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Suzuki Jazz Bass, wow!

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by mrbungle, Apr 14, 2003.


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  1. Apr 14, 2003 #1
    mrbungle

    mrbungle

    Nov 13, 2000
    tampere, finland
    I was downtown today spending time in coffee shops and just wandering around with friends as some would do on typical boring monday afternoon. We were already decided to go home and were heading towards car, when we noticed that a nearby music store was opened again after it's renovations. I walked in and immediately noticed a nice Jazz Bass with sunburst finish hanging against a stand calling my name. A typical JB with two-piece alder body and rosewood FB. I grabbed the bass and it almost played itself, way better than the few Fenders i've tried - including mine - and WAY better than my Warwick. Plugged in the thing was even better, the sound is more modern than my MIJ Jazz Bass but as crisp and open sounding. I've heard worse Deluxe USA Fenders. A slight noise with only one pickup turned up, but whattaheck, it's a JB. All this for only 260 euros and the store is not the cheapest one around. (hmm.. all the previous reminds me of the soft porn stories in womens magazines)

    Only problem was the headstock - there was this annoying SUZUKI logo which makes it look like the cheap instrument it is... I like their motorbikes but.. uh.. Perhaps we've finally got our own Essex down here in Europe.

    Anyway, I bought the thing, but I've yet to hear anyone commenting on Suzuki instruments (there was also a quite nice Strat. The fotoflame finish was horrible though...) on TB or Usenet.

    http://www.suzukimusic.com/guitars/bass.html . I'll get more pictures when I get a digicam...

    edit: removed the sales-language :)
     
  5. Apr 14, 2003 #2
    phxlbrmpf

    phxlbrmpf

    Dec 27, 2002
    Germany
    Say, do you happen to work for Suzuki? :D

    Seriously, that's one ugly headstock. :/
     
  10. Apr 14, 2003 #3
    mrbungle

    mrbungle

    Nov 13, 2000
    tampere, finland
    Hah. I'm just thrilled :) but you're right. Perhaps i should edit my post more down-to-earth, that thing ain't Sadowsky, but for 260 euros it rocks big time.

    Yes, the headstock is ugly. But it surely looks better with the Suzuki logo scraped off :)

    In past two years or so the quality of the budget musical equipment has rocketed with things like Essex or Behringer spreading to the market. I wonder why.
     
  14. Apr 14, 2003 #4
    Ben Mishler

    Ben Mishler

    Jan 22, 2003
    San Jose
    Looks like a good bass, but I really don't like that headstock. It ruins the looks for me. It is the shape of a Fender, but to avoid getting sued, it looks like they uglified it so it looks like their own. Other than that though, sweet bass.
     
  18. Apr 14, 2003 #5
    Slater

    Slater Leave that thing alone. Supporting Member

    Apr 17, 2000
    The Great Lakes State
    That headstock isn't that bad. Kinda looks like Fender meets a Gibson T-Bird.

    When are Honda and Kawasaki going to start making Musical Instruments? :D
     
  22. Apr 14, 2003 #6
    Planet Boulder

    Planet Boulder Hey, this is a private residence...man

    Nov 10, 2001
    6,482 feet above sea level
    I once had impure thoughts. Oh, and I pluck my ear hair.
    That headstock SCREAMS "Johnson" to me. Too big for the body and just kinda goofy-lookin'.

    Perhaps you could take it to a woodworking expert and have him/her trim it down for you?
     
  26. Apr 14, 2003 #7
    Mike Money

    Mike Money Banned

    Mar 18, 2003
    Bakersfield California
    Avatar Speakers Endorsing Hooligan
    Do what I did to a friends as a joke...

    Shave/sand the logo off, and write some stupid word in permanent marker... like "Gazebo" or something.

    Personally, I went with "Homosexual" on the friends... he did not find it to funny... but oh well...
     
  31. Apr 14, 2003 #8
    luisnovelo

    luisnovelo

    Apr 3, 2001
    Guadalajara, México
    Yeah.. the headstock looks pretty bad..
     
  35. Apr 14, 2003 #9
    The Mock Turtle Regulator

    The Mock Turtle Regulator

    Oct 22, 2000
    London, UK
    "Pick up a new Suzuki bass, hold it, feel it, it's like greeting an old friend."
    -a Fender? :p

    the headstock looks like they scanned in a Yamaha Attitude's and flipped the end over in Photoshop...
     
