. If I only needed another jazz...

 

[Sephiroth 420]

Well, I just came back in town last night and was planning on checking out GC and my local shop later today. It turns out the '70s Jazz that didn't seem to be going anywhere sold Saturday night. On a brighter note, they just got their first shipment of the 2019 '70s Jazzes under the name "Classic Vibe." Are they worth checking out?

 

[One Way]

I’ve had great luck with both Squier CV and VM products. My 1st Bass was a natural color 70’s VM Jazz. Played and sounded great. Mine had a very sensitive neck to string changes and would almost always need a truss rod adjustment with each string set change. It’s a really thin neck. Don’t hesitate to try that CV. Good luck!

 

[eastcoasteddie]

Well, I just came back in town last night and was planning on checking out GC and my local shop later today. It turns out the '70s Jazz that didn't seem to be going anywhere sold Saturday night. On a brighter note, they just got their first shipment of the 2019 '70s Jazzes under the name "Classic Vibe." Are they worth checking out?

I have played three different 2019 Classic Vibe basses (3 different stores) and each has been superb. Great finish, great tone, too. The only thing I would change on it is the bridge. I personally like a high-mass bridge like G&L’s. Other than that, you can’t go wrong with the CV bass...and I say that after telling you to go G&L in the beginning of this thread.
I want to get a 5-string CV jazz...!!!

 

[plankspanker13]

The latest look at the G&L site is quite telling. The MJ series is not showing. In essence, the Tribby JB-2 is the last of its' kind in current production; a 21-fret naked P-bodied Jazzish bass. Meanwhile, those pix of a turquoise JB Tribby sporting 21 frets are also highly intriguing. No sign of them on the website as of this writing.

 

[Bfieldy]

I've owned both. The G&L....a thousand times over, the G&L.

 

[plankspanker13]

Shouldn't there be a NBD post after all of this?

 

[Sephiroth 420]

Shouldn't there be a NBD post after all of this?

I wish. I was told by the owner of my local GC that they would have both models in about 3 weeks from now. The next shipment from G&L is in a week, then the Squier will be here 2 weeks from then. Apparently the G&Ls are slow sellers, so their shipments tend to be less frequent. The Squiers are still making the transition into the 2019 model year, as they've had some issues bringing them into production (probably due to the change of factory). The P Basses I was going to check out from Squier won't even be available until January 25th of next year (though are still considered the 2019 model year). By the end of the month, I can at least give a verdict on which Jazz I prefer, but NBD will probably be next year.