  39. Apr 15, 2003 #10
    mrbungle

    mrbungle

    Nov 13, 2000
    tampere, finland
    Yep, that's what I decided to do :) ... but not with a permanent marker but with printable stickers. Now, I only need to decide what to write on it. 'Wazaaa' might do it. Or Gazebo. yea, that sound mighty fine, i'll get you a beer if I ever visit the states. Any more suggestions for decal, anyone? Too bad 'Don't stare at me, i'm sensitive!' takes too much space.
     
  43. Apr 15, 2003 #11
    mrbungle

    mrbungle

    Nov 13, 2000
    tampere, finland
    I just took the pickguard off and set the action lower. The good news is that it's a standard 11 screw J pickguard (cheap one with one white plastic layer) and theres some nice alder beneath it, but the bad news is that the finish is only two tone sunburst behind the pickguard whereas its yellow-red-black otherwise. Gotta get me a Fender tortoiseshell guard. The neck is straight and plays without buzzes with low action.

    The Suzuki -logo came off by rubbing it with a cotton sock. Hah. Seems that the engineers in S. factory are far-sighted :)

    This bass is definitely a good alternative for mexi fender which go for around 500 euros here. The resale value for Suzuki might not be so great though :)
     
  47. Apr 15, 2003 #12
    Microbass

    Microbass

    Jan 21, 2002
    Glasgow, Scotland
    Look kinda neat, but that headstock is aweful, and I don't like how the 20th fret are on the body... I really don't see the point in that - they become totally unplayable. :mad:

    I'd need to hear & play those basses..
     
  51. Apr 15, 2003 #13
    Johnny BoomBoom

    Johnny BoomBoom

    Jun 8, 2001
    Glasgow, Scotland

    I agree with you 100% My Kawasaki is a nice bike......but my son has a Kawasaki guitar! IT's an electronic toy.....but who knows what they'll come up with next.

    mrbungle - why not put your name on the headstock - it'll look like a custom!:)
     
  55. Apr 15, 2003 #14
    superphat

    superphat

    Sep 30, 2001
    that headstock doesn't seem too bad to me...
    not pretty, that's for sure,
    but it could be worse!
    check out this one...

    they actually sound and feel pretty good though
     
  59. Apr 15, 2003 #15
    Ob1

    Ob1

    Apr 30, 2002
    Somewhere in the deep forests of Finland
    Wow...getting a nice bass for 260 € in Finland has a certain utopian ring to it...Normally you'd get a ten year-old beat-up yamaha for that :spit: or maybe I'm just too far out in the countryside... Anyhow, nice to see another Finn on the forum, and congrats on the good deal!

    Oh, and I wouldn't let that headstock bother me...just hack it off with a axe or something :bassist:
     
  64. Apr 15, 2003 #16
    BIg O

    BIg O

    Apr 3, 2002
    Kitchener, ON, Canada
    :D What about "UGLY HEADSTOCK"?

    :bag:
     
  68. Apr 15, 2003 #17
    ToolRulez

    ToolRulez

    Jun 4, 2002
    Etten-Leur; The Netherlands
    That looks real nice!!

    I've been trying to get an Essex to Holland but unfortunately the distributor is only in the electric guitar buissiness :bawl:

    Now, I just have to wait before Suzuki makes a fretless version of that........

    PS: Would they give a discount on a bike if you by one of their basses :)
     
  72. Apr 15, 2003 #18
    Planet Boulder

    Planet Boulder Hey, this is a private residence...man

    Nov 10, 2001
    6,482 feet above sea level
    I once had impure thoughts. Oh, and I pluck my ear hair.
    Go for the philosophical/ego angle:
    "Solipsistic"
     
  76. Apr 15, 2003 #19
    Slater

    Slater Leave that thing alone. Supporting Member

    Apr 17, 2000
    The Great Lakes State
    Just put some black tape where the name used to be on the headstock. You'll look like one of those anti-establishment musicians, but you'll know you're just pulling a psych-job...

    Curious person: "Hey, what's under the tape?"

    You: "Nothing." :D
     
  80. Apr 15, 2003 #20
    rockbassist1087

    rockbassist1087 Guest

    Nov 29, 2002
    Long Island, NY
    Pretty decent looking basses. I'm going to agree with most of you, that headstock is definitely ugly.
     
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